Best Lightweight spotting scope option?

[matmor]

Looking to start backpack hunting more. What's the best spotting scope for backpacking, or should I just use more powerful binoculars?

 

[Southern Elk]

I think a lot depends on the terrain. Where will you be hunting? And what are you hunting for? I've elk hunted places that had so much timber a spotting scope would have been useless.

 

[matmor]

I think a lot depends on the terrain. Where will you be hunting? And what are you hunting for? I've elk hunted places that had so much timber a spotting scope would have been useless.

Hunting in the west, hopefully spotting first then stalking into deep trees...

 

[mtmuley]

I think a lot depends on the terrain. Where will you be hunting? And what are you hunting for? I've elk hunted places that had so much timber a spotting scope would have been useless.

But binoculars are usefull in timber. A good pair of 10x42'S and a lightweight spotter would be a good set-up. mtmuley

 

[Tikka06]

Look around for a Minox MD 50, its small and light and won't cost too much. I picked mine up off cameraland.com for like $275 I think. Try it this year and if it works for you upgrade later. I mostly use mine for scouting ag fields and range work. Its no Vortex Razor but it works and is affordable. I may keep it and move up to a 65mm spotter in the next year or two just to have both.

 

[Southern Elk]

But binoculars are usefull in timber. A good pair of 10x42'S and a lightweight spotter would be a good set-up. mtmuley

This is true. I always have my 10x42 Nikons with me. I have a Vanguard spotting scope that I rarely pack in because it's heavy. It's always in the truck and sometimes I take it on day hunts. I don't like to pack it in because of the weight and space that it takes up.

 

[Irrelevant]

My Minox MD 50 goes everywhere with me. I picked mine up for 150, lightly used and it's been worth it's weight in gold in terms of locating critters and sizing them up.

 

[brymoore]

I'd save weight elsewhere and carry a 65x as s minimum scope size. I spent a lot of time behind a Nikon 50 ED wishing it had more power.

 

[ccc23454]

I really like my 11-33 razor as a packing scope and weight is right. I usually use around 20ish power to just scan and it's so clear I can see if worth getting closer to animal. I will say needs more zoom to count points on anything far away but on some level the clarity offsets some zoom.

C

 

[Hatchie Dawg]

For me and where I hunt the Nikon ED 50 with the 15x 30 eye piece fits my needs. Optically it is a big step up from the Minox MD 50 and I've had both. The ED is very light and optically has a hi quality to weight ratio. I need light and good. I pair it with a vortex summit tripod. I also carry Theron Wapiti APO ED 10x42s which are a good bang for the buck but a little heavy. I carry both up the mountain but not always both on each trip from camp. That depends on where I will go and be
HD

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

Nikon ed-50 of mine is great,,i use it a lot,very lightweight and clear for a 50 mm objective.

 

[matmor]

Thanks for all the Great info I'll check all these options out. Has anyone had any experience with one of these:

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/sport-optics/spotting-scopes/series/hummingbird-spotting-scopes

 

[SteveE]

Celestron is for bird watchers and star gazers.

For durability in hunting conditions I would suggest using one of the companies catering to hunters.

 

[schmalts]

Thanks for all the Great info I'll check all these options out. Has anyone had any experience with one of these:

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/sport-optics/spotting-scopes/series/hummingbird-spotting-scopes

Not impressed. Great concept but there comes a point that you can only go so small and get good optical performance. I had a factory a sample of this design concept and high hopes for it. I took it on an elk hunt last year to test it. As much as I wanted it to be a good scope, it didn't make the grade for long distance viewing. Short distance work was fine. The larger models of celestron are very nice scopes and have a great option of taking standard eye pieces instead of overpriced proprietary ones.

 

[Washington Hunter]

I'd suggest the Leupold 12-40x60. Not as light as some but a lot more useful.

 

[schmalts]

I'd suggest the Leupold 12-40x60. Not as light as some but a lot more useful.

What he said.