Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics New Bino Advice

My daughter is thinking she may want to come along deer hunting this year. It’s a lot more fun if you have some binos, so I was thinking this would be an opportunity for me to upgrade and she can use my old ones.

My current binos are Cabelas Alaska Guide 8x42. They weren’t cheap when I got them, but they are about 20 years old. I have really enjoyed them and still like them a lot. At the time, I had planned to buy some Pentaxes at Cabelas in Sidney, NE, but the salesman talked me into looking at some others. The only ones that were better were Swarovski ELs at about 3.5x the price - they weren’t that much better. They are good binos. At times, I would like a little more magnification

I have been doing a little research and have read some excellent reviews on the Maven B2 / Sig Zulu 9 9x45. I happened to spot the Sigs on a really good clearance for $750 and ordered them. It was kind of spur of the moment. I haven’t received them yet, but am kind of second guessing the size/weight.

Doing some more research, the Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 looks really attractive - much smaller/lighter - more in scale to my Alaska Guides.

Has anyone here owned by the Nikon HG and the Maven / Sig 9x45s? Any thoughts/advice if you have?

As a long standing supporting vendor on this forum it would be our pleasure to discuss options and special opportunities with you. Please give us a call, 516-217-1000, if you have a few minutes

Tract.
I don’t know how soon you need them but they have occasional sales 100$ off or open box/demos for good discounts.
You won’t be disappointed with them

That Sig and Maven 9x are clones of each other, and way too big and bulky IMO. The Tract rec is a good one.

Whatever version you like & are willing to pay for, as long as it says Leica on it; buy once, cry once.

If you don't want any of them, then it really doesn't matter much.

MM

Just want to add that a lot has changed in 20 years. Competition has increased and made better images much more affordable. Remember how you had to go up in rifle scope model lines to get something fully multicoated or with click adjustments?

A new set of glass with good dielectric coatings will WOW you at how bright they can be and not have to cost you an arm and a leg.

Thanks for the input. I’ll probably give Doug a call.