Hawke Frontier 8×42 ED X Binoculars: Our Review
A very good symbol, exact center of attention wheel, and durable construct. This binocular is one in all our Best Choices.
February 13, 2023
At A Look

PROS:
- Vibrant, colourful symbol even in harsh lights
- Focal point wheel strikes simply and prevents exactly
- Superb steadiness and comfortable really feel within the hand
- Broad box of view and just right shut center of attention
CONS:
- Slight falloff in sharpness at edges of symbol
- Towards the highest finish of the fee vary we examined
STATS:
- Value: $549 MSRP at press time. Costs regularly differ, so test with shops
- Shut center of attention: 6.6 toes (201 cm). In checks, shall we center of attention those binoculars right down to about 7.1 toes (216 cm)
- Box of view: 8.1° (425 toes at 1,000 yards). Extra about box of view
- Weight: 26.7 oz. (757 g)—that’s about 1 oz. (28 g) heavier than the typical for 8×42 binoculars in our evaluation
- Eye aid: 17.8 mm
Viewing Revel in: Those binoculars characteristic an excellent, broad symbol, exact focusing, and a compact feel and appear that matches well within the hand. Staring at a fall migrant flock we have been inspired with the distinction and readability of the picture. With a backlit Northern Parula shall we nonetheless see the nuances of yellow throat, white abdominal, and blue-gray again because it dodged at the back of leaves. The binoculars helped ID a tough Blackpoll Warbler via revealing the faint streaking at the chest and the yellow-orange toes. In the meantime, they in reality introduced out the luminous gold and deep black of a handful of Black-throated Inexperienced Warblers.
Really feel and Construct: Those binoculars are small however considerable, moderately heavier than a mean 8×42 however smartly balanced. The point of interest wheel strikes easily and feels exact each because it rolls and when preventing at the point of interest level. The eyecups are company and dial out to 2 stops to be used with out eyeglasses. They have got a neat rounded profile that provides to the binoculars’ streamlined glance and is relaxed at the eye. The binoculars have a inexperienced armoring with just right grip; there aren’t any scalloped indents for the thumbs. They arrive in a semihard clamshell case that makes them simple to stow and shipping.
Feedback From Testers:
- Measurement used to be in reality great, and weight used to be great as smartly
- Very transparent
- Felt like high quality construct
- A little heavy, eyecups laborious to show, center of attention appeared stiff
- Petite, ergonomic for a smaller particular person
- Felt relaxed immediately
- Coolest taking a look
- Feels just right within the hand
This newsletter is one in a sequence of mini-reviews. To peer how those binoculars evaluate to others we’ve examined, see our complete evaluation of inexpensive 8×42 binoculars.