Reviewed by our Gear Geeks:
Top 10 Rated Bushnell Binoculars
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We gave our Gear lovers one job:
Test multiple Bushnell Binoculars and write reviews of the best.
The result is 10 of the best binoculars on the market today.
Alyssa A.
Writer
Creating experiences, one adventure at a time.
Torben Lonne
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Torben is a dive nut, with a passion for traveling and gear.
A household name in the sports optics industry worldwide, Bushnell makes some of the finest, highest-performing binoculars we know today. Its more than 60 years of experience earned its reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of binoculars.
It does not matter if you are a casual traveler who likes viewing nature or a professional hunter who finds delight in the extreme outdoors. Bushnell surely has the perfect binoculars for your desired activities and applications.
What sets Bushnell apart from other manufacturers? What patented technologies are incorporated into its products, making it a trusted industry leader? These are just some of the questions we answer in this article.
To help you pick the right pair, we have listed the 10 best Bushnell binoculars below. We’ve highlighted the features that make them the best pair of binoculars for a particular application or user, so let us dive in and get to know these binoculars!
Best Bushnell Binoculars
Harsh outdoor conditions and marine environments prove difficult to navigate if you don’t have the right tools. It is nearly impossible to maximize your explorations without the right pair of binoculars at your disposal. A great pair of high-performing and heavy-duty binoculars can go a long way and make the difference. If you are looking for marine or waterproof binoculars, you have likely heard of or come across the Bushnell H2O 10×42 Waterproof Binocular. It is one of Bushnell’s leading sports optics, mainly because of its rugged construction that can thrive in challenging, wet environments. In this comprehensive review, we will discuss the features and specs of the compact H20 Roof Prism binoculars. Hopefully, this review can help you decide whether they can meet your needs out in the wild. Let’s dive in! Binoculars are a hunter’s best friend or your worst enemy. There are certain specs and features required if you are to have a meaningful and productive hunting experience. The Bushnell TROPHY 10X42 BONE COLLECTOR Binoculars is one of the many models that check these boxes, all while being a budget-friendly pair of binoculars. In this review, we will take a closer look at these binoculars and discover what makes them an excellent choice for hunting. Let’s dive in and find out if these binoculars truly meet your needs out in the wild! Another marine-specific pair of Bushnell binoculars is the Marine 7×50 Binoculars. Hermetically sealed, it has a 100% airtight and watertight design that enables it to float if you drop it overboard. More importantly, it can resist saltwater corrosion, making it your perfect companion in the ocean. It was designed to withstand exposure to extreme conditions, including swinging temperature changes in damp marine environments. With its non-slip rubber armor, it can withstand impact. Bushnell Marine 7×50 Binoculars come with the configuration recommended by coast guards, which includes a 7x magnification and 50-mm objectives. The BaK-4 Porro Prism Glass provides exceptional clarity and precision with its impeccable depth perception. With the O-ring sealing and nitrogen filling, you won’t have to worry about fogging. It can deliver sharp images even when temperatures suddenly change. It can keep moisture out, so you can have a hassle-free experience no matter the conditions. Moreover, the optics have UV protection, offering an additional benefit of protecting your eyesight from the harmful effects of UV rays, which are also reflected off the water. These binoculars are geared to hunters and spectators that want a wide view with an adjustable focus range. But what makes the Legacy WP 10-22×50 Binoculars one of the best Bushnell binoculars is its IPX7 waterproof design. It can withstand being immersed in up to 3’ of water for as long as three minutes without any problems. The O-ring sealing keeps the optics dry inside, so it won’t easily be damaged even in harsh environments. Furthermore, the rugged rubber armor guarantees a firm grip, giving you the confidence you need to brave the extreme outdoors. You do not have to worry about losing or breaking your binoculars. Legacy WP 10-22×50 Binoculars have fully multi-coated lenses and a BaK-4 Porro prism design, making them suitable for all kinds of casual outdoor activities, including birdwatching. The anti-reflective coating makes sure that the images perceived have excellent brightness and contrast. Meanwhile, the Porro prism system offers a greater depth perception and a wider field of view as well as decent near viewing. You can adjust the magnification between 10x and 22x, so you can always have a quality viewing experience, whatever your activity is. With this feature, you can easily zoom in on your subjects to see them properly. If you need a wider field of view, all you have to do is zoom out. The adjustable magnification makes these binoculars as versatile as you need them to be. With a low magnification of 4x, the Spectator Sport Binoculars 4×30 offers an incredible linear field of view of 900’ at 1,000 yards. Catching details in the red zone at the opposite end of the field will be amazing with these. This linear field of view is Bushnell’s most expansive field of view and one of the entire industry’s broadest. Nearly three times as wide as the field of view of typical binoculars, this is the closest you can get to a panoramic view using binoculars and all in a compact design. Another feature that people love about this pair of binoculars is the PermaFocus technology, which permanently maintains distant objects in focus. Given this state-of-the-art, focus-free design, you do not need to constantly adjust the focus to get a decent view. Spectator Sport Binoculars 4×30 is meant for both daily and extreme applications. Particularly, it is ideal for watching sports events, especially when you are in a packed arena. This pair is entirely fogproof with its nitrogen filling. Sudden temperature changes and humidity would not disrupt your viewing experience because the optics are totally protected inside. Further, the multi-coated lenses deliver unparalleled light transmission, ensuring a quality viewing experience wherever you may be. Trophy Roof Prism Binoculars are probably the most rugged and most aggressive binoculars at an affordable price on this list. Made to withstand the worst conditions imaginable, this pair of binoculars is armor-plated, and 100% waterproof and fogproof. The compact design and ergonomic trim make it convenient for prolonged, daily use. The lead-free, BaK-4 roof prism glass offers a top-notch viewing experience unlike any other. Its lightweight yet durable construction is suitable for experienced hobbyists like hunters who need reliably high-performing binoculars as a companion. In fact, even expert hunters like Michael Waddell use and trust this particular pair. As one of the best Bushnell binoculars for its long-lasting durability, the Trophy Roof Prism Binoculars comes with a textured, non-glare, non-slip rubber armor that is completely shock absorbent. This feature provides a firm grip that lets you hold on to your binoculars with ease, regardless of the conditions. It has two-step twist-up eyecups, but they’re made of harder material that might now always be nice to adjust for people with glasses. You can either keep them down or twist them up, depending on your preference. Another great specific feature is the huge center-focus knob, which you can conveniently modify even when wearing gloves. Engage EDX 12×50 Binoculars is one of the most premium models on this list, just behind the Legend probably. There is great low-light quality with only a little chromatic aberration and an impressive field of view. Great for hiking and even night-sky viewing, thanks to good exit pupil size. These are a little pricier but that reflects their more premium lens and housing construction. The Engage has Bushnell’s exclusive EXO Barrier protective lens coating. This superior coating, which bonds molecularly to the glass, effectively repels debris, fog, oil, and water. Also, it has scratch resistance capabilities. It is one of the best and most innovative protective lens coating technologies in the industry today. What makes this pair of Bushnell binoculars more rugged is its waterproof magnesium chassis. Ideal for long-range shooters, the Engage EDX 12×50 Binoculars have a 12x magnification that makes it easier to focus on distant targets. The ED prime glass provides compelling contrast and resolution, delivering precise images even in low-light conditions. It is even made better by the PC-3 phase coating, Ultrawideband coating, and dielectric prism coating that provides vivid color reproduction and up to 92% light transmission. With all these protective coatings, there is nearly no loss of light with the 50mm lens. PowerView 2 20×50 Binoculars is known for its all-metal chassis, a state-of-the-art construction that has never been this affordable. While the housing is great and the price too, this is a pair for casual users, not professionals. But casual users will appreciate them nonetheless. The lightweight chassis does not easily break or crack even in the harshest environments you can imagine. Another benefit of this aluminum alloy design is the elimination of uneven weight distribution, which is a common problem in binoculars made of polycarbonate. The ruggedness of this pair is made perfect with improved ergonomics. The textured rubber armor gives it a firm grip so you can conveniently handle it despite challenges in the environment. Finished with soft-touch rubber and brushed metal texture, it has a modern look that makes exploring the outdoors even more exciting. Further, the PowerView 2 20×50 Binoculars is considered one of the best Bushnell binoculars for its lead-free, BK-7 Porro prism glass. Even in low-light conditions, you will see clear, vibrant images with as little loss of light as possible. You can easily adjust the focus to have the best definition, thanks to the ultra-smooth focus wheel. It can also be mounted on a tripod so you can keep it stable, especially if you are bird watching. PowerView 8×21 Compact Binoculars is Bushnell’s leading pair of compact binoculars with its foldable configuration. You can conveniently slip it into your bag and bring it anywhere. It is perfect for nature viewing, thanks to the fully coated lenses delivering sharp, clear images. The center focus system makes it a lot easier to adjust the focus and attain the best view. Since it is compact and affordable, the PowerView 8×21 Compact Binoculars is highly recommended for beginners who are only looking for a pair of general-purpose roof prism binoculars. It is intended for casual viewing and short periods of use, so 10-mm eye relief is pretty decent. With its BK-7 roof prism glass ideal for daytime use, you can enjoy a casual day outside, appreciating the beautiful gift of nature. Last but not least, we have the 10×42 Fusion Binoculars Laser Rangefinder on this list of best Bushnell binoculars. They are quite special and fit into another class of best of Bushnell optics. Designed with world-class laser rangefinding capabilities, it is the manufacturer’s leading pair of binoculars for game hunting. This 2 in 1 combines two units and saves both money and space. Designed to meet experienced hunters’ needs, so it comes with a bow mode and a rifle mode. The former offers line-of-sight, angle, and true horizontal distance from as much as 99 m. Meanwhile, the latter offers line-of-sight, angle, and bullet drop up to 5.1 m. This is important for deciding when to loose the arrow or pull the trigger. 10×42 Fusion Binoculars Laser Rangefinder has the state-of-the-art Matrix Display Technology, which significantly optimizes light transmission and contrast. This technology does not affect true color visibility when using the rangefinder, no matter the lighting conditions. You can easily determine your distance from your target between a range of 10 and 1,760 yds, with a +/-1 yard accuracy. Needless to say, it is a hunter’s ultimate companion for its versatility, ruggedness, and reliability. First on this list is the ever-reliable Legend L-Series 10×42 Binoculars. It is called the Legend series for a reason: professional hunters Nick Mundt, Michael Waddel, and Travis Turner, who host the series “Bone Collector”, use this pair of binoculars. One of its key features is RainGuard HD, a patented, hydrophobic and oleophobic coating that ensures water-resistance even under the harshest and most unconventional conditions. This technology keeps moisture from condensation, rain, sleet, and snow from wrecking your view. Another key feature that makes it stand out from other binoculars is its fully multi-coated optics. With multiple anti-reflective coating layers on all air-to-glass surfaces, this pair of binoculars offer unparalleled brightness and contrast. Durability is also unquestionable when it comes to the Legend L-Series 10×42 Binoculars. It comes with non-slip rubber armor to deliver consistent, optimal performance for years. Equipped with ED prime glass, it is more powerful than its predecessors under the E-Series.
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Bushnell and Its Signature Binoculars Features
Bushnell has been one of the leading makers of sports optics for more than half a century now. Its award-winning products continue to make up a significant portion of the global sports optics industry, constantly driving innovation and optimizing performance in every category. It must be said that they are not celebrated for their customer service, but they hae made it possible for many-a-hobbyist to jump into outdoor pursuits by combining affordability with performance. Its binoculars share some notable features that allow them to perform and deliver on the Bushnell promise.
Below, we will take a more in-depth look at these features to further help you pick the right binoculars for you.
Lens Coating
Lenses are coated to prevent glare and minimize the loss of light during transmission. The best Bushnell binoculars on this list come with different lens coatings, which we will discuss more below:
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Fully Coated Optics
In fully coated optics, there is a minimum of one thin anti-reflective coating on both sides of the objective lens, both sides of the ocular lens, and the side of the prism.
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Multi-Coated Optics
In multi-coated optics, various coating layers are applied to one or more of the lenses.
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Fully Multi-Coated Optics
In fully multi-coated optics, coatings are applied on all optical surfaces. Significantly, this type of lens coating reduces surface reflectivity.
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EXO Barrier Protective Lens Coating
One of Bushnell’s exclusive lens coating technologies, this type of coating forms a molecular bond to the glass. As a result, it repels not just water but any form of contamination. More importantly, it is scratch-resistant.
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PC-3 Phase Coating
One of Bushnell’s proprietary coating formulas, this type of coating is applied to roof prisms to improve the resolution of images.
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Rainguard HD Protective Lens Coating
This type of lens coating is Bushnell’s very own patented technology, which has hydrophobic and oleophobic capabilities. It can resist moisture from snow, sleet, rain, and condensation virtually, even under the most extreme conditions.
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Ultrawideband Coating
An ultrawideband coating maximizes brightness and provides the truest colors by significantly reducing solar reflection.
Waterproof Rating
Many Bushnell binoculars have different waterproof ratings, too. Below are the two common waterproof ratings among them:
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IPX4
When a product has an IPX4 rating, it means that it resists water splashed from any direction.
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IPX7
When a product has an IPX7 rating, it can be submerged in up to 1 m of water for half an hour and not break.
Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Prime Glass
ED prime glass or ultra-low dispersion glass is the answer to chromatic aberration. This effect produces unclear, fuzzy images. This glass was designed to give as much detail as possible at any magnification.
Permafocus
The idea of permafocus is to eliminate the need to adjust the focus. It allows you to view distant images and subjects at different distances clearly and completely hassle-free.
Conclusion
Experts like Nick Mundt, Michael Waddel, and Travis Turner use and trust many of these Bushnell binoculars we have reviewed. This only goes to show how reliable and high-performing these pairs are in their respective categories. For example, the H2O 10×42 Waterproof Binoculars and the Marine 7×50 Binoculars are specifically designed to meet your needs on the ocean, rivers and (Great) lakes. The only significant difference is that the latter is suitable for more extreme activities because of its ability to resist saltwater corrosion.
However, it is far bulkier than the former. On the other hand, if you are into hunting and have the budget for a top-of-the-line model, you should get the 10×42 Fusion Binoculars Laser Rangefinder. Bushnell also has something for beginners, such as the PowerView 8×21 Compact Binoculars. This pair is also affordable but does not come short of Bushnell’s excellence, albeit it comes with a BK-7 prism system that has edges less clear than a BaK-4 system’s.
Of these 10 best Bushnell binoculars we have discussed, there is definitely one pair perfect for your interests. To make the most out of your purchase, ensure that you consider all the features you need when buying any of these binoculars.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Bushnell Binoculars
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What is the best pair of Bushnell binoculars?
There is no single best pair of Bushnell binoculars, as the answer depends on the features you are looking for and the applications for which you need it. However, we have top 10 picks that are perfect for different kinds of users and uses:
- Legend L-Series 10×42 Binoculars
- H2O 10×42 Waterproof Binoculars
- Marine 7×50 Binoculars
- Legacy WP 10-22×50 Binoculars
- Spectator Sport Binoculars 4×30
- Trophy Roof Prism Binoculars
- Engage EDX 12×50 Binoculars
- PowerView 2 20×50 Binoculars
- PowerView 8×21 Compact Binoculars
- 10×42 Fusion Binoculars Laser Rangefinder
You may find out more about these Bushnell binoculars in this comprehensive guide we have created for you.
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What is RainGuard HD, and what are its benefits for binoculars?
Rainguard HD is a patented protective lens coating technology exclusive to Bushnell binoculars. It is hydrophobic and oleophobic, which means that moisture, sleet, and snow will not compromise your viewing experience. This technology is designed to cause moisture and your breath, bead up into smaller droplets and scatter instantly. As such, there is as little light diversion as possible, giving you a bright and clear view even when it is heavily raining or snowing. Head over to our guide to the best binoculars to compare features of leading brands.
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What shall I look for in marine binoculars?
When looking for marine binoculars, the three most important features you need to consider are magnification, objective lenses, and waterproof capabilities. The recommended binoculars for marine use are those with a 7x magnification and 50-mm objective lenses. Binoculars with a 7×50 configuration offer excellent magnification and large objective size, both of which are suitable for marine applications. Of course, it goes without saying that these binoculars have to be waterproof, too. As much as possible, you’d want those with a waterproof rating of at least IPX4. A great example of marine binoculars is the Bushnell Marine 7×50 Binoculars, which we have reviewed in this article.
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What is the difference between a BaK-4 prism and a BK-7 prism?
The main difference between BaK-4 prisms and BK-7 prisms is that the former is more round than the latter. The shape of the exit pupil of BaK-4 prisms is round, while that of BK-7 prisms is square. Generally, BaK-4 prisms are of higher quality than BK-7 prisms, providing far more reliable light transmission. Budget-friendly binoculars usually come with BK-7 prisms, such as the Bushnell PowerView 8×21 Compact Binoculars. You can learn more about these binoculars in this guide.
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What is a central focus system on binoculars?
A central focus system features a central wheel that lets you adjust the focus of both barrels of a pair of binoculars simultaneously. This system offers easy and precise focusing, which comes in handy in challenging environments. The central focus should be easy to use and responsive. Leading brands like Nikon, Bushnell and Vortex have examples of these.
If you already have a Bushnell binoculars or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
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