#10MinuteTalk

You don’t need to be a cyclops to enjoy all the benefits a Monocular offers. We grab resident optics expert and coinsure Michael McDowell to break down these handy optics and all the great performance they offer. Light, fast, and mechanically simple, monoculars are easy to carry and always at the ready when you need them!
As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.
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[@CaseyKitko]

I've been using the 10x36 Solo for a couple years now, and it's been great for whitetail bow and rifle. I'm blind in one eye, so it makes a lot more sense running one of these guys (helps me save some money too vs binos!). I run it in a chest rig inside a GPS pouch. Would love to get the Recon RT for longer range stuff or quick looks on range days.

[@greghart6310]

Another great application is mountaineering and rock climbing. It often helps to glass ahead to see what's there and plan the route or scope for handholds on the rock. We need everything to be as compact and light as possible. I never carry binoculars(mine are to bulky and heavy) but this I could easily carry.

[@lockedon8953]

YES!! monoculars need more love and options. As someone who is literally half blind, a monocular is perfect, binocs are to much

[@mikemarvelous]

Just pulled the trigger on the 8x36 Solo. Have a ton of Nikon binos so this will be new for me. Love the SPAM collection!!!!!!

[@Winters11]

They do need more love! From clients and manufactures alike!

[@TonyYarusso]

I was a bit surprised that the smaller models don’t have a mounting hole to attach then to a tripod and that the larger ones aren’t available in a version without a reticle. Monoculars can be handy to use with digiscoping adapters for photographing further subjects while backpacking and trying to stay light and compact.

[@brenn330]

Love my solo RT. Definitely under rated. Only optic that can fit in a cup holder

[@DrLuigiPhd]

I could see a monocular riding in the truck, but I'm with mark on the razor 4000 being the one Optic that would come with me on a stalk if I had to choose

[@roly664]

My son is blind in one eye. I feel binoculars would be a waste of weight and $. Seems monocular would be ideal for him.

[@20Hikecdt23]

I like a monocular because as a lightweight backpacker i like it for the weight and ease of use.

[@christopherrowley7506]

I'm all for monoculars! I don't buy that stereostopic helps all that much--hunters spend hours on spotting scopes and do just fine. Some hunters do prefer a high power bino on a tripod but that doesn't change the fact that most people do completely fine with one eye on a spotting scope (especially if you can learn to look with both eyes open to avoid fatigue). Monos not being more popular I think is just a culture thing, but it's especially surprising to me it's not more common for backpack hunts. People will pay a few grand for an ultralight tent to save a few ounces. I like the argument at the end that you can use a range finder as a monocular, and that's true. But it's a small objective and the clarity isn't great. That's why I opt for a 10x monocular--that combined with a 7x rangefinder works pretty well for me. Many people carry a 10x bino and range finder, so I'm still on top weight and bulk wise.

[@Sav-E.]

I'm considering buying a monocular for stargazing on backpacking trips where I prioritize a light pack. I know stargazing and backpacking aren't really a focus of this channel, but would be cool to see an episode or talk dedicated to either.

[@Muddyfox47]

a monocular is a pain to glass through if you're viewing something for a long time - its nice for a quick spot of something, if you look through it for a while, your eyes get all wonky if keeping the other eye closed

[@Sav-E.]

@@Muddyfox47 good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

[@daporter84]

This convinced me to get one so i picked up a 10x25 been great

[@Simplifier123]

Could you share your experience with it? I just pulled the trigger on one and I hope I won’t regret getting the 10x25 instead of the 10x36. I own the vortex viper and diamondback binoculars and wanted something compact but without too much compromise over quality.

[@rareformzrareformz525]

Monocular shape lends itself to use of simple repurposed containers for water/dust proofing, i.e. small peanut butter jar. Optic remains perfectly clean in the worst environments.

[@jameswilliams7415]

I have the solo 10x25 for random stuff. Love that thing!

[@Simplifier123]

Could you share your experience with it? I just pulled the trigger on one and I hope I won’t regret getting the 10x25 instead of the 10x36. I own the vortex viper and diamondback binoculars and wanted something compact but without too much compromise over quality.

[@jameswilliams7415]

@@Simplifier123 it’s good. I keep it in my truck to look at stuff all the time. I still use Bino’s for hunting though.

[@TheSkeptic000]

Just got the solo r/t! VERY VERY COOL GEAR!!!

[@bradbo3]

I have 2 solo’s....one in the truck and one in my turkey vest.....dont want binocs during turkey hunting...mono is so much easier.

[@Gave-rf1hr]

Dont it get damaged due to the heat of the car parked ?

[@bradbo3]

@@Gave-rf1hr we dont get to hot up here in NY.

[@Simplifier123]

What solo you have? Could you share your experience with it? I just pulled the trigger on one and I hope I won’t regret getting the 10x25 instead of the 10x36. I own the vortex viper and diamondback binoculars and wanted something compact but without too much compromise over quality.

[@macdaddyjz]

How about a talk about the 338 federal. Its a deer, hog and black bear slayer.

[@ricjona1069]

Mono is easier to adjust and share. Easier to carry. They make rifle stocks you can use with a spotting scope which you can shoulder and stabilize much quicker than bino on a monopod.

[@iancurrie8844]

Binoculars really don't make the difference in detail. This year I was hunting private property - a whole section (640 acres) so I knew what was beyond where I was looking/aiming and I was glassing some trees against the skyline at about 250 yards. My binoculars showed a poor amount of detail (40mm objective, 10x), my range finder even less (as you would expect) but my rifle scope which was at 9x 40mm objective showed FAR FAR FAR more detail, and light than the bincolars. It wasn't even close and those weren't cheap binos. The idea that having stereoscopic vision will somehow give you lots more detail is silly. The one and only thing that matters is optics quality. That "mono" rifle scope revealed a lot more detail and light and had less chromatic aberration at the edges. Those vortex monocular are not good optics at all. They're trash. However, Swarovski makes some really nice monocular and I'd bet they compete with or beat many binoculars.

[@davidlawson3400]

I just bought the 10x36 but they didn’t have the box or anything. Do these come with a case or cap? I love it btw.

[@biggun4557]

Yall should do a 10 minute on 338-06 I bought one a while back and I love it but I'd like to hear your opinion

[@joaocarrolo6612]

Which is the best monocular and price

[@KyleMeyer949]

Monocular- half a binocular.. the good half

[@danielprsguitar]

Yes. Jack Bauer did all he could to popularize monoculars, but we didn't listen. Also - do an episode on all the Weatherby cartridges!

[@VortexNation]

Always listen to Jack Bauer!

[@daniellabruyere2395]

@@VortexNation Interestingly enough, I talked to old Jack yesterday, and he seemed really interested in you guys doing an episode on the Weatherby cartridges. His words, not mine.

[@charlesmckinley29]

I have prisms to correct for double vision and binoculars rarely work well.

[@Freedom89984]

Now I know why I have been followed every time I went on a hike to watch the forest animals….😅

[@johnrobert4877]

Can you do a 10 minute talk on 7 mm Remington mag

[@bev8200]

Perfect for the man purse

[@jaredkeen324]

I can't use binoculars I can never find clear there's always a ring so I just use monoculars nice and clear and clean every time

[@akanonymoss]

I don't dislike Vortex, and have just bought an 8x RT solo on top of the many optics.... But my god, that was 15 minutes of utter bullshit.