Not all of us have the resources to buy every piece of hunting or survival gear, like binoculars, for example. It’s a good thing most manufacturers today produce affordable but reliable binos. We created a list and reviewed the best binoculars under $100 for those who have to watch what they spend.
Comparison of the Best Binoculars Under $100
Model
Nikon 8245 ACULON A211 8x42 Binocular (Black)
Binoteck 10x42 Binoculars for Adults - Professional HD Roof BAK4 Prism...
Like in riflescopes, the right magnification in binoculars allows you to track your quarry discreetly at a sufficient distance. If you’re planning to hunt in an open area, get binoculars with 10x magnification. But if you only plan to hunt at closer distances, 6x magnification is enough.
Collimation
Collimation is the alignment of the images produced by the binoculars’ right and left tubes. Simply put, a pair of binoculars that are not well-collimated displays a double image, and we don’t want that. It’s important to check if the binoculars you want to buy are out of collimation, so you can have them replaced or repaired.
If you haven’t done it before, here’s a detailed video on how to perform a collimation test on a pair of binoculars.
Weight and Material Construction
Consider the binoculars’ build and housing material. Accidental drops can’t be avoided, especially if you use them regularly. We suggest getting binoculars with durable material and outer coatings for added protection against scratches and dents.
Field of View/Eye Relief
Binoculars with 14 to 15 mm eye relief will help you observe for hours without feeling discomfort, especially if you have glasses.
Field of view is the width of the area that you can see at a particular magnification. It’s usually measured in feet at 1000 yards. Binoculars with a wide field of view allow you to track a moving target more quickly and easily and make it easy to pick up things surrounding your primary target of interest.
Exit Pupil
The size of the exit pupil determines the amount of light available to your eye. It can be computed by dividing the diameter of the objective lens by the magnification.
A 3mm exit pupil is sufficient for daytime use, 5mm is suitable for daytime and twilight, and at least 7mm is needed for nighttime or astronomy use.
Best Binoculars Under $100
Best Overall Binoculars Under $100: Nikon 8245 ACULON A211 8×42 Binoculars
If you don’t want to spend more than a hundred bucks on a pair of binoculars, the Nikon 8245 Aculon A211 Binoculars offer great quality images and details for less than that! That’s because of its aspherical multicoated eco-glass lenses. These proprietary lenses guarantee a flat field of view and image brightness enhancement like no other.
The Nikon Aculon Binoculars also feature rubber-armored coatings so they won’t slip even while using them in the rain or snow. These binos come with a heavy-duty neck strap and a soft carrying case. The lens caps need a little improvement design-wise, but they serve their purpose.
Pros
Come with a limited 10-year warranty
Wide field of view (420 ft @1000 yards)
Lightweight
Cons
They’re not fog proof and water-resistant
What Customers Say
The lenses are superior. However, the right eye adjustment knob is very stiff and I wonder if this is a design defect. Overall they are the best binoculars I’ve had for birdwatching. In fact, the lighting and clarity is so good that I can practically count the “eyelashes” on the squirrels that visit the feeder.
Gypsycat
Excellent binoculars for the price. They’re easy to focus and quite sharp. People with a specialized need might not care for them but if you use binoculars occasionally and want something that’s optically true with a diopter adjustment for less than perfect vision these are a good choice.
Joel Fritz
Best Binoculars Under $50: Binoteck 10×42 Binoculars
The Binoteck 10×42 binoculars has a wide field of view and a 1000-yard range. Its central quick-focus wheel and right eyepiece ring offer easy adjustments. Despite its affordable price, the Binoteck 10×42 binos come with a multi-coated eyepiece and objective lens that are reinforced with BAK-4 prisms for clear and bright images.
These binos also feature a non-slip rubber finish that serves as protection against shock. However, the Binoteck binoculars aren’t designed to be soaked in water and can only handle light drizzles. Finally, the lens caps are attached to these binos so you can easily cover them when not in use.
Pros
Very affordable (MSRP: $39.99)
Lightweight
Comes with a lifetime warranty
Comes with slip-resistant rubber finish
Cons
Not completely waterproof
What Customers Say
If you’re looking for a great budget-friendly pair of binoculars, these are the ones for you! Very satisfied with the quality and picture. Not worth spending a ton of money on the big names when these are just as good! You won’t be disappointed.. plus they have a lifetime warranty!
Alex Kosnick
These binoculars are easy to hold, adjust and are great for watching wild life! I’m so happy with them!!
The Bushnell H2O Roof Prism binoculars feature a large center focus knob that allows you to adjust image quality with a quick twist. Its twist-up eyecups offer comfortable viewing, especially to those with eyeglasses. Its rubber armor also offers a firm, comfortable grip and resistance against shock. The optical quality of these binos is better than what you’d expect for its price.
Pros
Long eye relief (17mm)
IPX7 waterproof and fog proof
Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
Cons
They’re a bit heavy for their size
What Customers Say
Light weight and clear optics. Just as clear as my Nikons for half the price.
Grady Pate
These are an excellent replacement for my old binoculars. Easy to use and great magnification.
The Vortex Optics Raptor Porro Prism binos are average-sized and come with a wide range of easily adjustable interpupillary distance, so they’re perfect for users of all ages. They’re protected by rubber armor so you can rely on them no matter the weather. Like most of our picks, the Raptor has twistable eyecups so you can set your preferred eye relief distance. One thing that sets these binos apart from other brands is the right eye diopter that works with focal differences in your eyes.
Pros
Wide field of view (390 ft @ 1000 yards)
Fog proof and waterproof
Lightweight
Great lens covers
Cons
Low-quality strap
Average focus knob
What Customers Say
Very nice binoculars. I needed a small pair to carry while hunting they’re perfect.
Christopher F.
A great price for very good binoculars. Excellent image, good in poor light as well as bright, lightweight and sturdy. I think it is the best binocular for beginner birders for it delivers good performance at a low price. One note: these do not focus on close objects (such as butterflies).
With our next pick, you can get as much as 12x magnification so you can cover more viewing distance. It’s also equipped with a diopter adjustment for fine focusing. Plus it has a 5mm exit pupil so bright images are guaranteed even in low-light scenarios. The Celestron Skymaster is also designed for easy collimation adjustment.
Pros
Excellent light gathering properties
Large eye relief (17mm)
Affordable (MSRP: $79)
Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
Water-resistant
Cons
Bulky and heavy
What Customers Say
I wish I knew it exists earlier. Really worth its money. Great picture – crisp and clear, perfect for stargazing and sky learning.
Andrei Nugaev
Great product that comes with a FIXED 12X zoom. Do not expect an steady image given the weight you will have to bear, unless you use a tripode. You will be able to see Jupiter’s galilean moons (as bright dots) and some details in our moon.
Juan Nunez
Bushnell PowerView 10 x 50mm Porro Prism Instafocus Binoculars
The Bushnell PowerView binoculars come with a toggle focus instead of wheel focus that functions smoothly. Its multi-coated lens surfaces offer increased light transmission and image brightness. These binoculars are built from durable materials that are reinforced by their Realtree AP camouflage non-slip rubber armor. Despite its price, the Bushnell PowerView delivers crisp and sharp images.
Pros
Easy to focus
Anti-slip grip
Cons
Not completely fog proof
Heavy and big
Low-quality strap and case
What Customers Say
One deer season in and I like them. Durable so Far East to use and field of vision is good. Clear sight. Little big little heavy but not enough to dislike them for the price. Put them on a vortex chest harness and love the setup.
Devin
Those are good quality and easy to use. They are a bit heavy and large, so not something you can hold up for a long time but have a good vision
Zach
Conclusion
A more convenient and efficient hunting or birding experience doesn’t have to be expensive. We hope you’re able to find a suitable pair of binos from our recommendations above because we handpicked them for you. If you’re willing to spend extra for more features, check out the best binoculars under $200.
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Last update on 2024-03-26 / Images from Amazon Product API
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