Written By John VanDerLaan
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In this review of the Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars we are going to show you why this little brother of the Vortex Viper may or may not be the a good choice for you.
Just one look at Diamondback HD will tell you that this is a serious pair of binoculars for serious outdoorsmen, but it is not without drawbacks.
The Vortex Optics Diamondback HD are available in both 8x42 and 10x42 models. Your ideal choice will be based on the type of hunting you do. I tested the 10x42 model.
Click here for our Guide to Choosing the Best Binoculars For Hunting for your particular situation.
With its fairly low price point (around $200), the Vortex Diamondback HD really hits a sweet spot of high quality features versus price.
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Check out the video below that shows the features of the Diamondback.
What's In The Box
There is a lot of value that comes in this box. Of course you get the Diamondback HD 10x42 binoculars, but you also get a neck strap, tethered objective lens covers, rainguard eyepiece covers, a Vortex GlassPak binocular harness and Instruction booklet.
I was very impressed that a pair of binoculars at this price point would come with a GlassPak harness. That is one of the binocular harnesses that we recommend.
My Experience With The Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars
I have over 4 decades of experience using hunting binoculars and more than 8 years experience testing and rating binoculars for this publication.
I first tested Vortex Diamondbacks back in 2018, and recently tested the HD version this year.
I hunt from August through February for a number of different species and in many different states and weather conditions. I also use binoculars for shed antler hunting and scouting in the off season.
On every hunt, I carry at least 2 sets of binoculars and I test them and compare them throughout the hunt.
I record my findings in my hunting journal. I record what I like and what I don't like about each pair of binoculars, as well as how they compared head to head with other binoculars.
I found the Diamondbacks to be very impressive for the reasonable price, offering a lot of features and optical performance usually reserved for higher end models.
I found them to be pretty good in low light conditions, compared to other binoculars at the same price point.
The focus wheel rotates smoothly and is easy to adjust and there’s a locking right eye diopter to adjust for eye differences.
I am also a big fan of the tethered objective lens covers. I am always losing covers that are not attached.
One of the features that I like a lot is the Rubber armor coating with built in thumb indents and raised texture on the sides for a secure grip and durable protection. They feel great in my hands.
I did drop them out of my tree stand, from about 20 feet up and they didn't seem any worse for the wear.
They have a Field of View that is one of the largest in its class, 393 feet in the 8x42 and 330 feet in the 10x42, making it extremely efficient for glassing your surroundings and picking up your target.
They’re also very lightweight, with the 8x42 weighing in at just 21.8 ounces and the 10x42 at 21.3 ounces.
You can see how their size compares to some high quality binoculars in the photo below. Pictured are the Diamondback HD with the Nikon Monarch 7 and the Stealth Vision binoculars.
I did see some chromatic aberration at the edge of the field of view, which I didn't see on more expensive binoculars like the Zeiss Terra ED, the Leupold BX-4, and the Stealth Vision.
Keep in mind that these are pretty inexpensive binoculars and I wouldn't expect them to have the same image quality as more expensive premium binoculars.
Overall, I would choose one of the higher end binos mentioned above, but if my budget was only around $200, the Diamondbacks would be a great choice.
Key Features
Let's take a look at the features of the Vortex Diamondback HD binoculars and see why Vortex is taking the hunting optics market by storm.
- HD Optical System: A well designed optical system of high quality glass elements for edge to edge sharpness and resolution.
- Fully Multi-Coated Lenses which transmit more light and return brighter images.
- Multi layer dielectric prism coatings for bright clear images.
- Phase correction coatings on the roof prism.
- Super hard ArmorTek coating on the exterior lenses protect from scratches and dirt.
- Shockproof design can withstand high levels of impact.
- They also feature a short hinged design which makes for a very comfortable, ergonomic grip.
- Fully adjustable multi position twist eyecups for excellent eye relief.
- They are O-ring sealed and argon purged for 100% Waterproof and fogproof performance.
- Included with your Vortex Diamondback is a rainguard eyepiece cover, tethered covers for the objective lens, a comfy neck strap, and a premium padded carrying case.
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Best of all, the Diamondback binoculars come with the Vortex VIP Warranty, which is very impressive given the low price point on these hunting binoculars.
Here is the Vortex VIP Warranty.
Lifetime. Unlimited. Unconditional. Vortex will repair or replace the product in the event it becomes damaged or defective. Absolutely free—no matter the cause!
Specs
- Size: 5.7"x5.1"
- Weight: 21.3 oz.
- Eye Relief: 15mm
- Angular Field of View: 6.3°
- Field of View @ 1000 Yards: 330'
- Close Focus: 5'
- Interpupillary Distance: 55 - 73mm
Pros and Cons
Now that we have looked at the key features of the Vortex Diamondback Binoculars, let's take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros
- Truly incredible price for hunting binoculars with all of the premium features described above.
- Good Field Of View. As a matter of fact, the field of view is better than the much more expensive Vortex Viper.
- O-ring sealed and argon purged for 100% waterproof and fog proof performance.
- They fit very well in your hands with the short hinged design and built in thumb indents.
- I found it easy to reach the focus wheel and it was very smooth while adjusting
- They are extremely lightweight, making them the perfect choice hunting.
- They are tripod adaptable, making them compatible with tripod mounts and car window mounts, but the tripod adapter is sold separately.
- Like all Vortex binoculars, they come with the Viper VIP Unconditional Lifetime Warranty.
Cons
- They do not have the High Density extra-low dispersion glass like their big brother the Vortex Viper.
- I experienced some chromatic abrasions around the edges of view when I was testing these binos.
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Binoculars Compared To Other Binoculars
Model | Weight | Field Of View | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Binoculars | 21.3 oz. | 330 Feet | $200 |
 | Vortex Viper HD 10x42 Binoculars | 24.9 oz. | 341 Feet | $500 |
 | Burris Droptine 10x42 Binoculars | 26 oz. | 330 Feet | Under $200 |
 | Nikon MONARCH M5 10X42 Binoculars | 22.6 oz. | 293 Feet | $300 |
 | Nikon MONARCH M7 10X42 Binoculars | 24 oz. | 362 Feet | $500 |
 | Vortex Crossfire HD 10X42 Binoculars | 24 oz. | 25 Feet | Under $200 |
 | Carson 3D 10X42 Binoculars | 22 oz. | 314 Feet | $300 |
Final Thoughts
Vortex Binoculars are known for their impressive optical quality and durability, delivering performance at a surprisingly affordable price and the Diamondbacks foot the bill.
While you can't expect the same optical quality as the higher end binoculars, you can expect a good quality set of optics at reasonable price.
I feel that they performed very well, and probably better than most binoculars at the same price point.
If your hunting binocular budget is around $200, I would urge you to order a pair of Vortex Optics Diamondback Binoculars in either 8x42 or 10x42 and do your own review to determine if they are the right hunting binoculars for you.
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