Vortex has had a wide range of rangefinders over the years, and I have used several of them with good luck. I was a bit skeptical when their new rangefinder came out. The latest member of the family is the Triumph HD 850 laser rangefinder, priced at only $149.99. Let’s take a look.
Vortex Triumph HD 850 Rangefinder
When I first took the rangefinder out of the packaging, I was a bit concerned about how light it felt. At only 4.6 ounces, it felt like something that was too light to be any good. With the lack of weight, it made me skeptical at first, and I wanted to try it out asap. It came with a carrying pouch, a short lanyard, and a lens cloth to help keep the optics clean.
Lightweight
First impressions, other than feeling too lightweight and cheaply made because of the lack of weight, also had me thinking the lightweight rangefinder attached to my bino harness would be nice to help keep the weight down. So, this was a double-edged sword so to speak.
No Backlighting
After getting the battery installed and stepping out into the backyard to throw some arrows downrange, I clicked the button for the first time. It instantly spit out a range, but the numbers were hard for me to see. This rangefinder does not have illuminated numbers, and I had to adjust to be able to see them clearly. In bright sunlight this will be easy to see but with fading light it made it a bit more difficult for me.
Triumph HD 850 Modes
It incorporates your standard features such as HCD, LOS, and Scan. HCD (Horizontal Component Distance) displays the slope angle compensated distance, while the LOS (Line of Sight) displays the actual distance to the target. Scan option is just that, it scans distance while holding the measure button continuously down. This adjusts the range as you move the rangefinder. It also includes the standard target modes of normal, first, and last.
Normal Mode: The standard mode provides the target’s range with the strongest range result. Recommended for most situations.
First Mode: Displays the closest distance when ranging. Ideal for ranging a smaller target in front of other larger or more reflective objects.
Last Mode: Displays the farthest distance when ranging. Ideal for ranging a specific target behind a group of objects like brush, trees, rocks, etc.
Vortex Triumph HD 850 Specifications
- Magnification 5x
- Objective Lens Diameter 21 mm
- Eye Relief 13mm
- Range Reflective (yards) Up to 850 yds.
- Range Tree (yards) Up to 500 yds.
- Range Deer (yards) Up to 350 yds.
- Min Range 6 yds.
- Accuracy .5 yds @ 100 yds.
- Length 3.8″
- Height 3.1″
- Width 1.4″
- Weight 4.6 oz.
- Max Angle Reading ± 89°
Conclusion
Although this is a very capable rangefinder, it lacked the things that I am used to seeing in a rangefinder. The lack of backlit, bright LED numbers was an issue for me in low light. I feel this rangefinder would be most suitable for days at the range or for those looking to save some coin but still have a capable rangefinder for their use. For parents looking for an inexpensive rangefinder for their kids or for someone just starting out, this is an excellent option. It is effective and does what a rangefinder is intended to do at a fraction of the cost of others. I have reserved this rangefinder for days in the backyard, shooting a bow, or going to the range with my rifle. Very simplistic, easy to use, at a fraction of the cost. It would make a great Christmas gift, coming in at $149.99.
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