What would be the best type of binoculars (magnification, objective, weight, etc) for an upcoming Alaskan Caribou hunt my dad and I are taking? I know next to nothing about binoculars (except you look in them and they make stuff bigger), and this is our first time Caribou hunting. We will be in either unit 20B or 20E north of 40 mile in the Yukon Charley Rivers national preserve if that helps...does a person want something in the 10x range? Thanks in advance
Northerner

A 10x would be a good choice as you can glass with a 10x hand held without issue. Please feel free to give us a call to discuss different options.

I bought 10X50. Since I don't plan to go back they are for sale.

10x42 is about the right compromise between using and carrying... you will spend a lot more time glassing than shooting, so do not go cheap...

The hard part about caribou hunting is holding off on them until you realize how big they really are. Most folks going self-guided convince themselves the first bull they see is huge... then they see a big one and it dwarfs theirs...

Thanks guys. I see Cabela's has a sale on BX3 Mojave 10x50mm for $269. In the limited research I have done, that seems like good binoculars for the money. Thoughts?

We can offer you a made in Germany Minox BL 10x44 HD for $299.99 which would be a far superior optic. Please feel free to give us a call to discuss.

I will add that I would talk with Doug or Neil and see what you can do buying a demo in installments. Get the best pair of binoculars that you can afford. They know their product. They also sell Leupold and can tell you their views on the leupold product as well.

Northener, PM sent.

Buy the Minox from Doug and be done with it

10x42's, the best you can afford. Skip the 10x50's, to big & heavy.

I recommend and use 10X, though anything from 7-10X would work just fine. Like others have said, prepare for lots of glassing and probably a good bit of hiking as well. A 10x42 is a very good compromise in ability and weight.

I believe you will be doing yourself a great disservice if you fail to talk with gr8fuldoug. That's Doug at Camera Land. He has responded twice here on this thread. Many of us here on the Campfire have done business with him. He knows his stuff, great to talk to, honest, and his prices are good. Phone Camera Land. Ask questions. They will respetfully guide and treat you right. IMHO

Very good glass at an extremely good price! That is 40% off B&H's internet discount price! I have several Minox bins and all have very good glass.

I bought the German Minox 10x44 Doug is talking about. I find it superior to my Vortex Viper 10x50's in view, sharpness and ergonomics.

In addition to the sharpness of the glass, I'm talking about little things that make a big difference in usability: like how the eye cups click solidly into place as you raise them up (or down when wearing glasses - with plenty of eye relief); how the diopter won't be easily bumped out of position, leaving you with a fuzzy image; how easily the lenses line up with my eyes so I don't have to jiggle them around, giving me a sharp view all the way out to the edges; how the focus is smoother and not as fast, making it easier to zero in on a target.

Doug told me the sharpness of this Minox is somewhere in between the Vortex Viper and the Vortex Razor - I haven't used the Razors, but from my experience with the Vipers, I believe him.

The Vipers go for $650 - the Minox is $299. You REALLY won't be disappointed!

I have used all three and agree with both of you.

If you want to save dollars, go Barska or Simmons. If you do not want headaches and want to see the caribou, try Zeiss, Leica Swarovski.

Wow!

Just Wow!

http://optics4rent.com/products.html

Just rent some top end glass and be done. You could get a set of 10s, tripod, and a spotter for your hunt and be money ahead on buying a set.

if that 10x44 is to big to pack on the hunt, the 8x33HD Minox is a good option....and a steal at the $250 at Cameraland...

8's are too small for that country, fine in wisconsin, not so much in the tundra. One will be wanting more.

LOL.

I agree with him... 10 is the way to go.

I agree as well. However, I'd rather have really good 8xs over only decent 10xs. 8x will get it done.

With no mention of a budget or already owning good 8xs, 10x would be better. SO, good advice...

Edit: And I can recommend Doug's Minox suggestion. They are alot of glass for the money.