Scope covers are one of those overlooked tools that all shooters should have, and all hunters should most certainly utilize. So often overlooked, the main purpose of scope covers are to protect your scope and/or scope lenses. If you have spent any amount of time sighting your scope, mounting your scope, or falling in love with your scope you'll want to protect it and give it the optimal environment for the longest life possible.
Let us not forget either that some of the best scopes, or high-quality scopes in general, can be thousands of dollars. That is a bit of an investment if you ask me, and I think most would agree with that statement. My point is this, if I were to spend any amount of money on a scope upgrade I would want to utilize any and all tools to keep it protected and pristine for many many years. I would want the best scope covers available, so long as they aren't too out of the budget of course.
So, in no particular order let us take a look at some of the best rifle scope lens covers available.
Leupold Alumina Flip Back Lens Cover
The Alumina flip back lens cover from and for Leupold scopes are undoubtedly among some of the best flip-up scope covers around. They are also among the best Leupold scope covers in general. They provide incredible protection and fit any Leupold rifle scope with a standard eyepiece and a 40mm objective lens to keep the pristine glass clean and protected before, during, and after use. Other Alumina covers are available for just about all other Leupold scope models.
These scope covers are made from the highest grade aluminum alloy for extreme protection and durability. They are also very low profile, meaning when they are open the caps can lay all the way back against the scope body so as to never be in the way or have the chance at becoming a nuisance.
Very strong neodymium magnets keep the lid securely fastened, and they feature triple O-ring seals for the absolute best protection from all the elements. They can also turn to any direction around the scope to meet your desired placement.
If you have made the investment in a gorgeous Leupold scope you will most certainly want to spend the additional few dollars and acquire the Alumina lens covers to protect your incredible scope.
ScopeShield Neoprene Scope Cover
Scope Shield is a brand that has created a universal scope cover that not only protects any kind of scope on any kind of rifle, it is also one of the best scope covers for hunting period. This is because the level of scope protection it offers is far greater than most.
The Scope Shield neoprene covers fall into the category of scope coats which wrap around the body of the scope protecting the entire object rather than just the lenses. This provides the optimal environment for the longest life.
This cover has been uniquely designed with a tighter fitting elastic at the base and a loop which goes around the stock of your rifle for versatility, durability, and ease of use. All you have to do is pull it off your scope and let it swing under the stock in front of your lead arm to hang there unnoticed until after your shot. This is extremely useful for those hunters who do more tracking or pushing and may need to be ready to shoot at any given moment. You don't have to worry about what to do with the cover once it is off.
It is made from strong, flexible, and protective neoprene and comes in both varying sizes along with a multitude of colors to fit any scope and any hunter.
With its low price, this scope cover is an absolute necessity for any shooter.
Vortex Optics Riflescope Lens Flip Cap
If you are someone who is fond of and owns a Vortex scope, and you are looking for the best scope cover for Vortex Viper PST but also don't want to break the bank, look no further than the Vortex Optics Riflescope Flip Cap. This set of lens covers are very inexpensive and offer a great deal when it comes to reliability and overall protection offered by scope caps.
The Vortex lens flip caps are made from a very durable and long lasting rubber compound which creates a secure fit that can handle an abnormal amount of wear and tear. The caps themselves fold all the way back to lay out of the way when not being utilized. You can get these in varying sizes to ensure the best fit as well. Even with such an economic price, these covers are still among the best rifle scope flip up covers.
NightForce Objective Flip-up lens caps
Also, among the best flip up scope lens covers are the NightForce Objective lens caps. This scope lens cover offers maximum protection and is arguably one of the best scope covers for NightForce optics, specifically the ATACR B.E.A.S.T.
This scope cover is made from the highest grade plastics that are unaffected by extreme weather and will not randomly detach from the scope while in the field. This is because they are designed to attach securely, fitting onto an adapter that has been screwed onto the objective lens or clamping tightly to the eyepiece lens.
They offer some of the greatest functionality including finger-pressure flip technology, the caps fold all the way back, and they can be rotated around the scope to fit any shooters desired position when not in use.
For a very reasonable price, you can optimally protect your NightForce scope and ensure lens quality for years to come.
Trijicon Tenebraex Flip Cap Set
A bit more of a specialty, the Tenebraex flip cap set is designed to protect the awesomeness of the 1-6x 24mm VCOG riflescope from Trijicon which has become the staple scope for military combat and even certain police force personnel and/or divisions. This unique flip cap cover set has been designed with combat in mind.
It is made from an antireflective strong polymer for maximum durability without ever risking a position giveaway from random light reflection. On that same note, it also features the unique honeycomb filter to disperse light and also prevent additional reflections which may come off the objective lens.
The cap is designed to fit very securely but offers enough mobility so it can be rotated to any desired position. Additionally, they feature a "locking" ability so when they are not being used there's no chance they could flip up, flip closed, or become dislodged.
These lens caps are a must own for all Trijicon VCOG scope owners.
The Importance of Scope Covers
Even though today's scope manufacturers are outfitting their scopes with lenses that are much more durable and scratch resistant than ever before, it is always a good idea to take extra precautions in regards to protection. The lenses may be coated and stronger than the old glass they used in the past but they can still get marked up and they can still accumulate unwanted materials that impede vision.
You don't want to sight in your rifle and bring it home only to sit uncovered for two weeks until deer season like I've seen so many do (I'm guilty too). Then the next time you look through the lens is when you run into a buck. As you go to find it in your sights you're distracted by the fuzz and skin cells we dust that had two whole weeks to gather on your scope lenses.
An easy wipe sure, but consider your arrival back at home from a day at the range or especially from a day in the woods. You don't have scope caps and haven't for some time. Always, you would just wipe them with a lens cloth and all was fine. You sit down and break out the gun cleaning kit. You get to the scope and take all the proper care and precautions to ensure cleanliness.
Yet, what you didn't know is around the outer edges micro material has built up and when you wipe this time you actually smear this build up of material around and scratch the outer rim of the lens. Now, I understand it would probably take longer then a couple weeks for this build up to occur but it proves my point; why not just prevent any or all damage if possible.
As a shooter of any degree, be you a hunter, a competition shooter, a recreational shooter, or simply exercising your second amendment right while you can (in the U.S), everything you do to ensure the quality of your rifle/scope is directly represented in the overall life of your firearm and the accuracy of your shot. This includes scope protection just as much as it includes rifle cleanliness. All the things you do to clean, protect, and maintain your firearm correlate to you having a better overall shot.
Again if nothing else convinces you, think of all the money and potential hassle you'll save yourself if you just invest in a good scope cover.
Hopefully this has helped you find the best scope covers and that are right for you. Thanks for reading!
