I appreciate all of your responses. I'll have to look into the Wind River series also. I'm not stuck on Steiner, but just what a started with as an option. Thanks again.

I agree with Matt's comments 100%. After spending money on the inexpensive sub-$100 Busnhells, Simmons and Tasco for many years I finally decided to upgrade to a somewhat more expensive pair of binoculars and I am very glad that I did. The list and reason Matt provided are spot-on with my experiences....though I tend to prefer the 10x42s to the 8x42s.

Ofcourse, if money is not an issue then the Nikon Venturer LXs or the Brunton Epochs are the way to go.....but then again I could also finance another economical car for the price of those binoculars....

Like I said, I used to carry them. So I know what I'm missing out on. Hey they work for most people I guess, and wouldn't put anyone down for using them. I do my scouting all year long, so I really don't need to do anymore while I in my stand. I know the patterns especially 100-200 yards out from my stand and feel secure in my stand location. If I hit a deer, 99% of the time, I know exactly where I hit him and know the last spot I seen him. Do I need to see it any further then the naked eye? I don't think so. I have never lost a deer because I didn't have my bino's handy, and don't think I ever would. I guess if I hunted more open areas and fields, it might be a good idea. But I have found myself too many times taking them out with me and never using them at all. I like to limit what I take with me to the stand and really didn't find them as essential. I have a very good pair of bino's and find them very useful for glassing fields and such, but when I'm in the stand, I just don't think that they are essential.

I have them. I like um. Fairly compact. Not too heavy. I keep them in the boat most of the year, and take them hunting. The only drawback is if you let someone else use them, you have to readjust the eye cups.

Good binos for the money.

Dayton

David I did look tru lots of glass , including Swarovskis , granted not at first light . Yes the Swarovskis were best , at $1500 . The glass I mention is of great quality , for its price range , and I dont want to carry around 50 mill glass for bowhunting , if I was hunting out west maybe , but for around the areas I hunt the wind river olimpics serve me well .

I just bought a pair of Steiner Predator 8x30's off Ebay for $155.00 new. I thought it was a pretty good deal, so I jumped on it. We'll how much I like them I guess.

You're shopping in the wrong places. You should beable to pick up a pair of Swarovski 7 or 8 or 10 x 42 for Under a grand. When I went to buy binos I researched every piece of literature of technical nature I could find. I also spent nearly 2 yearson trips going from shop to shop, from Md-Georgia--to Colorado--to NY checking out binos. When ever I hit a town I looked up binos close by and made a point to waist a few hours looking. My initial intentions were to buy the best I could afford... hopefully somewhere around $300-350. I agonized and agonized over it. The more I looked, the more I read.... it had to be. I took all my little hidden stashes of money and bought not the best I could afford... but better. I've Never regretted it. I'll loan anyone my bow, car, kid, wife..... but unless your name is Len Marsh... don't ask to borrow my binos.

I went with wind river 8X42 instead of steiner or zeiss, mostly because of the price. Plus, the clearity and stability was just as good for what i use them for.

davidmil,

I don't think I'm shopping at the wrong place. A "very" good pair of 8x30's for $155.00. Might not be the best, but certainly top 3 if not top 5. Not even you, bino guru, can tell me that's a bad deal. You can stop right there though. I'm not spending a little under a grand for binos. When my life and my kid is alittle more stable and have more $$ laying around and have the most of the toys I want and feel some $$ burning a hole in my pocket, then sure....what the heck? But not now. I don't need to see a whisker on a mosquito's a** at 1,000 yards.

My mistake 8x42's is what I have , big diferance