No matter how experienced of a hunter you are, having the right equipment including the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting will make all the difference in the world.
Quality binoculars can make all the difference when it comes to sighting your target.
The best binoculars for low-light hunting should provide clear vision in any weather conditions, including fog and rain, but be compact enough to carry around with you on long walks.
In this article, we’ll review some of the top-rated binoculars from brands such as Bushnell that are ideal for hunting in low-light situations and even on cloudy days as well.
List Of 9 Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting :
1. Bushnell PermaFocus Binocular
As binoculars go, these are absolutely classic.
They are waterproof, come with non-slip rubber armour and have a 50-mm lens diameter.
One of their very important features is that they come with the PermaFocus feature that allows you to adjust each ocular (lens) individually to get sharp focus on an object.
These binoculars weigh 885 grams which is quite heavy and hence it may cause neck strain especially when used for a long time.
The field of view offered by Bushnell PermaFocus 10x50mm is 865 feet at 1000 yards or 2.03 meters at 250 meters which is amazing considering its weight and size.
2. Celestron SkyMaster Binoculars
You’re not going to find a better pair of binoculars at a lower price of just $109
Celestron SkyMaster which is one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting
They are large and heavy but that is because they offer 25X magnification, which is especially helpful in low-light hunting situations.
There is a rubber coating on each side of these binoculars, which gives them added protection against knocks and bumps.
The rubber protects your hands from getting sweaty or slipping when using them.
These lenses also have 0.51 inches of eye relief, which makes it easy to focus on what you’re looking at even with glasses on.
It also has an adjustable eyecup, so if you wear glasses you can adjust how far away from your eyes it sits.
3. Vortex Optics Razor HD Binoculars
The Vortex Optics Razor HD binoculars are one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting
Its light transmission is very good, however, and in low-light situations, its 50mm objective lenses and 10x magnification give it an edge over other products.
What you see through these binoculars appears bright and crisp at all times.
With a field of view of 321 feet at 1,000 yards, these Vortex binos have a small viewing area, so you’ll want to make sure your target is in sight before using them.
They’re also waterproof with multi-position eyecups that provide adequate comfort when wearing them over long periods of time.
4. Occer 888635 Low Light Binoculars
Occer is one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting that provide a great solution to conditions that cause nighttime visibility issues.
It has a variety of features such as waterproof, fog-resistant, and rubber armor to reduce wear and tear.
The 888635 binoculars provide 20mm eye relief so they’re easier to use while wearing eye protection.
There is a hard-focus knob on these binoculars making them easy to use and accessorize with a tripod adapter so you can attach them to a tripod easily.
These binoculars weigh about 0.65 pounds and come with front lens covers, eyepiece caps, and objective lens cover, as well as objective lens caps to keep everything protected in storage or transit.
5. Aurosports Folding High-Powered Binoculars
You might be surprised to learn just how important it is to have a high-quality pair of binoculars.
For hunting, especially in low light, it’s not simply enough to have optical magnification – you need something that won’t obscure your view with lens fog and lets you see in all lighting conditions.
The Aurosports Folding High Powered Binoculars fit these needs perfectly and it is one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting.
They offer unparalleled performance at an affordable price and can help you identify your target—and pull off a clean shot—no matter what time of day it is.
Best of all, they are waterproof, lightweight, and easy to fold up and carry around.
It also offers a wider field and 14mm of eye relief.
These binos might be small but they definitely deliver big results! Get yours today from Amazon
6. Adorrgon Lightweight Binoculars
These Adorrgon binoculars are perfect for low light hunting situations and are considered one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting.
They are made of tough material that won’t break when it comes in contact with water, and they weigh less than a pound, making them easy to carry around.
They have a large field of view so you can easily focus on your target and zoom in on them.
These binoculars provide 12x magnification and a 367ft/1000yds large field of view as well, so you’ll get an excellent close-up view of your target while keeping it far away from you.
It also has a brighter image than its competitors with 10X zoom, which makes it excellent for low light conditions where targets would usually be harder to see.
7. Binoteck 10×42 Binoculars for Adults (Professional HD Roof BAK4 Prism Lens Binoculars for Bird Watching, Hunting, Travel, and Sports )
With a waterproof rating of 5 feet, these binoculars are ideal for hunters who may be out in inclement weather and this has been tagged as one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting
They’re also built to last, so you won’t have to worry about them getting beat up if you’re on a hike or excursion.
However, they can be quite uncomfortable to use during long periods due to their size.
The 10mm eye relief is also less than some other binoculars on our list, making it tough to see when moving around.
While 42mm is larger than most binocular lenses, 12X magnification can leave objects looking blurry at times.
On Amazon, it has been rated 4.6 out of 5 which is quite good
8. ATHLON OPTICS MIDAS ROOF PRISM UHD BINOCULARS
Athlon Midas Roof Prism binoculars are ideal in low light conditions so you won’t go wrong if you purchase this awesome or one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting.
They have a wide field of view, multi-coated lens, waterproof and 25oz weight.
The Midas series has really impressive glass, which offers maximum brightness.
If you’re going to hunt early or late in the day when you need more light, you’ll love how they handle shadows and cloud cover — they really stand out in those scenarios.
But because of their 8X magnification and 42mm objective lens offers crispier and clear images.
Sometimes the lens caps fall easily which can be frustrating while hunting.
9. SKYGENIUS 10×50 POWERFUL BINOCULARS
SKYGENIUS 10×50 POWERFUL BINOCULARS is one of the Best Binoculars for Low Light Hunting
The binoculars have got rubber armoring and are shock resistant, waterproof, etc. to survive in tough conditions.
Adjustable eyecups allow for different eye-relief ranges, you can adjust it as you like to see clear images and distinct objects from up close or at a far distance too.
Easy focus with a non-slip grip makes it easy to bring them into focus whether there is good light or no light.
These compact binoculars with 50mm lenses are powerful enough to help you see clearly in low light hunting conditions.
Buyer’s Guide on Best binoculars for low light hunting
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Weight
This is perhaps one of the most important features to consider when buying binoculars.
You want them to be lightweight, but not so much that they feel cheap and flimsy. Don’t forget that you will be wearing these around your neck or in a pack.
Binoculars that weigh too much won’t be comfortable to use or wear over long periods of time, especially if you are doing strenuous activity such as hiking or hunting in a bushcraft situation.
That said, it is also important to keep weight down as much as possible so you don’t ruin your experience and hurt yourself due to carrying heavy equipment with you all day long.
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Eye relief
Anyone who wears glasses knows that there are a lot of binoculars on today’s market that don’t have very good eye relief.
Glasses-wearers need at least 16mm of eye relief to keep their specs from getting in their way.
Less than 15mm and you risk fogging up your lenses or putting pressure on your temples.
If a pair of binos don’t provide enough space, you might want to get yourself some backup glasses and wear them while using binoculars – or look for another model with better eye relief.
A note about diopters: You may notice that some brands list diopter adjustment instead of eye relief.
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Magnification
Before we get into low light capabilities, let’s discuss magnification.
In most cases, a higher magnification means you can see further, but when it comes to binoculars there are exceptions.
For example, if you need to handhold your binocular then getting a high-magnification set may not be a good idea.
They tend to be heavier and more difficult to hold steady which causes movement in your field of view, making it harder to spot your prey.
This is why we recommend going with a mid-range magnification that isn’t too high or too low – usually around 8x or 10x is ideal for most people.
Also take note of exit pupil size which tells you how much light reaches your eye at one time.
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Field of View
A larger field of view (FOV) will provide a wider perspective of your surroundings. More coverage means less panning around and missing out on possible sightings.
We recommend choosing binoculars with a field of view ranging from 30 to 50 feet at 1000 yards—which is roughly equivalent to 7x-15x magnification.
Anything less than that range will likely be too zoomed in and may not give you enough detail; anything more than that could cause strain on your eyes, making them fatigued more quickly when trying to identify shapes and patterns.
This can make spotting game much harder in low light situations, especially when hunters must stay still or slow their pace while stalking an animal.
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Lens
The lens is what will determine how much light gets through your binoculars.
Generally, bigger lenses are better than smaller ones as long as they aren’t too heavy for you to hold onto. They’ll also generally cost more money.
If you’re planning on low-light hunting in a very dark area, it may be worth it to go with a high-powered lens (and pay more).
The downside of bigger lenses is that they can be more susceptible to breaking if dropped or knocked against something.
It also depends on your personal preference—if you like a certain size lens, don’t feel pressured into getting one that’s larger just because it has higher magnification capabilities.
If you’re looking at a pair of binos, read up on its transmission (how much light it lets in). The transmission figures usually range from 25% to 90%, with 80% being average.
If your budget allows, look for a pair with a transmission above 80%. Otherwise, you should be fine with anything above 50%.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What binocular magnification is best for hunting?
It all depends on what you’re hunting.
If you plan to hunt in open fields, having a good magnification isn’t as important as it is if you’re trying to sneak up on a deer in thick woods.
But what should you consider when choosing magnification?
The most important aspect of your magnification is its ability to enhance image quality so that colors are well-defined and light conditions aren’t compromised.
A binocular with multi-coated lenses that prevent glare will help you more than anything else—and something like 8x or 10x magnification will be good to go in on your target without sacrificing field of view.
2. What is low light night vision binoculars?
A pair of binoculars is more often used than night vision goggles because they are easily portable and cost effective.
Some applications that call for low light binoculars include bird watching, star gazing, hunting or fishing at dusk or dawn and general security surveillance.
How much you need to spend on a pair of these devices will depend on how they will be used.
For example, if you only want to use them occasionally at night as a hobby, then a cheaper pair may work just fine.
However, if you plan to use them regularly in low light conditions then you may want to invest in something more expensive that will better suit your needs.
The cheapest pair can be found under $100 and most high-end models cost over $1000.00.
3. Is night vision better than thermal?
The answer depends on what you are trying to do and how much you are willing to spend.
Night vision uses an infrared illuminator to create an image, while thermal (infrared) imagers work by sensing temperature.
Having said that, low-light night-vision binoculars tend to be more expensive than thermal units.
If your priority is to locate animals at night without scaring them away, go with a pair of low-light night-vision binoculars.
Some of these also come with IR illuminators, which give you the option of switching between active (image acquisition) and passive (not scaring off nearby animals) modes.
Also Read: GoPro for Hunting
Conclusion about Best binoculars for low light hunting
If you are hunting or hiking in low light conditions and need to do a lot of glassing, look no further than a decent pair of binoculars.
There are tons out there, so make sure you take your time and pick one that works for you.
If price is an issue, don’t be afraid to check out lower-end models.
While they might not have all of the bells and whistles of more expensive ones, they will get the job done—no matter what it is.
This will allow you to save up some cash in case a big buck walks by!
Hopefully, our guide helps get you pointed in the right direction when shopping around for your next pair of binos!
And remember—sometimes less is more!
