Lighter Weight High End Binos

I've been packing around Swaro 10x42 EL's for the last 10 - 12 years. I love the glass, but not the weight. Given that I'm closer to 60 than 50, I'm downsizing wherever I can in the weight department.

Anyone have any recommendations on quality lighter weight 10x42 or something similar binos?

When I looked at binos I decided that the 10x42 ELs were too heavy to lug around the mountains. In the end I went with the Swarovski 10x32 EL and they are fantastic and I have really enjoyed using them for the last 5 years. I have compared then side by side with my cousins 10x42 ELs and I don't feel that I am missing anything in low light conditions, maybe 10 minutes at the most. Just like you I am getting very close to the big 60.

I really like the 8x32 ELs. I use them birding and sheep hunting. Wider fov than the 8.5x42 ELs. I'll probably pick up some 10x42s someday to fill the gap between my 8x32 and 12x50, but if I'm backpacking I can't imagine not grabbing the 8x32.

I've run 8x32 ELs for a few years and they're simply stunning. I just snagged a pair of 10x32 EL's as well and I think they're within a minute or two of the 8x.

kiwikid said:

When I looked at binos I decided that the 10x42 ELs were too heavy to lug around the mountains. In the end I went with the Swarovski 10x32 EL and they are fantastic and I have really enjoyed using them for the last 5 years. I have compared then side by side with my cousins 10x42 ELs and I don't feel that I am missing anything in low light conditions, maybe 10 minutes at the most. Just like you I am getting very close to the big 60.

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Exactly what I did three years ago.

I'm really considering replacing my 8x slc's with 8x30 cl companions and a pair of high mag binos for sitting angle glassing. The CLs look really good to me

Your talking crazy, the slight weight gain is not worth it. Stick to what you have, there as good and as light weight for their class as it gets.

jmcmath said:

I'm really considering replacing my 8x slc's with 8x30 cl companions and a pair of high mag binos for sitting angle glassing. The CLs look really good to me

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Which SLC are you running? The new CL's looked better to me than my 8X30 SLC NEU but my first gen EL's are better than both. The CL's are a sweet little bino though especially if you buy them off the demo list on Natchezz.

Browninglover1 said:

Which SLC are you running? The new CL's looked better to me than my 8X30 SLC NEU but my first gen EL's are better than both. The CL's are a sweet little bino though especially if you buy them off the demo list on Natchezz.

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newest gen 8x42 slc hd

jmcmath said:

newest gen 8x42 slc hd

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I think you will be disappointed optically by going to the CL, but if the weight savings is worth it to you then it could be a good compromise. If you just want a sweet pair of cheap and small 8x I've been really impressed with the Maven B3 8x30; you can get them for under $500.

i have new el's and leica ultravis which my kid and i use in a permanent stand in rifle season, but in a climber or when still hunting i use my cl's. so much lighter and smaller.

I pack Leupold switchpower 10-17....they are probably comparably to the 10-42....but if needed I can quickly switch up power...
I was told a long time ago....if you cant see antlers of a Muley at 300 yards with the naked eye..dont worry about shooting it.....
Kid carries the swarm 10x32....i think for weight..cant really be beat...

Naked eyes aren't good enough at times. A couple years ago I decided to "trophy hunt". I wanted wider than the ears with four points per side. It was early morning when I found one in the 8X binoculars with horns wider than the ears. But to verify the points I had to switch to the scope and turn up the magnification on the z5. It was on 12X when I could see them. It was not more than 100 yards away.

I will take optics over naked eyes almost any time.

With eyes getting older I would stay with as much magnification as I could, just last wee I got a new pair of Vortex UHD 12x50's and love them. you might keep what you have and change the way you carry them.