Hawke Endurance 8×32 ED Binoculars Review

Price as reviewed – Our price £239 (RRP  £259)

Pros

• Value for money
• ED Glass
• Wide field of view
• Bright, Clear image
• Solid build quality
• Very compact

Cons
Optics not a huge leap up from Endurance non ED

Background

Hawke Optics has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of budget binoculars, From the Premier 8×25 to the Nature-Trek.. In addition to these they make some excellent mid-range binoculars such as the Frontier ED-X, which is often seen as the best binocular under £500.

This model, the Hawke Endurance ED, sits in the middle of the Hawke range as the next step up from the Nature-Trek but below the Frontier ED range. This price point for binoculars contains a lot of models, but there are a lot of binoculars that are simply not worth the money. Here we will see if the Hawke Endurance ED 8×32 fits into the mid-range category.

Design

The closed hinge design keeps the Hawke Endurance ED 8×32 very compact, even when compared to binoculars with smaller objective lenses. It is also lightweight at 539 gms. There are lighter 8×32 binoculars available but these models are generally far more expensive due to the use of lightweight materials. 

It is important to remember that this is a binocular costing £239 and therefore materials and build quality aren’t up to the standard of models costing 3 or 4 times as much. However the quality is good for the price bracket this binocular is in.

The build quality is far better than you would expect. This binocular feels solid and well built, it is a rugged thing that is built for the purpose of resisting the effects of time and high usage. It is now quite a stylish binocular and it’s finished well with a very appropriate and functional design.

Optics

So far so good but now we get to optics, and we are pleased to report that Hawke have done a very good job with the new Endurance ED. The image is clear, bright and colours are very true to life with little hue away from the natural colours of the image you see.  The only drawback is there isn’t a huge difference between the Endurance ED and the previous Endurance model when viewed in bright conditions. However when the light levels drop the difference between the two binoculars becomes more apparent. The ED glass clearly helps with light gathering and gives an overall more punchy feel to the image over the Nature-Trek.

The field of view of 129 metres at 1000 metre range is also useful and useable, giving the user a flexible binocular for a variety of situations. There are models with a wider field of view but not at this price point.

Overall the optics on this binocular are what you would expect at this price point with the addition of ED glass helping the image quality. Compact and lightweight it’s ideal for those doing long walks.

Conclusion

When reviewing a binocular costing around £240.00 it is important to not compare it to models costing more. For the price the Endurance ED 8×32 is a good binocular. It is definitely an update in build quality and use of materials over the Nature-Trek.

It is pleasant to use and at our price of £239 it represents excellent value for money. The Hawke Endurance ED 8×32 is a good choice for anyone looking to upgrade to a well built pair of binoculars with clear optic.