[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

Vortex Optics 10x42 Viper Binoculars Review

Best $ I've ever spent on hunting gear

"I have never bothered to write a review of any piece of equipment before, but was so impressed with these binoculars, I HAD to write this one. For those of us who are unwilling or unable to afford the price tag of the finer optics, the quality of these binoculars is so close at a quarter of the price, I don't think it is possible to beat the quality of this product for the price, period! I bought my Viper 10x42's on Friday after 10 frustrating days of hunting Oryx (and not finding - I had only seen 2 in 10 full days from daylight to dark in the desert/field)in NM near White Sands Missile Range using a decent (but not great) pair of older binoculars. Just as day was breaking on Saturday, I was in the desert again with my new Vipers strapped to my chest! Shortly after daylight, I almost forgot what I was hunting, since the first animals I saw were 3 very nice mule deer bucks. According to my map, from the hill I was on to the hillside the deer were on was over a mile and under 1.25 mile, and I could tell they were very nice bucks with racks significantly exceeding their body width, even at that distance! With the appropriate tag and maybe getting just a little closer, I would have shot any one of the three! Even the heat waves that affect your view in a hot desert climate were significantly less with the Vipers than with the lower grade binoculars I had before. And even better yet, before the end of the first day in the field with my new Vipers, I had put my Oryx tag on one of those elusive creatures that I spotted (there were actually 2 of them there) in the desert brush from slightly over a half mile away. I have to wonder if I would have even seen them with the old binoculars, and there is no doubt in my mind that the money I spent for these new binoculars is simply the BEST money I have ever spent for any of the thousands of $ worth of various hunting equipment that I have for all of the different types of hunting I love to do. Today is only Sunday, and I have already ordered a second pair for my wife and called my brother who has been threatening to buy new binoculars for several years to tell him about these! Not only would I RECOMMEND them to anyone else, I have already ordered a second pair for my best friend, and recommended them to my brother!!!"