Overview: Having recently completed my fourth DIY "Western" big game hunt, I've come to realize two things. First, the importance (necessity really) of thorough glassing cannot be overstated. And second, the best spotting scope is the one you have with you.
Let me explain.
When I first began hunting out west with my oldest son who lived, during his college years, in Montana, I purchased a spotting scope and tripod to use for scouting and glassing. It was (and still is) a nice set-up with 20-60x magnification and 82mm objective. It could really reach out. The trouble was it, along with the tripod, was bulky and heavy, and I eventually began to leave it behind and rely solely on my binoculars more and more often, instead of hassling with the spotter. I still used it at the range or sometimes even from the truck, but if it had to be hauled on my back, it typically got left behind.
Last year for our Colorado Elk hunt I decided to bite the bullet and switch up my kit, replacing the bigger, heavier spotter (four pounds and 15 inches) with the lighter and more compact Maven CS.1A model (two and a half pounds and 11 inches) and switched out my tripod for a much lighter and more compact version from Tricer (you can read my review on the Tricer BC tripod here).
The Maven CS.1A is built using the same glass as their award-winning C-Series binoculars and was designed to find the balance between weight/size and magnification capabilities. Because of its minimal size and lightweight magnesium / aluminum frame, it doesn't take up much space in the pack and goes easy on added weight. It offers 15-45x magnification and has a 65mm objective. It retails for $800.
This year's DIY Montana mule deer hunt with my boys was the second outing with the set up and I wanted to share my thoughts on the spotter.
What I Like:
Size and weight: This one seems obvious, but one the greatest features of the CS.1A spotter is its compact size and minimal weight. I could easily leave the spotter attached to tripod and strap it to the outside of my pack with little interference, or I could wrap it in my glassing jacket or pants and carry it inside the pack. Sure, it's still two and half pounds without the tripod, but somehow it feels like significantly less; I barely noticed it. And, as I said in the overview, because it was lighter and compact I was much more inclined to have it along with me than sitting back in the truck. After all, what good is great glass if you never use it?
Durability: Another thing I noticed and appreciated about the CS.1A was its durability. Through much of the hunt I carried the spotter attached to the tripod and strapped to the outside of my pack for quick deployment. In doing that it certainly got a little banged around – tree branches, rock shelves, and even a slip-and-fall in the snow – but it held up. Do I recommend beating the tar out of it? No, obviously not, but I appreciated the fact that I didn't have to baby it either. That all being said, I have added the Maven spotting scope cover to my Christmas list to provide a little extra protection. It seems like $70 well spent.
Glass Quality: While this isn't the most expensive or brightest glass I have ever used, it was solid, boasting extra-low dispersion ED glass, fully multi-coated lenses, and phase correction coating. It provided clear, bright, high-contrast viewing and good color fidelity. The CS.1A is also Nitrogen purged, and water/fog proof.
Lifetime Warranty: Here's what Maven's website says about their warranty – All Maven optics come with an unconditional lifetime warranty. If your optic becomes damaged or is at all defective contact us immediately for repair or replacement. We don’t care where or when you bought it or if it was your fault or not – if it says Maven, we will take care of it. Having a company stand behind their products with a warranty like this tells you something.
What I Don't Like:
Distance/Field of Vision: Ok, this one is a trade off. By going with a smaller and lighter spotting scope I also gave up some zoom capabilities (45x versus 60x) and field of view (65mm objective versus 82mm objective). This didn't end up being much of a hinderance and the spotter worked well to get up-close looks at animals at a decent distance, however I did find that it took me a bit longer to find game in the spotter than it did with a larger objective. All that being said, it was a trade worth making for me because the diminutive size and weight meant that I had the spotter with me not back in the truck.
Glass Quality: While the glass in the CS.1A is really good, you certainly can't compare it to the high-end glass in more expensive models/brands. Again, it's a bit of a trade off, and the price point reflects that.
Dials: This is getting a bit picky but I thought the magnification and focus wheels were a bit "stiff" to adjust. A big deal? No. But it was something I noticed.
Perfect For: The Maven CS.1A is the perfect light and compact spotting scope for backcountry hunts that require extensive mid-to-longer range glassing. It's durable, pack-friendly, and affordable.
Rating: 4.5/5
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