The BEST Binoculars Under $600 - Vortex Viper HD

In this video, I share what binocular pair I've been running the last few years out hunting and just tagging along on the ranch I live on. In my experience, this is THE BEST binocular under $600, and normally you can find it even cheaper than that. I share some of my experiences glassing up bears at extreme distances and how I mount it in the field to a glassing platform.
As always, please Like, Share, Subscribe! For more western outdoor content, you'll find it here on SawtoothWild. God bless!

[@benmathew3999]

First video I’ve watched. I really appreciated your demeanor. You seem real, genuine, no bs, not over produced or scripted. Just like talking about the stuff you use over a beer at the bed of a truck. Well done.

[@SawtoothWild]

Thank you sir! That's exactly what I want people to think of me through watching my channel, as I myself enjoy watching people low that. Thanks for visiting!

[@Bob-fs9jw]

Video was totally worth the watch for the ending comments about your horse alone - LOL Thanks for the review - I went ahead and bought the 10x50 Vipers. They will be my first pair of quality binos.

[@SawtoothWild]

I had to replay this video to my wife and she laughed at my horse comment too haha, I forgot what I even said. Thanks for watching!! Good luck this year 👍

[@connornevitt]

Just snagged mine for $370 (10x) plus tax from Dick's! Feel like i got a steal. Thanks for the vid, by far the best on this particular set I've seen

[@SawtoothWild]

Thanks for watching!! Hope those Vipers work well for you and you slay some big game 👑

[@joncavallo4391]

Good honest review! 12x50's is what I'd probably get to upgrade over the Diamondback 12x50 I have! I also have the Diamondback 15x56. Location in SW Wyoming. High desert Antelope country. Neither are bad for open country, but I'd prefer a little better light gathering ability at dawn and dusk prime time movement. Also locking diopter. I have a 7mag and 6.5 PRC to cover my shooting game out here that covers the big 3, Elk, Mule deer, and Antelope. Most shots would be 400 yards or less. Need better glass to make sure both Elk and Mule deer are legal point wise on one side. Not looking for record book game. Loves my wild meat to put on the table😊

[@SawtoothWild]

Dude I saw soooo many antelope just north of Rock Springs, never knew Wyoming had that many antelope!!

[@joncavallo4391]

@@SawtoothWild Iz where Iz lives👍

[@darryld9719]

Japan Glass and quality is on the high end level....not to be mixed in with China......also heard Philippines is making them.....thx for the vid!

[@commonsense5709]

Apparently they're now made in China.

[@alexandergutierrez2546]

Just got mine delivered today they’re the V201 but say they’re made in Philippines. Should I trade and find ones made in Japan?

[@SawtoothWild]

I have the ones made in Philippines, and I LOVE them

[@CodyLeon]

I’m looking for my first pair mainly for hiking and camping but also want to get into range shooting this year I think these might be a good pair to interchange between both hobbies

[@SawtoothWild]

I'd definitely give them a try!

[@zacharyzambrana9360]

Just picked these up for 320 after taxes at cabelas. 200 off on their cyber deal. Crazy cheap

[@majorstokem8839]

Thank you, nice video.... I appreciate it.

[@SawtoothWild]

Thanks for watching!!

[@vikinona]

The older model had better light transmission and was sharp throughout the field of view and didn't have distortion like the new one

[@SawtoothWild]

I disagree. When I handled the older model I wanted to put it down the moment I held it lol. Nothing about it said it was high quality or anywhere near worth $500-600. My opinion immediately changed when I held the new model for the first time, and I walked out of the store with it that day because I was so impressed

[@commonsense5709]

The older ones were made in Japan and the new ones Philippines or China.

[@patricj951]

I cannot comment about that. But I noticed while the older model(I have 6x32 made in Japan) works well with eyeglasses, the new model of 8x42 does not. The new line has wider field of view, and Vortex has sacrificed eye relief for field of view.

[@SawtoothWild]

@patricj951 I think that's just the nature of the beast, when you have that much more magnification and larger objective. I'm not sure Vortex sacrificed anything, it's just where modern technology is right now. Are you saying you're seeing a wider field with 8x than with the previous 6x? Because that would seriously be impressive on Vortex' part

[@patricj951]

@@SawtoothWild The older line of Viper HD has 48deg AFOV(6x32) and ~50deg AFOV with 8x42 and 10x50. These provide full open view with eyeglasses. The new 8x42 I tested has 62deg AFOV. That is good. But the most of high class 8x42s today still works good with eyeglasses. The new Viper HD 8x42 did not. If I recall right, the design of the eyecup is not optimal and the eye lens is unnecessary recessed from the eyecup edge even with the eyecup in lowest position.

[@patricj951]

I have the former Viper HD in 6x32. Excellent binocular good with eyeglasses I will never get rid of. But I was dissapointed when I tried the new Viper HD 8x42 and it does not work well with eyeglasses.

[@commonsense5709]

Is yours made in Japan, Philippines or China? If you're accident prone or really rough with your equipment then Vortex is the only way to go. At least you don't need to baby their products due to their fantastic no questions asked VIP Lifetime warranty. The Vortex Viper is currently on sale for $299 at Bass Pro and Cabela's and there's a dealer selling it for $200 shipped if he hasn't already sold out by now.

[@SawtoothWild]

Mine are made in China

[@RomyArms]

Wonder why the " new" vipers are made I'm china. I guess I have the older version I just bought and they are made in the Phillipines...

[@commonsense5709]

I caved and bought a Chinese Viper HD 10x50 and it's actually not bad aside from the chromatic aberration it's pretty clear. In fact, the Viper HDs are almost as clear as my dirt cheap $65 ScoopX UHD 10x42s also made in China which have far less chromatic aberration.

[@TreenighetMaranata]

Which magnification in that series do you think would work best if you wear glasses, 12, 10 or 8? I hope it works at least as well regardless of the magnification you need / want! Btw, thanks for your honest shared thoughts / review! 🤗

[@davegrenier1160]

There is no "best" magnification. Higher magnification usually means "heavier." Are you willing to tote heavier bins? (Although you can save weight with smaller objective lenses at any given magnification, but you give up some twilight time, because a smaller objective lets in less light so the bins become useless earlier in the evening than bins of the same magnification, but with larger objective lenses.) Also, the higher the magnification, the more shake (from the user, the wind, or the throb of the engine on a ferry). How steady are your hands? Twelve power is considered a practical limit for hand-holding by most people. But eight or ten power is a more common option because a steadier-looking view is more easily attainable with them. Fifteen and up are only practical when supported (partly because they're considerably heavier than 8 or 10 powers bins, and partly because the "shake magnification" effect that increases with higher magnification). A good way to see what's good for you is to find a group birding walk in your area and attend it. Ask the other birders if you can try out their bins. They will surely accommodate you. You'll get to try a variety of magnifications, and judge for yourself how well you can handle them.

[@patricj951]

Usually lower magnification provides longer eye relief, with same aperture. A 10x50 often has similar eye relief as 8x42 but 10x42 is worse than 8x42 and 12x50 worse than 10x50.

[@bobd8553]

Did they change the style again? Mine say viper HD on the focus knob, I don't see your style on the website either? Thanks

[@SawtoothWild]

This is what I reviewed in this video: vortexoptics.com/vortex-viper-hd-12x50-binocular.html

[@bobd8553]

@@SawtoothWild thanks for the reply, I just noticed that yours say "VIPER "on the front and the one on the link/website does not, just "vortex".

[@SawtoothWild]

@@bobd8553 Wow you're absolutely right. I never noticed. The older model looked nothing like the pair I show in the video or the website link, it has a different body, color, and focusing knob. It appears I have a slight variation than the photos on the website. I can't explain that! I bought my pair from Murdoch's Ranch Supply in my town in Montana

[@bobd8553]

@@SawtoothWild So I actually called vortex out of curiosity. and they said the new model has the "hard plastic diopter focus ring" , the older model has a softer one. Also I asked about the differing logos, and they said they had to make some changes for some legal reason or something along those lines. From the research I have done, the older models are made in Japan and came with a black bag and newer are Philippines with tan chest rig. Bob

[@SawtoothWild]

@@bobd8553 That's interesting. Yes the much older model is very different. Mine came with the tan Vortex chest harness, I sold that. My pair isn't made in Japan OR The Philippines, it says its made in China (sticker on the binos). And I don't understand why the "Viper" label on the outside is different as the photos on the website, Vortex didn't explain why the one on the site doesn't match the one I have.

[@marke.8334]

Leupold bx4 is a better binocular on par with the razor, every vortex binocular is overpriced and I've looked through them all except the crossfire. The only exception would be the vortex kaibab in the 20x magnification that binocular was priced fairly.

[@SawtoothWild]

Yeah except you pay $30 more MSRP for the Leupold, yet get almost an entire degree less in field of view (5.5° VS 4.8°), which translates to 37ft less @ 1k yards. No thanks! Plus the Leupold's exil pupil is smaller, AND close focus is further. The ONLY win on Leupold's side is the third of an ounce in weight savings.

[@marke.8334]

@@SawtoothWild and the quality of glass, I'm not concerned with roughly 10 yard difference in field of view at 1k when the view is better

[@SawtoothWild]

@@marke.8334 Well that's subjective

[@marke.8334]

@@SawtoothWild well it's not subjective is exit pupil size, you claim that the viper has a bigger exit pupil but all binoculars do the same magnification and objective lens have the exact same size exit pupil.

[@SawtoothWild]

@@marke.8334 The information I stated was from the manufacturers' websites themselves, both for a 12x50mm bino. Bx4 VS ViperHD. Those aren't my opinions, those are facts, from the makers' sites. What IS an opinion is what glass is clearer, or better color, or sharper, or absorbs more light, etc.