Tag Archives: binoculars

Winchester Supreme Optics 10×50 Binoculars

September 8, 2025Optics, Product review10x50, binoculars, binos, winchester, winchester supreme opticscoldboremiracle

Preface

In another time of my life, it seemed popular for big outdoor names to offer everything from knives to cufflinks. Even as a child I figured out that some of these items were just rebranded Chinese junk. It seems many of the mighty have fallen these days, and their names sold time and again. Our subject today is the Winchester Supreme Optics 10×50 Binoculars, a competitively priced and quality built binocular. If your’e not sure what that has to do with my intro, let me clarify.

Sadly, the great Winchester name lost its place some time ago. The name suffered various changes of hands and its product lines were sold to different interests. Having once been a dominant firearms company, I was very sad to see this happen over the course of my life. But, Americans are good at comebacks…

Winchester Supreme Optics

Winchester Supreme Optics looks to bring back the quality and standard of the Winchester name. Our first look at these binoculars proved to impress me, so I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of their products perform.

Besides the binoculars tested here today, Winchester Supreme Optics also makes other binocular models as well as several rifle scopes, thermal optics as well as spotting scopes. I can assure you based on the binos in-hand, these are not some rebranded trash. It seems the new management at Winchester Supreme Optics has their eye on higher quality and more modern products.

Supreme 10×50 Binoculars

These Supreme binoculars are built on a robust thermoplastic body, with fully coated lenses and tactile grip exterior. The HD glass makes for sharp viewing with edge to edge clarity and brightening low-light images. The internal silver coated prism transmit light better and add contrast to the image. Of course it is nitrogen filled to prevent fogging and sealed to be impervious to the elements.

winchester supreme optics, binoculars, 10x50, winchester, bino, eye cups,

It also has the standard things you’d expect; tripod mounting lug, lens covers, lens cloth, sling attachments etc. It comes with a padded case and the typical padded sling to hang from your neck. As you might expect like with most binoculars, the sling and case would be set aside in favor of something more comfortable.

Specifications

MAGNIFICATION	10x
OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER	50 mm
OCULAR LENS DIAMETER	23.5 mm
TYPE OF PRISM	Roof / BaK4
PRISM COATING	Silver
LENS COATING	WINcoat™ full multicoat
FOCUS SYSTEM	Central focus
EXIT PUPIL DIAMETER	4.88 mm
EXIT PUPIL DISTANCE	17 mm
FIELD OF VIEW (FOV)	6.1°
FOV 1000 YARDS	321 ft
FOV 1000 METERS	107 m
CLOSE FOCUS MINIMUM	3m / 10ft
DIOPTER SYSTEM	Right diopter ring
DIOPTER COMPENSATION	±3
INTERPUPILLARY DISTANCE	57~72 mm
WEATHER PROOF	Yes
WATER PROOF	Yes
SUBMERSIBLE	1m/15 minutes
NITROGEN FILLED	Yes
EYECUPS SYSTEM	Twist-up
CHASSIS MATERIAL	PPS
IP RATING	IPX7 (1m/30min)

Fielding the Winchester Supreme Binoculars

Immediately after receiving the 10×50 binoculars, I went outside to begin evaluating them. I was greeted with a bright image, with clean edges and great contrast. Me and the boys in the office spend every fall hunting in these Rocky Mountains, all took turns looking around the neighborhood. My very first impression was very good, and the others also offered a positive impression.

One of my pet peeves about binoculars is the need to focus each individual barrel of the bino. I understand it is normal especially since not everyone’s eyes are the same. However I found that with these Supreme 10×50’s we spent very little time adjusting between users. It seemed as though the sweet spot focal-length was far more forgiving than other binoculars I’ve used. Even models that cost four or five times more than these.

Into the Mountains

With fall upon us, we took the Winchester Supreme binoculars into the mountains to do our typical scouting trips for mule deer and elk. The clean air at 9,000 feet looked spectacular through these binoculars. We glassed for hours inspecting every thicket and rock formation. I was impressed with how well these binoculars gave sharp focus at any realistic range.

Even in the early predawn light, I found the contrast of these binoculars to be great. Like those moments right at shooting light where you need to identify a shooter versus a non-shooter. The large 50mm objective does well at compressing the available light into a clean image with good depth. This allows you to properly identify your quarry.

Desert Heat

As summer nears its close, my son and I spent some time in the dry desert of the Great Basin. We would soon be chasing Pronghorn Antelope out here, and using the Supreme binoculars to inspect potential bucks would come in handy.

The yellowing landscape makes it feel warmer than it really is, and there is plenty of mirage to perceive. Again, the clear contrast of these binoculars made it an excellent tool as we scoured the desert looking for antelope.

Pros and Cons

I’ll start out with the positive aspects of these binoculars. First off I must say that for the price these are a great deal. Sub $200 binoculars are often trash-tier, like something you’d give your sticky fingered nephew for his birthday. I must say that for the $219 price of these binoculars they are fantastic. They also look sharp, avoiding the often cheesy look of lower priced products. The binos fit perfectly in both of my binocular harness’.

I already mentioned how I really like the ease of which they are focused, and the adjustable eye-cups make it quick to customize for each user. The optical performance is for sure the star of the show. Had I not been able to see the binoculars prior to looking through them, I would have expected them to cost double or more.

If I had to give these binoculars a demerit, it could only be their foreign manufacture. It’s a painful line to walk between inexpensive great products built overseas and more expensive ones made here at home. I must say, despite foreign manufacturing, they have upped their game significantly.

Final Thoughts

I have been very impressed with these Winchester Supreme Optics 10×50 binoculars over the last few weeks of glassing. And I would not have expected to so pleased with a pair of binoculars priced at only $219. My family and I look forward to putting these to some hard use during this hunting season. And I am pleased to see the Winchester name get back where it belongs, bringing quality products to American outdoorsmen. Stay tuned for more, as this wont be the last we hear of Winchester Supreme.

-CBM

Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro 12×50 Binoculars

October 31, 2024Optics, Product review, Uncategorizedathlon, athlon optics, binoculars, binos, midas, midas g2 uhd procoldboremiracle

Introduction

Few ancillary hunting tools are as valuable as a good pair of binoculars. Whether you are a sport shooter looking for targets, or a dedicated hunter trying to pick out antlers in the trees, you will want a good pair of binos. I’ve used quite a few pairs of binoculars over the years, but today I am bringing you something new to me. The Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro 12×50 binoculars are ideal for heavy glassing and downrange inspections. Today we’ll take a look at these binoculars, mainly from the perspective of a hunter as that seems to be my focus these days.

Athlon optics midas G2 uhd pro binoculars

The Athlon Midas G2 Pro Binoculars

There are several models of binocular in the Midas G2 line, there are 8×42, 10×42 models. As well as the 10×50 and 12×50 Pro model that we are looking at today. I tend to prefer 10×50 for general glassing, but I love a good 12×50 pair for what I call heavy glassing. Looking over a whole mountain perhaps before even leaving a vehicle, covering large swaths of country.

athlon optics midas g2 uhd pro binocular — note controls: left side is to balance optical focus, on the right there is reticle focus and leveling control

The Midas G2 is ideal for that, its bright 50mm objectives pack a very bright image for your observation. Like most binos the Midas uses a center focus knob, coupled with a separate focus for the left barrel. But wait, theres more! In addition, the Midas G2 also features a reticle in the right barrel for use while spotting. The right barrel has two adjustment rings at the rear; one to rotate the reticle inside to match your target, and the other is to focus the reticle.

Additionally, the Midas G2 comes with a typical soft case, neck-strap, and rubber lens covers for both front and back. The eye-cups can be rotated out or in to accommodate your preference.

Midas G2 UHD Pro Specifications

The Midas binoculars are a perfect size in my opinion, they are only slightly larger than my other pairs of binoculars, but fit in my binocular cases and harnesses. Extra power from the Midas is very welcome in a pair of binos only slightly larger than most.

Field Use of Athlon Midas G2 Binoculars

I used the Athlon Midas G2 Pro binos on several hunts this fall. First up was a trip into the thick alpine forests of the Uinta Mountains in Eastern Utah. Looking into the wide open canyons and deep dark woods would be a great way to test the Midas binoculars.

For a week we scoured the mountains, looking at elk, deer, and ever other animal we could get our eyes on. I am very used to using my Sig Sauer Kilo binoculars, they have been my go to for years now. But switching over to the Midas I was quite impressed with how much brighter they were. And having used the Midas 10x binos I don’t think it is just because of the magnification.

The reticle in the Midas Binos is particularly useful when sport shooting. While it can be used for other purposes during a hunt, I don’t think it I would use it much while hunting. Mounting the Midas binoculars on a good tripod however during practice, was very convenient for spotting. 12x is plenty for much of the spotting we do while shooting, and having the reticle in view is great for giving corrections. I also found that the reticle was simple enough to be unobtrusive while glassing. The ability to level the reticle in any position was a paramount feature.

We also used the Midas binoculars during the Mule deer hunt a few weeks later, a different climate and landscape. Once again I found the bright image of the Midas binos to be extremely helpful. We did quite a bit of glassing from great distances, looking from thousands of yards away instead of hundreds. I really appreciated the wide focus control of the Midas, it seems there is a long focal length allowing you to get very precise in your focus. I was downright surprised at how clear and clean an image I could get on deer from several miles away.

Pros and Cons

I’ll be candid here, I used to be very suspicious of inexpensive optics manufactured overseas. But based on my experience with Athlon Optics alone, I am much less so. I’ve had incredible performance from these optics (as I have with others), and with their priced just right motto I simply cannot afford to overlook these. Some folks might have an issue with the product source, preferring something built in America, or Europe. I can totally understand that perspective, but for those who can’t afford such products these are an excellent buy.

athlon optics binoculars midas, sandhill crane — my pictures do not do justice to the image quality

I really couldn’t find much else to dislike about the Midas binoculars. Perhaps some subjective things such as the rubber lens covers that some may love or hate. While I did find them a touch stiff to remove, I like that as they are less likely to come off unintentionally.

The optical clarity of the Midas G2 Pro binoculars was fantastic, the controls are easy and smooth, and adjusting them to fit individual eyes was great. Allowing all who used them the ability to customize them for their specific eyeballs. I was pretty impressed with what you get for the MSRP of $562.49.

Last Thoughts

I am extremely satisfied with these binoculars, more so than I expected I would be. There is only one way they could be better in my opinion, and that would be putting a laser rangefinder into them. But for those of you out there who don’t require such features, these binos are a slam-dunk. Whether you are looking for the best binos you can afford, or if you are looking for something a little less expensive to beat around on your ATV or tree-stand, I can confidently recommend the Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro.

-CBM

Eberlestock Recon Bino Pack

June 5, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbinoculars, eberlestock, reconcoldboremiracle

Preface

Let me start out by saying that I love binocular packs. I have been rocking one kind or another for years and I find them to be very convenient. Today I wanted to bring you one of my latest acquisitions, and show you why I think it is worth both your time and money. That product is the Eberlestock Recon bino pack, which is more like a system than just a single pack.

The Eberlestock Recon is a shoulder mounted harness and pouch system that comfortably supports your primary reconnaissance tools. Having your binoculars immediately ready for spotting is a very valuable practice, but the Recon takes it to another level. With a well-known history of quality textiles, Eberlestock was well positioned to bring such a product to market.

Eberlestock Recon

Before we get into using this product, I’d like to go into some of its features. Then we’ll discuss how these features are used and can help you in your shooting and hunting practices in the field.

Large Internal Dimensions: 9H x 5.5W x 2.5D
Small Internal Dimensions: 8H x 5.5W x 2.5D
Weight: 13.6 oz.
One Size Fits Most
Magnetic closure to keep binos secure and accessible
EMOD compatible with six available accessories
Easy access large front zipper pocket
Dual side stretch pockets
Adjustable forward-pull shoulder harness
Low profile MOLLE compatible wings
Available in 3 solid colors, and 3 camo patterns

the Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars fit perfectly in the Recon pouch

Features

The Recon has a healthy pouch for fitting most popular binocular footprints, I used three different units and only one of the three didn’t fit perfectly. Inside the bino pouch you will find a soft interior to protect your valuable lenses. As well as two elastic tethers to attach to your bino’s to prevent them from being left behind.

Eberlestock Recon interior — the cozy and roomy interior of the Recon pouch, note elastic tethers

At 13.6 ounces, the Recon isn’t heavy. But it also has available accessory pouches that you can add to the kit which will add a little weight. But by the time you add optics, your phone, a handful of cartridges, granola bars and cheese sticks, and anything else you can fit in the Recon, it might gain some considerable weight. This might be a big deal if the harness wasn’t comfortable.

Speaking of storage, the Recon is full of it. There is a zipper pouch up front of the main pouch, inside are two additional pockets. These are perfect for storing things like folded permits and tags, or a turkey or elk reed case. On the side of the main pouch, you will find two elastic closed finger pockets. I call them finger pockets because they are just the right size to fit two or three fingers inside. These are great for handkerchiefs, extra cartridges, lighter or any other little thing you may want to keep close.

Accessories

The Recon pack uses the popular molle system to attach accessories and sub-structures to the Recon system. On either side of the main compartment, the Recon has two molle wings that allow attachment of additional zippered storage pouches. I added one on each side, these smaller pouches are big enough to fit small rangefinders, archery releases, calls and other similar items. All zippers on the Recon system have pull-lanyards attached for easy use wearing gloves. And even the accessory pouches have their own little elastic closed mini pouch.

desert tech WLVRN 6.5 creedmoor — the Recon stays put, and doesn’t get in the way of me shooting my Desert Tech WLVRN

With it’s molle attachment system, you can also add things like a matching hand-warmer that sits just under the bino pouch. Other things like a bear-spray pouches, and a separate rangefinder pouch can also be attached. There’s even a molle panel that can be used to mount other aftermarket accessories like holsters and such to the pack.

Across the back of the shoulder harness, there is even a molle mounting area there so you can add any additional accessories you’d like. Obviously for things you don’t need as often.

Apex Optics Rival Desert Tech SRS M2 — the molle across the harness backer allows additional storage space for something like a **Hydration bladder**

The Eberlestock Recon in the Field

After adjusting the straps to fit, I donned the Recon and headed into the mountain country where I spend most of my time. Like most bino packs, I prefer to wear them over at least my second layer. This is typically because I don’t like the harness rubbing against my neck, though that didn’t seem to be an issue with the Recon.

Eberlestock Recon, Sig Sauer Kilo 10K binoculars

Inside I carried my Sig Sauer Kilo 10K binocular set, my go to binocular option. The 10K fits perfectly, and the magnetic seal of the lid keeps dust away from the lenses. A very valuable attribute because I do a lot of miles on ATV’s.

My initial impressions of the Recon were very comfortable. I’ve had other bino packs and harness’ that were comfortable, but the lightweight and soft harness of the Recon were above average comfort. The easily adjustable straps made it quick to readjust when adding or removing layers of clothes. And the parts of the Recon that face your body are ventilated, for all you bowhunters out there it will help avoid getting a big sweaty spot on your chest.

I also tested the Recon with a pair of Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars. They also fit perfectly, and the snug fit of the lid seemed to be all I needed to keep my binos secure. Additionally, I tested a pair of Steiner Predator LRF 10×42 binoculars as well. While a little long for the Recon, they still fit well enough to use.

Eberlestock Recon, Steiner Binoculars — Testing the Recon with the **Steiner Predator 10×42 binoculars**

Everything in the Right Spot

One of the reasons I like bino packs so much is because you can keep your most important things close. And due to their proximity to your immediate work area, they are easier to keep track of. Being literally right under your nose also means they are likely to be protected from weather and other potential concerns.

Keeping the most important things close is easy with the Recon bino case. If I leave my pack for a stalk, I know I’ll still have at minimum some essential tools and survival gear. And having all that in a comfy pack that you barely even know is there most of the time, sure is nice.

Comparisons

Comparing the Eberlestock Recon against other bino carry cases was pretty easy. I have several others that I have quite enjoyed, but I think the Recon takes the win among the others. Most factory supplied bino cases are lacking, the only one I like even a little bit is the one that came with my Sig Kilo.

Aftermarket ones are typically much better. I like my Cole-TAC bino case quite a bit, but the modularity and comfort of the Recon make it more desirable. I also have had several of the Badlands bino packs, I always loved their comfort and look. But again the Recon has a leg up with so many options and configurations.

It’s possible that the Recon design was a lucky hit with guys like me, but this isn’t the first Eberlestock pack I’ve had. I also have one of their Cherry Bomb daypacks, and I have had an excellent experience using it as a rifle EDC bag. You can read more about that here. So I am confident Eberlestock’s popularity is not just luck.

another hunting expedition with the Recon and the **Mossberg Patriot**

Final Words on the Recon

Eberlestock must have gotten into my algorithm, as I’ve been bombarded with ads about the Recon. I wish there was a way to tell the internet I already have and love it. Among the many ads I see that the Recon was chosen as the overall winner of Outdoor Life’s bino case evaluation. This comes as no surprise to me, as I too would put it at the top of the list.

Do yourself a favor, and before spending your money on a bino pack, try one of the Eberlestock Recon configurations and see if it fits into your hunt as well as it does mine. My bet is you will be glad you did, and your binoculars will thank you.

-CBM

Leupold Range HD BX-4 10×42 Rangefinding Binoculars

June 3, 2024Optics, Product reviewbinoculars, leupoldcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Laser rangefinders have been migrating into binoculars for some time now. Many shooters and hunters particularly have found the added value of putting their rangefinder and binoculars into the same unit. Most big names in the optics world have brought a rangefinding binocular to market, and today we are taking a look at one of those. Today I bring you a review of the Leupold Range HD BX-4 10×42 Rangefinding Binoculars.

Having a rangefinder built into your primary spotting tool saves a great deal of time and weight in your loadout. Not having to switch back and forth between binos and rangefinder can men the difference between a successful hunt and tag soup. And if you are lucky enough to have never misplaced your rangefinder, you don’t know the frustration of digging through pockets and packs when you should be shooting.

Leupold BX-4 Binoculars

The BX-4 family of binoculars from Leupold offers a great deal of options. The Range HD model we are testing today are built specifically for those who want a high quality set of bino’s with rangefinding capabilities.

Leupold BX-4 Range HD binoculars — adjusting the eye-cups

Leupold’s Range HD binos are built on a 10×42 set of tubes. It boasts nice features like robust individual oversized eye-cup adjustment, HD lenses, and smooth focusing. But of course the main feature that elevates this product above its family members is the ability to measure distance using an internal laser.

Not only does the laser measure the distance, but the Range HD binos also have additional functions. Besides a LOS (line of sight) mode that gives you direct actual line of sight distance. You can also use it in an actual ballistic distance corrected mode, this uses the actual distance to target corrected by the angle to the target. It also features a BOW mode, for archery hunters.

You can also use one of the many profiles Leupold has made available for ballistic data. Once selected, this profile will populate things such as drop at given distances, wind holds, and other valuable information.

Other features like Leupolds lifetime warranty, waterproofing, and extreme weather exposure capabilities also add value to the BX-4 Range HD binoculars.

Leupold BX-4 Range HD binos in the Field

As I do quite a bit of hunting and shooting in these Rocky Mountains, I wanted to see how well these binoculars would do as my companion. I have used several other competitors binoculars and I feel quite familiar with their performance. My goal is to see how these Leupold binoculars stack up to what I already know.

As I hiked into the high country, I strapped the factory Leupold binocular case across my chest. I feel bad for manufacturers because they all want to offer a nice binocular chest carrying rig. But they also have a budget, which typically means the bino harnesses they ship with the product are too nice to toss, but not nice enough to avoid being replaced by the aftermarket. I use several types, but the Eberlestock Recon bino pack is a perfect fit for these binos. And I highly recommend it over the factory case.

Configuration

Uncovering the lenses of the Range HD binos is easy, with rubber lens covers that are tethered to it. These are very handy for keeping the lenses clean and safe from debris. After that I wanted to ensure the binos were setup properly for my eyes. Both barrels of the binoculars have an adjustable ocular ring, one is to focus the rangefinder display inside. The other is for balancing the focus between your eyes.

textured rubber grip areas in all the right places

Setting the proper mode can be done using the left button, while the right button is used for powering up the unit, as well as toggling through the settings. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself left-hand dominant, you’ll be happy to know that the buttons can be reversed.

With the LOS mode selected, I adjusted the diopters to get a crisp image. Like most Leupold products I am familiar with, this one has outstanding image quality. Looking across canyons I pressed the button repeatedly getting distance readings.

Rangefinding Capabilities

As one of the primary functions, I was eager to see how well the laser rangefinder feature functioned. Reflective targets typically provide better results when ranging with a laser. Leupold claims the maximum effective range of the unit is 2600 yards, which is much further than most recreational shooters will need.

Leupold Rangefinder — quickly getting ranges from regular hunting distances out to over 2000 yards was easy

During my testing I found the BX-4 to be very quick at hitting distances as far away as 2,000 yards. Hitting big things like cars or billboards it would go farther still. But in real world shooting and hunting country, I found useful things like pine trees and rocks were still easily hit with the laser out to the 2,000 yard line.

Ammunition Profiles

I selected a profile that was the closest to my current load, and crossed it against known data. I’ll say just a little bit about this feature; I’m not a huge fan of pre-selected ballistic data, mainly because it can change with atmospheric conditions and weather. And even with all the profiles given, you might not find one identical to yours. But with all that said, for most people at average hunting distances it will be more than close enough to be useful. As long as you practice with your equipment and are familiar with the performance you will likely be fine.

some of the available ballistic profiles

Once you’ve selected a profile, the display will give you the appropriate elevation correction for the distance. This is determined using a fixed zero range in the profile. Once the button has been pushed, the range is displayed and the display will alternate between the elevation correction and the wind hold for that distance. A full value 10 MPH wind hold is what will be provided, you’ll have to determine how much of that is necessary.

While these tools can be very handy for estimates, they should certainly be tested and ensure they line up for you long before your trophy hunt. I may be a bit jaded when it comes to systems like this, which is why sometimes I just prefer to get the actual distance and I’ll make my own estimations. But I have no doubt that when tested and practiced thoroughly, this system could be very useful.

Pros & Cons

Pros

High quality HD image
Made in USA
No BS 2000 yard rangefinder
Comfortable armored rubber exterior
Adjustable Eye-cups
Tripod-ready with 1/4-20 mounting
Reversible control buttons
Different Modes for shooting types
Waterproof and ready for any weather

Cons

Wasn’t hugely impressed with bino-case
Not a big fan of the ballistic profile program

Final Thoughts

Overall I was quite happy with the Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars, the few things I would be picky about aren’t anywhere near as important as the things I like about the product. With an MSRP of $1599.99, these are certainly not cheap. But when compared to other similar products in the market, I think they hold their own. There are always better and worse options, but this one seems like a great product.

I also own binos from two of Leupolds biggest competitors, the Fury LRF binos from Vortex and the Kilo 10K LRF binos from Sig Sauer. All three have good and bad, and it would be a hard choice between the three of them. But I am quite confident that if I had to hunt the rest of my days with only this pair of binoculars, I’d do just fine.

-CBM

Steiner Predator 10×42 LRF Binoculars

April 2, 2024Optics, Product review10x42, binoculars, predator, steinercoldboremiracle

Background

I went without a good pair of binoculars for far too long, it would seem that maybe I’m going just the opposite way now. I have several good pairs of great binoculars, and today I wanted to share with you another great option. The Steiner Predator 10×42 LRF binoculars are a fantastic option for someone who needs binoculars, but also has serious rangefinding necessities.

Steiner Predator 10×42 Binoculars

Steiner’s Predator binoculars bring the rugged toughness the brand is known for. This set of binoculars utilizes Steiner’s high definition lens coatings to transmit as much light as possible. Housing the lenses is an armored lightweight frame with a center adjustment wheel, with adjustable shaded eye-cups. As always, these bino’s come in a nice little soft-case, with an included soft neck strap.

In addition to Steiner’s famous optical quality, this Predator has a laser built-in. The Predator binos have a rangefinder function that allows the user to hit targets nearly two-thousand yards away. The LRF display is shown in the right barrel of the bino, showing both distance as well as angle to the target. Both barrels of the binoculars have independently adjustable focused eye-pieces, so you can balance the image between your eyes. As well as focus the LRF display inside.

Up front, the object lens-covers are attached by a robust braided nylon strap, much stronger than the typical bikini rubber type. And the super soft rubber shades on the eye-cups keep the sun out of your eyes while glassing.

In the Field

A trip into the dry springtime deserts of Arizona would prove a great opportunity to try the Predator bino’s. I brought along my EDC binoculars for comparison, as I’m quite familiar with and like them.

The first thing I did was test the LRf function of the binos, and this was done before I even left town. Shooting the laser at billboards and signs made easy work inside of 18-1900 yards. Much further than that it was a little bit more challenging to get a good reading. I cross checked all distances with my Sig Sauer Kilo 10K binoculars, and there was rarely more than a yard or two difference between them.

Hours later we found ourselves in the desert scouring the cactus covered hills for shed antlers and fossils. Over the course of several hours I looked through the Predator Binoculars, inspecting every little detail of the rock structures and its inhabitants.

Don’t judge the image based on my crappy phone-pic

Shop all Steiner Binoculars at EuroOptic

Pros & Cons

Let’s start out with the things I like about these binoculars. First off, they have an outstanding picture. Like every Steiner optic product I’ve used, the Predator bino’s has a bright and clean image. The focus of both eye-cups was easily set, and once done you could quickly focus on your target area.

At first I didn’t like the eye-cup shades, but certainly not a big deal as they are easily folded out of the way. Later they came in very handy when the afternoon sun was at its brightest, and I found them pretty handy. The objective lens-caps stayed in place, which is very nice as some don’t.

The rangefinder in the Bino’s worked great, and unless you are calling in artillery it will likely serve your purpose. For hunting these mountains it was ideal, easily ranging distances and country where I would expect to see my prey.

While the neck-strap was quite nice, I didn’t use it much. I’d wager that most folks who spend the money for binoculars like this most likely spend extra cash to get a nice binocular case or harness. I have several nice bino cases that I use, currently I’m using the Eberlestock Recon. It’s been fantastic for various binocular sets, but I was a little let down when I tried to store the Steiner Predator’s inside. The bino’s are a bit longer than most comparable sets of binoculars, and barely fit. Obviously this isn’t a huge deal, as I’m sure there are other good options.

The only other thing I wouldn’t say I disliked, but just something I had to get used to was this; The Predator bino’s required you to get you eyes right up in there in order to see. I was used to other bino’s where I simply touched the eye-cups to my brow, and everything looked great. With the Steiner’s I found myself iris-deep in the eye cups in order to see well.

the Predator binoculars barely fit in my **Eberlestock Recon bino harness**

Last Thoughts

With an MSRP of nearly $1800, these binoculars aren’t for the fairweather gawker. But with an incredible service history, Steiner has certainly earned their place. These bino’s would make an excellent companion for a mountain hunt, where distances can vary greatly. Or if you find yourself ranging distant steel targets these would certainly do well outside of ELR events.

I really like these Steiner Predator 10×42 LRF binoculars. And if they were the last pair of binoculars I ever had, I’m sure I would be fine. Especially since Steiner offers a fully transferable product lifetime warranty, and 3-years on the electronic components.

I would definitely put these binoculars on my list of things I would keep, despite having other options with higher prices and performance, I wouldn’t let these binoculars out of my sight.

-CBM

If you like the Steiner Brand, check out my review on their scopes

ATN BinoX 4T 2.5-25X thermal binoculars

November 29, 2022Optics, Product reviewatn, binoculars, thermal, thorcoldboremiracle

Thermal Weapon Sights

Thermal weapon sights have become extremely popular over the last decade or so, I’ve had the good fortune to play with a few of them. Today we are going to talk about a supplemental thermal device, one I think is just as useful as a weapon sight; the ATN BinoX 4T 2.5-25X thermal binoculars.
I say just as useful because whenever I find myself in the dark looking for potential animals to hunt, looking around through my riflescope is not only cumbersome but dangerous. The BinoX binoculars allow the user to safely scan the surrounding environment to identify potential targets, and it also gives you additional information that will help you make a better shot when the time comes.
The ATN Binox incorporate a rangefinder, variable power settings, video recording and image capture, and even GPS location that can be used to keep track of fellow hunters in the area. An IR illuminator is also part of the device, which allows you to illuminate targets when using in conjunction with night vision optics. It also incorporates wifi that can be paired to your ATN riflescope through the ATN Ballistic Information Exchange (BIX). Using the connection you can also stream to a paired device for additional viewing while recording the stream to the SD card inside the unit.
The ATN Binox uses an armored housing with a control pad on the top with various buttons to cycle through the menus and activate the different functions of the binoculars. At the rear of the binos you have an adjustable diopter to focus the image of the display inside. The front of the sensor lens can be rotated to focus the thermal image of the target, the right side is for the thermal sensor, the left side houses other sensors and needn’t be adjusted for image focusing.
The Center button doubles as a “Nuc” button that resets the sensitivity of the sensor based on the current field of view, as far as I can tell anyway. You can adjust the power magnification of the binoculars by using the arrows on the control pad, and the power button doubles as a rangefinder trigger when the unit is powered on.
The display inside gives you quite a bit of information, with actual readouts of both incline and cant as well as a compass bearing. You can select to use different widgets such as compass and angle displays, or if you like you can keep it simple and see just the image. There are many different settings that you can adjust to better fit your needs such as different shades for showing heat, you can select different colors or shades of black and white. There are different reticles you can use for measuring targets and distances and such, and of course you can change the units from yards to meters and MOA to MRAD if you like.

Curious already? Check for you new thermal optic here.

The Binox come with an extended life battery, which I was happy to hear. Most thermal devices I have used in the past burn through batteries far too fast. There was also a neck band to carry the BinoX with, it was also easy to adjust the two ocular lenses to fit your particular eye width.

Into the darkness

After confirming a bunch of settings around the yard and making my dog uncomfortable with shouting commands into the dark corners of the yard, I decided it was time to take the BinoX into the hills and see what I could find. It took a few minutes to find a contrast setting that I preferred, but I settled on the “Glowbow” setting. As you’ll see from my pictures I neglected to set the time and date.

a deer as seen at around 20X magnification from approximately 250 yards

Once I got into the mountains I began scanning where I figured I would be able to find a deer or two, or perhaps even a unsuspecting hiker. I did find something that quickly became frustrating. There were plenty of rocks in the hills that appeared to retain a bunch of heat, this inevitably gave me too many false ID’s of potential life. When I actually did see something that was clearly alive and warm, it was pretty clear. But often times I would have to watch at some of the more distant targets to see if they moved before I could confirm their identity.
I spent some time getting used to the imagery through the binos, and testing out the different functions. It did take me a minute to get used to some of the controls and understand everything, but soon enough I was finding things and measuring their distance with the rangefinder and even snapping pictures and videos of them. Much like properly viewing an ultrasound image, it seems there is a bit of a learning curve with looking at images like this. Oftentimes it is easy enough to make out trees, rocks and so forth. You can even make out sunny spots and shadows in the images taken during daylight. I have seen better imagery from other thermal units, but to be fair they cost significantly more than this one.
Finding animals in complete darkness turned out be be everything I hoped it would be, it reduced the eeriness of the darkness. Thermal optics have the benefit of being useful in the daylight just as complete darkness, which is a leg up over night vision optics. I found that using the BinoX during the daytime was also helpful in finding things that were alive in a sea of ambient temperature trees and hills. Continue Reading Here…

SOME DRAWBACKS

I’ll go over the negative things first, as I’ve mentioned I have used other high-dollar units so take my opinion with a grain of salt. One of the most significant things I didn’t like with the BinoX was that things that weren’t warm showed up as if they were. This is likely technological ignorance on my part, it appears that the sensor shows differences in temperature more than anything. For example, the deer I was looking at are surely warmer than anything else on a sub-freezing mountainside with scattered snow at 6:00 AM, but even so many of the rocks on that hillside looked as if they were warm in the BinoX.

The rocks were a whole other color/shade than the ground and trees but were clearly discernible as well. I guess I was just hoping that only warm things would show up as such on the display, but to be fair I got used to it fairly quick, and it ceased to be as difficult.

The rangefinder works, and I tested its accuracy alongside another comparably priced unit. I like rangefinders that reach the two kilometers or more, but for use in the darkness it’s probably better to stay fairly close. Ranging targets inside 1,000 yards seemed to be easy with the Binox, but I didn’t care for the large opening in the ranging reticle, I think it could use a more precise aiming point.

I am not sure what the laser divergence is for the rangefinder, but perhaps the reticle size is based on the beam divergence.

I was unfortunately unable to try the Obsidian APP that I downloaded to view images from the BinoX, I wasn’t able to pair the device and the live chat support on ATN’s website was unable to help me as I wandered around in the darkness.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE BINOX

Now for the good news. I was very excited to be able to see so many things in the dark that were previously unknown. These Binoculars are an awesome tool if you are trying to locate animals in the darkness, or very low light. I suppose you could even use them in the daylight to locate animals. The zoom function is pretty easy and quick to increase your ability to identify targets, and I was pleasantly surprised that resolution wasn’t lost as I zoomed them in.

I was certainly impressed by the battery life, particularly in the cold sub-freezing temperatures in the high Rocky Mountains. The unit has a standby/sleep mode to help conserve the battery, but I wanted to see how long it would last without it. On multiple occasions I would fire the unit up an hour or so before daylight, and I would use it until the deer would begin to bed down around 10-11 at night and the battery was still chuggin’ along!

The photo/video feature is very handy, it was as simple as tapping the button to get saved images of the animals I was watching. Almost too easy in fact, as on several occasions I found I had bumped the video record button and had filled my card up with videos of my feet.

The image quality was as good as I had expected it to be and it gave me an incredible feeling of dominion over the darkness before me.

CONCLUSION

Thermal imaging is definitely not for the penny pinchers out there, there are a variety of BinoX models available but the most affordable chimes in with an MSRP of $2,699. Needless to say, it can be a hard pill to swallow for most. Though you might find it extremely fun to prowl the darkness, you won’t be able to occult such a purchase from your spouse without risking your own body heat. But if you have the ability to buy products like this, then you will surely enjoy them as I have.

The ATN 640 4T BinoX will take your hunting to a whole new level, and the features make it a pleasure to use. Watch for my next article about the ATN THOR 4T HD Riflescope.

-CBM

Sig Sauer Kilo 10K Binoculars

August 9, 2022Optics, Product reviewbinoculars, binos, kilo, kilo 10k, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Introduction

I’ve been severely hooked on both hunting and long range shooting for more than a few decades, so laser rangefinders are nothing new to me. I still remember saving up what seemed like an eternity to purchase my first one, an LRF I could barely afford but would actually hit a thousand yards and beyond reliably. All these years later my laser has migrated into a good pair of bino’s which are a must have for spotting animals in these Rocky Mountains. But the me from twenty years ago would never believe just how much else has migrated into the binoculars I carry. Today we are looking at the Sig Sauer Kilo 10K Binoculars.

Sig Sauer Optics

Sig Sauer jumped into the optics market with both feet, and like their products or not they have been innovating all over the optics world. They worked hard enough to earn my business a few years back when I bought one of their Tango 6 5-30 riflescopes.

I have had the good fortune to sample a broad spectrum of Sig Sauer’s Electro-optics. Enough so to become quite confident in giving them more hard earned money. The Kilo 10K is that latest purchase, a pair of consumer grade binoculars that feature arguably military grade functions. I decided that I was due an upgrade, and spent the money.

The Kilo 10K Binoculars

I have been using another pair of 10X42’s for the last few years, but a friend bought a pair of the Kilo 3000 binoculars and I quickly noticed they seemed better to my eyes than the binos I was using. The Kilo 10K is a significant upgrade from the 3000 model, with so many features I’ll have to keep it short to avoid this page taking all day to load.
Besides Sig’s standard features such as their Ballistic Data Exchange (BDX) and their various lens coatings and armor, the real juicy details are all encoded inside. The Kilo utilizes second generation Lightwave DSP ranging engine that has various ranging functions that allow you to range reflective targets as far as 10,000 yards away. I was dang sure gonna try that out.

The onboard system also has all the sensors needed to calculate real time ballistics via Applied Ballistics Elite ballistic calculator. Instead of pairing to your phone application the Kilo does it all inside. Spoiling you with an incredible array of information right in front of your eyes. All this without ever taking your eyes off the target.
The internal systems of the Kilo also have compass and GPS functions. You can see compass headings and such right in the binocular heads up display, angles of incline are also displayed. And you can mark waypoints in your travels using the Basemap application.
The aforementioned Applied Ballistics (AB) software allows you to store up to 25 different profiles in the binoculars using their complete bullet library. So you can always have you favorite load cued up. The Kilo 10K reads all the relevant atmosphere information to give you a corrected firing solution. Including current density altitude conditions, and even a wind meter for accurate wind speed measurement.

Figuring out the Sig Sauer Kilo 10K

I was a bit apprehensive about having the brainpower to figure out and run everything the Kilo 10K offered. After reading through the manual a few times, I was less so.

The Kilo can be configured using the buttons controlling it, or using the BDX phone application. I went about changing a few of the settings to better fit what I thought I would like, it didn’t take long to figure out. The menu allows easy switching from meters and yards, as well as MOA to MRAD. Using the onboard sensors, the Kilo provides the air pressure, temperature and humidity. You can configure the system to automatically measure the temperature or you can input the temp manually if selected. You can also select manual input of other atmospheric data using the app on your phone.
The heads up display on the Kilo 10K is incredibly informative. it gives you distance (both actual and angle corrected) shooting angles, and wind corrections as dictated by the bluetooth connected wind meter. I was very please to see that even a milling reticle can be chosen to aid in spotting for corrections.

Ballistic data is displayed both through the binoculars as well as on the phone display, this could enhance a fire teams ability to make quick shots

After several trips into the hills to simply play with and look through the Kilo 10K, I decided it was time to get serious.

Data Input

I replaced the factory preset data that came set for a .308 175gr SMK, and entered in all the data for the 6mm GT I was planning on shooting. All the data is easily entered via the BDX app, and no sooner had I input my data, the Kilo synced everything up with the tap of a button.

The AB calculator uses a bluetooth wind-speed anemometer to capture the speed of the wind. As well as temperature, humidity, angles, and all the other pertinent information is captured and fed into the system.

One slight complaint I had was from the wind meter itself, it measures the wind just fine. But the direction of the wind has to be put in either through the app on your phone (fastest way). Or you can also do it through a quick access menu on the Kilo itself. The quick switching nature of the wind makes me wonder how challenging that data point might be to maintain accurate. I was hoping there was a way to index the wind direction using the compass heading from the GPS.

There are a great deal of customizable options to change how the data is conjured before your eye. The heads up display menu was clear and quick to cycle through despite having to do everything using only the two external buttons on the binos. I have used AB for some time, so my confidence in the ballistic calculations were good. I wanted to see how the interface with the Kilo lined up, to see if it was as simple as point, laze, and shoot.

Hunting Country

On a blustery summer evening, I made my way into the Wasatch Mountains to do some additional testing of the Kilo’s capabilities. The storm front threatened to bring rain, but for the most part all I got was gloomy cloud cover. The high winds carried a visible amount of dust and debris. This had me concerned at how well the laser would reach. But I was quite surprised to see the Kilo light up with just over five-thousand yards, over two-point-eight miles away.

I decided to hit something even further still away, from my perch at over six-thousand feet (9,189 DA according to the Kilo) I could see my house below. I figured the siding would be reflective enough to hit at significant distance. So I pressed the button until it came back with a reading, and it did several times. Nine-thousand three hundred and fifty-one yards it read, that’s five point three miles away as the crow flies.

The Kilo 10K sitting on top of my **Field Optics Research tripod**

I checked my Basemap app, to see that the waypoint popped up marking my house. Had I needed to I could have just walked home in the dark using the Basemap as a guide.

Ballistic Data

I did some truing of the data in AB for my 6GT load to see that it lined up with confirmed data I already had saved. It was absolutely brilliant to see a firing solution populate in a second or so. With nearly all the data I needed to make the shot. The Desert Tech SRS M2 6GT shoots very well out to fifteen hundred yards or so. I wanted to see how quick I could go from spotting targets to seeing impacts at various distances. So I played my mock hunting game where a suitable sized target is picked out, and I engaged it as fast as possible as if it were escaping. The trued data from AB via the Kilo lined up beautifully. This allowed me to make hit after hit with minimal delays between shots.
If the system was utilized between a shooter and spotter team, you could put an amazing rate of fire on targets. With a spotter using the Kilo, you could range targets and have the firing solution show up on the shooters phone screen without so much as saying a word. Both could see the live data displayed. And as soon as the next target is identified that data would pop up on the shooter’s screen. You can even actuate the rangefinder from your phone through the app. Once paired, you can touch the range button on your phone screen to activate the rangefinder remotely.
I created a second profile for my favorite twenty-two inch 6.5 Creedmoor, just to see how to cycle between profiles. As with other operations inside the Kilo, it was quick to pull up the menu and switch between profiles and other settings. As I used the internal menu of the Kilo I got much better at changing rapidly the settings. Continue Reading Here…

PROS & CONS

Cons

Today, I’ll start out with the cons, just to get them out of the way. The Sig Sauer Kilo 10k is as much a system as it is a single product. And the system relies on its multiple components for maximum performance.

That said, I don’t think they could have chosen better partners. AB is an extremely well-known ballistic-solver system. And Basemaps also has a great reputation and provides very valuable information. One downside that I found was that the Basemaps’ App required a Pro upgrade in order to use the Kilo as an add-on tool. This isn’t a huge deal, but it’s one worth mentioning.

I did have one apparent malfunction while testing the Kilo, where it did get quite warm from sitting in the sun. It was a hot July day, but I wouldn’t have considered it too hot for the Kilo to work. Much like an iPhone left in a hot car, the Kilo just stopped working, as though the battery was dead. I even replaced the battery thinking maybe I had overused it. But after sitting in the house for a few hours, it fired right back up with the battery showing full power. I haven’t been able to reproduce the problem, so I hope it was simply a fluke.

Pros

The pros of the Kilo10k system are many and hard to list. If you’ve read this far, you have already been over all the functions that I consider beneficial. So, I’ll keep it short by naming my favorites.

First off, there are the ranging capabilities. The Kilo ranges much farther than almost any of us will ever be shooting outside military applications using artillery. It is still nice to have the ranging ability. And the Kilo makes a good navigation tool as well because of its broad capabilities. The Terrapin X has long been considered top of the heap as a rangefinder. Though I have heard from several people that they have had better luck at extreme distances using the Kilo 10k.

Sig Sauer Kilo10k Binoculars — The lens coating and armor are great, but the real money is inside this compact computer of an optic

Heads Up Display

The heads-up display is very intuitive and gives you almost everything you need quickly. Important information appears larger than less pertinent information. But everything you want from a rangefinder is there. And the HUD reticle gives your spotter some reference as well.

The Kilo’s carry case is very nice and well thought out. There are two pockets for carrying small accessories, and a pigtail lanyard to keep the wind meter attached and close. The multiple profile options and quick syncing features make the Kilo incredibly useful for a guy on the move between one hunt or another. Especially if you are switching between multiple calibers or spotting for multiple shooters.

Conclusion

Sig has once again knocked it out of the park with this pair of binoculars. Admittedly, I have never been a big optics snob. But I find them optically superior to most comparable options, that is if you can find something close to the Kilo as far as its capabilities are concerned.

The Kilo does what it says, and I intend on taking full advantage of its well-thought-out features in the years to come. The only thing left to test is that of time and durability. Follow me to keep tabs on how the Kilo 10k performs in the future.

-CBM

The Kilo 10k has gotten plenty of use these past few years. Alongside my **Desert Tech SRS**, its **US Optics FDN25X**, and suppressed by the **YHM R9**

2023 Update:

Last year I did have to send the Kilo back to Sig for some kind of apparent malfunction with the HUD. It was repaired quickly, and returned. I have used it for two hard hunting seasons since without any issues at all. In fact I have come to love these binos even more several years later.

Cole TAC Bino Premier Pack

April 14, 2021Ancillary gear, Product reviewbino case, binoculars, binos, Cole-tac, coletaccoldboremiracle

Introduction

Is there ever such a thing as too much gear? I say yes and no. If you are going on a ten mile hike into the backcountry looking to shoot an elk, then definitely there is such a thing as too much. But kicking around in the basement, it’s hard to say when there is too much. I definitely have too much, but maybe that’s not a bad thing.

I’ve carried a few bino harness’s around in my day, starting way back with those old Crooked Horn outfitters things that looked like a man-zier. There are many models I like, and I’ve been using the Badlands Packs bino case’s for several years now. But today we are discussing a new one from one of my favorite companies. I say my favorite not because I have all their stuff, but because they are always innovating the market of shooting soft-goods. They are constantly coming up with great new products, some that take off, and others that may not have. But they have the balls to take risks and bring American made high-quality textiles to the precision rifle shooting community.
Among the many products they make, my favorites have to be the Ammo Novel, (a great way to safely transport your precious handloads), their Tripod Leggings (which create a perfect little load-bearing shelf under your tripod head), and of course their Suppressor Covers that protect from contacting hot cans, and keeping the mirage down. But today we are on the subject of bino harness’s so I’ll stop gushing and get to the point.

Why do you even?

If you missed the bus, you’ll notice that everybody who didn’t is using a carry pouch or harness of some sort to protect their precious extra eyes. They are extremely useful for all kinds of things beside just keeping your binos close. Who doesn’t carry a phone these days? And it fits right close to your heart where you can keep an eye on it. Everything from phones to game-calls to earplugs and chewing-gum, but don’t mix those last two up. It keeps all your most important things front and center, I almost use it like a catch-all-wallet when I’m in the mountains.

Even without padding, the PremierPack was extremely comfortable

The Bino PremierPack

So let’s get into the Cole TAC version of this handy predator purse. I was surprised to see a lack of padding around the shoulder straps, something I had grown quite accustomed to using other models. I was also surprised at how robust the harness material was, seemed strong enough for a day pack, but balanced enough for a bino case. The harness panel that runs across your back spreads the weight carried up front over a wide area making it feel lighter, as well as giving molle attachment points for extra accessories (might I suggest the ammo novel). There are also molle attachment points on the front, which are handy for attaching additional pouches or gear.

Pack details: molle back panel, and binocular attachment straps.

The pouch itself features a padded compartment for your binoculars, big enough to fit the average pair of hunting binos with a little wiggle room. The lid of the pouch is secured by a neat little elastic draw-string that slides through a magnetic catch. The catch has both magnetic retention, as well as a physical retainer by way of a dovetail. It goes together so quick I rarely have to do more than get them close together for them to lock right up. You can adjust the elastic draw-string to keep a safe amount of retention on the lid.
In the back of the pouch there is a zipper compartment that rides right against your chest. A great place to keep dope cards, deer tags, or any other little items you’d like to keep handy.
The buckles and other fasteners on the pack are very stout, I don’t recommend that I’d tie-off to it when in a tree-stand, but as strong as they are I’d be afraid of hanging myself if it got caught on a branch on the way down.

So does it WORK?

The first thing I did was adjust it for a good fit, and I wore it around the office for a whole day. I was sure that the lack of padding would make it less comfortable than I was used to, but boy was I wrong. To my surprise, not only was it comfortable but it felt great even after eight hours. And the best part was that it didn’t sag at all, it stayed right where I had put it.
The smaller straps that secure the binoculars to the pack are easily attached, and your binos are easily disconnected with a squeeze of the coupler clips should you need to share your view.

Shop everything Cole-TAC right here

The lid and its securing strap proved to be very intuitive, never did I worry about them coming open and spilling my contents.
The zipper pouch is perfect for small things, though I wish it was a touch bigger so I could fit my big fat clubber-girl phone in there.
The attachment points both front and back proved to very useful for accessories and such when I didn’t want to carry a whole backpack. I did in fact attach my ammo novel to the molle panel across the back, this was a great place for as it was out of the way and the weight helped balance the whole harness even more.

I’ve been carrying the PremierPack for a month or so now, hiking, riding, and driving. Its comfortable and robust, and it feels much stronger than perhaps some of the more elegant looking products from big names, though I’d wager those ones are made overseas. Cole TAC products like the Bino PremierPack feel like they were made for NASA missions to the moon.

Conclusion

With so many gadgets and gizmos piling up around, the gear-queer in me loves it when cool ones that I will actually use come out. The Cole TAC Bino PremierPack will definitely stay in my go pile, and I look forward to seeing what the next great thing they either improve upon, or build from scratch.

-CBM