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Swarovski SLC Binocular Review

Editor Name: Ryan Gasser


 

Basic Description of Item: High Quality Field Binoculars

Just the Facts:


  • 10x magnification and 42mm objective lens
  • Underside thumb rests and topside depressions for comfortable handling
  • Sturdy metal housing with rubber armor is submersible up to 13 feet
  • 330 foot field of view @ 1,000 yards
  • Nitrogen purged to prevent fogging
  • Measures 5.59 x 2.8 x 4.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 30.7 ounces

Story: Seven years ago I purchased the SLC 10×42 binoculars as a wedding present to myself. I knew there was no way I could justify the expenditure to my wife after the nuptials, but I also knew I would never regret having in my possession the best glass I could possibly afford. I had decent $400 Leupold binoculars previously, so good glass wasn’t new to me, but the SLC’s were a much higher class then the Leupolds. The clarity & brightness of the SLC’s is amazing, but to me the greatest advantage of the SLC’s is the ability to glass for hours on end with comfort and ease. I never get eye fatigue with the SLC’s. And by replacing the twist eyecups with the winged eyecups, I avoid the pain I suffered with the rigid eyecups of my old binoculars.

I have used the SLC’s while hunting muledeer, whitetails, elk, turkey, bear, antlers & whatever else happens to cross my path. I even used them recently from the cheap seats at a college basketball game to observe the sheer determination in the eyes of Jimmer Fredette of BYU as he single-handedly destroyed the #4 ranked SDSU Aztecs. It was awesome, but I digress. The true value of these binoculars is most clear in the high country of Wyoming where I go to hunt majestic trophy muleys every year. The area we hunt has significant hunter pressure so gaining 10 minutes of glassing light at daylight & dusk has proved invaluable on several occasions. The SLC’s have the ability to see when lesser optics fail. It has literally made the difference between bagging the buck we’ve been waiting for & going home empty handed. They are rugged & have withstood several instances of falling to the ground, even from the saddle of my horse on occasion.

In conclusion, the SLC’s are incredibly versatile, clear, bright & rugged field binoculars that are hard to match. They are very close in optical quality to the EL’s, but significantly heavier(also much less expensive). While I wouldn’t consider them a “value”, I have never regretted purchasing these binoculars, nor do I expect I’ll ever need to upgrade. They are probably the most worthwhile hunting investment I have ever made.


What they could do better:

  • Lighten them up a bit
  • Include the winged eyecups standard, along with lens covers that fit over the winged eyecups

Swarovski SLC 10x42 Binocular Review
  • Functionality
    (5)
  • Value
    (5)
  • Ergonomics
    (5)
  • Durability
    (5)
5

3 Comments

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