Review: Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD Binos

Leupold’s BX-5 Santiam HD Binoculars are the crème de la crème—that means more detail, more color, and more clarity; even when conditions are less than ideal. Just ask the folks over at the Audubon Society, since they take attention to detail more seriously than just about anyone. When discerning the specific color or wing shape on a small songbird is paramount, birders mean business. As such, the Audubon Society has the BX-5 Santiam listed as one of the best binoculars on the market. And when I took up a gig this fall counting migrating raptors on the Bridger Ridge, I picked up a pair in the 10x42mm size. After two months of testing, I was blown away by their performance.

The sharpness of the binoculars is truly spectacular. Almost everything in the field of view is focused, which allows me to scan around the landscape without having to move the binos around. Overall, it allows me to spend more time glassing, which equates to more success in finding what I’m looking for. Furthermore, the slim and lightweight body makes them easy to hold for extended periods, and the grippy rubber outer is comfortable in the hand.

Initially, my only gripe about the binos was that the eyecups felt a bit sharp and sort of jabbed into my nose. But I discovered that they were intentionally designed this way. The eyecups keep your eyes the perfect distance away from the ocular lens, maximizing your field of view. All in all, it just took some getting used to.

The Santiam’s come in all the typical options for various needs, from 8x42mm all the way up to 12x50mm. They’re waterproof; they’re fogproof; and they’re tripod compatible. They’re ready for whatever I need them to do. Whether I’m trying to make out some tracks on the next ridgeline, or attempting to identify a hummingbird species, these binoculars are up to the task.

Available at leupold.com; $1,000.