Review: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm Binoculars
by: Beau Johnston
Specifications:
Specifications:
- Eye Relief: 15.5mm
- Focus System: Center
- Exit Pupil: 2.56mm
- Prism Glass: BaK-4
- Water/Fog Proof: Yes
- Prism System: Roof
- Weight (oz/g): 8.1/230
- Price: ~$200
Our Thoughts:
Often quality optics are reserved for the large, bulky, and expensive binoculars that are not suitable for most adventure travelers. I believe, because of this, that binoculars are often overlooked and thought to be only important to the bird watchers and hunters. I grew up hunting, and I cannot remember not having a pair of binoculars in any of the vehicles I have owned. I learned from an early age the value of a good set of binoculars and their usefulness for doing more than just spotting game.
Keeping the binoculars readily available in our Blue Ridge Overland Gear MOLLE Seat-Back Panel, the binoculars usefulness becomes apparent when traveling in the back country. The Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars work great for route finding when traveling through new terrain. This spring a group of us took a trip to Wyoming's historic Hole in the Wall. The route, which crisscrosses public and private land, has multiple turns. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD binoculars allowed us to read distant signs and track the routes of distant roads/trails, enabling us to determine our route without needing to backtrack.
I have also enjoyed using the binoculars for viewing wildlife on our trips into the Great Divide Basin and Yellowstone. Their quality optics allows for better light transmission than cheaper, comparably-sized binoculars found at discount stores. During our travels, I had multiple people ask to look through the Legend Ultras and each time the people were amazed by how bright and sharp the view was. A couple commented their own (larger objective) binoculars were not as bright or sharp.
Conclusion:
The Legend Ultra HD's compact design allows it to easily fit in a jacket pocket and it is light enough that I can wear them around my neck all day without becoming fatigued. I loved that I could toss these into my camera backpack and be able to hike all day with little added weight. The binoculars are very well made, a product of Bushnell's (Bausch + Lomb) long history of manufacturing sporting optics. I would recommend the Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars to anyone looking for a compact set of travel binoculars. While their higher price may turn some people away, the optical and construction quality is worth every penny!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was loaned the Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars from Bushnell for the duration of the review.
Keeping the binoculars readily available in our Blue Ridge Overland Gear MOLLE Seat-Back Panel, the binoculars usefulness becomes apparent when traveling in the back country. The Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars work great for route finding when traveling through new terrain. This spring a group of us took a trip to Wyoming's historic Hole in the Wall. The route, which crisscrosses public and private land, has multiple turns. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD binoculars allowed us to read distant signs and track the routes of distant roads/trails, enabling us to determine our route without needing to backtrack.
I have also enjoyed using the binoculars for viewing wildlife on our trips into the Great Divide Basin and Yellowstone. Their quality optics allows for better light transmission than cheaper, comparably-sized binoculars found at discount stores. During our travels, I had multiple people ask to look through the Legend Ultras and each time the people were amazed by how bright and sharp the view was. A couple commented their own (larger objective) binoculars were not as bright or sharp.
Conclusion:
The Legend Ultra HD's compact design allows it to easily fit in a jacket pocket and it is light enough that I can wear them around my neck all day without becoming fatigued. I loved that I could toss these into my camera backpack and be able to hike all day with little added weight. The binoculars are very well made, a product of Bushnell's (Bausch + Lomb) long history of manufacturing sporting optics. I would recommend the Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars to anyone looking for a compact set of travel binoculars. While their higher price may turn some people away, the optical and construction quality is worth every penny!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was loaned the Legend Ultra HD 10x25mm binoculars from Bushnell for the duration of the review.