My son will be starting to hunt this year and I want to buy him his own binocs. Being he is only 10 and learning to hunt/glass, I want something easy to carry as well as easy on the eyes so I am thinking an 8x32 class binoc. I hunt with Leica optics, so obviously we wont be going that fancy, but I also dont want to buy him bubble wrap junk.

I was thinking about a pair of New Vortex Diamonback 8x32's or possibly a Zeiss Terra 8x32? Thoughts? Suggestions? Max budget of probably around $300.

Thanks
Adam

I picked up a set of Vortex Diamondback gen1s 10x42s last Christmas for my dad. They're not as good as my Vipers but for $120 they are pretty good. They are better than my ~8 year old Leupold Cascades (~$200-300 range IIRC).

I have the Leopold Yosemite in 6x for that purpose. They are great for a little kids face and very good optics

+1. Very good choice. Excellent quality.

My kids use Steiner 8x30s, they are 8 and 11. The no focusing thing they have is nice for them and me as they are not always fussing with the focus.

I bought my 5 year old a Yosemite 6x30 in pink camo. They're a decent binocular and fit her pretty well. You could do a lot worse for a first binocular.

+1

Got a set of these for my wife and she is very happy with them!

Another vote for the Yosemites.........though they might not track.......

Don't overlook the Redfield Rebels...

I have two pairs... For $100, they are hard to beat...

appreciate the feedback but kind of thinking maybe a step above those opitically...Little outside of budget at $360 but thoughts on these..

http://gpo-usa.com/products/experiences/hunting/3/passion-8x32ed?c=42

The GPO's look good. But how about the Zeiss Terra ED 8x32 for $249 delivered?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._terra_binocular_8x32_edition_under.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZEISS-8X32-TERRA-ED-GREY-/322697060602?_trksid=p2349526.m2548.l4275

Just saw those on ebay and pulled the trigger. Those are ordered and on the way! should be good optics and nice and lightweight.

Seems pretty hard to beat for the price.

Adam,

You are going to have to pay a LOT more than $360 for roof-prism binoculars that will beat the optical quality of the Porro-Prism Yosemites.

It's too long a story to get into details here, but I ended up using my 6x30 Yosemite on a grizzly hunt in Alaska a few years ago. It worked great, with zero eyestrain, and was totally adequate when the bear I got showed up a mile away.

Plus, if your kid damages them (something kids can do with optics) they don't cost nearly as much as the others you're thinking about.

Now, if you're thinking about something more expensive so you can borrow the "kid" binocular now and then, well go ahead. But I still have that same Yosemite and use it quite a bit. It's not a toy.

Another HUGE vote for the 6x30 Yosemites...a great deal more usable glass than people expect.

+10 for the 6x30 Yosemites. I originally got them for spotting crab pots - cheap, clear, 6x for easy use in a rocking boat, and I wouldn't be too upset if they went overboard.

They are now my favorite for hiking and hunting when hoofing it up and down the hills as they are so light.

Yep. And the Terra isn't a bargain at any discount price.

The Yosemites 6x30 are enthusiastically recommended for a reason! Damn good binox, and gets my vote.

Easy to carry, good glass...

Leupold BX-3 Mojave 8x32s are hard to beat and recently were on sale for $199.99 at Cabelas.

Hairing8,

I recently bought Leupold 8x25 Compact binocs, for their light weight and low price ($80). for closer-range hunts and ease of carry when my Leica 10x42's are simply not needed. I must say I am really impressed with the optical clarity of these binocs! Check out reviews.

I'm joining the pack. The Leupold Yosemites in 6x30 are my travel with, take everywhere, lend to anyone bino's. They are amazing optically and no one knows that I only paid $67 for them on a Black Friday sale.

And they are the only ones that my grandkids can handle that are still impressive to adults - light weight, small size (OK for large hands but ideal for small hands), and a very close interpupillary distance for small faces.

I still take my German-made Minox 10x44 HD's as my primary hunting bino, but I never go anywhere without the Yosemites.

My nephews daughter's hunt with him. He gave them some cheap binoculars. One of them told him, "these binoculars are crappy!" I sent them each a pair of Leupold 6x30 Yosemites. I have heard no complaints and I am now held in a little higher regard.

It's somthing that will last him for years so I would not be afraid of spending a little more....remember Gino's get used more than jus about any other piece of gear....and are very important in identifying game and making good decisions....
I use Lica also. But that's probably out of most budgets....I handed down tto my son my leupolds when I got my Lica...he has been happy with them for close to 20 years...I have looked through som new leupolds and am impresed

Great reviews for those 6x30 Yosemite binos. Looking for something for my 11 year old and I've found that most (all) that we have tried so far are too wide for his eyes. Was hoping to find something in an 8x32, but maybe I'll just order a pair of these Leupold binos.

The Yosemite 6x have been great for my 8 yr old. I have been really impressed with image quality. We were in Yellowstone NP last weekend and with a bit of guidance on IP distance adjustment and focus he was telling us about the details of the differences between juvenile and adult trumpeter swans and how many points the bull elk on the Mammoth hot spring lawn had - 7x7! The only criticism I have about the Yosemites is the eye cups push back in too easily. A rubber band o an o ring or 2 would be an easy fix.

Id recommend the Vortex Viper 6x30’s. I use and abuse mine for turkey hunting. Like them better than the Yosemite 6x30 but that’s my personal preference too. Don’t know if they still make them?

Marty, that particular model (Viper 6x32) had been discontinued.
And apparently the guys that have them (self included) aren't parting with them because they don't show up very often on the used market.
Well, that, or they didn't sell many in the first place.

Yosimites are perfect for a kid. Tape the eye cups in place. I have the 8x42 Diamondbacks as well and they might not fit his face.

I got my daughter Monarch 7 8x30 and l will be stealing them this elk season as she's staying at home

I'm looking to get my kids (5yo daughter, 9yo son) their own binos now that they are wanting to hunt with me more. the Yosemites are great but have really come up in price since I bought the pair for my wife a few years ago. is there anything comparable?

These are a clone to the Leupold Mojave 8x32, which surprisingly is a really, really good binocular.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-GUIDE-SERIES-BINOCULARS/1821456.uts

http://www.cabelas.com/product/VORT...fw_XEAQYASABEgKM5vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

And done!

Not a bad choice and significantly lighter than the Yosemite. But it is also quite a bit more expensive.

For $350 you can get Nikon Monarch 7 8X30's - only problem with them is that you may want to keep them for yourself.....

If you can wait until Christmas, they always go on sale for about $139. Buy once cry once. I have a lot more expensive binocs, and I always grab these. Lifetime warranty to boot.

I bought the Yosemite 8x for my grandson's first elk hunt this year when my daughter looked through them and found the price she bought the 10x version for her boyfriend who is coming on his 1st elk hunt as well. They have very decent resolution and are a terrific bargain. I like the Steiner focus free idea for kids too.

Another vote for the Yosemite. Surprisingly good for the price point. I bought a pard the Yosemite’s for his b-day over a decade ago, and they’re still the first bino’s he grabs when heading out.

+1 for the Nikon MONARCH 7 8x30 bino's. Great price and clarity. I have been hauling a pair around with me for 2 years now and as you can see form the pic they have taken a bit of abuse. The size and weight make them easy to carry around your neck for long periods of time. I always take this pair with me waterfowl and turkey hunting.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/MONARCH%207%20Bino/IMG_7026.jpg

I have them and use them. Is it just mine, or are the eye cups garbage? I use electrical tape to hold them in place but I wonder who designed them.

The eyecups are definitely garbage. I bought a pair of the 8's last year (2016 version) and the eyecups would collapse as soon as you touched them to your face. I sent them back to Leupold and they send me a new pair (2017 version) and they were slightly better but still not right. I did end up keeping them and putting electrical tape on the eyecups to hold them in place which works ok since they are pickup binocs that I only use occasionally.

drover

The Kowa 6x30's are basically identical to the original Yosemite 6x30's, and I've found them to have better eyecups and a stiffer focusing action. I have both, however, and use them interchangeably. Using the Kowa/Leupold 6x30's has changed my mind about the necessity of expensive binoculars for anything other than long-distance, long-duration, glassing.

Link to the Kowa's:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/850076-REG/Kowa_YF30_6_YF_6x30_Binocular_Black.html