Every sportsman knows the value of a good pair of binoculars. Archers and bowhunters are no exception and good optics can mean the difference between the 14 ring or the on an elk target at 45 yards, or missing out on that set of antlers hiding behind a bush in the woods.
There are many great names in binoculars and a lot of great options to buy. There are also a lot of heft price tags that come along with quality optics. Enter the Endeavor ED series of binoculars by Vanguard: great specifications and economical prices. This review will take a look at the Vanguard Endeavor ED 10.5×45 Binoculars and see if they are worth the money, and how they compare to rest of the field.
Vanguard Endeavor ED specifications and pricing
The Endeavor ED series comes in several variations. 8×42, 8×45, 10×42 and 10.5×45. There are two color options, black and Mossy Oak camouflage. As the name implies, all of the models make use of extra-low-dispersion (ED) glass for a sharp, crisp image. They are water and fog proof and have a durable armor coating. Include with each pair of binoculars are a case, covers for both front and back eye pieces and a neoprene neck strap.
Full specs for the Vanguard Endeavor ED 10.5 x 45 as stated on their webpage:
- Power:10.5
- Diameter of objectives:45mm
- Prism Type:Bak4 Roof
- Waterproof:Yes
- View Angle:6.0°
- Field of Viewm@1000m:105m/1000m
- Eye Relief:17.0mm
- Near focus(m):3.0m;9.8 feet
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Focus System: Inter focusing via central focusing knob
- Lens coating:Fully multi-coated
- Phase coating:Yes
- Dimensions (L x W):156x130mm
- Weight (g):760g
Pricing for the different models runs from about $349 to $429 depending on store and sales.
Build quality and components of the Vanguard Endeavor
Endeavor binoculars have the standard components if mid-priced binoculars with a few nice features. The eye cups have three different positions that lock in place for a variety of eye relief distances. Each position has a definite lock that makes locating the eye cups easy and repeatable.
The Diopter adjustment ring locks into place and can be popped up for adjustment. I find this option extremely nice as on my previous binoculars the ring did not lock and was constantly coming out of position. I suspect a lot of this happened because the ring would move through normal use of adjusting the binos and having them bumped around all of the time. There are also graduated tick marks on the diopter ring for quick reference.
Field testing of the Vanguard Endeavor
For my use, binoculars must be tough, comfortable, easy to adjust and above all have great optics. I use them for hunting everything from birds to elk as well as hiking, camping and bird-watching. The most critical time for quality optics for me is on the 3D range when finding the exact location of the scoring ring can make all the difference.
One of the first things I noticed about the Endeavors is that the focus knob is large and moves very smoothly. This is very important when making fine adjustments to get things in super-sharp focus. I find this focus wheel extremely easy to adjust to just the perfect spot, with enough resistance to stay put. Compared to binoculars I have used in the past, the focus on these is top-notch.
Of course the most critical part of a good pair of binoculars is not how easy they are to use, but what the view through the optics looks like. I have used a wide variety of optics and used sale some of the top and most expensive brands. It’s hard to imagine how great the view through the Endeavors is for the mid-ranged price they fetch. The view is crisp, bright and true to real life colors. These optics definitely rival those of much more expensive binoculars and are simply beautiful to look through. The ED glass and fully multi-colored lens coatings do a fantastic job of rendering everything I have looked at through them.
Another important aspect of good binoculars is their light gathering ability during low-light conditions. The Endeavor excelled at this and the 45mm objective lens do a great job of gathering light. I was very impressed at how shart the image was and it rivaled the lightness and sharpness of naked eyes.
Conclusion
I really can’t say enough about how good these binoculars are. They definitely rival some much pricier models and are a great bang for the buck. Yes, paying $1000+ will get you better optics, but in the sub-$500 range it’s amazing what you get with the Endeavor ED binoculars. Optics, quality and ease of use of binoculars have made a lot of progress while the price for a quality has come down. Vanguard has hit a home-run with these binoculars and I can heartily recommend them to anyone looking for quality optics without breaking the bank.
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