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Vortex Optics Viper HD

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Optical quality
Weight and size
Durability
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16 Verified Hands-On Reviews

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Expert reviews [16]

96
Total expert reviews: 16
  • with a score: 1
  • without a score: 15

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
96
The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 is a high-quality binocular that offers exceptional clarity and brightness at a more affordable price compared to other premium models. It is comfortable to use and has a wide field of view, making it a great option for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.
+ pros
  • Very clear and bright: The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 provides exceptional clarity and brightness, comparable to much more expensive models.
  • Easy to adjust: The binoculars have smooth and easy adjustments for both interpupillary distance and diopter.
  • Comfortable: The Viper HD is ergonomic and comfortable to hold and use for extended periods of time.
  • High-quality construction: The binoculars are well-built with a texturized rubber coating for a secure grip.
- cons
  • A bit heavy for the backcountry: The Viper HD 8x42 may be slightly heavier than desired for backpacking or long hikes.
  • Mediocre close focus range: The binoculars have a close focus range of 6.3 feet, which is slightly lower than the specified 6.0 feet.
  • Mediocre field of view: The measured field of view is 348 feet, which is smaller than the manufacturer's specified 409 feet at 1000 yards.
  • Average construction quality, mediocre low-light performance: The construction quality is average and the low-light performance is not as impressive as other models.
  • Poor low-light performance: The binoculars do not perform as well in low-light conditions compared to other models.
The Vortex Viper HD 42-mm Binoculars are an excellent mid-level binocular with HD glass, offering superb optical performance and a minimum close focus of just 5 feet. They have great ergonomics, accessories, and come with Vortex's full VIP warranty.
+ pros
  • Excellent optical performance at a mid-price range.
  • Superb minimum close focus of just 5 feet.
  • Great ergonomics and accessories.
  • Full Vortex VIP warranty.
- cons
  • Slight additional cost compared to the original Vortex Vipers.
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Expert consensus

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly praised for their optical quality, comfort, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, hunting, and nature observation.

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars receive high praise from experts for their excellent optical quality, making them a reliable choice for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, hunting, and nature observation. The lenses are fully multi-coated and have a dielectric prism coating, resulting in brighter and clearer images.

The binoculars also feature a proprietary XR anti-reflective coating, high-density glass, and phase correction coating, all of which work together to improve color accuracy and enhance contrast. With 42mm objective lenses, the binoculars provide a good amount of light transmission, resulting in bright and clear images.

The Viper HD binoculars are available in two magnification levels, 8x and 10x, and have a close focus distance of 6. 3 feet, making them suitable for observing objects at close range.

In terms of weight and size, the Viper HD binoculars weigh approximately 700 grams and have dimensions of approximately 5. 5 inches from the objective lens to the eyecup. They are neither super lightweight nor too bulky, providing convenience and portability for activities like hunting, birdwatching, hiking, and traveling.

The binoculars have a comfortable and ergonomic design, with a texturized rubber coating that ensures a secure grip. The short barrel and lightweight design make them easy to deploy and prevent neck strain, and the weight is barely noticeable during long days out.

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly regarded for their durability and build quality. They have a polycarbonate chassis that helps to dampen vibrations and a rubber armored chassis that provides superior ergonomics and an easy-to-grip design. The binoculars are waterproof and fogproof, thanks to the argon purging and O-ring seals, and have scratch-resistant armortek protection on the exterior lenses.

This makes them suitable for use in various weather conditions and ensures their durability for outdoor use.

Overall, the Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars offer excellent optical quality, comfort, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts. They are specifically designed for activities such as birdwatching, hunting, hiking, and traveling, and their waterproof feature, rugged construction, and ergonomic design make them a dependable option for outdoor use.

Optical quality

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars offer excellent optical quality with features such as fully multi-coated lenses, dielectric prism coating, and high-density glass, making them a reliable choice for outdoor activities.

Based on the expert reviews, the Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars offer excellent optical quality. The fully multi-coated lenses and dielectric prism coating contribute to increased light transmission, resulting in brighter and clearer images. The proprietary XR anti-reflective coating, combined with high-density glass and phase correction coating, helps to reduce light scattering, improve color accuracy, and enhance contrast.

The Viper HD binoculars are available in two magnification levels, 8x and 10x, allowing users to choose the level of zoom that best suits their needs. The close focus distance of 6. 3 feet is slightly lower than the manufacturer's specification but still better than the average for the test group. This makes the binoculars suitable for observing objects at close range, such as butterflies or hummingbirds.

The 42mm objective lenses of the Viper HD provide a good amount of light transmission, resulting in bright and clear images. The field of view measurement varies slightly in different reviews, but it is generally considered to be among the best for 8x models tested. This makes the binoculars suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities, such as birdwatching, hunting, or nature observation.

Overall, the Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars offer excellent optical quality, making them a reliable choice for various outdoor activities.

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Weight and size

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are a convenient and comfortable option for outdoor activities, with a weight of 700 grams and an ergonomic design.

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars weigh approximately 700 grams (or 1. 5 pounds), making them neither super lightweight nor too bulky. This weight is designed to provide convenience and portability for activities like hunting, birdwatching, hiking, and traveling. The dimensions of the binoculars are approximately 5.

5 inches from the objective lens to the eyecup. Multiple expert reviews highlight the comfort and ergonomic design of the Viper HD. It is mentioned that the binoculars have a great feel in hand, with a texturized rubber coating that ensures a secure grip. The relatively short barrel and lightweight design make it easy to deploy from a chest harness and prevent neck strain.

The weight of the binoculars is barely noticeable during long days out, indicating that they are comfortable to carry for extended periods of time. Overall, the Vortex Optics Viper HD is a well-designed and comfortable binocular option for various outdoor activities.

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Durability

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly durable and well-suited for outdoor activities, with a lightweight polycarbonate chassis, rubber armored design, and waterproof and fogproof features.

The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly regarded for their durability and build quality. The binoculars have a polycarbonate chassis, which is lightweight and helps to dampen vibrations, resulting in less shaking of the image. However, some reviewers mentioned that they would have preferred a magnesium or aluminum-alloy chassis for added rigidity and durability.

The Viper HD binoculars are designed for outdoor use and are well-suited for activities like hunting, birdwatching, hiking, and traveling. They have a rubber armored chassis that provides superior ergonomics and an easy-to-grip design, making them suitable for use in the field.

The binoculars are also waterproof and fogproof, thanks to the argon purging and O-ring seals, ensuring that they can withstand various weather conditions. They also have scratch-resistant armortek protection on the exterior lenses, making them durable and suitable for outdoor use.

Overall, the Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are considered to have excellent build quality and durability, allowing them to compete with more expensive binoculars in the market. They are specifically designed for outdoor use and are well-suited for a variety of activities. The waterproof feature, along with the rugged construction and ergonomic design, make them a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all binoculars.

Rank Change Price Binoculars
money.com
OpticsMag
Space Exploration and Astronomy
GearJunkie
Task and Purpose
Digital Camera World
T3
Wirecutter
Forbes
BestReviews
1
- $210
Celestron Nature DX ED
The Celestron Nature DX ED binoculars offer high-quality optics, durability, and a balance between weight and size, making them a versatile option for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and stargazing.
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13
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1
1
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2
- $381
Vortex Optics Viper HD
The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly praised for their optical quality, comfort, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, hunting, and nature observation.
2
1
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6
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3
- $1399
Canon 10x42 L
The Canon 10x42 L binoculars are highly recommended for stargazing and wildlife observation due to their good optical quality, 10x magnification, 42mm objective lenses, and durable construction.
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1
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2
7
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4
- $97
Celestron Outland X
The Celestron Outland X binoculars are highly praised for their optical quality, lightweight design, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
3
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2
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10
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5
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Vortex Optics Viper HD ranks #2 out of 15 in this month's ranking:
Best in Durability
18 Dec 2022 (1 year ago)
Read article
Best Overall
3 Jan 2024 (10 months ago)
Read article
Best Binoculars For Birding
14 Jun 2024 (5 months ago)
Read article

Highest recommended binoculars this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. binoculars below are at the top of our ranking this November.

Scroll to see all options. Click on the binoculars for more details.
Celestron Nature DX ED Vortex Optics Viper HD (this item) Canon 10x42 L Celestron Outland X
Reviews
In comparison:
Celestron Nature DX ED rank #1 out of 129. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.3
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Vortex Optics Viper HD rank #2 out of 129. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
10.0
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Canon 10x42 L rank #3 out of 129.
Go to rankings
7.7
Good
Reviews
In comparison:
Celestron Outland X rank #4 out of 129. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.6
Great
The Celestron Nature DX ED binoculars offer high-quality optics, durability, and a balance between weight and size, making them a versatile option for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and stargazing. The Vortex Optics Viper HD binoculars are highly praised for their optical quality, comfort, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor activities such as birdwatching, hunting, and nature observation. The Canon 10x42 L binoculars are highly recommended for stargazing and wildlife observation due to their good optical quality, 10x magnification, 42mm objective lenses, and durable construction. The Celestron Outland X binoculars are highly praised for their optical quality, lightweight design, and durability, making them a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
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