ActiveOutdoorsOutdoor TechVortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars reviewThe Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars offer a rugged build, super-sharp and colourful views and a useful chest harness. Here’s our reviewWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictAdept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purgedReasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks featuresWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsOutdoor TechVortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars reviewThe Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars offer a rugged build, super-sharp and colourful views and a useful chest harness. Here’s our reviewWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictAdept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purgedReasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks featuresWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars offer a rugged build, super-sharp and colourful views and a useful chest harness. Here’s our review
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictAdept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purgedReasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks features
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
T3 VerdictAdept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purgedReasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks features
T3 VerdictAdept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.
T3 Verdict
Adept at anything you care to point them at, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 are sharp across their wide field of view and have a great build quality, though we’re not totally convinced about the unique GlassPak chest harness.
Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purgedReasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks features
Reasons to buy+Quality optics+Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness+Waterproof and nitrogen-purged
Quality optics
Unique ‘GlassPak’ harness
Waterproof and nitrogen-purged
Reasons to avoid-Lens caps have annoying tethers-Harness lacks features
Lens caps have annoying tethers
Harness lacks features
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 Binoculars deals
$134.99View$169.99View$179.99View
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$179.99View
$179.99View
$179.99View
$179.99
$179.99
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In this Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 review you’re going to see something that’s very rare on any pair of mid-range binoculars. Welcome to GlassPak, a unique chest case/harness that promises not only to protect these binoculars, but make sure they’re quick to deploy. As a bonus the wearer gets to keep any weight off their neck, something that can be a serious issue when using any pair of binoculars for a long time.
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: price and release date
The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 cost around UK£189 / US$219.99 / AU$387. They’re one of four products in the Crossfire HD range, which also includes 8x42, 10x42 and 12x50 products, all of them roof prism binoculars.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: design and features
With 10x magnification and 50 mm objective lenses, the Crossfire HD 10x50 are designed to be all-round binoculars. Those 50mm objective lenses are ideal for using in low-light as well as for bright views of the night sky. That said, these binoculars are designed to be portable, travel-friendly and weatherproof, which makes them good for nature-spotting too (ourbest binoculars for birdwatchingguide has some more recommendations on that front).
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars specsMagnification:10xObjective diameter:50mmField of view at 1000m:107 metresClosest focusing distance:1.83m / 6ftEye relief:17mm / 0.67"Weight:862g / 30.4ozDimensions:17 x 13.4 cm / 6.7 x 5.3"
Magnification:10xObjective diameter:50mmField of view at 1000m:107 metresClosest focusing distance:1.83m / 6ftEye relief:17mm / 0.67"Weight:862g / 30.4ozDimensions:17 x 13.4 cm / 6.7 x 5.3"
Magnification:10xObjective diameter:50mmField of view at 1000m:107 metresClosest focusing distance:1.83m / 6ftEye relief:17mm / 0.67"Weight:862g / 30.4ozDimensions:17 x 13.4 cm / 6.7 x 5.3"
Magnification:10xObjective diameter:50mmField of view at 1000m:107 metresClosest focusing distance:1.83m / 6ftEye relief:17mm / 0.67"Weight:862g / 30.4ozDimensions:17 x 13.4 cm / 6.7 x 5.3"
Much more importantly the Crossfire HD 10x50 uses BaK-4 glass prisms and its optics come multi-coated, which is par for the course for most mid-range binoculars. What you get here that you don’t find on most similarly priced binoculars is high density, extra low dispersion glass, which should mean extra sharpness and colour accuracy (hence the ‘HD’ in the product name).
However, the feature to get really excited about on the Crossfire HD 10x50 is the included GlassPak chest harness. Initially it’s a thing of wonder. After all, it’s so incredibly useful to have a shoulder bag that protects the binoculars, but also can also be positioned on the chest, making it super-quick to deploy (and also to pack away). However, there are a couple of design foibles that in practice make it a less than perfect solution.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: build and handling
Although we enjoyed using the GlassPak harness, not only does it get in a tangle when it’s not being used, but it’s also less versatile than we had hoped. While the bag that protects the Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars is of excellent quality (with lots of padding and even a couple of stretch pockets on the sides), it’s permanently attached to the chest harness. Effectively that prevents you from using the binoculars out without the harness, because although you do get a separate neck strap in the box, you would have to find an additional shoulder bag to carry them in.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Since they come with an unlimited lifetime warranty, it’s hardly surprising that the Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars are among the toughest and best made you’re going to find at this price. However, they do have a slightly unusual finish. While most rival waterproof and nitrogen-purged binoculars have a textured finish that is easy to grip, the Crossfire HD 10x50 do not. However, despite them being unusually smooth, they prove to be easy to hold and grip in all kinds of weather conditions, including drizzle and rain. That’s in part thanks to a couple of indents on the underside of the two tubes, both of them natural resting zones for thumbs.
There’s a refined feel to the Crossfire HD 10x50 from its smooth focusing knob through to its right eye diopter, which has enough stiffness to remain in place once calibrated for your eyes.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: performance
The entry-level model in the Crossfire range of Vortex binoculars, the Crossfire HD 10x50 is nevertheless hugely impressive. You don’t get a super-close focus, but for anything beyond about six feet the Crossfire HD 10x50 will give you super sharp views.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: alternatives to consider
The Crossfire HD 10x50’s GlassPak case / chest harness makes it a little bit of a specialty product. For something similarly specified and lower priced consider theCelestron UpClose G2 10x50porro prism binoculars, which will impress for safari and stargazing yet have a more basic build quality. For something equally as well-built, but more portable, have a look at theCelestron TrailSeeker 8x42, another pair of roof prism binoculars with little less magnification and slightly less light-gathering ability.
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars review: verdict
An excellent pair of general purpose binoculars with impressive optics, a hard-wearing design and some unexpected extras, I think the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars will suit anyone after a step-up product primarily for using for long periods – because that’s where its novel GlassPak chest case / harness truly impresses.
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 Binoculars: Price Comparison
$134.99View$169.99View$179.99View
$134.99View
$134.99View
$134.99View
$134.99
$134.99
$169.99View
$169.99View
$169.99View
$169.99
$169.99
$179.99View
$179.99View
$179.99View
$179.99
$179.99
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