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Yard Range: 8-650 yards/8-450 to flag
Magnification: 6X21 mm objective diameter
Display Type: LED/Red
Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.4 x 2.8 inches, 5.6 ounces
Tournament Legal: No
Measurement System: Yards/Meters
Measurement Distance: Distance and Slope Compensation
Waterproof: No. Rain-resistant: Yes
Our Rating: 
Nikon COOLSHOT 40i Rangefinder Review
The COOLSHOT 40i has the best of everything Nikon has to give with its 8-Second Continuous Scan Mode, fully weatherproof body, and compact and lightweight dimensions. Combine these features with First Target Priority Mode, HYPER READ Technology, and Slope Compensating Golf Mode, and you have a tool that’ll prep you best for the big tournie day. With Nikon’s ID (Incline/Decline) Technology, you’ll not have to miss that hole in par again.
This device is the complete and updated version of the COOLSHOT 40. You have some really cool additional features that can help improve your game play – but only the practice field.
It’s still new to the market and is yet to pull in a bigger fan base, so I expect to see its rating go up. It’s discounted and affordable cost that you can find online for around $245 puts it just a mere few dollars cheaper than its tournament legal mate.
Even at its full cost, it’s only about $50 more for the extra versatility the features offer. Didn’t see that coming right? Either way, for the features it has, it’s definitely got value.
- Price
- Nikon ID technology
- Hyper Read technology
- Target Priority Switch System
- Compact
- Water-resistant (not waterproof)
COOLSHOT 40i Q&A:
Although there are a couple note-worthy features of the COOLSHOT 40i that separate it from the 40, they are almost the same unit. They share the exact same compact dimensions of 4.4 x 1.4 x 2.8 inches and weighing only 5.6 ounces.
They both use the LED display for better transmission of ambient light. They have the same yard range of 8-650 yards, increment readings of 0.5 yards, and the same optic specs of 6X magnification and 21 objective diameter lens.
Neither are fully waterproof. The bottom line: In design, ease of use, and functionality, they’re pretty much the same unit. You can check out Nikon’s comparison chart on them here.
This is one of the distinct features that makes the 40i the awesome unit it is. It has Nikon’s ID (Incline/Decline) Technology so that you can get the adjusted slope distances and select the right club based off those values.
Because this unit has the slope compensation feature, it’s not a tournament approved rangefinder.
This rangefinder separates itself from the crowd by giving you the option to switch off the First Target Priority Mode.
Even during golf, it’s nice to have the versatile option to get distances to any object including the distances behind the flag and the green without having to go into the limited panning mode.
It wouldn’t be the norm if I told you that the device also has a Distant Target Priority Mode, but then again, the 40i is aiming to be on the premium end of the spectrum for a mid-level rangefinder.
It’s available thanks to Nikon’s Target Priority Switch System. This means that you’ll either have to be in First or Distant target modes one at a time.
There seems to be a lot of confusion online as to whether or not the COOLSHOT 40i and its siblings are fully waterproof. The straightforward answer is: no. They’re not fully waterproof in the sense that you can be confident it’ll survive submersion or even the most unforgivable weather.
They’re listed on Nikon’s website as “rainproof”. You might be one of many that think this means waterproof – it’s not.
In the comparison chart on Nikon Sport Optics, it’s clearly listed as not waterproof. It’s a rain-resistant unit which means it’ll be fine if it starts to rain on you mid-game, but you’re not going to want to leave it exposed to wet weather for much longer than that.
Noteworthy Features:
- First Target Priority Mode for nearest distance acquisition
- Distant Target Priority Mode for furthest target acquisition
- Has Nikon’s ID (Incline/Decline) Technology to get you the angle compensated distance to make your club selection and shot
- HYPER READ Technology for 0.5 second display of distances
- Intuitive and easy to use continuous eight second panning mode
- Precise and accurate to -/+0.75 yard
- Extremely small, light-weight, and compact
Our Verdict on the Coolshot 40i
To ping up the strokes, the Coolshot 40i is the epitome of awesomeness. It has everything you’ll ever need for the green plus more. While it doesn’t have the extra thrills like club selection and pin seeking features, it has enough to turn you into a pro.
The Nikon COOLSHOT Pro Stabilized (which you can read our review on here) is the best of the best that Nikon has to offer. Upgraded in 2018 with vibration reduction and pin-locking features, it’s a stunner on the green. Leave it to Nikon to keep costs in perspective.
Within the same price range as the COOLSHOT Pro Stabilized is the Leupold GX-4i2. It might not vibrate, but it does have pin lock, OLED, and slope technologies to really compete with Nikon’s affordable line of units.
But, there’s no getting around the fact that Nikon has the best prices you’ll find for quality!
