Bushnell Forge 10x42 vs Bushnell Legend 10x42
Quick take: The Bushnell Forge 10x42 costs $40 less; the Bushnell Forge 10x42 has a wider field of view (340 vs 315 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
The odd thing about this pair is the price: the Bushnell Forge 10x42, the better-equipped binocular, costs $40 less than the discontinued Bushnell Legend 10x42. That alone points to the Forge.
The specs agree. The Forge has a magnesium body, a locking diopter, a 340 ft field against 315 ft, and 5 ft close focus against 6 ft. Owners describe a bright, saturated, contrasty image from its ED glass and dielectric prisms, and one field test called it a big leap over Bushnell's past offerings and on par with premium optics in its range. Its EXO Barrier coating breaks rain into droplets that don't smear the view. The complaint is size: owners find it longer and heavier than trimmer rivals, though some say the heft steadies the image on long sits, and a few still preferred a Vortex Viper HD.
The Legend's case is lighter carry, 22.8 oz against 24.2 oz. Owners report a clean center out to about 70% of the field, a smooth focus wheel, and sealing that survived a field test from summer heat to ten below without fogging. They also report soft edges in the outer view, color fringing in high-contrast light, and around 15mm of eye relief that sits on the boundary for glasses. Since it is discontinued and has a newer replacement, its leftover stock has to undercut the Forge to make sense.
For nearly every hunter, the Forge is the better binocular at the lower price. Owners of both note that Bushnell's service reputation trails Vortex's, so neither wins on support.
Bushnell Forge 10x42
For nearly every hunter: better specs, a magnesium body and stronger optics for $40 less, as long as the extra length and weight don't bother you.
Bushnell Legend 10x42
Only worth it if new stock turns up well below the Forge's price and the lighter 22.8 oz carry matters to you.
| Spec | Bushnell Forge 10x42 | Bushnell Legend 10x42 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$250 | ~$290 |
| Use case | Hunting | Hunting |
| Magnification | 10x | 10x |
| Objective | 42mm | 42mm |
| Exit pupil | 4.2mm | 4.2mm |
| Field of view | 340 ft @ 1000 yds | 315 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 15mm | 15.2mm |
| Close focus | 5 ft | 6 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | ED | ED |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 24.2 oz | 22.8 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.6 x 4.9 in | 5.5 x 5.0 in |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Bushnell Forge 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
Bushnell Legend 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
What birders say
Bushnell Forge 10x42
- ✓Reviewers called it 'a big leap up from Bushnell's past offerings, and on par with other premium optics in its price range' after extended field testing
- ✓ED Prime glass with wide-band coatings and phase-coated, dielectric BaK-4 prisms - a genuinely premium optical recipe that testers said boosts color saturation, contrast, and detail in all light
- ✓A hands-on budget-glass reviewer said it 'performed well beyond expectations' and ranked it among the best binoculars you can buy for the money in its bracket
- ✓Independent lab-style testing crowd received it as 'a positive surprise' when the measurements came in
- ✓EXO Barrier coating disperses rain and fog into tiny droplets that won't obscure the view - and it's smudge-proof, a real advantage in wet mountain weather
- ✓Tough magnesium chassis and robust build - reviewers noted the whole package, down to the protective case, feels ready for rough handling
- ✓Heft works in its favor for glassing: testers found the weight helped steady the image during long sessions
- ✓Frequently discounted well below its original ~$480-600 MSRP - forum members grabbing it on markdown called it an outright steal at those prices
- ✗Heavier and longer than most 10x42s - the roughly 6.7-inch barrels and near-2-lb heft are noticeable next to trimmer rivals
- ✗Some experienced users still preferred the Vortex Viper HD 10x42 optically after comparing both
- ✗Bushnell's customer support has been described as 'dismal' by at least one owner - a real contrast with Vortex's VIP warranty reputation
- ✗The Forge line has been discontinued/clearance-cycled, so long-term parts and warranty support is a fair concern
- ✗Locking diopter collar adds bulk at the right eyecup, a familiar Bushnell quirk shared with the Engage
- ✗Resale value is soft - Bushnell's brand perception lags the actual glass quality, which stings if you ever sell
- ✗At full MSRP it fought hard against the Viper HD and Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide - it's only a slam-dunk at discounted prices
- ✗Open-country hunters who hike big miles often pass on it purely for the weight penalty versus a Maven C.1 or slimmer Viper
Bushnell Legend 10x42
- ✓One owner of the line reported clean, distortion-free optics out to about 70% of the field before edge softening begins - respectable for the price bracket
- ✓An owner comparing tiers found the Legend L-series 10x42 outperformed a Leupold BX-1 McKenzie 12x50 outright
- ✓Phase-corrected BaK-4 prisms and fully multi-coated optics - the spec sheet reads a class above the sub-$200 price
- ✓Water-repellent exterior lens coating sheds rain, sleet, and snow - proven 'as advertised' in extended field testing of the line
- ✓Light for a full-size 10x42 at under 23 oz, easy on the neck for all-day carry
- ✓Smooth focus wheel and soft-touch rubber armor drew consistent praise in hands-on testing of the current generation
- ✓Nitrogen-purged and genuinely fogproof - the line ran from summer heat to minus-10 winter sits without internal fogging
- ✗Eye relief around 15mm is the line's known weak point at 10x - reviewers called it 'right on the boundary' for eyeglass wearers to see the full field
- ✗The 4.2mm exit pupil gives up low-light performance to the 8x42 version, a real trade-off for last-light deer movement
- ✗Absolute sharpness trails premium glass - in comparison testing the Legend family ranked below $400+ competitors even if the gap was small in practice
- ✗Edge-of-field softness in the outer 30% of the view, noticeable when panning or star-testing
- ✗Chromatic aberration is visible in high-contrast scenes, and an owner comparing generations noted Bushnell's newer budget lines still fight fringing
- ✗Confusing model history - Legend Ultra HD, E/L/M series, and the current Legend all share the name with different optics, muddying research and used-market shopping
- ✗Basic included accessories, with no premium case or harness in the box
- ✗Not suited to long open-country glassing sessions - field testers drew that line for the whole Legend family
Bushnell Forge 10x42 vs Bushnell Legend 10x42: common questions
Why does the Bushnell Legend 10x42 cost more than the Forge 10x42?▾
The Legend is discontinued, and its $290 price sits above the Forge's $250 despite fewer features. Unless you find Legend stock discounted well below the Forge, the Forge is the better use of the money.
Is the Bushnell Forge 10x42 too heavy compared with the Legend 10x42?▾
It is heavier, 24.2 oz against 22.8 oz, and owners find it longer than trimmer 10x42s. Backpack hunters who count ounces sometimes pass on it, but owners who glass from a ridge or truck say the extra heft helps steady the image.
Which works better with glasses, the Forge 10x42 or the Legend 10x42?▾
Neither is generous: the Forge has 15mm of eye relief and the Legend 15.2mm. Legend owners describe that as right on the boundary for seeing the full field in glasses, so eyeglass wearers should try either before buying.