If you’ve spent time in your local Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shop, or any other local favorite sporting good store looking at optics under the glass counters, you know there can be a wide array of options and with that a wide array of prices. There’s an old saying when picking out optics. “Decide what your budget is, then double it.” Optics are one item you do not want to skimp on. Before you go and drop $2,000+ on a brand new pair of 10×42 Swaros, I recommend you take a long hard look at the Vortex Razor HD 10×42’s.
The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up a pair of the Vortex Razor HD 10×42’s is that they are built like a tank. ROCK SOLID. The open “H” hinge design and magnesium chassis melts right into your hands, and the Rubber Armor coating provides a very comfortable and durable non-slip texture for added protection of your high dollar optics. Coming in at only 24.8 ounces, they are on the lower end in weight versus other high-end roof prism binoculars (Swaro EL’s – 28.2 oz, Zeiss Conquest HD – 28 oz, Zeiss Victory HT – 28.4 oz, Leica Ultravid – 26.98 oz.). The “H” hinge design Razor HDs feature a large and easy to reach center focus wheel, multi-position adjustable eye cups, and locking diopter adjustment to help fine tune the focus for your eyes. The objective lens side of the “H” hinge also includes a threaded tripod adapter socket allowing you to mount your binos to a tripod using just about any tripod adapter (Vortex sells one for $24.00, http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-binocular-tripod-adapter).
Surrounded by the tough outer magnesium shell are premium extra-low dispersion high-definition (HD) lenses. The optical quality of binoculars is one feature you cannot dismiss. All exterior lenses are coated with multiple coatings of Vortex’s proprietary anti-reflective “XRPlus” coating and an “ArmorTek” coating. The XRPlus multi-coating allows for maximum light transmission and helps to enhance overall brightness while the ArmorTek coating is a hard, scratch resistant coating which helps to resist scratches caused by dirt and oil. The interior roof prisms are also coated with a multi-layer coating to help increase contrast and clarity. Argon purging and o-ring seals make the internals of the Vortex Razor HDs completely waterproof and fogproof. This helps protect internal mechanisms from corrosion by keeping all of the exterior environmental moisture out. Mother nature is one (of the many) things we as hunters can’t control, so having a completely sealed pair of binoculars is a must for every hunting situation.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the warranty. Vortex is probably best known for their no questions asked VIP Warranty. You can read all the details here: http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/vip_warranty. I’ve not had to use it yet, but it is comforting to know that if something were to happen to my high dollar optics, I’d be taken care of.
The Vortex Razor HDs retail for $1499 on the Vortex website, and can be purchased online from one of the many Vortex online dealers for approximately $1,199.
| Magnificaiton | 10x |
| Objective Lens | 42mm |
| Eye Relief | 16.5mm |
| Exit Pupil | 4.2mm |
| FOV – Linear | 362’/1,000 yds. |
| FOV – Angular | 6.9° |
| Close Focus | 6′ |
| Interpupillary Distance | 55-75mm |
| Height | 5.9″ |
| Width | 5.1″ |
| Weight | 24.8 oz. |
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