Best Spotting Scopes for Hunting

The best spotting scope for hunting in this roundup is the Vortex Viper HD 15-45×65 Angled. It suits the hunter who hikes in, sets up on a tripod, and needs clean glass across 15-45x without carrying a two-kilogram tube — the 65 mm objective keeps pack weight down, the angled eyepiece keeps long glassing sessions comfortable, and the magnification range sits in the band where image quality is actually usable. If the budget is the deciding factor, the SVBONY SV28 25-75×70 Angled with its included tripod is the pick: it covers the same headline magnification range as scopes costing several times more and arrives ready to use. If most of your glassing happens in the last 30 minutes of legal light over open country, save for the Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85 Angled — an 85 mm objective gathers noticeably more light than a 60-65 mm tube at the same magnification, and that difference decides whether you can judge a rack at 800 metres or only see a silhouette. Everything below is organised around the four numbers that actually determine whether a scope works for your terrain and your pack: magnification range, objective size, weight, and tripod.

Top 3 Picks

Best overall: Vortex Viper HD 15-45×65 Angled

The most sensible all-round hunting scope in this list. A 65 mm objective and 15-45x range give you a genuinely usable exit pupil at the low end, and the angled eyepiece means you can sit behind it for an hour without wrecking your neck. It is the scope for the hunter who walks in, glasses from a ridgeline, and wants premium glass without a premium-sized pack penalty.

Best budget: SVBONY SV28 25-75×70 Angled with Tripod

A complete, workable first setup for the price of a mid-range tripod head. The 70 mm objective delivers a usable exit pupil at 25x, the angled eyepiece is the right choice for long sessions, and the included tripod means you can be glassing the same afternoon you unbox it. Treat 45-55x as the practical ceiling rather than 75x.

Best premium for low light: Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85 Angled

When your glassing happens at dawn and dusk across big open country, objective size beats almost everything else. The 85 mm front lens and 20-60x zoom give a 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x, which is the difference between resolving antlers and guessing at them. It is heavy, and it demands a real tripod, but that is the trade you make for light-gathering.

Quick Comparison

Every scope below is listed with the numbers that matter to a hunter: magnification range, objective size, the exit pupil at the low end of the zoom (which governs low-light performance), and the weight class you should expect to carry or support. Prices are shown as tiers only, because street prices on optics move constantly.

How We Chose

This roundup is built from published manufacturer specifications, brand track records, and the established conventions of the spotting-scope category — not from field testing, and not from owning or benchmarking these units. The criteria were chosen to match how hunters actually buy a scope.

Specification fit. Every scope here had to state a magnification range and objective size, because those two numbers drive everything downstream: exit pupil, field of view, weight, and the tripod you need. Scopes with vague or inflated claims were left out or described by spec class rather than by a number we could not verify.

Category fit. A hunting scope has a different job from a range-only scope. Portability, eyepiece geometry, weather sealing, and the availability of a tripod that suits the objective all counted. A 100 mm objective is a superb glassing instrument and a poor backpacking one, and that distinction is stated plainly in each section.

Use case and upgrade path. The list spans budget, mid-range, and premium deliberately, so a reader can see what each step up in price actually buys: better glass coatings and edge sharpness first, then a larger objective, then lighter weight at the same optical quality. The upgrade path matters more than the entry price, because most hunters keep a scope for a decade.

Support and ownership. Brand warranty practice, parts availability, and how easily a scope can be re-sold or re-homed factored into the picks, along with the consumables and wear points covered later in this article.

1. SVBONY SV28 25-75×70 Angled with Tripod – Best for a First Hunting Scope on a Tight Budget

The SVBONY SV28 25-75×70 is the scope to consider when the entire budget — scope, tripod, and a spare set of binoculars — has to fit inside the price of one mid-range tube. It is an angled-eyepiece spotting scope with a 70 mm objective, a 25-75x zoom eyepiece, and a compact tripod in the box. That combination puts it squarely in the first-scope bracket rather than the last-scope bracket: a hunter who has never glassed through a spotting scope can learn what magnification does to image quality, how much steadiness a tripod actually provides, and how much pack weight a big objective costs, without spending premium money on a tool they may use a handful of times a season.

Key specs

• Magnification: 25-75x zoom eyepiece
• Objective lens: 70 mm
• Exit pupil: roughly 2.8 mm at 25x, dropping to about 0.9 mm at 75x
• Prism and coatings: BAK4-class porro prism with multi-coated optics, typical of this product family
• Eyepiece: angled, which suits seated and prone glassing
• Body: rubber-armoured; treat splash resistance as the realistic expectation at this tier unless the specific unit is stated as waterproof and fogproof
• Included: compact tripod, soft case, and lens cloths
• Weight class: light for its objective — roughly 1.1-1.5 kg for scope plus supplied tripod
• Mounting: standard 1/4″-20 tripod thread

The real strength is the objective size relative to price. A 70 mm front lens gives a 2.8 mm exit pupil at 25x, which is a comfortable daylight figure — enough to identify a species, count points, or judge whether a distant animal is worth a stalk. The angled eyepiece is the correct choice for a hunter who will mostly be sitting behind the scope on a hillside, and the zoom ring covers the full range without swapping eyepieces. Because the scope arrives with a tripod, the first outing does not require a second purchase.

The honest limitations are optical, not mechanical. Zoom eyepieces in this price band lose sharpness and contrast well before their maximum magnification, so treat 45-55x as the usable ceiling and 75x as a number that exists mainly for reading targets on a still day. The supplied tripod is the weakest link: it will hold a stationary scope for a seated shooter, but it flexes in wind and transmits vibration from a heartbeat. Low-light performance is modest — a 70 mm objective at 30x is working with a 2.3 mm exit pupil, and the image dims quickly after sunset.

Pros

• Complete 25-75x, 70 mm setup for a budget-tier price
• Angled eyepiece reduces neck strain on long glassing sessions
• 2.8 mm exit pupil at 25x is genuinely usable in daylight
• Light enough to lash to the outside of a day pack
• Standard tripod thread means it can be upgraded to a better head later

Cons

• Image quality falls off well before 75x; the top of the zoom is largely decorative
• Supplied tripod is not stable enough for high magnification in wind
• Weather sealing is not in the same class as premium hunting optics
• No premium lifetime warranty programme behind it

Against the nearest alternative in this list, the NWDEY 25-75×60, the SVBONY wins on objective size and therefore on light gathering — 70 mm versus 60 mm is roughly a 36 percent increase in light-collecting area, which shows up as a brighter image at the same magnification. The NWDEY counters with a much taller 60-inch tripod, which matters if you glass standing or from a vehicle roof, and with fully multi-coated optics as a stated feature. If you glass seated on the ground, take the SVBONY. If you glass standing, take the taller tripod.

2. Vortex Crossfire HD 12-36×50 Straight – Best for Ultralight Backpack Hunts

The Vortex Crossfire HD 12-36×50 is the scope for the hunter who counts grams and still wants to look at something 700 metres away. With a 50 mm objective and a modest 12-36x zoom, it sits in a class that many hunters overlook: the compact, straight-tube scope that rides in a side pocket rather than strapped to the top of a pack. The straight eyepiece is a deliberate fit for this use case — it is faster to get behind, works better from a vehicle window, and pairs naturally with a short tripod or a window mount.

Key specs

• Magnification: 12-36x zoom
• Objective lens: 50 mm
• Exit pupil: about 4.2 mm at 12x, falling to roughly 1.4 mm at 36x
• Optical design: HD glass in the Crossfire HD line, with anti-reflective coatings across the range
• Eyepiece: straight, aligned with the body
• Body: rubber-armoured, argon or nitrogen purged and fogproof in the current Vortex line-up
• Weight class: among the lightest here — roughly 0.7-1.0 kg for the scope alone
• Mounting: standard 1/4″-20 thread, plus a rotating tripod collar class in this family
• Warranty: Vortex’s unconditional VIP lifetime warranty

The standout number here is the 4.2 mm exit pupil at 12x. That is the largest low-end exit pupil of any scope in this roundup, and it comes from a 50 mm objective paired with a genuinely low starting magnification. A 4.2 mm pupil is bright at first and last light for most adult eyes, which is unusual in a scope this small. Add the light weight, the fogproof sealing, and a lifetime warranty that covers accidental damage, and you have a scope that punches well above its size.

The trade is reach. At 36x, a 50 mm objective yields only about 1.4 mm of exit pupil, which is dim and unforgiving of mirage; most hunters will find 25-30x the practical ceiling in warm conditions. Field of view at the low end is generous, but the scope will not resolve fine detail at extreme range the way an 80 mm or 85 mm tube will. It is also a fair-weather-and-then-some instrument: it will survive rain, but you are not buying big-lens twilight performance at this size.

Pros

• Lightest and most packable scope in this roundup
• Outstanding 4.2 mm exit pupil at 12x — bright for its objective size
• Straight eyepiece is fast to acquire targets and works from a vehicle
• Fogproof sealing and a lifetime VIP warranty
• Low starting magnification gives a wide, steady view

Cons

• 50 mm objective limits low-light and extreme-range performance
• 36x is the top of the range; there is no 60x for counting points at distance
• Straight eyepiece forces a taller tripod for comfortable seated use
• Premium mid-range price for a compact scope — you are paying for glass and warranty, not for size

The nearest alternative in this list is the Vortex Diamondback 20-60×60 Angled. The Diamondback gives you 10 mm more objective and a 60x ceiling, so it reaches further and shows more detail at long range, and its angled eyepiece is easier on the neck. The Crossfire HD answers with a much lighter body, a brighter low-end exit pupil (4.2 mm versus 3.0 mm), and a straight tube that packs flatter. For a hunter who walks 15 kilometres a day, the Crossfire HD is the better tool; for a hunter who sits on a vantage point all morning, the Diamondback is.

3. Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85 Angled – Best for Low-Light Glassing at Long Range

If your hunting is done across canyons, across sage flats, or across a valley at first and last light, the Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85 is the scope that earns its weight. An 85 mm objective is the classic full-size hunting glass, and the Diamondback HD pairs it with HD glass, a 20-60x zoom, and an angled eyepiece. It is the pick for the hunter who drives or hikes to a fixed vantage point, sets up a real tripod, and stays there — not for the hunter who needs a scope in a side pocket.

Key specs

• Magnification: 20-60x zoom
• Objective lens: 85 mm
• Exit pupil: about 4.25 mm at 20x, about 1.4 mm at 60x
• Optical design: HD (extra-low dispersion) glass with fully multi-coated surfaces and dielectric-coated prism
• Eyepiece: angled, rotating tripod collar class
• Body: rubber-armoured, argon purged, waterproof and fogproof
• Weight class: full size — roughly 1.6-2.0 kg for the scope alone
• Tripod requirement: a sturdy head rated well above the scope’s weight, ideally 2 kg of load capacity or more
• Warranty: Vortex VIP unconditional lifetime warranty

The 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x is the headline. Light-gathering scales with the square of the objective diameter, so an 85 mm lens collects roughly twice the light of a 60 mm lens. At the same magnification, that is a visibly brighter, higher-contrast image — which is exactly what you need to decide whether the animal on the far ridge is worth a three-hour stalk. HD glass controls the colour fringing that cheaper large-objective scopes show on backlit animals, and the 20-60x range covers everything from scanning at 20x to detail work at 45-55x.

The costs are weight, bulk, and tripod dependency. At roughly 1.6-2.0 kg, this is a scope you commit to carrying, not one you casually add to a pack. It also demands a tripod that is heavier than the ones bundled with budget scopes — a flimsy head will wobble at 40x and make the optic useless. And while 60x is available, warm-weather mirage and a 1.4 mm exit pupil mean most hunters settle around 40-50x for real detail work.

Pros

• 85 mm objective delivers roughly double the light-gathering of a 60 mm scope
• 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x for genuine dawn and dusk capability
• HD glass keeps colour fringing under control on backlit subjects
• Angled eyepiece and rotating collar suit long seated sessions
• Waterproof, fogproof, and backed by a lifetime VIP warranty

Cons

• Heavy — roughly double the weight of a compact 50 mm scope
• Requires a substantial tripod, which adds more weight and cost
• Large objective is more prone to showing heat mirage
• Overkill for close-country or timber hunting

The closest alternative in this list is the Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60×85. Both are 85 mm HD scopes with 20-60x zooms and a 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x, so the optical class is identical. The difference is ergonomics and support: the Argos uses a 45-degree angled eyepiece, which many hunters find the most comfortable compromise between straight and steeply angled, while the Vortex brings the VIP warranty and the wider accessory ecosystem. If you already own Vortex optics, stay in the family. If you want the 45-degree eyepiece angle, the Argos is the better fit.

4. NWDEY 25-75×60 with Upgraded 60 in Tripod – Best for Budget Kits With a Tall Tripod

The NWDEY 25-75×60 is aimed at a specific, practical problem: most budget spotting scopes ship with a tripod so short that you have to sit on the ground to use it. This one pairs a 60 mm objective, 25-75x zoom scope with a 60-inch tripod, which is tall enough to glass standing or from the bed of a truck. For a hunter who mostly observes from a fixed position rather than crawling through cover, that height advantage matters more than a few millimetres of objective.

Key specs

• Magnification: 25-75x zoom
• Objective lens: 60 mm
• Exit pupil: about 2.4 mm at 25x, about 0.8 mm at 75x
• Prism: BAK4, the higher-index glass used to reduce internal light loss and edge darkening
• Coatings: fully multi-coated (FMC) on the optical surfaces
• Eyepiece: angled class, suited to seated and standing positions
• Included: upgraded 60-inch tripod, carrying case
• Weight class: moderate — roughly 1.2-1.6 kg for scope and tripod combined
• Mounting: standard 1/4″-20 thread

Two features justify this scope’s place in the list. First, the tripod height: a 60-inch tripod lets a standing adult look through the eyepiece without bending, which is a real ergonomic win over the tabletop tripods that come with most budget scopes. Second, the stated BAK4 prism and fully multi-coated optics — those are the two specification markers that separate a scope worth buying from one that produces a dim, soft, vignetted image. Neither guarantees premium performance, but both indicate the manufacturer spent money where it counts.

The 60 mm objective is the limiting factor. At 25x it gives a 2.4 mm exit pupil, which is adequate in good daylight but noticeably dimmer than the 70-80 mm budget options in this list, and it fades quickly in the last 20 minutes of light. At 75x the exit pupil collapses to under 1 mm, which is effectively unusable in the field. Realistically, plan on 25-45x.

Pros

• 60-inch tripod makes standing glassing genuinely comfortable
• BAK4 prism and fully multi-coated optics as stated features
• Tall tripod doubles as a usable platform for a phone adapter or camera
• Light enough to move between vantage points during a stalk
• Budget-tier price with a complete kit

Cons

• 60 mm objective is dim at high magnification and at dusk
• 75x is not usable in practice — 25-45x is the real range
• Tall tripods are more susceptible to wind vibration than short ones
• Weather sealing and warranty support lag behind the premium brands

Compared with the SVBONY SV28 25-75×70, the NWDEY trades 10 mm of objective for a much taller tripod and a stated BAK4 prism with fully multi-coated glass. The SVBONY is brighter at every magnification and better in low light; the NWDEY is easier to use standing up. If you glass from a hide, a vehicle, or a standing position, the NWDEY’s height advantage wins. If you glass seated and want maximum brightness per pound spent, the SVBONY is the better optical buy.

5. GUANIEE 25-75×80 with Full Size Tripod, Carrying Bag and Phone Adapter – Best for Budget All-in-One Kits and Digiscoping

The GUANIEE 25-75×80 is the budget kit that covers the most ground in one purchase. An 80 mm objective, a 25-75x zoom, a full-size tripod, a carrying bag, and a phone adapter all arrive together. That last item is the differentiator: a phone adapter turns a spotting scope into a digiscoping rig, which lets a hunter document what they saw, share a photo with a hunting partner, or use the scope as a long-range camera for scouting. For a first-time buyer who wants one box to cover glassing, tripod, transport, and photos, this is a rational starting point.

Key specs

• Magnification: 25-75x zoom
• Objective lens: 80 mm
• Exit pupil: about 3.2 mm at 25x, about 1.1 mm at 75x
• Optical design: multi-coated lenses with a BAK4-class prism in this product family
• Eyepiece: angled class
• Included: full-size tripod, carrying bag, phone adapter
• Weight class: roughly 1.4-1.9 kg for scope, tripod, and accessories
• Mounting: standard 1/4″-20 thread, which also accepts the supplied phone adapter

An 80 mm objective at 25x gives a 3.2 mm exit pupil — noticeably brighter than a 60 mm tube at the same magnification, and enough to keep glassing past sunset. The 25-75x zoom covers scanning and detail work in one control, and the included full-size tripod means you are not immediately shopping for a second support. The phone adapter is genuinely useful rather than a gimmick: digiscoping at 20-30x through a stable tripod produces serviceable images for scouting records.

The caveats follow the budget pattern. The zoom loses sharpness and contrast well before 75x, so 45-50x is the practical limit. The bundled tripod will hold the scope steady for seated glassing but is not in the same stability class as a dedicated hunting tripod with a fluid or ball head. Digiscoping demands a stable platform, and vibration is the main reason phone-adapter photos come out soft — a heavier tripod fixes most of it. Weather sealing should be assumed to be splash-resistant rather than submersible unless stated otherwise.

Pros

• 80 mm objective at a budget-tier price
• 3.2 mm exit pupil at 25x is solid for daylight and early dusk
• Complete kit — scope, tripod, bag, and phone adapter in one purchase
• Phone adapter opens up digiscoping for scouting and records
• Standard thread lets you swap to a better tripod later

Cons

• Image degrades well before the 75x maximum
• Bundled tripod is the weak point for digiscoping and for high magnification in wind
• No premium lifetime warranty
• Accessory quality varies; the phone adapter may need shimming to centre the camera

The nearest competitor here is the Voopon 25-75×80 HD, which matches the 80 mm objective and 25-75x range and adds a stated BAK4 prism, nitrogen purging, and a phone adapter of its own. The Voopon’s nitrogen fill is the meaningful difference: purged scopes resist internal fogging when you move from a cold vehicle into warm, humid air, which is a common failure in budget optics. The GUANIEE counters with a fuller kit — a full-size tripod and carrying bag included. If wet, humid conditions are normal where you hunt, the Voopon’s purging is worth more than the extra accessories.

6. SVBONY SV28 100mm 25-75x – Best for Big-Objective Glassing on a Mid-Range Budget

The SVBONY SV28 100 mm is the light-gathering outlier in this list. A 100 mm objective is the largest front lens here, and it is paired with a 25-75x zoom at a mid-range price. That makes it the scope to consider when low-light performance and long-range resolution matter more than portability — a truck, a hide, a ranch gate, or a fixed vantage point you reach by vehicle. It is not a backpacking optic, and treating it as one is the main mistake buyers make with this class.

Key specs

• Magnification: 25-75x zoom
• Objective lens: 100 mm
• Exit pupil: about 4.0 mm at 25x, about 1.3 mm at 75x
• Optical design: multi-coated optics with a BAK4-class prism in this product family
• Eyepiece: angled class
• Body: rubber-armoured; assume splash resistance unless the specific unit states waterproof and fogproof
• Weight class: heavy — roughly 2.0 kg or more for the scope alone
• Tripod requirement: a rigid tripod and head rated for at least 3 kg of load; this is not a scope for a bundled tabletop tripod
• Mounting: standard 1/4″-20 thread

The physics is the selling point. Light collection scales with the square of the objective diameter, so a 100 mm lens gathers roughly 1.8 times the light of a 75 mm lens and nearly three times that of a 60 mm lens. At 25x the exit pupil is about 4.0 mm, which keeps the image bright well into dusk, and the extra aperture supports higher usable magnification before the image goes soft. If you hunt open country in low light and observe from a fixed position, this is the most optical performance per pound of budget in the list.

The trade-offs are real. At roughly 2 kg for the scope alone, plus a tripod heavy enough to stabilise it, you are carrying 3-4 kg of glassing gear. That rules out long walk-in hunts. The large objective is also a mirage magnet: in warm conditions, heat shimmer will limit usable magnification to around 35-45x regardless of what the zoom ring says. And at the budget-to-mid-range price point, the glass quality will not match a premium 85 mm scope — you are buying aperture, not optical refinement.

Pros

• Largest objective in this roundup — best raw light-gathering
• 4.0 mm exit pupil at 25x for genuine twilight glassing
• Higher usable magnification than smaller budget scopes
• Mid-range price for a big-aperture class
• Excellent value for a truck or hide-based setup

Cons

• Heavy and bulky — not a backpacking scope
• Requires a substantial tripod, adding further weight and cost
• Glass quality will not match premium 85 mm optics at similar magnification
• Heat mirage limits high magnification in warm weather

Against the Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85, the SVBONY wins on aperture and price: 100 mm versus 85 mm is roughly 38 percent more light-collecting area, and the SVBONY costs far less. The Diamondback HD answers with better glass, HD coatings that control colour fringing, full waterproof and fogproof sealing, a lighter body, and a lifetime VIP warranty. If you want maximum brightness for the money and observe from a fixed spot, the SVBONY is compelling. If you want a scope that will still be excellent in ten years and can be carried, the Diamondback HD is the better long-term purchase.

7. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60×85, 45 Degree – Best for Premium Glass in an Angled 85 mm

The Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60×85 is the direct premium answer to the full-size hunting scope question, with one ergonomic twist: a 45-degree angled eyepiece. That angle is the compromise position in spotting scopes — steeper than a straight tube, which makes it easier to get behind quickly, but shallower than a conventional angled eyepiece, which some hunters find easier for glassing downhill or from a standing position. The 85 mm objective and HD glass put it in the same optical class as the best scopes in this list.

Key specs

• Magnification: 20-60x zoom
• Objective lens: 85 mm
• Exit pupil: about 4.25 mm at 20x, about 1.4 mm at 60x
• Optical design: HD glass with fully multi-coated lenses and a dielectric-coated prism
• Eyepiece: 45-degree angled
• Body: rubber-armoured, waterproof and fogproof, charcoal green and black finish
• Weight class: roughly 1.6-2.0 kg for the scope alone
• Tripod requirement: a sturdy head with at least 2 kg of load capacity
• Warranty: Athlon’s lifetime warranty programme

Optically, this is a genuine low-light instrument. An 85 mm objective with a 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x will keep resolving detail after the naked eye has given up, and HD glass plus a dielectric prism coating keeps contrast high on backlit animals. The 20-60x range is well matched to hunting: 20-25x for scanning, 35-45x for judging, and 50-60x for the rare still, cool morning when mirage allows it. The 45-degree eyepiece is comfortable for long sessions and works reasonably well whether you are seated or standing.

The usual full-size penalties apply. This is a heavy scope that needs a real tripod, so it belongs to the hunter who sets up in one place rather than the one who covers ground. And while the 45-degree angle is a nice compromise, it is a compromise: hunters who strongly prefer either a straight tube or a steeply angled eyepiece will find it neither.

Pros

• 85 mm HD objective with dielectric-coated prism for strong contrast
• 4.25 mm exit pupil at 20x — excellent dawn and dusk performance
• 45-degree eyepiece balances comfort and fast target acquisition
• Waterproof and fogproof for wet-weather hunting
• Covered by a lifetime warranty

Cons

• Heavy and tripod-dependent
• 45-degree angle is a compromise rather than a specialist choice
• Premium price tier for performance that matches, rather than beats, its closest rival
• Large objective shows heat mirage in warm conditions

The nearest alternative is the Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85. Both are 85 mm HD scopes with identical magnification ranges and identical 4.25 mm low-end exit pupils, so neither has an optical advantage on paper. The decision comes down to eyepiece geometry and brand ecosystem: the Argos offers the 45-degree angle, while the Diamondback HD offers a conventional angled eyepiece and Vortex’s VIP warranty, which is famously generous with accidental damage. Pick the eyepiece angle you find comfortable and the warranty you trust.

8. Athlon Optics Talos 20-60×80 with Tripod and Carrying Case – Best for a Complete Mid-Range Hunting Kit

The Athlon Optics Talos 20-60×80 sits in the middle of the market in the most useful way: it gives you an 80 mm objective and a 20-60x zoom, then includes a tripod and a carrying case so the kit is complete on day one. It is the sensible pick for a hunter stepping up from a budget 60 mm scope who wants noticeably more light and reach without jumping to premium pricing or to the weight of an 85-100 mm instrument.

Key specs

• Magnification: 20-60x zoom
• Objective lens: 80 mm
• Exit pupil: about 4.0 mm at 20x, about 1.3 mm at 60x
• Optical design: multi-coated optics with a BAK4-class prism
• Eyepiece: angled, charcoal grey body
• Included: tripod and carrying case
• Weight class: roughly 1.4-1.8 kg for the scope, more with the supplied tripod
• Tripod requirement: the bundled tripod is adequate for seated glassing; upgrade for sustained high-magnification use
• Warranty: Athlon’s lifetime warranty programme

The 4.0 mm exit pupil at 20x is the reason to choose this over a 60 mm budget scope: it is roughly 78 percent more light-collecting area than a 60 mm objective, and the difference is obvious in the last half hour of daylight. The 20-60x zoom is the standard hunting range, and the included case and tripod mean there is nothing else to buy before the first trip. Mid-range pricing with a lifetime warranty is the other argument in its favour — this is a scope you can keep.

Two things hold it back. The bundled tripod will do for seated glassing but is not stable enough to wring full performance out of 50-60x, so budget for an upgrade if you plan to use the top of the zoom. And at 80 mm, the scope is heavy enough that it belongs in a pack or a vehicle rather than on a belt. As always with mid-range zooms, expect image quality to peak somewhere around 40-50x.

Pros

• 80 mm objective with a 4.0 mm exit pupil at 20x
• Complete kit — tripod and carrying case included
• Mid-range price tier with a lifetime warranty
• 20-60x covers both scanning and detail work
• Angled eyepiece suits long seated sessions

Cons

• Bundled tripod limits performance at high magnification
• Heavy enough to require a pack or vehicle
• Not waterproof to premium standards unless the specific unit states it
• Image softens at the top of the zoom range

The closest alternative is