I'm going hunt bear in Alaska and I'm starting to put together all the hunting gear I'll need.

I'm looking for a good pair of binoculars, I've got a Burris Landmark 8x42 and like the roof prism, size, etc. but I think I might like a step up in optics. I'm looking at Nikon Monarch and Leupold Cascade. Is one of these superior? Other recommendations in this price range?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Grizzly

If you haven't already, you might consider asking this question in the Alaskan hunting forum. They have the insight for what would be the best optics for your upcoming hunt. I mean the weather there can be very wet and the timber growth is quite thick.

Ken....

quote:

Other recommendations in this price range?

Kahles are very good for the money as are the Pentax DCF SP.

Here's the Pentax on Ebay,
Pentax 8x43 DCF SP Binoculars LIFETIME WARRANTY NEW!

I bought a pair of Pentax DCF SP last year. They are great glasses. Doug at camaraland made me a great deal on them too.

You need to make the final decision with your own eyes. Some other possibilities in that price range to look through:
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42mm $280
Bushnell Legend 8x42mm $230
Celestron Noble 8x42mm $277
Minox BV 8x42 BR $289
Olympus Magellan EXWP I 8x42mm $164, the overachiever of the group

Several years ago I bought a pair of 10x40 Nikon Monarchs. They have been on literally hundreds of hunts including Alaska where it poured rain for 13 days straight as well as covered thousands of miles of rough roads riding in the truck. For my eyes they are fantastic and for the money I would be hard pressed to find a better pair.
There are better Bino's out there for more money, there are equal Bino's out there for the same price range, find what you like but find something durable.

I second the Kahles choice (10x42). I've had a pair for +8 years and they have traveled from Kodiak to South Africa and are still clear as the day I bought them. The camo might be coming off now but that would be my only complaint. There on the expensive side but they are still $200-$300 cheaper than Swarovskis (and there is basically no difference).

Without a doubt........I think the Steiner Marine 10x50's are the best pair of binoculars you can buy for the money.

I bought Leica 10 x 42 in 1995 when I moved to Alaska, and although I had to save pennies for nearly 4 years to buy them I'll not own anything else again. I see game when my partners do not...unless I hand them my binoculars to look through. This has happened at least 3 times with 3 different hunting parnters. Yes, they cost more, but they are so much more.

You can get a better view in like priced porros over that of roofs. The Swift Audubon 820 8.5x44mm porro ($280 @ DigitalFotoClub) has been referred to as the "poor man's Swarvoski EL." http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Swift-8-5x44-Audubon.php The Swarovski EL 8.5x42mm roofs cost $1900.