Sports Optic Market Report 2026

The sports optic market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $2.22 billion in 2025 to $2.31 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in shooting sports participation, rising popularity of outdoor recreational activities, increased defense and law enforcement training demand, expansion of hunting activities, growth in offline specialty sports retail.

The sports optic market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.75 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to technological advancements in optical clarity, growth of competitive sports shooting events, increasing adoption of digital rangefinders, expansion of online sports equipment sales, rising interest in adventure and outdoor sports. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for precision targeting optics, growing popularity of long range shooting sports, increased adoption of lightweight optical designs, expansion of recreational outdoor sports activities, preference for multi purpose sports optics.

The expanding tourism industry is projected to support the growth of the sports optic market in the coming years. The tourism industry encompasses a range of economic activities associated with travel for leisure, recreation, or business. Growth in the sports optic market is strongly influenced by the expanding tourism sector, as travelers increasingly depend on binoculars and scopes for outdoor recreation, wildlife observation, and sightseeing activities. For example, in May 2023, a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a Spain-based specialized agency, stated that during the first quarter of 2023, international tourist arrivals rebounded to 80% of pre-pandemic levels, reaching approximately 235 million travelers, representing more than a twofold increase compared to the same period in 2022. The tourism sector showed strong resilience, as revised figures for 2022 indicated that more than 960 million international tourists traveled abroad during the year. This milestone corresponds to a recovery of two-thirds (66%) of pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the industry’s ability to rebound and regain momentum. Consequently, the growth of the tourism industry is fueling expansion in the sports optic market.

Leading companies operating in the sports optic market are concentrating on technological innovations, including advanced hunting optics, to improve clarity, target accuracy, and overall user experience in outdoor and hunting activities. Modern hunting optics combine high-definition lenses, user-friendly ergonomic designs, and digital enhancements to deliver superior performance across varying lighting conditions. For instance, in February 2024, HIKMICRO, a China-based provider of sports optics and thermal imaging solutions, presented its “Explore Daytime Hunting in a New Way” vision at IWA 2024. This initiative showcased next-generation daytime hunting optics designed to enhance precision, visibility, and comfort, enabling hunters to enjoy a more immersive and efficient experience in demanding environments.

In June 2023, Stronger Leadership LLC, a U.S.-based business, acquired Skeleton Optics Inc. for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition allows Stronger Leadership LLC to leverage its management expertise and enthusiasm for outdoor sports to enhance brand visibility by reaching a wider audience. Skeleton Optics Inc. is a U.S.-based company that specializes in sports optics.

Major companies operating in the sports optic market are Carl Zeiss AG, Nikon Corporation, Vista Outdoor Inc., Beretta Holding S.A., Swarovski Optik KG, Leica Camera AG, Burris Company Inc., Trijicon Inc., Vortex Optics, Bushnell Corporation, Meopta - Optika s.r.o., EOTech Inc., American Technologies Network Corporation, Nightforce Optics Inc., Barska, Schmidt u. Bender GmbH & Co. KG, GPO GmbH, U.S. Optics, Celestron LLC, FLIR Systems Inc.

North America was the largest region in the sports optic market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the sports optic market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the sports optic market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the sports optic market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The sports optics market consists of sales of night vision, spotting scopes, and red dot sights. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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