When I am big game hunting out wet I use a pair of Ziess 10x40 classics. Back hme in MD for archery I like a smaller lighter pair. I have been using 8x32 Swaro El's.

Bushnell Legends in the 8X32 power. I primarily got mine for bowhunting in the NY woods and for spring turkey hunting, solarger poweroptics didn't fit the bill for me. These are the perfect size and the clarity is awesome. Rain guard finish on the lenses and being water proof was another reason I got these as well.

For big game out west, I use my 7x42 to spot movement. Then, follow it up with my laser rangefinder at 8x30, then my rifle scope. For bowhunting, I use my laser rangefinder (8x30) only.

I came on here and listened to the great advice you're getting .....like the stuff David's giving you. I'm a woods hunter.....and I ended up going with an 8x42 pair of Nikons that I got for a GREAT price (ATB's). They're perfect for what I use them for.....and I told my wife the other day that they've been the SINGLE best buy of this hunting season. I can't imagine hunting without them, now. I like being able to glass the deer while it's coming towards me......allowing me to make the decision EARLY as to whether I want to take that animal or not. I operate better .......the earlier I can make that decision.

Jeff

I bought mine at the time david was doing all his research and chose 8x42's. I keep them tight to my chest with a bino strap and carry my rangefinder in one of my cargo pockets so it's easy to reach but I do range before hand to objects so I find I'm not reaching for the rangefindervery much.

10x42 has a good magnification to weight ratio but more important than the power of magnification is the quality of the glass... spend as much as you can afford on good glass.

I always carry that one stepfurther. I say determine the most you can spend... and then step up a level. You'll never regret it. After looking through my Swarovskis for several years now I find it amazing how much difference therecan be when someone sticks a cheaper set in my face. The nice thing today,the second tierof optics manufacturers have really improved the quality of some of their optics. It's not necessary to plunk down $1,000-1500 to get a good set of binos. Nikon, Brunton, etc have some decent optics.

I have an 8X40 full size pair. I had really wish I'd taken them on my elk hunt. I used an expensive compact pair to save weight,butweren't very good.