Rugged, sub-$100 bins for children. (3 Viewers)

[tingjunkie]

Hello All!

I work for a not-for-profit outdoor education organization in Hawaii. Miraculously, we actually scored a grant that will allow us to upgrade our binoculars that we use for nature programs with kids in elementary school. Since I am the only fairly serious birder at the organization, I offered to select the binoculars we will be ordering. Truthfully, I'm like a kid in a candy store, but at the same time I really want to make sure I get us our best bang for the buck since God only knows how long these will have to last us!

I've put in a good amount of research so far, and landed on three possibilities. The binoculars will mainly be used by 4th graders in a wetland setting with shore birds, but it would be nice to buy bins that are good for many situations. Factoring in our needs of a 6-8x magnification, wide field of view, larger exit pupil diameter, light weight, rugged, good optical quality, and a $100 or less price tag, I'm leaning towards:

Leupold Yosemite 6x30
Leupold Yosemite 8x30
Kowa YF 8x30

My my questions for the experts here are:
1) Any other models I should consider besides those three, given my parameters?
2) Any difference in the ruggedness and durability between Leupold and Kowa?
3) Perhaps most importantly, is Leupold or Kowa better to deal with as far as repairs and replacements under warranty?
4) I will be ordering 100-150 pairs of the final choice, and will get a model of each to field test first. Anyone have experience ordering in bulk and getting good deals from a particular vendor? Eagle Optics? B&H? Direct from the company? We do have 501c3 non-profit status.

Much thanks for any help/advice! Aloha! -Mike

 

[NDhunter]

Mike:

I have experience with all of the models you mention. I would go with the Leupold Yosemite 6x30,
they have the best warranty. I have a Kowa 8x30, very similar and that is all.

Get the 6x30, they are the best of the Yosemite models, and a great size for learning.

Jerry

 

[PhilR.]

1. I would recommend looking at the Opticron Adventurer WP 8x30. The kids that wear eyeglasses will appreciate it's 20mm of eye relief. Also look at the Vortex Raptor 6.5x and 8.5x. Very similar to the Yosemite and YF. The Eagle Optics 8x42 Shrike would also be worthy of consideration, especially since you wouldn't want to get 100-150 of the very same model of bino. Your larger fourth graders will most likely be able to handle the extra weight, and certainly the adult supervisors will appreciate the brighter image.

2. I've not ever seen any comparisons of durability between the Yosemite and the YF, and certainly I've not read of any durability issues of either one.

3. No low to medium-level optics company is better at C.S. than Leupold. Kowa might be as good, but it won't be better. Vortex is also considered by many to be the equal of Leupold as well. The retailer Eagle Optics has some good C.S. reviews, but I've not experienced this for myself. If C.S. is an issue for you, I would recommend sticking with Leupold, Vortex, and Eagle Optics.

4. Can't help you there.

 

[ceasar]

Several years ago there was a similar discussion here with one of our regular posters from Switzerland (I think) about getting some low priced binoculars for school children there. I believe he decided on the Yosemites. If my memory is correct they were the original Leupold Yosemites; the ones pictured in Jerry's post #2 above. They came in 3 colors back then: Black, Ivory and Barn Red. They were very popular and ended up creating an industry of clones being made for other binocular companies.

If it helps the OP decide, the Kowa's and others like them, including the current Yosemites, are all still clones of the original Yosemites.

Bob

 

[paddy7]

Hi
If you're not-for-profit and serving a community purpose, have you thought about approaching some of these companies regarding some form of sponsorship? You may be able to buy in bulk at a better price...

 

[pete_gamby]

Mike - regarding point 4 - I have sent you a PM.

Cheers, Pete

 

[Mark9473]

https://www.eagleoptics.com/collections/binoculars/products/eagle-optics-kingbird-6-5x32-binocular
Eagle Optics own-brand binoculars come with an unlimited unconditional lifetime warranty. Anything breaks, you send them back and they get repaired or replaced for free.

 

[David in NC]

As you may or may not know Vortex is a spin-off company of Eagle Optics (operating under the Sheltered Wings umbrella). I have owned Vortex and Leupold and never had issues with either. I love Leupold and have owned riflescopes also, and my wife's MAIN pair of bins are a set of Leupold Katmais, but I can't imagine that IF THIS WERE ME, I'd do anything other than:

1. Email or CALL Ben Lizdas at Eagle Optics (sales manager but great contact for CS)
2. Ask about a bulk purchase (if the numbers of that many stock units can be shipped at once or if on hand, AND about any discount for your organization.)
3. Likely go with Vortex or the Eagle Optics suggestions

I can't say enough good about Ben Lizdas at EO-and don't think I'm some hoity-toity rich dude that buys bins every month from them-I've bothered him with WAY more questions than I've made purchases over the years, but he always tries to accommodate and answers email in a few hours or the next day. While they generally will not speak badly about entire brands, he also has gave me honest opinions on "model-versus-model" that caused me NOT to buy at that time or buy a lower priced bin-so he's not about "profit above all else".

 

[pete_gamby]

Just FYI David - Ben has left EO and is now working at Birdwatchers Digest magazine.

Kate Fitzmier is the sales contact there now.

Cheers, Pete

 

[David in NC]

Just FYI David - Ben has left EO and is now working at Birdwatchers Digest magazine.

Kate Fitzmier is the sales contact there now.

Cheers, Pete

Wow. Did NOT know that...(!)

Thanks for that update.

 

[FrankD]

I would suggest either Kowa YF or the Opticron Savanna 6x30s. Both of these versions of that design are made in the same plant that the original Leupold Yosemite was manufactured in. The newer Yosemite that you currently find for sale isn't made in the original plant and, in my opinion, isn't quite up to the same quality level as the originals.

As for who to deal with, I think you have gotten some good suggestions so far. Considering your situation, I wouldn't be surprised if you can work out a notable price reduction since you are ordering so many.

 

[Steve C]

Today's Yosemite remains a good choice. However if I recall correctly, the Yosemite design was done by a Leupold engineer and a Japanese engineer. The design was originally licensed to Leupold. The Leupold engineer who owns the design is no longer at Leupold. Leupold therefore has had to switch gears to get a very similar binocular. Kowa now holds the license to the original design.

As far as I know the Opticron Savannah is still the same original design.

Also for elementary kids, do them a favor and get the 6x version of whichever variant you get. As a matter of field usage the differences are too small to matter. I'd go with whichever you can get with the least difficulty.

One thing that recommends Leupold is their service and warranty. Chances are with tight budgets and kids involved, that may prove to be a huge benefit at some point.

 

[tingjunkie]

Hi
If you're not-for-profit and serving a community purpose, have you thought about approaching some of these companies regarding some form of sponsorship? You may be able to buy in bulk at a better price...

Definitely a good suggestion. Thanks!

 

[tingjunkie]

Thanks for the input everyone!

I've always used 10x bins myself and don't have much personal experience with lower magnifications. I understand that 6x bins will be easier for the kids to use because of the wider field of view and larger exit pupil, but keeping in mind we mostly use them in a wetland setting looking at shore birds that are 25-100 yards away, would people still go with 6x over 8x? We mostly use the bins with our 4th grade students that are 9-10 years old.

 

[FrankD]

I would still opt for ease of use over the increased magnification. I have a 10 year old and he actually prefers a pair of Bushnell 4x30 xtrawide over any of the other pairs I offer him. He likes the ease of view that a lower magnification provides. He took them on a class trip to their "environmental lab" and was very happy using them. The 6x would be a better option.

However, if you do work out some kind of deal then maybe a few inexpensive spotting scopes would also be in order. They would help you pull in details on shorebirds at 100 yards that no binocular can.

 

[tingjunkie]

However, if you do work out some kind of deal then maybe a few inexpensive spotting scopes would also be in order. They would help you pull in details on shorebirds at 100 yards that no binocular can.

That's definitely in the plans as well. I was looking at Redfield Rampage scopes, but that's a topic for another thread.

 

[Steve C]

That's definitely in the plans as well. I was looking at Redfield Rampage scopes, but that's a topic for another thread.

FWIW, it is my opinion that the Rampage is the spotting scope equivalent of the Yosemite.

 

[Alexis Powell]

Thanks for the input everyone!

I've always used 10x bins myself and don't have much personal experience with lower magnifications. I understand that 6x bins will be easier for the kids to use because of the wider field of view and larger exit pupil, but keeping in mind we mostly use them in a wetland setting looking at shore birds that are 25-100 yards away, would people still go with 6x over 8x? We mostly use the bins with our 4th grade students that are 9-10 years old.

I'd still go with 6x. It's more important that the kids find the bins easy to use so that they can see _something_ and at least get a sense of how binoculars can be useful. I can't imagine that most will be critically examining shorebirds at 100 yards, but they may enjoy the bins anyway.

--AP

 

[Steve C]

I agree with AP.

The idea is to get the kids into knowing how to use a binocular. Early learning of proper use technique comes from having a glass that fits their eyes and hands. Then they can go on from there to apply that early knowledge to make their own choices on where they go for their first real personal binocular.

You might be astonished what sharp young eyes can see with 6x.

 

[NDhunter]

I would suggest either Kowa YF or the Opticron Savanna 6x30s. Both of these versions of that design are made in the same plant that the original Leupold Yosemite was manufactured in. The newer Yosemite that you currently find for sale isn't made in the original plant and, in my opinion, isn't quite up to the same quality level as the originals.

As for who to deal with, I think you have gotten some good suggestions so far. Considering your situation, I wouldn't be surprised if you can work out a notable price reduction since you are ordering so many.

Frank:

I disagree about your thoughts on the Yosemite. I have examples of
both the older and newer version, and the optics seem identical. That means
I would recommend the Leupold.

The warranty is rock solid, and I am not sure about Kowa or Opticron.

Those are not found at very many dealers, and that matters to me.

These binoculars when used in a youth, school type setting will need some
service at some point. Leupold will not blink an eye about that.

Jerry