Best Long Range Rangefinders 2021-Guides and Reviews

These days, hunters and golfers can’t go to the wild and the golf course, respectively, without having a long-range rangefinder in their bag.

This shows how useful this optical equipment has become. The best long-range rangefinder allows users to determine the distance of an object that is up to a mile away from the user. This, in turn, helps the golfer and hunter adjust his shot for better accuracy.

In shopping for a long-range rangefinder, you will have to consider factors such as accuracy of the measurements, clarity of the images, object recognition, and durability. Other factors that can influence your buying decision are size and weight, ease of use, and price.

Comparison Table of Best Long Range2 Rangefinders

Best Long Range Rangefinders 2021

01. Bushnell 202421 7×26 Elite 1 Mile ARC Laser Rangefinder

 

This laser rangefinder can see objects up to a mile away. But can you?

Amazing Distance Coverage with 7x Magnification

I mean, though this rangefinder can see objects from a mile away, you can not. How would you locate the targets then? It has got the solution for that as well.

To complement such distance coverage, we needed above average magnification to see and aim at targets that far, and with its 7x magnification capability, it lived up to the expectation.

Easy to Use

The first thing you’re going to love about this rangefinder is its in-hand feel. It’s surprisingly compact for such a powerful tool.

And when you fire it up and measure your first distance, you’ll have no other way but to get impressed by how simple and easy it is to use. And since it’s a player of a really long-range, it could be tough to hold it completely steady by hand. To address that issue, it has a built-in tripod mount.

Accurate & Speedy

Backing their 2nd Gen. E. S. P. technology, Bushnell claims that it’ll be accurate within half a yard.

It lived quite up to the claim. When we’re looking within 600-700 yards, it’s highly precise at measuring the correct distance. However, when it goes over that distance, it’s not that accurate but still quite impressive numbers for such a long-range.

Measuring the distance doesn’t take long either. Another cool thing is that it performs quite well even in cloudy conditions.

However, it has a design flaw and that is the power button is so prominent that you’re likely to press it every time you pull the rangefinder out of its carrying case.

 

Bottom Line

The Elite rangefinder is a long-range champion and though it’s not the most affordable rangefinder in the market, someone looking to measure targets from really far will find the price tag worth it.

 

02. Uineye Laser Rangefinder – 5-1600 Yards, Golf Rangefinder

 

The manufacturer of this rangefinder, Unieye, may not ring a bell to most hunters and golfers. But if you had gotten your hands earlier on this rangefinder they’re offering, it probably would.

This rangefinder can provide sight for up to 1,600 yards, with 0.33 yards of accuracy. It’s not entirely designed for golfers as even hunters and engineers enjoy using this rangefinder.

Operation Process

Because this unit is made and shipped from China, the instruction manual isn’t really friendly. However, someone who has used a rangefinder before should have no trouble in getting acquainted with this unit.

It has two-button controls that are straightforward. To switch between yards and meters, you’ll have to hold both buttons down.

In case you are getting a wrong reading, try again after changing your position.

Fairly Accurate

I can not complain as far as the accuracy of this unit is concerned. It’s fairly accurate, even when targeting objects that are really far away.

Compared to the accuracy of the other more expensive units, it holds its own ground.

No Backlit

Despite those strong points, it also has its fair share of downsides. One common issue is the black LCD readout. The screen is not backlit so it may be difficult to read the measurements in low light conditions.

 

Bottom Line

I thought it’s an underrated rangefinder since the manufacturer is not renowned here in the US. But if you look at the performance of it for and regardless of the price, it’s a steal.

03. LaserWorks LW1000SPI Laser Rangefinder

 

This is another laser rangefinder that isn’t as expensive as Bushnell. Still, it has been getting good feedback from the users.

With its budget-friendly price and good design, it doesn’t take a genius to realize why it is highly recommended by several golfers and hunters.

On-point Accuracy

This rangefinder can help you get a closer look at objects up to 1,000 yards away from you and goes up to 1600 yards for highly reflective targets. It offers a pretty decent 6x magnification. Where it shines is its pinpoint accuracy when the device is held steady.

Some hunters who have used this in the wild say they have improved their skills on many levels, that they can make accurate shots with the help of this rangefinder.

Multiple measurement modes help with adaptation to different scenarios.

However, the accuracy will start to drop for targets more than 800 yards away.

One-Key Use

Literally, One-key to measure, One-key to switch mode. Using this tool is a piece of cake. It powers-off automatically in 15 seconds of inactivity to save juice.

Highly Compact & Lightweight

The rangefinder is so lightweight at 152 grams. That’s less than a pound! With such a lightweight body, this unit will pose no problems for most users, even golfers, and hunters with shaky hands.

But the lightweight and small frame of this rangefinder also pose some concern to people with big hands. Some golfers complain that they struggle to hold on to this unit because it is so small.

 

Bottom Line

The laser works laser rangefinder punches above its weight considering its size and how less it costs compared to other similar offerings from other brands.

 

04. USCAMEL® HD 10×26 Binoculars Powerful Long Range

 

This rangefinder is proof that you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to get your hands on a quality long-range offering.

Again, this isn’t made by Bushnell and other top brands but it delivers the goods, so to speak.

It’s something I recommend to golfers, hunters, and even outdoor enthusiasts who want a budget-friendly rangefinder.

Whopping 10x Magnification,

The 10x magnification of this unit makes it a great companion for golfers, hunters, and even sightseers.

Most reviewers say that the field of view is sufficient, although you would need a steady hand to get a good look at your target that’s up to a thousand yards away from you.

Amazing Clarity

In terms of clarity, this long rangefinder gets a lot of high scores. Many fellow users said that they were impressed with the optical clarity of the unit.

Some say that you would need a lot of lighting for the 10x magnification to work, but overall, the long-range rangefinder is hard to beat when we talk of clarity.

 

Fits Most Users

The rangefinder can also be adjusted to fit most users. Common feedback is that this binocular can fit small and big adult faces. The carrying bag and lanyard included in this package also make the unit more user-friendly.

Others are also in awe of the durability of this rangefinder. They say that the unit would continue to work even if dropped multiple times.

 

Bottom Line

The USCAMEL sums up to be a compact yet powerful tool. The attention to little concerns like the adjustability feature to help people with vision issues is overwhelming.

 

05. Nikon 8397 ACULON Laser Rangefinder

 

Nikon is a brand that we’re all familiar with. It’s one of the top brands or makers of rangefinders.

So you will be surprised to learn that the company produces affordable but high-quality rangefinders like this one.

The 8397 Aculon is a reasonably priced but accurate laser rangefinder that I can recommend to anyone.

It’s Accurate

After all, it’s a Nikon made rangefinder, so I presumed it to be accurate.

I once compared the readings of this rangefinder to a Bushnell rangefinder, and the results were almost the same, keeping in mind that the Bushnell one was much more expensive than this unit.

Clear Optics

Since we know that Nikon is a top optics brand, then it’s not surprising that this rangefinder gives a very clear and natural view.

Its 6x magnification is on the par side I’d say. It could be better considering lower-priced units than this offer more magnification.

Size/Weight

What I like most about this rangefinder is its weight. It weighs only 4.4 ounces. It is so small that I think it’s even smaller than my phone. I can easily slip in my pocket or the front pocket of my shirt. I can even wear it around my neck.

This is a water-resistant laser rangefinder that I highly recommend to golfers and hunters alike. It’s very affordable plus it comes from a reputable brand.

Bottom Line

When you’re looking from a really tiny rangefinder without sacrificing performance, look nowhere else. But the low distance covering of 650 yards is underwhelming considering that we’re talking long-range rangefinders here.

Guide to Buying the Best Long Range Rangefinder

It could be tough to find yourself the best long-range rangefinder among the overwhelming number of options. On top of that, everyone’s requirements might be different so one recommendation for a long-range rangefinder might not be the best match for everyone.

Rather let us explain what makes the best, the best so you could judge yourself.

Range & Accuracy

Since we’re talking about long-range rangefinders here, nitpicking on the range is so obvious. Most of the rangefinders are decent in a shorter range, but only a few stand out in the long game.

You want to decide first, long means how long? When we’re talking golf, anything capable of measuring correctly within 500 yards seems good enough. If you go occasional hunting, that’s when you need actual long-range players.

So if the ‘long-range’ in golf is your concern, even something the Nikon ACULON will do just fine with its maximum range of 650 yards.

To be real, most decent golf rangefinders that can live up to their claim in terms of maximum distance coverage, turns out to be ‘long-range’ rangefinder when only golf is concerned since they all claim over 600 yards at least.

When you’re talking about other purposes, for example, hunting, then a ‘decent’ golf rangefinder won’t cut it. You’ll need true long-game players like the Bushnell Elite that have a maximum range of more than double than average golf rangefinders.

Accuracy is something that usually goes the other way around of distance coverage. The further you measure, the less accurate it seems to get, except for some really good rangefinders.

But that’s not something to worry much about if you’re going hunting or something similar. For getting mammoth distance coverage, you can sacrifice a little on accuracy.

But when you’re playing golf, you want to give priority to accuracy, since most are fit in terms of maximum distance. Or find something that offers a nice balance.

 

Ease of Use

It’s a no brainer, that nobody wants a tool that’s complex and hard to use. But how do you tell if a rangefinder is easy to use or not?

Firstly, the operation. Many rangefinders offer you simple one or two-button operability, those are good. It should also let you alter measurement metrics easily.

Optics. Optics need to be clear so you can easily see through and get the distance. Bad quality, foggy optics kills time and causes a bad experience.

Magnification, is crucial, especially for long-range rangefinders. Without strong magnification, it gets challenging to clearly see and aim at targets that are really far. At least 6X is required for what type of rangefinders we’re talking about.

Fast focus. It should be able to focus fast and save you a few seconds of holding your hand.

Speed. Once everything is in place, and you’ve pulled the trigger, the processing of data shouldn’t eat up much time, as you’re still holding your hand on your eye level which is not comforting at all.

Stabilization. Human hands are supposed to shake a bit which needs to be compensated by the tool, at least till the degree is not extreme. However, if you’ve really shaky hands, you need to go for such models that offer an added degree of stabilization.

Features

A handful of features uplifts your experience of using a rangefinder. The more you have, usually the better it is.

The ones we’re about to talk about is more relevant and useful concerning golf. They do not get irrelevant, however, when we talk hunting or other purposes, but the degree of forgiveness or even absence could be leveled up a bit.

 

Slope Adjustability. Crucial for golfers, especially for the newbies of the game. When a slope is not taken into consideration in the process of calculating the distance, the result won’t be fully accurate and might result in an inaccurate choice of club. Ultimate result? Might be a bad shot.

When golf isn’t the only concern, the little fluctuation in the result because of not considering the slope might not be as impactful.

Target Lock. Gives you the confirmation (vibration, sound, etc.) upon successfully setting the target so you can verify if it’s the right target that you want to measure the distance to. Crucial in golf and could be crucial for hunting too.

Continuous Scan, mostly used on a golf course. Let’s you get a quick overview of distances of multiple objects (flagpole, rock, trees) at a certain range so you can make an idea of what’s going on there.

 

Build Quality

Be it on the golf course or adventurous hunting, your tool can expect a bit of abuse and uncomfortable scenarios for itself. It needs to be sturdy and rigid to live and see another day.

Crucial aspects to that are the material quality (plastic), the overall set up of the tool for that solid feel in the hand (no wobbly components), and finally the proofing against water and fog.

It should at least be water-resistant to create some protest against water damage, which could be very likely to happen.

Price

Don’t confuse it with the budget. Budget and price could have different meanings and let me explain:

The budget is simply the money you’re looking to spend. And for that money, you want to consider all the options available and pick the best, so there’s nothing much complicated to explain.

If I had to give one suggestion regarding budget, I’d say it’s wise to push the budget a little bit at times to get a proven good unit instead of settling for less that fits the budget.

About the price, I believe it shouldn’t be always considered as a perimeter of the expected performance of a rangefinder. It can be deceiving at times and a higher price doesn’t always mean it’s a better product, not always with rangefinders.

 

Frequently Asked Question About Long Range Laser Golf Rangefinder

Does shooting vs. Golf rangefinder differ?

The function of them both is the same, which is to measure distance. However, the output requirements out of those considering the two different sports are somewhat different at times (not always). So they’re made that way, differently, two meet requirements of each sport respectively so they can be separated from one another.

 

Can I get one long-range rangefinder to both golf and shoot?

You could get away doing that when you can find the sweet spot between range and accuracy, and feature-set required for each sport respectively. Challenging, but not impossible.

Again, keep in mind that the result will not be amazing, since both sports have distinct differences and require slightly different and specialized outcomes from the tool in a few scenarios.

The best practice would be having separate units but that could be expensive. If you’re not too picky regarding either of the sports, you’d be just fine picking something in the middle.

 

Do I need slope compensation for shooting?

Slope compensation means more accurate distance reading, which can not hurt in any way at all. Thus, having the slope compensation feature enabled is always a great plus.

Then again, it’s not so crucial in shooting like it is on a golf course.

 

How crucial is magnification?

Since we’re mostly concerned about long-range rangefinders, slope compensation turns out to be a really crucial factor. It could be highly difficult to see and aim at a target sitting one mile apart, even if your rangefinder is capable of measuring the distance.

How would you aim at it when you can not see it properly?

More magnification allows you to see it appear in a large enough state for you to aim properly and easily. Thus magnification proves to be really crucial for long-range rangefinders.

 

Final Verdict

Shopping for a long-range rangefinder can be tricky especially if you haven’t bought one in the past. Some models may look the same to you. And because of that, there’s a good chance that you might just settle for the cheapest unit you can find.

But by picking a long-range rangefinder in this list, you stand a greater chance of getting a good quality unit. These long-range rangefinders are all well designed.

They’ve also been proven to perform well in the wild and the greens. Any of these models can be considered the best long-range rangefinder today.