ZeroTech Trace ED 1-10×24 LPVO Review

The ZeroTech Trace ED 1-10×24 is a low power variable optic that pushes hard into territory dominated by much more expensive Euro brands. It offers true 1× magnification for reflex style shooting and stretches all the way out to 10× for shots at distance. In design, it aims to combine speed and precision into single package. Deciding what to first run this optic on, I borrowed a mates Wedgetail Industries MPR Mini and after spending time with the scope in the field, I tested it out paying close attention to its spec sheet. With a blend of clear glass, a smart reticle, and tough construction it makes an excellent impression.

ZeroTech @PrecisionRifle

Looking at the specifications, the scope measures just over 26 centimeters long and weighs 725 grams. It uses a 34mm main tube machined from 6061-T6 aluminium, with a 24mm objective lens up front. Inside sits extra low dispersion glass with multiple coatings, designed to enhance contrast, resist glare, and shed water or dust. The reticle is housed in the first focal plane and is illuminated. Adjustment clicks are in 0.1 MRAD steps, with 10 MRAD per revolution and a total of 34 MRAD elevation travel. Eye relief is around 94 mm, and the field of view ranges from 39 meters at 100 meters on 1× down to just under four meters at 10×.

ZeroTech Trace ED 1-10×24 LPVO and Wedgetail Industries MPR.

When looking through the Trace ED, the clarity is the first thing I look for. At 1× the sight picture is wide and distortion free, with no hint of the fisheye effect that plagues some LPVOs. It feels like using a red dot sight, especially when the illuminated center dot is active. Colours are neutral, edges remain sharp, and I couldn’t detect chromatic aberration even against strong backlighting. At 10× the image holds up with good brightness and detail across the field of view. This clarity gave me confidence when engaging smaller targets at range. Low light performance was also good. In the last few minutes of shooting light I could still pick out targets clearly, aided by the generous exit pupil and effective coatings that kept flare under control.

RMG-L Reticle — The RMG-L Illuminated (LPVO Specific) Reticle in the 1-10 Trace ED.

The reticle design deserves a close look also. ZeroTech uses its RMG-L pattern reticle, which is purpose built for an optic that needs to serve both close and long range use, not a simple task. At the lowest setting it looks like an illuminated dot and surrounding segment, which is fast to pick up and doesn’t block your view. As you increase magnification, the grid of subtensions become visible, providing holdover and windage reference points without overwhelming the sight picture. Because it is in the first focal plane, the reticle’s measurements remain consistent at any magnification. In bright daylight the illumination was strong enough that the center dot still stood out, while at dusk the lower settings provided a usable glow without bleeding out into the rest of the reticle.

Turret function is probably my favorite part of this LPVO, because that’s the pleasantly surprising strength I found. I have come to expect great glass for ZeroTech for their price point but having this performance from the turrets was truly awesome. The Trace ED uses a pop-lock system that requires you to pull the turret up to adjust, then push it back down to lock. This prevents accidental movement in the field and adds peace of mind when carrying the rifle through scrub or working from vehicles etc. The elevation turret does include a zero stop, which allows you to return quickly to your base zero after dialing for distance. Windage is capped, which keeps it safe from bumps. In testing, the clicks were extremely tactile and audible, and tracking was precise.

I confirmed tracking by dialing out several MRAD for a longer shots, then coming back down to zero. The scope returned perfectly each time and the point of impact didnt shift.

Magnification changes are handled by a throw lever, which is included in the box. This lever sits low enough not to snag but gives enough leverage to move smoothly between settings. I was able to swing from 1× to 10× quickly during drills, and the action was consistent without excessive resistance. I feel some throw levers miss the mark, being too large or strange shapes but I’m happy with this one. The dioptre adjustment also offered enough range to fine tune focus for my eyesight, and once set it stayed put. Parallax is fixed at 100 meters, which is standard for LPVOs, and in practical use it never caused issues. Targets at both closer and longer ranges appeared sharp and free of parallax error.

In terms of build quality, the Trace ED feels every bit as robust as it looks. The tube is solid, the finish is evenly applied and resistant to scratches, and the whole optic has the impression of being overbuilt rather than fragile. The included flip up lens covers are made from aluminium rather than plastic, and they rotate so you can position them as you prefer. They stay locked either open or shut, so they never flap around while shooting. They have kept dust and grit off the lenses and seem a little more durable than the typical aftermarket plastic caps.

Eye relief is generous and consistent at about 3.7 inches, which made shooting from different positions comfortable. Even at 10×, the eye box was forgiving enough that I didn’t struggle with scope shadow. This matters when you are moving quickly between standing, kneeling, and prone, where your head position is not always perfect. The forgiving eye box and wide field of view made it easy to keep track of targets while staying behind the rifle.

Use in the field showed the Trace ED’s strengths clearly. At 1×, shooting with both eyes open felt natural. I was able to clear drills on close targets quickly, with the illuminated center dot drawing the eye straight onto the target. At medium distances, turning up the power revealed a reticle that was clean and easy to use, with accurate holdover marks for quick corrections. I usually use holdovers but giving the turrets a workout at longer range by dialing elevation on the turret allowed me to stretch the rifle without losing track of my zero thanks to the zero stop. Through all of this, the optic held zero and showed no sign of shift even after recoil on the .300BLK and rough handling.

Carrying the rifle through scrub, the scope picked up a few knocks but came away without marks, I know its a tool that will get marked up but I’m glad that its not scratch prone. The weight, while not feather light, was manageable and added a degree of stability to the rifle when shooting offhand. In low light, the coatings and illumination kept the image usable when my naked eye was already struggling.

When considering value, the Trace ED sits in a bracket of its own. It offers features normally reserved for much more expensive scopes, such as ED glass, a first focal plane reticle designed for both speed and precision, daylight bright illumination, truly epic locking turrets, and integrated flip up covers. The warranty is also worth noting, with ZeroTech backing the product for life. That level of support means you are not just buying an optic but also long term security if anything goes wrong.

After giving it a thorough run on a few different rifles, the ZeroTech Trace ED 1-10×24 is one of the most capable LPVO’s I’ve used. Once again ZT have found the sweet spot for value in the quality vs price scale. It has no obvious weak points. The glass is excellent, the reticle is smart, the turrets are reliable, and the build quality is great. It suits a wide range of roles, from comps, hunting to general shooting. For shooters who want a single optic to cover everything from close to cranking the magnification up for longer shots, this scope is a serious option.