To help you make the best choice on your next purchase, I tested and ranked the most popular rangefinders on Amazon.
FYI, Prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. Vortex Optics - Razor HD 4000 Yards
Highlight: Amazing 4000 yards ranging.
Helpful review: Everyone knows that Vortex punches in higher than almost everything else in their respective markets, and this is another one that they blow the doors off of everyone. While it blows the doors off of the other rangefinders here, the checkbook also takes a bigger hit. This rangefinder is much more expensive than all the rest. However, regarding Vortex, the motto "you get what you pay for" is the truth.
- This rangefinder will calculate an angle-compensated distance for the shooter. Now, all I have to do is set the crosshairs or adjust the holdover and let the bullet fly.
- The diopter (back eyepiece) is adjustable to fit the shooter and increase comfort. I may look through a rangefinder most of the day, but I don't need a vision-induced headache.
- The scan feature will give a constant readout. What does this mean? Well, if I am tracking the game, I can call out the distance and slope angle as the animal moves.
- The rubber coating is as tough as iron. Like all the Vortex coatings, it is genuinely the industry's best.
- The lenses are coated for glare and fog and polarized for gloomy mornings. Vortex is a winner when it comes to superior-quality lenses, and this rangefinder is no exception.
What else can I do that state the simple fact again - Vortex are simply unique in their quality, customer service, lifetime guarantee (including a No Questions Asked policy). Vortex has always been (and still is) my go-to when it comes to optics. And I haven't even gotten into the absolutely amazing 4000-yard ranging that is simply out of this world. So yes, I highly recommend their range finder and I'm confident you will not regret this purchase. — Kevin McGilvery
Get it from Amazon now: $399.00 & FREE Returns
2. Bushnell - 600 Yards
Highlight: Runs on a 9-volt battery.
Helpful review: This may be the only thing other than fire alarms I have in the house that runs on a 9-volt battery. The great thing about 9-volt batteries is that they withstand weather pretty well and last forever. With the extra power on board, the brightness of the internals is better, to my eyes anyway.
This small unit fits in a pocket or a belt pouch easily, which allows it to hang up; however, it is also suitable for about 200 yards, and then it gets iffy. This machine is excellent for archery, muzzleloaders, and short-range carbines like the old standby 30-30 Winchester. This rangefinder may not be the right choice for long-distance or cross-canyon hunters.
Like everything Bushnell makes, some are good, and others do not have reasonable quality control at the manufacturer. But for the most part, Bushnell optics are on the low end of the quality band; they are also on the low end of the price band, and that is where most beginners or average hunters live.
It would be great to have the top-end optics, a full lineup of Vortex everything, and not just the T-shirt or hat from the show. This rangefinder will be a great addition to archery tackle; no one should hold off on buying one. If the shooter is as good as their rifle can, maybe look into one of the others listed here. — Ken Andrews
Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns
3. Gogogo Sport - High Precision 1200 Yards
Highlight: Angle Range Compensation.
Helpful review: I am looking for affordable and reliable rangefinders to take to Yellowstone to see how far away the critters are; I am a geek about that. I found the GOGOGO brand on Amazon and decided to make some article reviews on the ones I could find that fit my budget and needs.
This rangefinder feels like a rock-solid unit. My neighbor has one made by Garmin that costs way more than a tool that I want because I am curious. We ranged the giant slide at the park behind my house, and they both had the exact measurements. Then we ranged a rock on the mountain just up the road and again the same measurement. Finding a rangefinder for this price excites me, so now it was time for the acid test, the measuring wheel.
I dug out the measuring wheel from the very back of the "don't know why I bought this' pile of tools and put it to work measuring the feet measurement to the slide in the park. The Garmin was about 7" short of the exact, the Gogogo was just over a foot short. According to my neighbor, that made it less than one percent off. I don't know how to measure less than one percent, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. And I can't do the math anyway, so he is 100% correct.
My favorite part about this, or I guess it's my favorite accent, is the vibration sensor when it finds a flag. I think it is supposed to be used for golf. I use it to measure yardage when sighting rifles. I think of it like this, a flag is a flag, and all they do is mark distance. One thing about this rangefinder is the need for batteries. If I am at the range, no big deal, they're in my shooting bag; if I am three miles from the car in Yellowstone, that kind of language should not be heard by children. — Gary Anderson
Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns
4. TideWe - Rechargeable 1000 Yards
Highlight: Rechargeable battery.
Helpful review: This little rangefinder is impressive! It is the actual size of the palm of my hand. Not only is it small, but it weighs the same as my cell phone. I can carry this in my shirt pocket, and it does not look like a smuggled beer can.
I was invited to hunt turkeys for the first time and brought this along to ensure I was not taking a shot that I should not try with the old Remington Model 1100. I set myself against the tree, or more like a bush, and ranged everything I could see to set up my range card. My host had all the turkey hunting stuff and was making the most convincing turkey call I have ever heard.
Wild turkey hunting in Utah is somewhat of a new thing, and from what I gather, they are much more intelligent than an old fat guy, but what a fun thing to do with buddies. That weekend, we all got skunked. That is not to say the reason most of us go hunting in the first place.
Besides the size, the primary function I like about this product is the rechargeability. After a week of trying this thing out on anything I could spot to check for range and the turkey hunt, the battery gauge said 63%. I plugged it into the USB charger, up to 100% charged in less than ten minutes. Getting rid of the batteries in my pocket for one more thing makes me love this machine. — Michael Knox
Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns
5. WOSPORTS - 800 Yards with Bow Hunting Mode
Highlight: Bow hunting mode.
Helpful review: This rangefinder measures angle, height, and distance, making it the perfect archery machine. We had smog the day we took this unit to the range to see what it was all about. The Utah County Valley, like other Utah valleys, suffers from inversion most of the winter. This day was bad for some reason, probably because the relative distance of the lake filled the air with water vapor.
We had to wait a while for the fog to lift, and we were tired again. The distance measurements were correct where all the others made the mark. We measured the 300-yard line because that is how long the range lane is for rifles.
The archery folks will love this unit. It can be switched to quick archery mode, giving the necessary measurements for the arrow to fly. I have not tried this out in the field yet. Archery season is a ways away, and I can't figure out a way to check it at the gun range with any accuracy due to having no archery skills or knowledge, to be honest. — Marcie Graham
Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns
6. AOFAR - Waterproof 1200 Yards
Highlight: 1200-yard ranging using AI tech.
Helpful review: The maker claims this rangefinder is good for 1200 yards and uses AI to do it. I have no idea what kind of AI it uses; I can't tell the difference. I reviewed the 700-yard version of this unit, and honestly, this seems like the same thing, with a different package.
The fit and finish are good. The unit fits nicely in my hand and is comfortable to use. The Buttons are ergonomically set in the proper position and are easy to find. I checked the accuracy with the GPS in the Navigator and from what I could range and drive directly to. It was on the money or within a foot so that part is right on the money.
The backlighting is poor in low-light readability. This is NOT a good pre-dawn or dusk rangefinder. This is a perfect fit for the gun bag to take to the range and ensure the targets are placed at the correct distances. So I can confidently recommend this rangefinder. AI is going to get better and better in the future, but this is unquestionably a very good start. — Anne J. Radcliffe
Get it from Amazon now: $169.66 & FREE Returns
7. TecTecTec - High Precision 800 Yards
Highlight: Easy to read the screen.
Helpful review: This is a golf-focused rangefinder. I don't know what the difference is. Maybe it is time to do an article on golf rangefinders and see if there is a difference.
This thing is tiny—I mean smaller than a cellphone. Maybe that is why golfers like them so much. It's easy to carry around and weighs almost nothing. I used it to see about 300 yards away, and a known target was on the money, perfect.
The optic has a 6x magnification and an eyepiece focus, making a clear image of the target in the distance. That would be mandatory if I were looking for a flag on a golf course. The settings have a button to push that will identify the flag in the hole, which the golf buddies call a pin.
When this unit finds that pin, it will lock onto it and keep it in the picture unless I completely move my head or body. — David Gottlieb
Get it from Amazon now: $146.64 & FREE Returns
8. AOFAR - Archery 700 Yards
Highlight: Continuous Scan Ranging.
Helpful review: I sent this rangefinder archery-hunting with my buddy. I am not an archery guy, and figured out the perfect way to test this unit. He went to his home range and checked the ranger against his straw bales, which he measured with tape. This was nearly on the money for his range. That makes me very happy and makes him even happier.
The HX-700N will zoom in at 6x magnification. This made it easy for him to lock in on his target and get the range quickly. We had one of the few late summer rains when he was deep in the woods and drenched for about ten minutes. The rangefinder had no issues. Joel will not pack it in due to rain unless it's cold and he has good bourbon in the truck; then, he might do that instead.
He told me about dropping the range finder from a rock outcropping he was sitting on, and it did not even care. With the rubber coating, it did not even scratch. This rangefinder costs less than a hundred bucks on Amazon. It outperforms or at least runs the same as more expensive units. It also seems that I have added this rangefinder to his archery kit; I hope it continues to serve him well. — Terry Gripe
Get it from Amazon now: $79.99 & FREE Returns