Maven Rangefinder CRF1 Review

One of my favorite hunting brands as of late is Maven based out of Lander, Wyoming. These guys clearly know a thing or two about filling tags while hunting and it’s evident in the technology and optic quality they are putting out for the hunting and even golfing communities. I have had the absolute please of testing out the Maven CRF1 Rangefinder with a whopping range out to 2400 yards.

CRF.1 – 6×22 | 5-2400 YD

Elk hunting involves lots of time glassing hillsides many times at far off distances. In the past my trusted Bushnell Rangefinder would hit a limit and I wouldn’t be able to clearly make out the shape of sex of the animals I was hunting when pushed out past 600 yards or so. When I got the Maven Optics CRF1 to test, the ability for me to see way out past what I had in the past was apparent from the first time I used the Rangefinder.

Now can I hold the target at 2400 yards or really need to? The answer to that is no. Most of the elk I have shot over the years have been in the 150-400 yard range. What I did notice was the optics were really clear and even when pushing out past 500 yards to see I didn’t get the bounce that is found with other optics.

This was my second time testing Maven hunting gear here in the Tetons and I can say with all honesty it will be the gear I turn to first when it comes to optics. When you are tracking moving herds across giant public land basins, your rangefinders and spotters are a critical asset. Ensuring your glass can pull in low-light details and measure target distances instantly is why we rank premium optics at the very top of our complete matrix of the best hunting gear for serious western big game tags.

Hunting Early Mornings / Low Light Conditions

What I really like about this Rangefinder in the early morning hours, just at legal light or before is the amount of light that comes through. Compared to my trusted binoculars, the ability to see with Maven’s optics is much more defined. So I on numerous occasions find myself opting for my Maven Rangefinder over my binos.

Maven Rangefinder Size

One thing to note about this compact yet powerful rangefinder is it’s size. The Maven CRF1 is almost twice the size of my past Vortex rangefinder. This might be due to to the optics and ability to allow more light in when needed. At 4.3 in. x 2.9 in. x 1.9 in. the CRF1 Rangefinder can still fit in your binocular chest harness, it just might get a little tight. But with that tradeoff comes a seriouslly powerful piece of hunting gear.

Wyoming Based

Not all hunting is created equal, and when it comes to hunting big game in the rocky mountains, specially Wyoming you need to be a pretty bad ass hunter. Your optics and your eyes are the one of the most important aspects or hunting, along with your ears.  It’s clear to me the Maven employees actually use the gear they promote. Do extensive R&D development by simply walking out their backdoor and being able to get eyes on animals in the field, not in a lab.

Maven Pricing

Maven sells direct to consumer which really cuts down on the cost of these optics to the consumer. Good glass ain’t cheap but Maven has figured out a way to limit the cost by essentially limiting their supply chain. What’s cool is when you call up the company you actually get good ole boys and girls in Wyoming that hunt, and hunt hard.

Other Rangefinders of this quality sell between $500-$1,500 and yet Maven comes in under half the price of the other industry leaders.

Test Before You Buy and Warranty

Maven is wanting to create fans / customers that will support the brand for the lifetimes. One of the cool things about the brand is they will let you actually try the products your using for 2 weeks risk free. They send you a lightly used pair of optics and you can see just for yourself how good their gear is. Clearly they understand once you try you will buy.

Then it comes to the warranty, Maven offers a lifetime warranty on their products. Hunters can and are known to be hard on their gear, so this just makes Maven stand out again amongst the bigger players in the optics industry.

Maven Rangefinder CRF1 Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Clear optics for long-range viewing
• Excellent performance in low light conditions
• Compact and powerful design

Cons:

• Considerably larger than some competitors
• Slightly tight fit in binocular chest harness
• Larger size may impact portability

Overall Impression

Maven, just do it. The Maven CRF1 Rangefinder ($295.00) is one of the best of the best for long range hunters. The brand will be the next “Sitka” in terms of familiarity and popularity within the big game hunting crowd. Whether your a bow or rifle hunter or even golfer there is surely something in the Maven line for everybody. Thanks Maven, you helped me score a great cow elk last year with your spotting scope and I’m confident the latest bit of hunting gear will allow me to hunt farther, smarter and bring great success in the field. Finding animals is almost as fun as shooting them….

Teton Tested: The Essential Hunting Ecosystem

• The 30 Best Hunting Gear Picks – Our master field audit of the absolute best clothing, backcountry packs, trail cameras, and predator-country survival tools.
• Best Cold Weather Hunting Boots – Our technical vetting of mountain footwear, covering insulation tracking, support under heavy loads, and waterproof membranes.
• Best Hunting & Camping Knives – Our hands-on review of fixed and folding blades evaluated for edge retention, steel hardness, and field-dressing performance.
• Best Elk Hunting Electric Bikes – Our definitive mountain guide to high-torque e-mobility, payload capacities, and silent backcountry transport.