fly4fish

I just did a full review of the Vortex Talon HD 10X42 and must say they are impressive for a pair of binoculars under $500. I am not sure about the Eagle binoculars, but I have heard the Zen Rays are made by the same manufacture, they just put different labels on them and some minor design details. Either way you go, you will be getting a good set of binoculars for the money you spend. The Vortex Talon is very crisp and clear, and feel great and of high quality. You can check out my full review here: Vortex Talon HD 10X42 Binoculars

Hey, it seems that I am a little late on this post, but if anybody comes across this wondering what to do about snake gaiters, I want to stress that you should go with the best pair that you can afford. I bought a cheap pair ($55) and wore them a couple times but then they just got thrown to the side. They were too hot and sweaty and made out of hard plastic (pvc I think) so they were stiff. After having another close call with a rattlesnake where he bit the sole of my river wading boot in mid stride and somehow decided to not strike the bare leg that was right on the ground next to him, I decided it was worth it to go with a pair of snake gaiters that are comfortable enough to wear. I spent $125 on a pair of TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Gaiters and have not regretted it since. I wear them all the time and they are not stiff, hot or sweaty. They are almost unnoticeable as they are made out of a puncture proof fabric that feels much like high quality rain gear. Fortunately I have not tested them out yet on a pair of fangs, but I put my life on it they will stand up to the challenge. Anyway, if you want to look in to TurtleSkin snake gaiters a little more, here is a link to the site where I learned about them and other snake bite prevention clothing: www.SnakeProofGear.com