Endurance ED spotting scope - product review

Dom Holtam reviews the Endurance ED spotting scope by Hawke

For years I thought spotting scopes were the tools of birders, not shooters. But in truth, if you are into long-range work, a spotter is an essential ally. And if you are a professional guide, the ability to assess trophy quality in detail can be the difference between a happy and successful client and a missed opportunity. In either scenario an optic with extra magnification is going to be in order and that probably means a spotting scope.

As with its new binos, Hawke has evaluated the market and taken cues from the best premium brands. The experience starts with the classy white box and subtle branding. Think Apple. Inside is a well-designed cordura cover case that allows you to get at everything you might need without stripping the scope naked. The tripod mounting plate, eyepiece, objective and focus wheel all have their own access points and there is a padded shoulder strap, too.

A full-length side zip allows you to unsheathe the beast and there are serious Swarovski vibes coming off this 20-60x85 with its stippled green and black colour scheme.

There is a multi-position twist-up eye cup and a pull-out sunshade. The device is nice and balanced on its tripod mount, and the eyepiece has a nice weighting to the adjustment for the zoom. The focus wheel features a twin wheel with a rapid adjustment and then lower-geared fine adjuster to allow you to quickly get onto the target and then tweak the image to perfection. It works well but I’d like a smidge more weight and feel to the focus adjustment as a whole.

The image quality from the multi-coated extra-low dispersion glass is impressively crisp. We took the scope out for a test up on Bodmin moor with Tiff Dew from Roundhouse Firearms Training and had his Vortex spotter along for comparison. The Hawke lacked a little on the depth of image but for brightness, sharpness and colour-rendition it was trading punches with an optic that cost twice as much.

There is a choice of models: 12-36x50 models with either straight or angled eye-pieces and then larger 16-48x68 and 20-60x85 in either ED or non ED glass. This is the top-of-the-range model and comes in at £649.99. The cheapest model is £329.99. They are digiscope compatible and of course feature the Hawke Worldwide Warranty.

RRP £649.99 www.hawkeoptics.co.uk