Sig Kilo 10k Gen 2 Review Part III
Other Features
Two other features worth mentioning that carry over from the 8k and the gen 1 are the mapping integration and the continued Kestrel connection. The mapping integration itself is unchanged, however OnX has jumped onboard now, which is a pretty big development as they continue to be the most popular navigation app at the moment. Basemap was an original participant and I believe Gohunt may also offer the integration, though I am not certain if that has been implemented in their app yet. Regardless, the mapping app allows you to range a point and, in connection with your app, drop a pin on your map as to where that point is. The benefit for marking distant game for retrieval is obvious, but with the incredible power that the 10k offers for ranging, it is useful for general navigating as well. There is one caveat, however. I have now tested the mapping integration on 4 or 5 different devices from several manufacturers and have found it to be somewhat inconsistent. That is, in some cases, like when I first tested it, I found it to drop that pin very close to where you ranged. However, with subsequent testing at different locations, this is definitely not the case, and the amount of error seems to change. For example, in once case, I tested my 8k, and it was pretty much dead on. Later, I took it and an RF from Vortex to another location and (after recalibrating both compasses), found that both RF’s were off by about 15% in terms of distance….both, more or less, in the same direction. Doing more testing, I have found this to be the case, sometimes the placement is right on, sometimes not, and it seems to be present across all the manufacturers lines I have tested. I spent a bit of time talking to one of Vortex’s engineers on this, and have talked with Sig’s guys as well….ultimately, it probably comes down to the capability of the compasses in these devices. They’re just too small and limited to be spot-on accurate with current technology. All that is to say, when it comes to the mapping function, I still find it very useful, but not in the way I originally hoped. For example, I would not range a spot across the canyon to see if that spot was inside or outside some imminently close private. I just have not found it to be reliable enough for that. In terms of finding downed game, I think it’s good enough for that, but you may have to circle a bit if the distance that the reading was taken was quite far. Still, it will get you in pretty close, if not right on the spot.
The other feature worth mentioning is that Sig continues to offer Kestrel bluetooth connection, as they have on the 8k and the gen 1. As mentioned, the 10k has full AB onboard and all the requisite sensors to make that work, but Kestrels with AB do have more capabilities and, I think, better sensors (particularly when considering temperature). For dedicated long range shooters and other competitors, connecting to a Kestrel might make sense for the extra features, particularly when considering wind entry. Nevertheless, while I still carry my Kestrel as a backup, I really don’t use it much other than for taking a wind reading if I have time, which I then manually enter. For me, in most hunting situations, I really don’t have the time to be connecting to a Kestrel in most cases, and I really don’t feel the need to, but it’s nice to have the option.
Warranty
The final big change to note is concerning Sig’s warranty. This is something I have heard a lot of questions on over the years, and I suppose Sig heard the same. In the past, it was lifetime on the optics and 5 years on the electronics. However, they have changed that policy and now offer full lifetime coverage on both the bino itself and the electronics, so everything is covered. This makes sense considering people are paying specifically to have an RF and bino combination. If the RF breaks in 5 years, you have basically lost your investment even if the bino still works. Consequently, I have seen a lot of people bring up the warranty in the past who wanted more extensive coverage considering the investment, so this was a good move on Sig’s part.
Summary
With the opportunity to iterate on the original 10k’s, the 10k gen 2 is a solid improvement over the original and a well developed and thought out tool. No RF I have tested (yet!) has checked every box, there seems to always be just a few things left on the table, but the 10k’s are very close, all things considered. That is not to say there are not places for improvement, but overall, the gen 2 is pretty impressive.
Starting with the strengths:
Ranging capability has to be on top. The 10k is just incredible. Both the gen 1 and gen 2 I have tested extensively and I have no complaints here. In good conditions and bad, nothing I have tested has come close to the power and speed of the 10k’s. Keep in mind, testing has been in real-world conditions through several hunting seasons (combined gen 1 and 2). Of all the 10k’s attributes, this is the one I would say where they cleared the table, no complaints.
The addition of the wind buttons for direct access to those settings is a really nice addition. It is well executed and is a substantive addition, despite not being able to implement it as completely as on the Vortex Fury’s. Overall, it was a good decision on Sig’s part to make that change.
The display is actually a big strength, particularly because you can align the sensor to the reticle. But in addition, the great information it provides, the configurability, and even the useful compass headings always being available make the display a substantive attribute.
I would also place the optics on this list, not so much because they are tier one level, but because they are a significant improvement compared to those in the 8k or the gen 1. So the mention here is really a nod to the improvement Sig was able to achieve verses them being the biggest weakness in the gen 1’s. In balance, while not top tier, they are respectable and in using them throughout this season, I never felt like I was at a disadvantage, whereas with the gen 1, I definitely struggled in low light conditions.
Compared to some other RF binos, the 10k’s are quite compact. Sig changed things up verses the gen 1’s, and I think from an ergonomic perspective, it was a step up. I was also using them alongside a set of Leica Pro’s this season, and the size difference was pretty noticeable. While I did not weigh either of them, the Sigs felt lighter as well. Overall, the package is really nice, and I find them well shaped for long glassing periods.
As I mentioned, no one ever seems to ‘clear the table’. The reality is that no product is without it’s ‘room for improvement’ list, and the 10k is no exception, though the last is more of a ‘wish they would’.
Areas for Improvement:
While the display is awesome, and I am so pleased they were able to resolve the color cast issue with the optics, as I mentioned, my unit suffered noticeable ghosting of the AMOLED screen in low light situations that did make seeing and ranging targets in very low light more difficult, at least for me. Its not that I couldn’t, but it was just not as easy because I had to concentrate more on what my right eye was seeing in order to align the reticle and the target. This is likely due to changes they had to make to the brightness of that screen due to the change in the coatings. While I wish it was not the case, it is not a deal breaker for me as I was still able to utilize the RF in low light, but it made it more challenging, so it’s something I hope they can address in the future.
Lens covers. I mentioned this in the 3k review I did, noted it when I got the 10 gen 1’s, and it’s still the case with the gen 2’s. Sig is pretty generous with what they send in the box, but in my opinion, the most important item is missing. I want covers for the lenses….especially for the objectives as the distance from the glass to the end of the barrel is very short, making the risk of getting scratches or damage that much higher. I have not seen any on Sig’s site, nor any from a third party so far. I even went as far as trying a set that I got from Vortex, but that did not work out that well. So Sig, please, lens covers. These are high dollar binos, they absolutely deserve a good set of lens covers to protect them from the twigs and dirt that inevitably build up at the bottom of our bino harnesses during season!
And finally, more of a want rather than a weakness are the optics. Yes, I did mention the improvement over the gen 1’s as a strength, and also acknowledge that I’m actually pretty happy with them, but I’d love to see these with their best possible glass. I know that they are trying to stay at a price point and it is not just a matter of slapping in a couple of higher end pieces of glass….but if they could swing it, I think these would be just about perfect with a glass upgrade. Of course, then I’d probably be complaining about the price, so maybe I should be careful about what I ask for.
As it is, the actual weakness list is pretty short, really just the one issue with the ghosting in low light. If Sig were able to put their highest end glass in the 10k….they’d come pretty close to finally clearing that table I keep mentioning, although that change might end up clearing out some wallets. As it is, the ranging is top drawer in every way, the display is innovative in an actually useful manner as opposed to empty marketing, the form factor makes them really nice to carry and use in the field, and they are packed with just about every technological advance that I am aware that exists in the RF field at the moment. I’ve not tried the Vectronix and Gunwerks offerings yet, so very interested to see how they stack up, but at the moment, these have finally displaced my Zeiss FL’s from my harness. Though the glass on the FL’s is objectively better, the difference is not causing me to miss things with the 10k’s that I can see with the FL’s and is outweighed by everything else the 10k’s bring to my hunting setup. Not that the FL’s are going anywhere, I just enjoy using them too much, but while hunting, where a bino/rf combo makes sense, for me, the 10k’s get the nod.
