Vortex has established itself among the top optics brands in the outdoor industry by consistently producing high-quality products for prices that are much less than other premium brands. The Vortex Ranger series of products have been greatly improved over the course of the last few years.

The Vortex Ranger 1800 is billed to be all about precision and efficiency and users have often raved about the price, which is significantly less than most of the other most popular rangefinder brands. As the name suggests, the Vortex Ranger 1800 is able to range targets out to 1800 yards.

Vortex Ranger 1800 Rangefinder Review

A closer look at this product reveals why many users believe the Vortex Ranger 1800 is arguably one of the best rangefinders on the market for 2021.

Range Ability

This rangefinder is able to accurately range items out to 1800 yards, however, most rangefinders can’t actually range full-size targets out to the distance they’re advertised to. Vortex’s ability to range targets out to 1800 yards is based on highly-reflective targets.

For hunting, you can expect to be able to range deer-sized objects out to about 900 yards, or just a bit further.

Users have reported that the Vortex Ranger 1800 is capable of ranging targets comfortably out to about 800 yards, but that the overall maximum distance is significantly decreased in low-light conditions.

At dawn or dusk, most users report that this rangefinder has a maximum range out to about 650 yards. Taking this into account, this is still a distance that many hunters will be satisfied with in most cases.

Features

One of the most common complaints of premium rangefinders in the last few years is that companies are trying to make the device overly complicated by adding too many features or creating an interface that’s much harder to use than the older models.

The Vortex Ranger 1800 is a welcome change from those models as it offers an intuitive user display and menu.

Having a rangefinder with built-in angle compensation is a very important feature for hunters who expect to commonly take shots from hillsides or across valleys at longer ranges.

This model features a Horizontal Component Distance (HCD) mode that displays specific horizontal distance for more precise shooting at various angles. This feature becomes a huge advantage for anyone using this rangefinder on hunting expeditions, or others who might have the need to take shots at different angles.

This ability to compensate for angles is also a big advantage to bowhunters who typically shoot their targets from high in the trees.

The Vortex Ranger 1800 is capable of providing up to 15 to 30 degrees for shots inside 400 yards, and angle compensation of 15 degrees for shots at distances of 800 yards or more, which is ideal for rifle shooting on hills and mountainous areas.

For high angle shots, the specific calculation needs to be as precise as possible. To help with this, the Vortex Ranger 1800 also features a Line of Sight (LOS) mode that assists with shots inside 500 yards that have an angle of more than 15 degrees.

Using HCD or LOS mode, users are able to scan across a landscape and range various targets by using the rangefinder’s “Scan Mode” which works to continuously scan different objects for a few seconds at a time.

Overall Construction

As with all other Vortex products, users can expect to find a surprisingly well-made model considering the price is significantly lower than other top brands on the market for 2021.

The rangefinder is made with a rubberized armor coating that helps to protect it against any scenarios where dropping or jarring it could damage the interior components. It has a fully weatherproof housing which prevents most wetness and moisture from making its way inside the product.

The rubberized armor also helps to provide users with a better grip while using the Vortex Ranger 1800 so it won’t be prone to slipping out of your hands when you need to get ready to take a shot.

Many users have reported that this rangefinder outperforms all others when it comes to functioning in rain, fog, snow, or any other condition.

Mounting and Handling

One of the most important components of any good rangefinder is how easily it is able to mount to a tripod or other device that is aimed at helping users stabilize their device while it is in use.

This rangefinder has a seemingly simple, yet revolutionary addition of a belt clip which can be used to clip the rangefinder to a belt, or any other type of strap to allow the user to have quick access to this important tool.

The Vortex Ranger 1800 is also fitted with a universal tripod mount thread that allows users to place this rangefinder on any standard tripod.

This is a welcome addition as most premium models require the user to also purchase an adaptor mount to be used with any type of tripod, which is not only costly, but frustrating.

Conclusion

Among a field of very useful, capable rangefinders in 2021, the Vortex Ranger 1800 emerges as one with the highest value of any other type of long-range model.

It offers exceptional features for a price point of around $450 in most cases. This model is made with fully multi-coated lenses that are scratch resistant and won’t easily fog up when you need to rely on them.

Users will also appreciate that the Ranger 1800 comes with a lifetime warranty that is said to be among the best in the industry as many users have had great experiences when they needed to take advantage of the warranty.

Overall, this rangefinder is an outstanding model that should be a clear choice for users who want to get their hands on a great product without having to spend a small fortune to do so.