The top trends in hunting binos for 2019? A wide selection of killer value, and plenty of long-distance-power options.
Leupold BX-2 Alpine Binoculars. Whatever and wherever you hunt, your glass needs to give you a bright image, feel comfortable in your hands, and be able to take a beating. The BX-2 Alpine binoculars check all these boxes and more. With Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System, this set of binoculars is designed to out-perform everything in its class when it comes to seeing more in less light; testing has shown they can add up to 20 extra minutes of shooting light. Even better? They’re waterproof/fogproof and backed by a Full Lifetime Guarantee. Steady your view for hours-long glassing sessions with included, easy-mounting 1/4-20 threaded tripod adapter. Available in 8×42 ($299.99), 10×42 ($324.99), 10×52 ($354.99), and 12×52 ($379.99).
Steiner BluHorizons 10×26 Binocular. Here’s something new in hunting optics. Billed as the world’s first sunlight adaptive binocular, the compact and affordable BlueHorizons 10×26 ($229.99) is designed to let you see all the action without troublesome glare. Exclusive AutoBright optics offset even the most dazzling light automatically, for the best view under the sun. 10x AutoBright magnification eliminates glare, evaporates distance, and offers welcome advantages for your next hunt or scouting trip. And at just 10.6 ounces, is compact and light enough to pack anywhere. 
TRACT TORIC 12.5×50 Binocular. Need more glassing power? Hunt the west? The latest from TRACT, inspired by consumer demand, might be your next bino. Featuring highly prized Schott HT (high transmission) glass for superior image quality, this bino combines this proven level of optical clarity and color brilliance with increased 12.5x magnification for improved long-range viewing. The combination of Fully Multicoated lenses and prisms, dielectric prism coatings and phase correction coatings ensures a higher level of light transmission over a larger part of the visible spectrum while the Flat Multicoating enhances the color brilliance and increases light transmission over a wide spectrum of light, especially in the green spectrum. Each TORIC 12.5×50 ($794) ships with a Neoprene neck strap, eyepiece rain guard, tethered/removeable objective lens covers and a micro fiber leaning cloth.
Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD. When “prime time” comes will you be ready? Many of us know that being able to spot the tiniest details in tough lighting conditions can make or break a hunt. That’s where the BX-5 Santiam HD was designed to excel. Featuring Leupold’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System, these premium binos were designed to deliver unmatched low-light performance, while virtually eliminating glare. Its elite optical system also delivers edge-to-edge sharpness and contrast for comfortable all-day glassing, and it’s rugged, armor-coated, waterproof body is built to take the abuse any backcountry adventure can dish out. Five models in this series include the amazing 15×56 ($1,819.99) that, when paired with a tripod, will have you leaving your favorite spotter behind for its versatility and incredible all-day glassing comfort. 
Bushnell Forge 15×56. Every detail matters to avid hunters and expert shooters. Bushnell Forge binoculars are built with the most-exacting specs to ensure nothing is missed, and for 2019 there’s more good news: This fine lineup has expanded to include the far-reaching 15×56 model ($829.99). Every element in the Forge optical path features the very best coatings Bushnell has to offer. The brightness, resolution and color produced by Forge binoculars are designed to be the best in class; industry leading features include the EXO Barrier—A protective coating that bonds to exterior lenses, repelling water, oil, dust and debris for clear viewing in even the worst weather. Ultra Wide Band Coating is an anti-reflection coating for lenses and prism for the absolute brightest images, and PC-3 Phase Coating is applied to the prisms to enhance resolution and contrast.
Steiner Predator AF 8×30. There’s nothing like a truly versatile binocular wrapped in a go-anywhere compact design. Steiner’s unique, advanced CAT (Color Adjusted Transmission) lens technology lets you see deer and other game that are hiding in foliage and shade, and even better, the new Predator AF keeps prey in focus at any speed, any distance. Grab this waterproof, fogproof bino and you’ll find bright 3-D depth and detail that will enhance your target in all conditions. Also available in 10×42 ($459.99), the Predator AF 8×30 ($344.99) features a bombproof Makrolon body and agile open-bridge design for razor-sharp hunting and scouting anywhere.
Nikon MONARCH HG 8×30 & 10×30. How do you make an award-winning binocular better? Make it smaller. The all-new 8×30 ($949.95) and 10×30 ($969.95) additions to the Monarch HG series were built from the ground up to achieve class-ruling optical performance, unrivaled ruggedness and exceptional handling. Because a binocular of this caliber must perform without weighing you down, MONARCH HG’s body is die-cast magnesium alloy. The slim body profile is further enhanced with rubberized panels to provide a sure grip in any conditions. Even better, Nikon’s No-Fault Repair/Replacement Policy protects them for life. You’ll also find high-quality multilayer coating applied to all lenses and prisms, while dielectric high-reflective multilayer coating is applied to the roof prisms, achieving a bright view of up to 92 percent or higher light transmittance, and natural color fidelity.
Maven C.3 Binocular. Here’s a dependable and powerful hunting optic that’s also nicely affordable. Offered in 10×50 ($400) and 12×50 ($425) models, the Maven C.3 features a large 50mm objective lens with crystal clear extra low-dispersion (ED) glass, fully multi-coated lenses, and a durable, yet lightweight polymer frame. At 28 ounces, it is one of the lightest mid-sized binoculars in its category. It utilizes a dielectric coated Schmidt-Pechan prism system to produce a clear, bright, and high-contrast image. Waterproof, fogproof, and scratch resistant lens coatings ensure unimpeded field use. 
Simmons Venture Binoculars. Hunting on a budget? Tired of hunting optics sticker shock? Simmons has developed a new lineup that won’t let you down when you’ve waited hours or even days for an opportunity of a lifetime. Specifically designed for hunters, Venture binoculars ($19.99 to $64.99) will make sure you’re ready when the chance presents itself. Fully multicoated lenses transmit the maximum amount of light, revealing the finest of details even at first and last light when game is most active. Available in five configurations, these weather-resistant binoculars can go anywhere, arming you with quality optics when you need it most. Carrying case, neck strap and lens cloth are included. 
Hawke Frontier ED X Binoculars. Here’s another stand-out value in quality hunting optics. The Frontier ED X offers exceptional clarity at a price far lower ($339 for 8X42; $349 for 10X42) than you’d guess, and they come complete with a lifetime warranty. Hawke starts with Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass that provides premium optical clarity. From there, Hawke uses Dielectric Coating that increases the reflectivity of the light coming into the lens. They then fully multi-coat the optics to further sharpen the clarity of the image you see, especially at greater distances.
