“rangefinding binocular”

The question: If you were limited to three pieces of "gear," just what would you deem most important?

We believe there is no greater recognition of a company’s quest for excellence than having a product touted as “best in class”—the standard by which all others are measured. And so it is with great honor that American Hunter again presents its annual best-in-class awards to firearms and gear that clearly rise above the rest.

Editor in Chief J. Scott Olmsted this morning presented outdoor-industry leaders with American Hunter’s best-in-class awards.

Vortex Optics has announced its new Fury HD 10x42 Rangefinding binocular, which will be capable of ranging reflective targets out to 1600 yards.

Nikon Sport Optics has announced its new LaserForce rangefinding binocular, which is designed to range distances from 10 to 1900 yards, with instantaneous readouts. Distances are displayed in 0.1-yard increments to 100 yards, and 1-yard increments over 100 yards. The OLED display offers a 4-step brightness adjustment, making it easily readable under any light conditions and against various objects.

Earlier this year, Nikon introduced its new LaserForce Rangefinding Binocular. The new, tricked-out design is worth a close look, especially at an MSRP of just over a thousand bucks. Here are five things you need to know.

Here’s a question for hard-core big-game hunters: How much is efficiency worth to you? Or more to the point: Is the convenience of a rangefinding (RF) binocular worth the extra money and the extra weight vs. carrying separate bino and rangefinder units?