Hawke Binoculars

Why choose Hawke?

Hawke is based in Suffolk and has built its name in the UK by putting features you used to find only on much dearer pairs into mid-priced binoculars. What you get across the range:

• Phase-corrected BAK-4 roof prisms for a sharp image with clarity and fine detail
• Fully multi-coated lenses for bright, natural colour
• Smooth, quick focusing: the Frontier ED X goes from close focus to infinity in about 1.5 turns of the wheel
• Waterproof, nitrogen purged bodies that won't mist up inside on a cold morning
• Close focus of around 2m to 3m, handy for butterflies and birds on the feeder
• Twist-up eye cups that suit people with and without glasses
• A no-fault lifetime warranty run from a UK service centre

The Hawke range explained

The binoculars are sorted into families, each built around one of its optical systems. The Frontier models use System H7 optics, Endurance uses H5, and the entry-level Nature-Trek and Vantage ranges use H2. The higher the number, the better the glass and lens coatings, and the higher the price. Above everything on this page sits the Frontier APO, with apochromatic glass for even tighter control of chromatic aberration.

Hawke Frontier ED X

The Frontier ED X is the pick of the pairs on this page. It pairs extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, which all but removes colour fringing around bright edges, with dielectric coated prisms that raise light transmission, so you see more colour on a grey day. The chassis is magnesium alloy wrapped in rubber armour, rated IPX7 waterproof, and weighs about 540g in the 32mm models and around 725g in the 42mm ones. Here you'll find the 8x32, 10x32 and 10x42 in green or grey. The accessories are a step up too: tethered objective lens covers, a rainguard, a padded neck strap and a hard case, and the eye cups twist off for cleaning. In a hands-on test, Feathers Optics scored the ED X 9/10 for optical quality, build and value for money.

Hawke Frontier HD X

The Frontier HD X shares the ED X's magnesium body, IPX7 rating and coated prisms, but uses standard glass instead of extra-low dispersion lenses. In practice that means a touch more colour fringing on high-contrast edges, such as a heron against a bright sky, in exchange for a lower price. The 8x32, 10x32, 8x42 and 10x42 HD X sizes are all here in green or grey, typically between about £280 and £350.

Hawke Endurance ED

Hawke Endurance ED has been one of the best-loved mid-range binoculars in the UK for over a decade, and it is still the value for money pick. It brings extra-low dispersion lenses and phase-corrected BAK-4 prisms to a lightweight polycarbonate body with high-grip rubber armour, and focuses down to 2m. The 8x42 gives a 133m field of view at 1,000m. On this page you'll find the 8x42, 10x42, 10x50 and 12x50 in green or black, mostly between about £270 and £330. The Hawke Endurance 8x56 sits alongside them: it skips the ED elements, but its 7mm exit pupil and 23mm eye relief make it one of the brightest, most comfortable pairs in the range for dawn and dusk.

Hawke Frontier EDX compacts

The 8x25 and 10x25 Frontier EDX compact binoculars squeeze the same ED elements and prism coatings into a magnesium alloy pair that fits a coat pocket. They're ideal for travel, festivals, the car glovebox or as a spare pair for the kids.

Hawke Nature-Trek and Vantage

The entry ranges use H2 optics in a shock resistant polycarbonate body, with most models selling for under £200. The Hawke Vantage and the newer Hawke Vantage HD are lightweight first pairs with rubber armour and easy focusing, and real value for money for beginners. The Hawke Nature-Trek runs from 25mm compacts up to 50mm objective lens models for low light, where a large exit pupil helps. If you can stretch to an Endurance ED, with its sharper ED optics, the jump in image quality is easy to see. There are also Endurance Marine binoculars in 7x32 and 7x50, plus a range of monoculars, which aren't on this page.

Compare the pairs on this page

Prices change often, so check the cards above for today's figure. Every range comes in at least two colours, and all carry the same lifetime warranty.

Which size of Hawke binoculars should you buy?

The two numbers on every pair tell you most of what you need. The first is the magnification and the second is the diameter of each objective lens in millimetres. Divide the lens by the magnification and you get the exit pupil, the width of the beam of light reaching your eye. Anything over 5mm feels bright at dusk; under 3mm is best kept for daylight. The RSPB's guide to binocular numbers explains the rest of the terms.

For a first serious pair, 8x42 is the safe choice: bright, steady and wide enough to find a bird quickly. Pick 10x if most of your viewing is across open ground, and 32mm if weight matters more than the last bit of low-light performance.

Frontier or Endurance: which Hawke range is right for you?

• Choose Endurance ED if you want ED glass for the least money, or the 10x50, 12x50 or 8x56 sizes the Frontier range doesn't offer here.
• Choose Frontier HD X if you want the tougher magnesium chassis and brighter prisms, and mostly watch in good light where colour fringing rarely shows.
• Choose Frontier ED X if you want the sharpest, most colour-true image in the range under £500, especially for birds against the sky or water.

Which pair for birdwatching, hunting and stargazing?

Birdwatching

An 8x42 Endurance ED or Frontier HD X covers almost everything, from garden feeders to reserve hides. If you'd like to compare them against the other brands we stock, see our birdwatching binoculars page.

Hunting and deer stalking

Low light is everything when you are out at first or last light. The Endurance 8x56 and the 10x50 Endurance ED give the biggest exit pupils in the range. More large-lens pairs are on our hunting binoculars page.

Stargazing

The 10x50 and 12x50 Endurance ED show the Moon's craters, Jupiter's moons and star clusters well. Rest them on a wall or fit a tripod adaptor for a steadier view, or see our astronomy binoculars for larger pairs.

Walking and travel

The 32mm Hawke pairs weigh around 540g and are happy round your neck all day, while the EDX compacts fit a pocket.

The Hawke no-fault lifetime warranty

Hawke's no-fault lifetime warranty is one of the strongest in the sport optics market. If your binoculars are damaged or develop a fault, they will be repaired or replaced free of charge, however it happened. The small print is short:

• It covers products bought new from an authorised retailer since 1 January 2018
• It is for the original owner, so keep your receipt as proof of purchase
• Registering your pair is optional but makes a claim quicker
• Claims go through Hawke's UK service centre by email
• Loss, theft, deliberate damage and cosmetic marks that don't affect performance are not covered

It works in practice too: one first-time buyer on Reddit whose new pair had misaligned barrels emailed Hawke on a Sunday and had a free returns label by Monday morning and a brand-new pair a day after sending the old one back.

How Hawke compares with other brands

At around £250 to £500, Hawke's closest rivals are fellow British brand Viking and the RSPB's own range, both of which also offer ED lenses at similar money. Compare them on our Viking binoculars and RSPB binoculars pages. If you'd like to see what Japanese and German-designed optics offer, have a look at Kowa binoculars and GPO binoculars. For more independent buying advice, the Which? binoculars guide is worth a read.

Setting up and caring for your binoculars

1. Fold the hinge until you see one round image with no black edges.
2. Twist the eye cups up if you don't wear glasses, or leave them down if you do.
3. Close your right eye and focus with the centre wheel, then close your left and set the dioptre on the right eyepiece. You only need to do this once.
4. Fit the rainguard in wet weather and keep the objective covers on in your bag.
5. Blow or brush off grit before wiping the lens with a microfibre cloth, never kitchen roll.

Frequently asked questions

Are Hawke binoculars any good?

Yes. The brand is one of the most popular with UK birders because it offers ED lenses, coated prisms and fully waterproof bodies for well under the price of the top European names, all backed by a lifetime warranty.

What is the difference between the Hawke Frontier ED X and HD X?

They share the same magnesium body and prisms. The ED X adds extra-low dispersion glass, which cuts colour fringing and gives slightly crisper colour. The HD X costs less.

Is the Hawke Endurance ED worth the money?

For most people, yes. It gives you extra-low dispersion lenses, a 2m close focus and a waterproof body for around £270 to £330, and many experienced birders still use one as their main pair.

Do Hawke pairs suit glasses wearers?

Most models have twist-up eye cups and enough eye relief to see the full view with glasses on. The Frontier ED X 10x42 has 15mm, and the Endurance 8x56 has a generous 23mm.

Are all Hawke models waterproof?

Yes. Every pair on this page is sealed and nitrogen purged, so it is waterproof and fog proof. The Frontier models carry an IPX7 rating.

Do I need to register my pair with Hawke?

No. Registration is optional, but you will need proof of purchase to claim under the warranty, so keep your receipt or register the pair online.

Which Hawke model is best for beginners?

The Endurance ED 8x42 is the best all-round starting point. On a tighter budget, the Hawke Vantage and Nature-Trek ranges are good first pairs.