Patrik Orcutt 01.18.24
Leupold, a renowned name in the world of optics, has a rich history that spans over a century. Established in 1907 by German immigrant Markus Friedrich “Fred” Leupold and his brother-in-law, Adam Voelpel, in Beaverton, Oregon, the company initially focused on repairing survey equipment. However, their expertise soon expanded into crafting precision optics, and by the 1940s, Leupold became a key contributor to the U.S. war effort by producing rifle scopes for the military. Over the years, Leupold has continued to innovate, setting industry standards for optical performance and durability. Today, the company holds its quality and reliability in high regards, with a diverse range of products catering to hunters, sports shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Today we will be looking over the RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2, a small and inexpensive rangefinder with big performance.
Leupold Coverage on AllOutdoor
The Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Rangefinder was sent to me by Leupold for this review and while I am allowed to keep this rangefinder indefinitely, this will not change my current or future opinion on any Leupold products. I have been using this rangefinder for the past 6 months while hunting and general daily carry. I find it fun to have a rangefinder in your pack when your buddy starts guessing how far away boats and mountains are (especially when a free beer goes to the winner). I also brought the RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 to the tactical games this past September in North Carolina and used it to range targets prior to a few of the stages.
Specs – Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Laser Rangefinder
- Magnification Level: 5x
- Archery Angle Compensation: Bow Mode
- Length: 4″
- Width: 1.4″
- Height: 3″
- Weight: 5.1 Oz
- Eye Relief: 18.3mm
- Accuracy to 1,000 Yards: 2 Yards
- Max Range – Deer: 900 Yards
- Max Range – Trees: 1,200 Yards
- Max Range – Reflective: 1,400 Yards
- MSRP: $199.99
Quality and Construction – Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Laser Rangefinder
One of the first things I noticed about this rangefinder when I picked it up is just how lightweight it is. coming in at only 5.1 ounces this rangefinder is truly pocketable and sometimes you will forget you even have it on you. I appreciate this as the last thing I want to do is lug around heavy gear when I don’t have to and with this rangefinder being so light it becomes something I’m always going to take with me because there’s really no reason not to. Part of the reason the RX 1400i TBR/W Gen 2 is so light is due to its all-polymer constructed housing. Some people might look at that as a negative, but I feel that it is a positive in regards to usability and do you really need an aluminum-bodied rangefinder? Personally, I haven’t had the need yet.
The grip on the housing for your hands is rubberized and has good traction, while all of the buttons are also rubberized, and have a good tactile, feel and audible quick when pressing them. The battery compartment is easy to access, making battery swaps, quick and easy in the field. This rangefinder does feature an adjustable diopter for your eyes so you can adjust the picture until you get a nice crisp visual on your target. There’s also a small lanyard strap on the back of the rangefinder so you can clip it to your kit and have it dangle around your neck if desired. This is a very well-constructed rangefinder.
Performance – Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Laser Rangefinder
I used the 1400i TBR/W Gen 2 quite a bit this past hunting season and also at the tactical games for ranging targets. The lettering inside and the radical are large and easy to read giving you your yardage and your battery life with a simple click of the button on top of the device. While this rangefinder is rated out to a max range of 1400 yards. I never had a chance to measure it out that far in practical circumstances, but it is fun to use this device to range, mountains and trees, while moving around in the woods.
This rangefinder does feature a bow mode that is used to calculate the distance of an angled shot based on the ballistic equivalent to the target for uphill or downhill shooting. This will prove very useful for the avid bowhunters out there, but something I will probably never end up using. This rangefinder also features a last target mode which ensures that the device will read the furthest target in the path of the laser so that you don’t have grass and twigs interfering with your range while in a concealed position. This is an amazing feat in my opinion and really saves me a lot of time from moving around and possibly exposing myself to get a good range on a target.
There are some selectable radicals on this device, but I did not mess around with any of them as I think the standard radical is best. The battery life on this device I believe is rated out to 4000 hours and after a season’s worth of use my battery is still reading three bars. I think the performance on this little device is really impressive and it has a really robust feature set.
Likes
- Priced very well
- Great set of Features
- Lightweight
Dislikes
- The reticle can be too bright in low-light conditions
Wrap up – Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Laser Rangefinder
Overall, I think the 1400i TBR/W Gen 2 rangefinder is an incredible bang for your buck. It comes packed with an array of features at a price point that pretty much everyone can afford. It’s always nice when you’re out critical shots at a target or game to know the exact approximate distance to them. This device allows you to have much better ballistic, and calculating information and it fits in the palm of your hand and it weighs next to nothing. I can wholeheartedly recommend the RX- 1400i TBR/W Gen 2 to anybody who is an avid hunter, hiker, or golfer.
