Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized Rangefinder Review - Premium Performance in Every Category

The new Nikon Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized laser rangefinder differentiates itself from the pack with premium performance and technology in every feature category.

From optics to accuracy, and speed to range, if you're looking for one of the best rangefinders money can buy in 2021, the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized will absolutely spoil you.

The Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized is the second version of the Pro Stabilized line Nikon has designed, and it's worth touching on a few simple but welcome changes before getting into the features that matter most.

First, the body of the rangefinder is slightly narrower and longer.  For most, this will mean a more comfortable, easier fit in your hand.  Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized is just more ergonomic. 

Nikon also added more rubber texturing and grip area on the top and bottom of the Pro ii Stabilized compared to the original.  The rubber texture also feels like there's more grain to it, which gives you a surer grip in wet or humid conditions.

The Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized carrying care is more padded on the inside, more durable on the outside, and even has a stronger magnet.  What case you get with your rangefinder is not something likely to sway anyone one way or another, but a clear improvement nevertheless.

 

These changes are nice, but the real upgrades to the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized rangefinder come in the performance improvements, and there are definitely a few.

Interestingly I didn't see anything about upgraded optics on the Nikon home page.  But it's very clear they did something to make the Pro ii Stabilized lens better.

 

I took my old Pro Stabilized out and compared it to the new Pro Stabilized ii, and the new display is more vibrant.  Greens are more green, whites more white, reds more red.  I don't know if Nikon is using a new lens or new coating, but it's immediately apparent Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized takes crispness, contrast, and vibrancy up a notch.

Improved Hyper Read technology is also something not mentioned in the manual or on the Nikon site as being upgraded, but I swear getting measurements has never been so instantaneous.  Call it lightning fast, insanely fast, blink of an eye fast, whatever you want.  I'm just telling you the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized is one of the, if not the fastest laser rangefinders to shoot and acquire targets.  And this was on sunny days, cloudy days, and even a rainy day.

 

Speaking of acquiring targets, I was able to sight targets pretty much anywhere on the course.  You literally have a reliable range up to 1,200 yards, and I was able to lock on to targets from 400 plus yards away with 6X zoom magnification.  This is just damn impressive.  Add in that Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized has accuracy to less than three feet, and I'm not sure you can possibly want more in a laser rangefinder.  That's freakishly accurate.

Stabilization tech has returned in the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized and if you're not already familiar with this, it's a huge advantage Nikon has over the competitors.  Counteracting or really neutralizing the effects of hand shake and even wind on getting consistent, reliable, and fast measurements is priceless.  In fact, it's the kind of feature that by itself puts Pro ii Stabilized on any best 2021 golf rangefinder shortlist.

 

Pro ii Stabilized seems to use the same stabilization technology as the original model, but I have noticed one improvement.  The previous model would occasionally stutter a split second before steadying your view.  This new model however has been perfectly smooth each time I've used it (now about a half dozen times).

Nikon has added Dual Locked in ECHO technology to the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized.  This introduces an audio element or confirmation to the green visual que you see when you're locked on to your target.  It's a nice extra feature to have.

Continuous Measurement Mode returns with the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized and will be one of your favorite of the four available modes.  This basically lets you scan and get distances to multiple targets or objects for eight seconds.  I found it was accurate and fast up to 500 yards away.  Again, just insanely impressive.  And happy to report you have a very wide scope of view, the widest of any rangefinder I've ever used.

Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized also lets you use the Slope Mode, which is crucial to factoring incline and decline of the course into the actual yardage you need to hit.  Even though it's not legal for tournament play, if a rangefinder doesn't have slope mode, I'm not even looking at it.

And finally, you get a 5-year warranty with the Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized, one of the best warranties in the industry.  To me this is a sure sign Nikon stands absolutely committed behind the quality of this rangefinder.

With the new Coolshot Pro ii Stabilized rangefinder, Nikon has taken an already phenomenal product and made it even better.  You're getting outstanding performance in every feature category that matters most with an incredible blend of brilliant optics, impressive range, consistent and reliable accuracy, and blazing speed.

Just go ahead and drop the mic Nikon, bravo.

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