BUSHNELL FORGE 10X42
£539
Years ago, I had a pair of Bushnell Elite binoculars that did great service, but it’s been a while since I tried anything other than their entry level models.
The Forge range (they also come in 8x42, 10x30 and 15x56 sizes) makes a good first impression if you’re looking for a binocular as a step up from that.
They’re an open-bridge design, which I’ve come to prefer, although I found that I could only get two fingers inside the bridge, rather than three as with some binoculars.
Not a problem at all, as they’re very easy and comfortable to grip. The solid, robust feel that I remember from past Bushnells is here, with thick and well-textured rubber armour. Nice colour, too – Terrain Brown, although I’d probably have called it khaki. Colour really doesn’t matter too much to me, but it’s nice to see a change from the black and green that dominate the market.
They actually feel lighter than the quoted 860g, indicative of good balance in the hand, and there’s a really excellent strap that takes the weight off even more.
The eyecups impressed me. They’re very comfortable in extended use, and twist up and down to four positions, staying in place very well at whichever you set them at. Offering a maximum of 18mm eye relief, they should do the job for most glasses wearers.
The dioptre adjustment is on the right barrel. You pull it out, find the right setting for your eyes (it’s not calibrated, but I’ve never found that a problem), then click it back in, and there was no problem with it getting moved or knocked out of place in the field.
I liked the focus wheel a lot, too.
It’s easily 1.5 fingers wide, and well ridged, making it easy to find without looking, and to move even when wearing a pair of thick gloves.
It takes nearly two anticlockwise turns from close focus