Vortex Optics Solo R/T 8x36 Monocular

Brilliant bit of kit. Has the performance of decent binoculars, but without the cumbersome bulk. The monocular in its carrying case fits into any pocket and is readily accessible whenever I need to use it. The clarity of the image and the reticle are both excellent after initial adjustment with the focusing wheels. Very robust design and excellent value for money.

A Great Optic at and Affordable Orice

I received this monocular as a Christmas gift, I am blind in my left eye, so buying binoculars was spending double for what I needed.I am now at the beach in Florida and have used the monocular a great deal. I am surprised, and pleased, at the brightness and clarity of this monocular. There is a little color variation at the periphery of the image, but not enough to be detrimental. While researching monoculars, I found this one at B&H. I knew of Vortex, but had never purchased one of their products. I checked out their warranty and was blown away! Their products carry a lifetime warranty no questions asked. You shoot it; they will fix it.I really like this product and highly recommended it!

Bright optics, accurate reticle

Feels quality. Clip seems sturdy. Optics are bright and clear. It did not fog up inside when I brought it in from sub freezing to room temp. The case is not junk, and the belt loop is heavy duty.Lots of purple chromatic issues in some high contrast situations, but it should not affect the function of the ranging reticle. I found it hard to keep it steady even when leaning against a tree. I say this because if you have any hand shake or tremor already, you might want the one with a way to mount it on a monopod or tripod. Or plan on using the clip to put it on something you are not touching, then look through it. It is difficult to obtain an accurate reading on the reticle when it is moving about. No provision for lens caps.Overall, it is functional and does not ... MoreFeels quality. Clip seems sturdy. Optics are bright and clear. It did not fog up inside when I brought it in from sub freezing to room temp. The case is not junk, and the belt loop is heavy duty.Lots of purple chromatic issues in some high contrast situations, but it should not affect the function of the ranging reticle. I found it hard to keep it steady even when leaning against a tree. I say this because if you have any hand shake or tremor already, you might want the one with a way to mount it on a monopod or tripod. Or plan on using the clip to put it on something you are not touching, then look through it. It is difficult to obtain an accurate reading on the reticle when it is moving about. No provision for lens caps.Overall, it is functional and does not require batteries!!

Clear Crisp Optics

Bought this to have a lightweight, small Optic for hikes.This Monocular is larger than it appears on the images, it is also not extremely lightweight, but light enough for its intended purpose. The image is crisp and clear and the clip makes it easy to attach it to the strap of my hiking chest pack. As others mentioned, the focus is a bit stiff, but not prohibitively so.Very happy with this purchase.

Clear optics, compact size, sharp reticle

I've been using a larger monocular for years on my kayak and at the range. The _only_ advantage that one has is an internal compass. The MRAD reticle on the Vortex is much better for ranging, the optics are clearer and the case is much sturdier. Vortex has a winner here!

Excellent monocular for just about any purpose

I bought this to replace another monocular lost on a trip. I’ve had several other Vortex products and none of them disappointed in any way. This monocular is no exception: it offers clear, sharp and distortion free viewing in every situation. I’ve used it for hunting, birding, reconnaissance and even keeping a careful eye on a pair of bozos following me one night in a run-down part of the world. It has excellent light gathering capabilities and the military reticle pattern is familiar, useful and accurate. I seldom leave home without this little gem in my go bag. Highly recommended. PK

Fantastic value

With my eye damage, I can only use binoculars one lens at a time. Because of that, I decided my next optical purchase would be a good monocular and the Solo Tactical doesn't disappoint in the slightest! It's super user-friendly, well-made and lightweight. My only complaint is that when folding the eyecup down for use with glasses it's experienced a little but of tearing around the rim on the rubber.

Good monocular for the price

I bought this monocular because of reticle. I owe Hawke 10x42 Endurance HD monocular without reticle, so I'll compare this monocular to Hawke. Main use of Vortex RT in my case - measure distances when fishing, hiking, biking. Occasionally I use it in reverse position as a macroscope - works great.Pros:1. Reticle - good for both short distances ( 50 - 400 m) and for very long distances (Moon). Accuracy is good, error is within 5% to 7%. Reticle is easy to read, it is well-designed and logical.2. Solid construction, comfortable grip.3. Lightweight, separate focusing ring for reticle is a great idea.4. Magnification is optimal - 10x would be too sensivive to hands shaking (for a person like me). I am not a hunter.Cons:1. Focusing is not as easy as Hawke and ... MoreI bought this monocular because of reticle. I owe Hawke 10x42 Endurance HD monocular without reticle, so I'll compare this monocular to Hawke. Main use of Vortex RT in my case - measure distances when fishing, hiking, biking. Occasionally I use it in reverse position as a macroscope - works great.Pros:1. Reticle - good for both short distances ( 50 - 400 m) and for very long distances (Moon). Accuracy is good, error is within 5% to 7%. Reticle is easy to read, it is well-designed and logical.2. Solid construction, comfortable grip.3. Lightweight, separate focusing ring for reticle is a great idea.4. Magnification is optimal - 10x would be too sensivive to hands shaking (for a person like me). I am not a hunter.Cons:1. Focusing is not as easy as Hawke and cannot be done with one hand.2. Low light performance seems to be not as impressive as Hawke's, presumably because lens diameter is smaller.3. Lack of tripod connection. This is a serious weakness for long distances. Without a tripod it is not easy to accurately measure height of an object in millirads (mrads), especially if the object is small (say, less than 5 mrads). I used Neweer Super Clamp to mount Vortex RT monocular on a tripod, works great. There is a commercial adapter for this, but it costs $30 or so.4. Lack of lens covers is a minor weakness for my applications.Summary:This is a good monocular for the price. Solid, small, very good optics. It requires some practice to learn how to use it, but once you learned it works great. There are some limitations, but they are minor. The only tning that I wish Vortex would add to this monocular is a tripod connection. This is easy to add and there is a need for it. Nevertheless, I would recommend this monocular to a friend.

Good product but buy it someplace else

Product is great and what you would expect to get from Vortex. However, Bass Pro shop must have sent me a returned one. Box was open fingerprints all over the glass, everything just crammed in the box. Thanks Bass Pro Shop.

Useful at the pistol range

I bought this for checking my shots at the pistol range, where I shoot at 15-20 yards. The focusing ring is a bit stiff, but once focused, the optics are crisp & clear. The crosshairs help when I am sighting in a new red-dot.The shape & texture make it comfortable to hold securely. It comes with a belt clip, eyecup & neck lanyard. I prefer a wrist lanyard (easily obtained) but that is just me.The one real weak point is the case. It doesn’t cover the scope well, as the Velcro is in the wrong spot. I replaced it with a clamshell case that zips closed. (A better case would have made this unnecessary.)