Explore the Best Scope Covers for Optimum Protection

The Top Scope Covers Reviewed

Gun scope covers are for more than just looks—they are important pieces of equipment that keep your scope in good condition.

Not only do these covers keep dirt and grime off of your lens, they keep it from getting scratched.

We compiled a list of 5 great scope covers that should be more than adequate in protecting your scope and enhancing its durability.

Here’s Our Top Pick

Vortex Optics Rifle Scope Covers

Why is it better?

  • Keeps your scope clean from dirt, dust, and debris
  • Made of quiet, waterproof neoprene
  • Finger loop on end provides fast and easy on/off

5 Best Scope Covers

With that in mind, let’s now take a closer look at our top picks.

Let’s dive into the specifics and review each scope cover individually. You can use the list below to jump and review specific models, or you can read along and go through all the information.

Best Overall: Vortex Optics Rifle Scope Covers

Vortex makes a ton of products centered around firearm care, and their riflescope cover doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.

This case fits most scopes from 14” up to 15.5”, and if that’s not enough, there are three additional sizes that scale up for larger scopes.

Fully weatherproof and stretchy to fit over your scope with ease, this cover protects from dust, debris, dirt, and grime regardless of how long you keep it in storage.

If you’re interested in finding out which scopes this works best for, the sales page has information about specific scope sizes.

Pros

  • Keeps your scope clean from dirt, dust, and debris
  • Made of quiet, waterproof neoprene
  • Finger loop on end provides fast and easy on/off

Cons

  • To short with sun shade attached

Product Information

  • Weight: 10.58 lbs
  • Dimensions: Different sizes
  • Type: Full Scope Cover
  • Made For: Fits most riflescopes measuring 9 – 11.5 inches in length

Features

  • Good price
  • Different sizes

Vortex Optics Rifle Scope Flip Caps

No products found.

Flip-up covers protect from more damage than your typical pull-over cap (e.g. simple baggy neoprene covers), and Vortex makes a pretty excellent scope cap that takes care of most incoming damage to your scope lens.

This fits all but a single Vortex riflescope and holds a stainless steel spring for different positions to help you out when you need it.

Everything about the defender is durable, including the sturdy hinge.

Where most flip caps don’t stay in place properly, this pops open perfectly time and time again without issue.

Use the cap in multiple directions, where 45° or 90°, or anything in between.

Pros

  • Staunch durability (virtually indestructible)
  • A stainless steel spring
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Not a secure fit

Product Information

  • Weight: 0.1 lbs
  • Dimensions: Different sizes
  • Type: Objective Flip Cap
  • Made For: Fits all Vortex Riflescopes EXCEPT the 1-inch tube Viper model VPR-M-01BDC, VPR-M-04BDC and VPR-M-03BDC

Features

  • Multiple stop positions at 45 and 90 degrees
  • Objective-24 fits

ScopeGuard Alaska Neoprene Scope Covers

ScopeGuard Alaska Neoprene Scope Covers
  • Painstakingly Made Only By US Army Veterans In the USA!
  • Instant Field Release, Yet Keeper Loop Retains It On the Rifle Out Of...
  • Keeps Lenses Clean, Clear and Dry To The Instant of Shot Opportunity.

Pulls over the scope easily, protects it from all harm.

It’s not just about impact resistance with ScopeGuard; it’s about long-term storage and keeping your lens free from dust and debris.

The reason that’s important is that dust can get behind the front lens and get trapped in the prism. That’s not a good thing.

Pull the bottom strap over the barrel of your rifle, and slip the stretchy cover over the entire scope.

It’s a simple application that comes at a fairly average price, and you can choose multiple sizes from 10-12” up to 16-19”. Select basic black or digital camo.

Pros

  • Painstakingly made only by US Army Veterans in the USA
  • Instant field release
  • Simple design

Cons

  • Very thin

Product Information

  • Weight: 0.2 lbs
  • Dimensions: Different sizes
  • Type: Full Scope Cover
  • Made For: Fits most riflescopes 8-19 in long

Features

  • Great fit
  • Easy on, easy off

Monstrum Flip-Up Rifle Scope Lens Cover

Monstrum Rifle Scope Lens Covers
  • Rubberized flip-up rifle scope lens covers that conform tightly around...
  • IMPORTANT: Sizing is not based on the objective lens size of your...
  • Each package includes one Rubberized Flip-Up Lens Cover

Flip-up cover caps are excellent, especially when they’re built from a hardener rubber like this one. Fit this tightly around the tube of your scope and let it do its thing.

As one of the most inexpensive options on our list, it comes with stipulations. There are plenty of sizes available, but you’ll notice some gaps in certain sizing.

The steek pin keeps this rigid, so when you flip it open it’s not going to just fall back down and seal it.

It can be a bit of a tight fit, but this flip cover gets the job done, and protects from dust, debris, and scratches.

Pros

  • Protecting your lenses from dust and abrasion
  • Flip-up mechanism pops open effortlessly when needed and securely tightly when not in use
  • Each package includes one Rubberized Flip-Up Lens Cover

Cons

  • Rubber splitting

Product Information

  • Weight: 0.1 lbs
  • Dimensions: Different sizes
  • Type: Objective Flip Cap
  • Made For: Fit any riflescope

Features

  • Great fit
  • Good price

Butler Creek Flip-Open Eye-Piece Scope Cover

Sale
Butler Creek Rifle Scope Cover
  • Truly ambidextrous, silent spring hinges won't spook game
  • Instant action lids pop open at the touch of a thumb
  • Performs from 40 to 120 Degrees F, weighs less than an ounce

Ultra cheap and built to last, Butler Creek’s o-ring seal has won over many gun-owning crowds because it simply works very well.

There’s a lot of sizes to choose from, and that’s because it’s going to be a very tight fit when you get it. You might have some finagling to do after it arrives.

Grab onto either side of the cap to pull backwards and pop up the plastic. The pin is a little loose but does its job.

Basically, this is a storage cover, not one that you would keep on a scope and bring out into the field for use.

Pros

  • Truly ambidextrous silent spring hinges won’t spook game
  • Instant action lids pop open at the touch of a thumb
  • Performs from 40 to 120 Degrees F and weighs less than an ounce

Cons

  • To short with sun shade attached

Product Information

  • Weight: 0.05 lbs
  • Dimensions: Different sizes
  • Type: Objective Flip Cap
  • Made For: Need to read Measurement Guide to find the correct model

Features

  • Available in a range of sizes
  • Weigh less than 30g
  • Butler Creek also offers multiflex flip-open scope covers that protects even in the most extreme conditions, while keeping dust and moisture out.

What To Look For When Buying A Scope Cover

Material

Scope cover advantages

We talked a lot about nylon and rubber versus polyester and neoprene. Now it’s going to come down to your preference.

Rubber caps can be used in the field, but pull-on covers are just another item you need to put in your backpack on your trip. It’s more weight.

We recommend going with rubber caps for your most-used gun, so you can take it with you when you go hunting, and pull-on covers for those that see less action.

This also gives you the opportunity to test out each cover type and see what you like best.

Size

Just looking at the sheer number of sizes that some of these offers is enough to make your head spin.

Pull-on covers come in about a half-dozen sizes to accommodate most scopes, but rubber caps are far more specific in sizing. They’re sometimes even specific to the unique curve of the lens on certain gun brands.

Getting the right cap can be tricky, so know your measurements before going into this.

User Rating

It’s always helpful to look at user ratings and see where people stand. It’s a bit of fun as well.

Pick out the good reviews: the ones that are written thoroughly with proper grammar and spelling (which shows attention to detail and shows you intelligible reviews), and avoid those that are strictly critical without being constructive in some way.

Pin Strenght

For rubber caps, the steel pin that allows you to flip it up is pretty important.

Some pins are flimsy, so you’ll have to pull the cover up all the way and just let it sit there. Other pins are sturdy, and wherever your move the cap to, that’s where it’s going to stay.

Pins can also get loose with age, but it’s best to start with a sturdy pin from the start. It always helps if they are made from stainless steel, to begin with, as they usually prove more sturdy and durable over time.

Why Do You Need A Scope Cover?

Using Scope Cover

There are two main reasons, that is, two times where you’d need a cover to help carry you through. That’s during use and for storage purposes. That’s why there are pull-over covers and flip caps.

For use, flip-back cap covers help you out during hunting. Most of them are weatherproof due to the natural rubber seal they create. This keeps water out, which helps with anti-fogging.

You can keep these flip-up scope covers on your scope even when you bring it out in the wilderness. They’ll protect the scope until the second you’re ready to use it. Some of them even come with neodymium magnets that keep them tightly shut to prevent being accidentally opened.

If you’re carrying your rifle over your back, this is going to be a major help.

Hunting for whitetail in the early morning is how you bag more games every season. But early morning hunting means humidity, mist, and fog.

Fogging on your lens can damage it almost beyond repair because the humidity is getting trapped inside the lens. This produces mold, but it can also damage or block the prism behind that front lens. This is why it’s very important to buy and keep a watertight scope cover on you at all times.

These are also good for storage, but definitely better suited for field use. They prevent scratches and simple wear-and-tear while you’re hunting.

Then you have pull-over covers that are mostly used for storage. These tend to be a little more expensive, but that’s because they protect the entire scope.

Instead of buying a cap for the front and back of the lens, this just covers it all for you. You can use these for long-term storage to prevent scratching and dust buildup over time.

These prevent your adjustment dial from getting damaged as well, so you’ll spend less time using a laser bore sighter to right your aim.

Best Material For Scope Covers

Holding Scope Guard

Rubber is usually the best, because it prevents a ton of issues from cropping up.

Waterproofing is always a good idea, regardless of what you’re applying it to, but with scope covers, it’s especially important. Rubber also doesn’t break down with age like some cloth materials do.

The reasoning is this: you should have these scope covers for the rest of your life, so why get something that’s going to degrade over time?

Then you have neoprene, nylon, polyester, and poly blends. These are all solid choices as well, especially if you commonly purchase and trade weapons.

If you’re like me and you go to weapons shows all the time, then you might trade in your rifle for an upgrade or something you’ve never had before. At that point, you might need a different size cover.

Rubber caps are made very specifically, but nylon and neoprene covers (and the like) are made with a bit of elasticity to them. They have a range that they can stretch, making them more versatile.

Some of them, though, don’t stretch. This especially applies to those made out of alumina. However, they provide a bit more sturdiness with less flexibility.

You’re not going to give away a scope cover with your gun trade-in or sale, so if you have one of these, you can hold onto it with a pretty good chance that it will fit your next scope as well.

How Can You Damage Your Scope?

Bad Scope Cover

There are a few ways. First of all, scratches on your ocular are going to ruin a perfectly good scope in no time. Even if you get a scratch-resistant lens, it’s still not guaranteed.

That could put you out a few hundred dollars. Not to mention that scratch damages are virtually never covered under warranty. Yes, you can get that one lens replaced, but it’s still going to cost you a pretty penny, plus shipping times if you can’t find a shop near you to handle it.

Additionally, storing your scope means putting it in a dust-filled spot where a ton of debris is going to form on top of it. That’s also bad.

Dust can get into the prism of your scope and cause visual problems, which is the last thing you want.

Scope damage can also occur at the windage and elevation dials. These are susceptible to being altered by slight movements, whether that’s dropping them or knocking into them.

Last but not least, you’re also a threat to your own scope. All it takes is a slip while removing it from the gun rack to seriously damage it.

Covering And Storing Your Scope

If your scope is attached to your gun and you’re putting it away, try to hang the gun horizontally. This will result in the least amount of dust buildup on the top of a rubber flip-up cap.

For full covers, you can rest your guns horizontally or vertically since they’re fully covered. But what about those additional scopes that are just lying around? Well, these covers we’ve discussed today are just for mounted scopes.

You could put rubber caps on unmounted scopes, but that’s only protecting part of them. We want to keep them safe and free from dust and debris. This is where some DIY ingenuity comes into play.

Purchase a simple plastic case, as you’d find on a medium-sized first-aid kit. You can usually find these online or at stores for five dollars or less. Next, get some black foam cushioning, similar to the kind you see in gun storage cases.

You’re going to use two pieces of this. Lay one on the bottom of the case. You might have to use a utility knife to shape the edges to fit in properly. Take the time to do this properly.

Next, take the other piece and lay it on a flat surface. Place your scopes on them with about 1-1.5” of clearance between them. Now you’re going to mark exact outlines for these scopes, and then use your knife to cut into the foam. Cut all the way through.

Lay this on top of the other piece, and now you have a comfortable cushion for your scopes. You can also attach other full pieces of foam to the opposite side of the case’s interior to keep things steady, so you don’t have to keep the case horizontal at all times.

Scope Cover Maintenance

Holding Rifle Scope

There are a few things you absolutely need to do in order to properly care for your scope.

The first thing is to make sure you have a quality scope ring, and that it’s secured beyond the shadow of a doubt.

When you fire your gun, vibration and kickback loosen these rings, which then misaligns your sight.

Once you’ve secured your scope, you also need to align your scope with a certain distance for shooting. The best way to do this is with a laser bore sighter.

Keep it tight, keep it aligned, and you already know to keep it covered at this point. That’s really all there is to it. If your alignment is still failing or you’re noticing issues with vision (fogged prism), do what you can to DIY it.

If you can’t figure it out, bring it to a gunsmith or a repair shop for further analysis. The worst thing you can do is let a problem sit and stew for too long.

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