Binoculars are the true friend of hunters, security workers, surveillance workers, and border patrol agents! If you belong in any of these groups, you need the best binoculars that work to your avail. The market has so many options for you to choose from.
One of the best hunting binoculars in the market today is the Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars 10×42. This is a very premium binocular that is preferred by many professionals, hunters, and other surveillance workers. Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars 10×42 come with all the best features for your needs. We will do a part-by-part breakdown here for you to see why we are calling this the best binocular on the market!
Features
There are many features that set the Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars 10×42 apart from all the other competitors on the market. We will go through each of the features you need for hunting and other surveillance and discuss them at some length to understand.
Here we go!
Brand
Vortex is one of the best brands that manufacture the best hunting gears. Their product line includes rangefinders, riflescopes, spotting scopes, tripods, and so on. Their products come with a guarantee of satisfaction and an unlimited and unconditional lifetime warranty.
Vortex has a strict quality inspection and checking administration. You can be certain that they take their brand promise seriously.
Specs
Let’s first look at the specs of the Vortex Viper HD-
| Magnification | 10x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 42 mm |
| Eye Relief | 17 mm |
| Exit Pupil | 4.2 mm |
| Linear Field of View | 341 feet/1000 yards |
| Angular Field of View | 6.5 degrees |
| Close Focus | 6 feet |
| Interpupillary Distance | 55-74 mm |
| Height | 5.6 inches |
| Width | 4.9 inches |
| Weight | 24.9 oz |
This is a mid-range binocular with all the best qualities you can find on the market for this budget.
Design
The design is a very important factor for a binocular. The design avails portability, holding, and overall functionality of the binocular.
Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars come with a sturdy design that allows for the durability and long-lasting nature you look for in a binocular. The design is a tried and tested design, it was used in their previous models, and because of the success of those models, Vortex optics didn’t change much. Just enough to contain the upgrades they have brought on this model.
The design is ergonomic and is very comfortable to hold in your hands. That is important because, in outdoor conditions, the slightest bit of discomfort can cause many issues.
Objective Lens
The Objective lens is the maker of the image inside your binocular. It is the first apparatus that catches the light and lets it in through the other apparatuses. The bigger the Objective lens is diameter, the more light will come through, and the clearer images will form.
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binocular has an objective lens is 42 mm. It falls on the higher range of lens diameter for binoculars that makes clearer images.
Prism Style
There are many types of prism in binoculars. The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have a roof prism. Roof prisms are known to reflect the light 5 times and render clear images for you. It is an industry-grade prism for the best and lightest binoculars on the market.
Prism Coating
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars come with XR anti-reflective coating on the lens and prism. What this does is it takes in more light. It is ever so common that some of the light gets reflected when the light strikes the lens. This causes the image to become blurry and unclear.
The anti-reflective coating makes sure the light reflection stays at the minimum. Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars can produce very clear and crisp images because of the quality of the prism. It can form good images even in low light conditions.
The prism is layered with Dielectric coating; this protects the color of the image.
Outer Body Strength
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have a tough outer shell that is durable and sturdy. The strength of the outer shell is complemented by ArmorTek technology that allows a hard, scratch proof outer layer. It can resist oil and dirt.
The outer layer also has rubber armor that provides a non slip grip and gives durable protection to the body.
Most other brands on the market do not have that quality.
Weather Proofing
Weatherproofing of the binocular is one of the most major features needed to be checked for in a binocular.
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have O-ring seals that keep water away from getting inside the binocular. This can keep away moisture, dirt, and debris away from the binocular.
Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars also have argon gas purging that prevents internal fogging. You can use this binocular for any weather conditions.
Field of View
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have a wide field of view. It has a field of view of 319 feet at 1000 yards distance. This is not very high, but good enough for hunting.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is the cushioning between your eyes and your binoculars exit pupil. It needs to be soft because otherwise, it can be hard to use. Especially for people who wear glasses, eye reliefs are important.
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have a 16.5 mm eye relief. It is not too long, but it is more than enough!
Convenience Features
There are other features that do not really hamper the binocular’s functionality but are very handy to have. Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars have some features along that line.
There is a large center focus wheel that can be used by one finger; this allows you to focus the lenses on both binocular barrels at the same time. This is pretty convenient if you ask me.
The close focus range of the Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars is 5.1 feet; this is another plus in my book because not only can you see things at a 1000 yards distance, you can focus on a closer range as well. This can come in handy in the duck hunting season.
You can lock the eyepieces at your convenient spot. There is a locking diopter method that allows you to do that. It makes using the binocular for multiple users possible. You can lock your preferred setting, and so you don’t lose your comfort of viewing if someone else uses it!
The Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars are tripod adaptable. Most other binoculars in that price range do not have that capability. You can use the Vortex Viper HD 10×42 binoculars from your car with this feature.
Vortex Viper HD comes with a sturdy carrying case, lens covers for your lens protection, a wide and durable neck strap, and a bristle free cleaning cloth for you. This makes storing, cleaning, and carrying your binocular around easier.
Conclusion
From my experience, I can say this is the best binocular you can get for the range of price that it comes. It is a high-quality optical device with all the best, high-end features that should only cost more. The brand has made an effort to give you everything within the budget, and they have succeeded at that. My only grievance is that for a full-sized binocular, they could have gone with a bit bigger optical lens. That means a bulkier, heavier binocular. This is a trade-off I’d be willing to do; other than that, this deserves the title of the best hunting binocular.