Athlon Neos Vs Vortex Diamondback

Whether you want to look at birds or go on a hunting adventure, a quality pair of binoculars will come in handy. Two of the most popular options include the Athlon Neos and Vortex Diamondback. Read on to learn more about which product is better for your goals.

Technical Specifications

First, let’s look at the technical specifications of each product. These create the interior structure of the binoculars and determine how light filters through the system. Although it might seem minor, the technical specifications are critical to consider.

First, the Vortex Diamondback. This product has a roof prism type, which means two faces meet at the top of the structure, forming a 90-degree angle and creating a roof-like design. It reflects the image laterally to ensure the user has the best possible vision.

The Athlon Neos also has a roof prism, but this roof prism is a BAK4 type. It has the same structure as the Diamondback, but the Neos has glass made by Schott AG., a well-renowned company in the glass industry for binoculars.

Thanks to the BAK4 design, the Neos is the winner in this category. However, there aren’t too many differences in technical specifications. They are very close when considering this particular topic.

We’ve gone over the technicalities of each pair of binoculars. Now, let’s talk about the performance ability of each product to see which offers a better view.

Performance

Performance helps determine what you will see through each pair of binoculars. The better the performance ability, the higher quality of your outdoor experience will be. Let’s see how the Neos and Diamondback perform individually.

First, there are many areas where the Vortex Diamondback and Athlon Neos tie. They both have a magnification of 8x, an objective lens diameter of 32 mm, a center focus type, and an exit pupil diameter of 4 mm. However, that’s where the similarities end.

The angle of view for the Diamondback is 8.1 degrees, while the Neos offers 7.5 degrees. The Diamondback provides a field of view of 426’ @1000 yd/141.43 m @ 1000m, while the Neos sits at 393’ @ 1000 yd/130.5 m @ 1000 m.

Other sections also differ. The Vortex Diamondback has a minimum focus distance of 15.3’/1.6 m, while the Athlon Neos has one at 16.3’/5 m. The Diamondback has an eye relief of 15.6 mm, and the competing Athlon Neos has one of 13.6 mm.

Finally, the interpupillary adjustment. The Vortex Diamondback lands at 55 to 75 mm/ 2.2 to 3”, while the Athlon Neos has one of 56 to 72 mm / 2.2 to 2.8”. There is a slight difference between the two.

It’s a tight race here. However, the winner here is the Vortex Diamondback, thanks to its larger angle of view, wide field of view, lower minimum focus distance, and eye relief. It has a much better range than the Athlon Neos.

Performance is a vital aspect of a pair of binoculars. Now that we’ve declared the winner let’s discuss another critical part of this technology - the features inside the Athlon Neos and Vortex Diamondback. These will affect the ease of your adventures outside.

Features

The features help with your overall experience using each pair of binoculars, determining how well they will perform in certain environments. For binoculars, the most critical feature is the fog proof additions. What will you find in the Vortex Diamondback and Athlon Neos?

First, the Vortex Diamondback. You will find fog proof additions in the design, created by filling the capsule with argon. It’s a non-reactive gas and is even less reactive than the traditionally used nitrogen, offering a unique alternative.

Next, the Athlon Neos. This product is also fog proof, but it uses a different technique to accomplish the task. Rather than argon, the Neos uses nitrogen to prevent fog from building up on the lenses.

In this category, there is no winner. There are some differences between argon and nitrogen when filling a pair of binoculars, but it isn’t so significant that performance will be impacted. Users will enjoy using nitrogen and argon interchangeably in the Neos and Diamondback.

We’ve gone over many aspects of the Athlon Neos and Vortex Diamondback, from the interior structure to the performance abilities. We’ve determined a winner in each category. Now, it’s time to dive into our final category - the general features of each pair.

General

Finally, let’s talk about the general specifications of the product. We’ll examine the dimensions and weight of the Neos and Diamondback to see which is easier to handle and maintain while you are moving.

First, the Vortex Diamondback. This product has dimensions of 4.6 x 4.5 inches, or 11.7 x 11.4 centimeters. It weighs 15.5. Ounces, or 439.4 grams.

The Athlon Neos is next. It measures 4.9 x 4.3 inches, or 12.4 x 10.9 centimeters. The Neos weighs 19.4 ounces or 550 grams.

The winner in this category is the Vortex Diamondback, as it’s slightly smaller than the competing Athlon Neos and weighs almost four ounces less. It’s much easier to transport this product and lift it for extended periods. In terms of general specifications, the Diamondback is a top contender in the market.

We’ve examined many features and specifications related to the Neos and Diamondback. Now, it’s time for one final question. Should you pick the Athlon Neos or the Vortex Diamondback for your next pair of binoculars?

Conclusion

Both the Athlon Neos and Vortex Diamondback are excellent binoculars, but there can only be one winner. Our top pick is the Vortex Diamondback thanks to the better performance and lighter, more compact size. If you’re stuck between the two, we recommend the Diamondback.

Although there is one winner between the Athlon Neos and Vortex Diamondback, you can’t go wrong no matter which product you select. Each offers a quality viewing experience and excellent additions to ensure you get the most out of each use. A highly rated pair of binoculars will serve you well in every single outdoor adventure you go on.