Elk NetworkGear 101 – Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD

Gear 101 | December 28, 2022

Glassing long and well enough to catch a glimpse of an ear, antler tip or bedded bull is the first and most crucial step to spotting an elk before it sees you. To make that happen you have to have the best glass you can get. And Leupold’s BX -5 Santiam HD is a binocular made to outperform the competition. 

During that first and last hour of shooting light in thick timber, you need a bino that will pull in all the available light. This bino gathers light in the most challenging light conditions with unmatched light transmission. You’ll quickly find yourself using these binos to see where your eyes cannot.  

You also need a bino that will cut through glare in harsh light, and the BX -5 Santiam HD is built around Leopold’s professional grade optical system. It leads the industry in reducing glare, giving you a clear image in those direct light conditions.

The BX -5 Santiam HD is perfect for the backcountry elk hunter, because it’s built to stand up to hard use. It’s waterproof, fog proof and guaranteed to perform for life. Dirt and water shed off the lenses with the special Guard-ion lens coating. It’s got a rugged but lightweight, armor-coated waterproof body, and the high-definition lenses are scratch resistant, so if you’re heading way out to an elk camp, you can hunt in all weather conditions, and you don’t have to worry about treating your binos with kid gloves when you’re busting through brush or tight trees. The aluminum eye cups are even replaceable in the field—no need to go to the hassle of sending the binos in. Just twist off the old ones and put the new ones on. 

This bino is made to perform while beefing up comfort and ease to the user. The eye cups are large, and the great resolution and clarity goes all the way to the edge of each lens—there’s no need to find the sweet spot in the image. The open bridge dual hinge design is comfortable in your hands and easy to adjust during long hours spent glassing. You can also mount the binocular to a tripod using a 1/4-20 threaded tripod adapter if you need extra stability. Ditch the eye strain and fatigue in favor of longer, more comfortable glassing sessions, because the more time you spend behind the glass, the more likely you are to spot that well-hidden quarry.  

No matter your type of hunting, there’s a magnification for you in the BX-5 Santiam HD. From 8×42 for tight timber, to 15×56 for glassing the far slopes without the added bulk of spotting scope (and many magnifications in between). This bino comes with a rugged case and strap but also fits perfectly in any of Leopold’s premium bino harnesses.  

Make sure when you’re putting in all the effort to get out into elk country that you aren’t fighting your binocular when you get there. Instead, make sure you have a binocular you can trust to come through in any hunting scenario. 

Learn more at: www.leupold.com