Maven B.5 Binoculars 18x56

I have been using a small mid-range 50mm spotting scope for guiding and ranching. I found it useful for everything form field judging elk to reading ear tags on livestock. However, smaller spotting scopes have their limitations as far as image clarity, especially at higher magnifications. I decided to introduce a set of 18x56 binoculars into my arsenal and am glad that I did.

For the quality, price and the weight, I feel that the Maven 18x56 binos are an outstanding value. It is much easier to be able to glass with both eyes and it increases the field of view substantially. I feel that these binoculars, along with a decent set of 8-12x binos in a chest rig, would be a good combination for a backpacking hunt. Alpine and sub-alpine mule deer hunters would greatly benefit from the game finding abilities that a set of 18x56 binos would offer over a spotter.

There are two things that I didn't care for with the Maven. It was hard for me to establish good eye relief distance with the eye cups, and they would twist in too easily and need to be re-adjusted while in use. Secondly, heat mirage was very apparent and would distort images at long distance, but not unlike other optics.