Maven C.1 8x42 Binos Review

I have gone most of a season with these binoculars and thought I would share a quick-hitter review for anyone looking for some quality binos under the $500 mark.

I started out with the plan of saving to buy the Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42. Things did not go quite as planned and I did not get the money saved this year. I will eventually get those Swaros, but I had to come up with a different option as my then-current binos were 15 years old and bulky. I decided rather than pay for a $1,000 range bino, I would get something to "tide" me over a few years until I was ready for the EL. After much research, I had a decision to make between the Tract Toric 8x42 and the Maven C.1 8x42. The Tract I think was the better bino based on the reviews, but the Maven price tag was too good to beat.

I went with the Maven C.1 8x42. Maven had a 20% sale last father's day, so I got the bino brand new for $290 (free shipping). I was using this bino exclusively for bowhunting and close range glassing; I have a different set for western hunting.

My first impressions out of the box and testing in my yard were mixed.

Pre-use positives:
- extremely light but easily stabilized
- VERY durable material (rubber coating and polymer chasis)
- well built
- textured in the right places to help with a sturdy grip
- extremely clear glass
- seemed to do well in low light conditions

Pre-use cons:
- I was concerned about the eye relief; when I put to my eye in my yard in various conditions, my eyes felt strained
- I was concerned about the sensitivity of the focus adjuster; it just seemed as though the binoculars could not stay focused in the very close range. I did not have a good benchmark for farther than 50 yards other than houses 100 yds down the street at AC units (not quite the same when evaluating clarity and focus).


I was not quite sure how they would perform. They seemed good, but I definitely had my doubts.

Now, after a few months of extensive use, I can confirm all of my concerns have been wiped away. These binoculars are fantastic. They perform comparably to $500-$750 glass and are on par with some of the $1,000 glass I have tried such as the Vortex Razor (I know a lot of people like Vortex but their glass is shite if you've ever put your eyes to Alpha glass). These binos feel like Alpha glass after you learn the ins and outs.

- my concerns about the eye relief were just situational. All binoculars are tough on the eye relief at close distance and I had no comparison until I actually got into the woods. When looking at distances of 40 yards and farther, these binos did great.

- my concerns about the sensitive adjustments and focus problems were user error. I quickly learned that the binoculars need very little adjustment. I found the sweet spot and rarely had to move them.

- The binoculars are clear and perform exceptionally well.

- They perform especially well in low light conditions. I was amazed. I hunted Kansas during the rut and spent a lot of time in some extremely dark wooded areas where i was past shooting light sometimes 20-30 minutes before everyone else at my camp. I wouldn't shoot, but it was nice to be able to glass around and see deep into the tree canopy with the Maven C1. They really performed outstanding in low light.

I have no affiliation with Maven, just wanted to share. If you are needing a new pair of bowhunting / 8X binoculars, you might consider waiting until father's day (they've had this sale two years in a row) and buying a pair of Maven C1s for a very reasonable price. I'd pick them over any Vortex, Leupold, and Nikon bino except for the Nikon Monarch HG ($1000) and EKG ($2000).

Here is a little more technical review that I used when making my decision: https://www.rokslide.com/maven-c-1-10x42-binocular-review/