The best Leupold LPVOs in 2026
Our verdict for 2026: the Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 ($1,999) is the best Leupold LPVO overall, the award-winning flagship with a toolless dial and a daylight-bright FireDot. The lighter Leupold VX-5HD 1-5x24 ($1,299) is the value pick, giving up a little zoom for a 13.4-ounce build, strong low-light glass and verified owner reviews.
Leupold's LPVO lineup is small; these are its two current in-stock models. Prices verified July 13, 2026; confirm the current price on the retailer page.
Leupold does not chase the budget LPVO fight. Its two low power variable optics are premium, hunting-first, US-made scopes with daylight-bright FireDot illumination, the dial-to-range Custom Dial System and the Leupold lifetime guarantee. Both are in stock; the flagship adds zoom, an award and a toolless turret, while the value model is lighter, cheaper and proven by owners.
How these picks were made: a research-based roundup of Leupold's current in-stock LPVOs, comparing published specifications, verified owner reviews where they exist, industry awards and pricing on OpticsPlanet. Leupold's LPVO range is small, and the flagship VX-6HD Gen 2 is new enough that it has no owner reviews yet, so its assessment rests on published specs, its 2025 NASGW-POMA Caliber Award and our research rather than owner ratings; the VX-5HD carries verified owner reviews. Scores are our editorial opinion. Confirm current price on the retailer page. See how we evaluate.
Quick comparison
| Category | Pick | Spec | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall Leupold LPVO | Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 CDS-SZL2 | 1-6x · CDS dial | $1,999.99 | Check price |
| Best value Leupold LPVO | Leupold VX-5HD 1-5x24 | 1-5x · 13.4 oz | $1,299.99 | Check price |
Best overall Leupold LPVO: Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 CDS-SZL2
1-6x · 24mm · 30mm tube · SFP · daylight-bright FireDot Duplex · SpeedSet CDS-ZL2 dial · 17.4 oz · Leupold lifetime
$1,999.99
🏆 NASGW-POMA Caliber Award, Best New Optic, 2025 (source: NASGW-POMA Caliber Awards)
This is the Leupold LPVO to buy if you want the brand's flagship: a hunting-first 1-6x that borrows the toolless turret from Leupold's Mark tactical line. Its signature is the SpeedSet CDS-ZL2 dial, a push-button, tool-free elevation turret that lets you reset to zero or swap a custom laser-engraved ballistic dial in the field, so you range a target, dial the yardage and hold dead center, no holdover maths. It runs a genuinely daylight-bright fiber-optic FireDot for red-dot-fast aiming at 1x, packs 180 MOA of travel and an electronic reticle level into a light 17.4-ounce, straight-tube body that slips out of a scabbard, and it is US-made, Punisher-tested and guaranteed for life. It is new enough that it carries no owner reviews yet, but it took the NASGW-POMA Caliber Award for Best New Optic in 2025, beating Sig and Holosun. For a premium hunting LPVO, it is Leupold's best.
Pros
- The toolless SpeedSet CDS-ZL2 dial resets zero or swaps a custom ballistic dial in the field with no hex wrench
- A genuinely daylight-bright fiber-optic FireDot at 1x for red-dot-fast aiming, plus 180 MOA of travel and an electronic reticle level
- Light at 17.4 oz with a straight, bell-free tube that clears brush and scabbards; US-made, Punisher-tested, lifetime guarantee
- Won the NASGW-POMA Caliber Award for Best New Optic in 2025, an 18-judge industry panel, over Sig and Holosun entries
Cons
- Second focal plane, so the reticle sub-tensions are only exact at 6x; you dial the turret rather than hold in the reticle
- The FireDot Duplex is a simple hunting reticle with no BDC "tree", so it leans on dialing rather than reticle holds
- Long-range shooters find Leupold's hunting turret clicks a touch mushy next to a Nightforce or tactical dial
- The newest model, so no verified owner reviews yet, and at about $2,000 it is a premium-priced optic
Best for: a serious hunter who wants Leupold's lightest premium 1-6x with a dial-to-range turret for close brush out to 400 to 600 yards. Precision and PRS competitors who need FFP reticle holds should look elsewhere. Save $700 with the lighter VX-5HD below.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Leupold (USA) |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 1-6x |
| Objective | 24 mm |
| Tube | 30 mm |
| Focal plane | Second (SFP) |
| Reticle | Illuminated FireDot Duplex (daylight bright) |
| Turret | SpeedSet CDS-ZL2, toolless, ZeroLock |
| W/E travel | 180 MOA |
| Field of view | 120.9 ft at 100 yds (1x) |
| Weight | 17.4 oz |
| Extras | Electronic reticle level, Motion Sensor Technology, Guard-Ion coatings |
| Warranty | Leupold Lifetime Guarantee |
Best value Leupold LPVO: Leupold VX-5HD 1-5x24
1-5x · 24mm · 30mm tube · SFP · fiber-optic FireDot Duplex · Twilight Max HD · CDS dial · 13.4 oz · Gold Ring lifetime
$1,299.99
This is the lighter, proven Leupold LPVO, and the value pick of the two. At just 13.4 ounces it is the featherweight here, and it is the one with a track record: owners run it on everything from ARs to hard-recoiling 45-70 and .458 rifles and praise its low-light performance. That comes from the Twilight Max HD Light Management System, which Leupold says adds up to 30 minutes of usable shooting light, paired with a genuinely daylight-bright fiber-optic FireDot for both-eyes-open speed at 1x. It uses the same Custom Dial System for dial-to-range elevation, sheds water with Guard-Ion coatings, survives Leupold's 5,000-impact recoil test and is backed by the Gold Ring lifetime guarantee. It gives up a little zoom (1-5x vs 1-6x) and the newer toolless turret, but for hundreds less it is the Leupold LPVO most hunters should buy.
Pros
- The lightest pick at 13.4 oz, and the one with verified owner reviews praising its low-light clarity
- Twilight Max HD glass for up to 30 extra minutes of shooting light, with a daylight-bright fiber-optic FireDot at 1x
- The Custom Dial System for dial-to-range elevation, Guard-Ion coatings and a 5,000-impact recoil-tested build
- The Leupold Gold Ring lifetime guarantee, at about $700 less than the flagship VX-6HD Gen 2
Cons
- No throw lever or aluminum lens caps in the box; owners note both are worthwhile extras that add roughly $250
- Tops out at 5x rather than the flagship's 6x, and lacks the newer toolless SpeedSet turret
- Second focal plane, so holds are calibrated at 5x; larger and heavier than a 1-inch-tube hunting scope
- Only 1 unit showing in stock at the time of writing, so availability can be limited
Best for: a hunter who wants a light, proven Leupold LPVO with class-leading low-light glass for close to medium range, and does not need the flagship's extra zoom or toolless dial. Step up to the VX-6HD Gen 2 for 1-6x and the SpeedSet turret.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Leupold (USA) |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 1-5x |
| Objective | 24 mm |
| Tube | 30 mm |
| Focal plane | Second (SFP) |
| Reticle | Fiber-optic FireDot Duplex (daylight bright) |
| Glass | Twilight Max HD Light Management |
| Adjustment click | 0.25 MOA |
| W/E travel | 170 MOA |
| Eye relief | 3.7 - 3.82 in |
| Weight | 13.4 oz |
| Warranty | Leupold Gold Ring Lifetime |
“This scope performs well in low light, it is lighter weight than others in its category, and it has a true 1x that allows both-eyes-open shooting with a red dot and clean crosshairs. With 1-5 magnification reaching out to 200 yards or better, these are all the features I was looking for. Quality, warranty, waterproof, low-light ability.”
Alex Van Meter, verified owner (AK) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose a Leupold LPVO
Between the two, a few things decide it:
- Zoom and turret. The VX-6HD Gen 2 gives you 1-6x and the toolless SpeedSet dial; the VX-5HD is 1-5x with a standard CDS turret. Pick the flagship if the extra magnification and field-swappable dial matter.
- Weight. The VX-5HD is the featherweight at 13.4 oz versus 17.4 oz. On a lightweight mountain rifle, that difference is real.
- Price and proof. The VX-5HD costs about $700 less and has verified owner reviews; the VX-6HD Gen 2 is newer, award-winning, but not yet owner-rated.
- Focal plane. Both are second focal plane, so you dial the CDS turret for elevation. If you want first-focal-plane reticle holds, look at other brands in our best LPVO guide.
Comparing across brands? See our best LPVOs (Vortex, Sig and budget picks) and best rifle scopes. Weighing a dot instead? See LPVO vs red dot.
FAQ
What is the best Leupold LPVO?
Leupold's LPVO lineup is small. The flagship is the VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 ($1,999), a hunting-first 1-6x with a toolless SpeedSet dial and a daylight-bright FireDot that won the 2025 NASGW-POMA Caliber Award for Best New Optic. The value pick is the lighter VX-5HD 1-5x24 ($1,299), which gives up a little zoom and the newer turret but weighs just 13.4 ounces, has strong low-light glass and carries verified owner reviews.
Does Leupold make a first focal plane LPVO?
Not in this 1x class. Both of Leupold's current low power variable optics, the VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 and the VX-5HD 1-5x24, are second focal plane, so their reticle holds are calibrated at maximum magnification and you dial the Custom Dial System turret for elevation instead. If you specifically need a first-focal-plane LPVO with reticle holds at any magnification, an optic like the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x FFP is the route; see our best LPVO guide.
Is a Leupold LPVO worth the money?
For a hunter who values Leupold's glass, low-light performance, US manufacturing and lifetime guarantee, yes. Leupold LPVOs cost more than a budget option, but they deliver daylight-bright illumination, the dial-to-range Custom Dial System and a proven track record, and they hold strong resale value. If you mainly need a value 1-6x for range and general AR use, a cheaper LPVO will do; the Leupold is for the buyer who wants premium hunting glass.
What magnification is a Leupold LPVO?
Leupold's current LPVOs are a 1-6x (the VX-6HD Gen 2) and a 1-5x (the VX-5HD). Both give a true 1x at the low end for both-eyes-open, red-dot-style speed up close, then zoom to 5x or 6x for identifying and hitting targets at a few hundred yards. Neither reaches the 8x or 10x of some other brands' LPVOs, in keeping with Leupold's hunting-focused, lightweight design.
Related: best LPVOs (all brands) · best rifle scopes · LPVO vs red dot.