My comments mirror that of okcmco. I owned a pair of the 10x42 Alaskan Guides and would agree that their optical quality was a step up from the Monarch, Pinnacles, etc... I would rate them in the same class as the Bushnell Elites, Leupold Golden Rings, Steiner Peregrine, etc... That is saying something though as those other binoculars cost around $300 more than the Alaskan Guides. Though Cabelas will not say anything about the manufacturer other than it is "a leading Japanese manufacturer" I believe that I read in several places that the Alaskan guides were manufactured by Fujinon. Fujinon has several models that are very highly regarded and often compared with the high end European brands.

If you are curious as to why I returned them, though their optics are top notch and their ergonomics were extremely comfortable I had a difficult time with the "click stop" focus adjustment. It seemed that in practical, outdoor use I ran into several situations where the "pefect focus" was right in between the click stops. I found this particulary frustrating and returned them. If they were to get rid of this one feature I would not hesitate to buy another pair. They are a steal at that price.

Also, if you enjoyed the Alaskan Guides then I would also suggest you take a look at their Professional WP series. Same ergonomics as the Alaskan Guides but no phase coating on the roof prisms. Brightness was noticeably less but resolution/clarity was on par with the Alaskan Guides at least in my opinion. Considering you can get them for about the same price as the 10x42 Monarchs should warrant them at least a cursory glance.

On a somewhat related note, though you did try the 10x42 Monarchs I would suggest also trying out the new Monarch configurations. Though I am lured to the 8x36s because of their size I think you might find the 10x56s or 10x36s appealing. Th 56 mm'slow light gathering ability should be excellent though their size might put some folks off.