Cabela's Bino's

[Brian S]

  I just ordered a Cabela's Water Proof, roof prism binocular 10x42. In the Pine ridge model's description it says they are made in Japan and imported for cabelas. The Water Proof and the Alaskan guide models don't say where they are made in the catalog. I was trying to decide between the Nikon Monarchs or the Leupold "Wind River" leupold's import. They are all in the 265-300 range. I ended up going with the Cabelas model because of the no questions asked return policy if you don't like it. When you order through a catalog you only have other's recomondations from this site to go by. There aren't many stores around here with all models that cabelas have. Simmons, bushnells, and tasco's are the only thing the local shops have. I looked through the Wind River plus at Turners $410 bucks "ouch". It was very clear but I didn't like the center adjust knob. I don't think it would work too good with frozen fingers during deer season.
  Have any of you used the cabela's glass. Do you know where they're from, probably Japan but I thought I'd ask. They will get their first hunt in at the JHP Carizzo  coyote hunt in 2 weeks.
Brian  

 

[Brian S]

  Well judging by the lack of responses I would guess that many of you have not bought these cabelas binos. Your missing out. I used them extensivly this past weekend in the JHP carizzo coyote hunt and am very satisfied with my purchase. They are compact and light enough for field use as well as a real clear image. The center focus is big enough for easy adjustment and is ratcheted for lack of a better word. It has minute click adjustments when you turn the dial, which seems to speed up the focusing. One bummer with these binos is that they didn't come with any instructions or product data. I am wondering if I can use the click adjustments to figure range. Like 6 clicks is a clear image at a 100 yards or something like that. Aside from that I am very happy with my purchase and would recomend them to anyone looking for glass in this price range. For another 3 or 4 hundred there are allot more options like Leica, Leupold gold ring, Zeiss and Swarovski, but I'm married and we cut the money tree down when we had kids.
Brian

 

[Bishop]

I got to try Brian's new binoc's at Carrizo.  They are very, very,  clear and bright.  Excellent deal for the price.  I would definetely consider them if I was in the market for some good glass.  
Brian I saw a write up on the new Nikon "Sporter 1" in one of my magazines.  They look almost identical to yours.  You might want to check out the Nikon website and see if there the same.  

 

[Hook]

I too got to look throught those binos at Carizzo, they were just as clear as my Swarovski's. I think they are an excellent pair of binos. And for $300 bucks you cant go wrong.  

I was real impressed to say the least. Good find Brian.

 

[gizz]

The problem for me with the Cabelas bino's is that I can't preview them before buying. No cabelas stores in PA and I'm paying the shipping to and from Cabelas to try them out. Cabelas usually put their name on good stuff so i have little doubt but I also can't plunk down $300 without a peek through the glass.

 

[songdog]

Agreed... but on the other hand, Cabela's will take them back no questions asked if you're not happy with anything from them.  It's not their policy to cover shipping but the couple times I've sent something back they've covered it.  I think that they just leave that a little gray so you don't order a new pair each week and send them back the following week for 10 weeks straight until you find a pair that you like.

 

[limit7]

Cabela's will cover shipping if it is a quality issue and ther is something wrong with the product.  But if you are returning them for no reason (you don't like them), then shipping will be on your dime.  

 

[snoopdogg]

I've got a pair of the 10x42 Alaskan Guide model last year.   I paid $539 for them, and 2 buddies of mine who own Swarovski SLC's really think I did right by picking those boys up.  Also, I asked the operator about the the maker; they transferred me to a "expert" who could only say they are Japanese.

Big thumbs up!

 

[Passthru]

snoopdogg,welcome to Jesse's forums.

 

[Shep]

I too have been eyeing the cabelas brand glass.Brian,how do they perform under low light conditions?How about eye relief?Thanks in advance.

 

[Brian S]

Shep,
   I haven't taken them out enough to know how well they perform at low light while looking for game amoung trees and such. As far as the eye relieve, there are some extendable cups that thread out so you can set the eye relief when you don't have on glasses. You would have to screw them in when wearing glasses. THe cups have a fast thread pitch one turn brings them all the way out. They also allow you to firmly place the bino to your face so you don't have to  bob your head back and forth to find the sweet spot. One thing I am kind of disapointed in is that they don't resist fogging up with breath. I had on a face mask so my breath was diverted up into the ocular a little and they fogged up. I think there are some brands that have coating like bushnells rainguard thats suposed to prevent that from hapening. Beyond that they are very clear and I would recomend them to anyone looking for a roof prism bino in the $300 range.
Brian

 

[Bishop]

Hey Brian, go to someplace that sells scuba diving equipment.  You can get a bottle of drops that divers use to keep face masks from fogging.