There is an old saying that good binoculars are expensive and very good binoculars are very expensive. It's true and you can easily spend more for a set of top-end binos that you spent on your bow. Except that is, for this set of amazingly sharp binos from TruGlo, one of the most innovative companies in the sports-optics field.
The TruGlo Tru-Brite 8X32 Binoculars compare very favourably to the finest from Swarovski and Steiner in all indices of clarity, sharpness, ocular alignment, weather proofing and warranty coverage. All this at half the price for a comparable pair from the big-name companies.
The Tru-Brite binos feature a compact and lightweight with extra-long eye relief for ease of focus and to accommodate eyeglass wearers. The twist-up eye cups with click stops and the removable/winged eye cups make the Tru-Brite binos quick to use and comfortable for hours of glassing gar slopes in search of game.
Multi-coated lenses and high-light-transmitting sliver-coating prisms make for the brightest and sharpest image you will find in any optic. The textured synthetic covering provides waterproof, fog-proof, and shock-resistant protection for use in all the rough environmental conditions that bowhunters are likely to encounter in either Australia or New Zealand. the exterior features a green non-slip grip with a tough matte finish on all metal parts. A Tru-Glo Bino/Bivy-Harness carry system in APG Camo is also included.
The most important piece of gear that a bowhunter carries into the bush that is not a bow, an arrow, a knife or a pair of shoes is a good dependable pair of binoculars. Bowhunters in Australia and especially in New Zealand often face a long tramp to get into their selected hunting blocks, and they need a lightweight, compact set of binoculars that won't let them down and are of high enough quality to do the job. We all know the frustration of stalking for hours on a animal that ends up not worth taking. Or, as in one very embarrassing case, stalking for an hour to get down wind of a fallen ponga stump that from a distance looked just like a bedded stag.
In selecting just the right pair of binos, most experienced bowhunters agree that a large magnification isn't necessary and can actually be a liability, 8X is considered about right for the majority of situations. What bowhunters need most is a wide field of view and a bright image that stays bright in low-light conditions. Light gathering and brightness are functions of many things (glass quality, lens coatings, and prism configuration to name a few) but the most important consideration for the buyer is the diameter of the objective lens (the big end of the bino), but there is a trade off here. As the objective lens gets bigger the weight increases in proportion and the cost increases substantially.
NZAP have selected the TruGlo Tru-Brite binoculars in 8X32 as the best combination of price, reasonable carry weight, and ocular clarity. These are excellent binoculars with an appropriate configuration for bowhunting and a great value. A particularly good value is the Trailblazer ATB 8X25 Compact Binoculars from Nikon. These offer very high quality, light weight, and low cost. If you are really on a tight budget or want a pair to get the kids started right,the tiny pocket binos from Tasco do a very good job when size and price are considered. These are the ones to take along as a backup or when a long tramp precludes taking a larger and heavier pair.