For the modern hunter, every piece of gear must earn its place in your pack. Weight, performance, and reliability are non-negotiable when you’re miles from the trailhead. A high-quality monocular has become an essential tool, offering the critical advantage of long-range spotting without the bulk of a full-sized binocular. The right choice can mean the difference between a successful hunt and a long story about the one that got away.
The market in 2025 is filled with impressive options, from ultra-compact models for the minimalist to powerful, light-gathering giants for low-light conditions. This roundup cuts through the noise to bring you the top performers that balance optical clarity, rugged construction, and practical features. Whether you’re glassing a high-alpine basin or tracking through dense timber, one of these ten best monoculars for hunting is your perfect spotter.
Our Top Picks for Hunting Monoculars
- OXK Optics 12×56 High Power Monocular Telescope
- Bushnell Legend 10×42 Ultra HD Monocular
- Vortex Optics Recce Pro HD 8×32 Monocular
- Zeiss 10×25 T Design Selection Monocular with Pouch
- Vortex Optics Solo Monocular 10×36
- Gosky 12×55 HD Monocular Telescope with BAK4 Prism
- Celestron – Outland X 10×50 Monocular
- Steiner Safari UltraSharp 10 x 26 Binoculars
- SWAROVSKI CL Companion Binoculars 10×30
- Zeiss Monocular 10×25 T Pocket
OXK Optics 12×56 High Power Monocular Telescope
For hunters who demand maximum reach and light-gathering capability, the OXK Optics 12×56 monocular is a formidable tool. Its 12x magnification and substantial 56mm objective lens work in concert to pull in ample light, making it particularly effective during the critical low-light hours of dawn and dusk. The wide 6.5-degree field of view provides a more comfortable and expansive perspective, allowing you to scan large basins or timber edges with ease.
Optical performance is enhanced by a large BAK-4 prism and Fully Multi-Coated (FMC) lenses. This combination increases light transmission while reducing glare and reflection, resulting in clear, high-contrast, and color-accurate images. A significant benefit for extended glassing sessions is the 25mm large eyepiece, designed to reduce eye strain and prevent dizziness, whether you wear glasses or not. The package is further complemented by a smartphone adapter, tripod, and travel bag, adding tremendous value.
Bushnell Legend 10×42 Ultra HD Monocular
The Bushnell Legend 10×42 Ultra HD Monocular stands as a benchmark for performance and durability in the field. It employs advanced ED Prime glass to minimize chromatic aberration, delivering stunning clarity and true color fidelity. Coupled with an Ultra Wide Band Coating, this monocular ensures bright, high-resolution views even as daylight begins to fade, giving you a distinct advantage when game is most active.
Built to handle the rigors of hunting, this model features a rugged, rubber-armored exterior that provides a secure grip in all weather conditions. The O-ring sealed optics are both waterproof and fog proof, guaranteeing reliable performance in rain, snow, or humidity. Its 10x magnification strikes a perfect balance between power and stability, while the compact form factor makes it easy to stow in a jacket pocket or pack, ensuring it’s always within reach.
Vortex Optics Recce Pro HD 8×32 Monocular
Designed with the tactical user in mind, the Vortex Recce Pro HD 8×32 is equally at home in a hunting scenario requiring precise observation. Its key feature is a mil-based reticle with quick-ranging silhouettes, which assists with range estimation and shot calling—invaluable for planning a stalk or judging distance in open country. The 8x magnification offers a wide field of view and a steady image, which is easier to hold by hand than higher-power models.
An HD optical system utilizing extra-low dispersion glass and XR anti-reflective coatings generates bright, sharp images with high color accuracy. The flared eyecup effectively blocks stray light and can be folded down for use with eyeglasses. Operation is smooth and intuitive, with a large focus wheel designed for one-handed use once set. Backed by Vortex’s unlimited, unconditional warranty, this is a monocular built for a lifetime of hard use.
Zeiss 10×25 T Design Selection Monocular
For the hunter who prioritizes top-tier optics in the smallest possible package, the Zeiss 10×25 T Design Selection Monocular is a premium choice. Zeiss’s renowned T anti-reflective coating is individually tuned to each lens, guaranteeing brilliant, high-contrast images even in the challenging light conditions of dawn and dusk. This optical excellence ensures you see critical details with exceptional clarity.
This monocular exemplifies minimalist efficiency. It is small, light, and sporty, making it the perfect tool to have instantly accessible in a shirt pocket. You can bring distant objects into clear view at a moment’s notice, ensuring you never miss a subtle movement or a potential trophy. The build quality and weather resistance you expect from Zeiss are present, making it a reliable companion for any outdoor excursion.
Vortex Optics Solo Monocular 10×36
The Vortex Solo 10×36 is a fantastic all-around monocular that balances performance, size, and affordability. Its 10x magnification and 36mm objective lens provide a versatile configuration suitable for a wide range of hunting environments. The fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and resolution, delivering the clear, crisp images necessary for positive game identification at a distance.
Durability is a key strength of the Solo. The body is fully rubber armored, providing a non-slip, secure grip and protection from minor bumps and drops. It is also nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed, making it both waterproof and fog proof. This means you can confidently use it in any weather condition, from a rainy morning in the whitetail woods to a dusty alpine hunt, without worrying about internal moisture or optical failure.
Gosky 12×55 HD Monocular Telescope
The Gosky 12×55 HD Monocular offers high-power observation in a user-friendly and robust package. With 12x magnification and a large 55mm objective lens, it provides a wide field of view (352ft/1,000Yds), ideal for scanning open landscapes. This configuration is excellent for hunters who need to assess terrain and spot game from a significant distance.
Image quality is assured through the use of an 18mm BAK-4 prism and Fully Multi-Coated (FMC) lenses. This optical system maximizes light transmittance and minimizes reflection for a bright, sharp view. The monocular is also IPX7 waterproof and nitrogen-filled, making it fog-proof, dustproof, and shockproof. The inclusion of a smartphone adapter is a great bonus, allowing you to capture photos and videos of your sightings directly through the lens.
Celestron Outland X 10×50 Monocular
The Celestron Outland X 10×50 is designed for hunters who need superior performance in low-light conditions. The large 50mm objective lens acts like a big window, drawing in abundant light to produce vivid, high-contrast images. This makes it an outstanding choice for glassing during the first and last minutes of legal shooting light.
Despite its powerful light-gathering ability, the Outland X remains compact and travel-ready, easy to carry on long hikes into the backcountry. The 10x magnification brings wildlife and distant terrain features up close with sharp, detailed views. Multi-coated optics and a BaK-4 prism ensure quality image clarity, and like all serious hunting optics, it is both waterproof and fog proof. The package includes a smartphone adapter and a belt case for added convenience.
Steiner Safari UltraSharp 10×26 Binoculars
While technically a compact binocular, the Steiner Safari UltraSharp 10×26 earns its place on this list for hunters seeking maximum optical performance in a minuscule package. Its 10x magnification provides a high degree of zoom in a form factor that can easily fit in a pants pocket, making it the ultimate “always with you” optic.
These binoculars impress with what Steiner calls the best optical performance among compacts, delivering bright and sharp images. A key feature for hunters is the easy, continuous focusing system that delivers razor-sharp details all the way down to a close range of 2 meters. This is incredibly useful for tracking game moving through thick cover at varying distances. The robust and waterproof build ensures it can handle the demands of the field.
Swarovski CL Companion 10×30 Binoculars
For the hunter who accepts nothing less than the absolute best in optical clarity and quality, the Swarovski CL Companion 10×30 binoculars represent the pinnacle. Swarovski’s legendary optics provide breathtakingly bright, crisp, and color-true views, allowing you to see every crucial detail in the landscape, from antler tines to subtle animal movements at extreme range.
The 10×30 configuration offers a superb balance of power, light-gathering, and a compact, lightweight design. This makes them an ideal companion for long, strenuous hunts where every ounce matters but performance cannot be compromised. The “Urban Jungle” edition showcases a stylish yet functional design, and like all Swarovski products, they are backed by a lifetime limited warranty, protecting your investment for generations.
Zeiss Monocular 10×25 T Pocket
Another exceptional offering from Zeiss, the 10×25 T Pocket Monocular, is the definition of pocket-sized high performance. It embodies the principle that the best optic is the one you have with you, and this model is so compact it disappears in your pocket until needed. Despite its small size, it delivers the optical excellence expected from the Zeiss brand.
This monocular is engineered for the hunter who values speed and convenience. You can deploy it in an instant to get a clear, magnified view of your surroundings, making it perfect for quick scans from a treestand or while on the move. The build quality is exceptional, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of daily carry and use in the field. It is the ultimate backup optic or primary glass for the ultra-lightweight hunter.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Monocular for Hunting in 2025
When I’m picking out a monocular for a hunt, my main focus is always on finding that perfect balance between power and portability. You want something that feels like it’s barely there in your pocket but performs like a high-end optic when you bring it to your eye. The first thing I consider is the magnification and objective lens size, usually written as something like 8×42. The first number is the magnification. For most hunting situations, I find an 8x or 10x monocular to be the sweet spot. Anything higher can be tough to hold steady without a tripod. The second number is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. A larger number, like 42mm, gathers more light, which is critical for those early morning and late evening hours when game is most active.
Next up is the lens quality itself. I always look for monoculars with fully multi-coated lenses. This isn’t just marketing jargon; it means multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings are applied to the glass, which drastically improves light transmission and image brightness. For hunting in the Pacific Northwest where rain is a constant companion, I also make sure the monocular has a good waterproof and fog-proof rating, like IPX7 or nitrogen purging. There’s nothing worse than having your optics fog up on the inside when a trophy buck is in view.
Size and weight are non-negotiable for me. The whole point of choosing a monocular over a binocular is often its compact nature. I look for models that are lightweight, often under a pound, and have a slim profile that fits easily in the chest pocket of my hunting jacket. The build quality needs to be rugged enough to handle being knocked around in a pack or dropped in the mud. A rubber armored coating not only provides a secure grip with cold or wet hands but also protects the monocular from minor impacts.
Finally, I think about the extra features. Many of the best monoculars for hunting in 2025 come with built-in rangefinders or digital night vision capabilities. While these are fantastic tools, they add cost, weight, and complexity. I ask myself if I truly need that integrated tech, or if I’m better off with a superb optical instrument and a separate, dedicated device. For most of my hunting, a simple, high-quality monocular with a clear, bright image is the tool I reach for most often. It’s about having a reliable, lightweight spotter that gives me the confidence to make the right call in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a monocular good enough for hunting, or do I need binoculars?
This is a classic debate. For me, a monocular is absolutely good enough for a lot of hunting scenarios, especially if you’re a solo hunter who values cutting every ounce from your pack. It’s perfect for quick, discreet glassing from a treestand or when still-hunting through thick cover. Binoculars still have the advantage in wide-open country where you’ll be glassing for long periods, as they are less straining on the eyes. But for its size and weight, a high-quality monocular is a incredibly capable and versatile tool that many hunters find is all they need.
What does the “field of view” mean on a monocular?
Field of view is the width of the area you can see through your monocular at a specific distance, usually expressed in feet at 1,000 yards. A wider field of view means you can see a larger area without moving the monocular, which is a huge help when you’re trying to scan a meadow for movement or track a moving animal. Generally, lower magnification monoculars will have a wider field of view than higher-powered models.
How important is waterproofing for a hunting monocular?
In my experience, it’s one of the most important features. Weather can change in an instant, and you don’t want to be caught in a downpour with optics that can’t handle it. Look for terms like “waterproof,” “O-ring sealed,” and “nitrogen purged.” The nitrogen purging is what prevents internal fogging when temperatures change rapidly, which is just as critical as keeping water out. If you hunt in any environment other than a desert, I consider it a must-have.
Can I use my smartphone with a hunting monocular?
Many modern monoculars are designed with smartphone compatibility in mind. They often come with an adapter that lets you clip your phone’s camera lens over the monocular’s eyepiece. This is great for taking long-distance photos or videos of wildlife, scouting new terrain, or sharing your hunt with friends and family back home. If this is a feature you think you’ll use, look for a model that includes or supports a phone adapter.
What is the best magnification for hunting with a monocular?
For a general-purpose hunting monocular, I almost always recommend 8x or 10x magnification. An 8x monocular gives you a brighter image and a wider field of view, and it’s easier to hold steady. A 10x monocular brings you a bit closer but can show more hand shake and has a slightly dimmer image. I tend to lean towards 8x for hunting in woods and thicker brush, and 10x for more open areas. Going beyond 12x usually requires a tripod for a stable view, which defeats the purpose of a lightweight, grab-and-go monocular for many hunters.