Getting started in Night Vision can seem difficult at first, and it is. If you want to save yourself the headache of learning the hard way, and probably save a few thousand dollars in the process, keep reading this blog post.
Lots of people want to buy night vision but they never get into the industry because they don't know who to trust or what to buy. From military and law enforcement applications to wildlife observation, security, and outdoor recreation, night vision technology is becoming increasingly important. It's also just really damn cool.
Where do I start in Night Vision?
Garand Thumb has a fantastic video covering the basics of a good night vision set up. We highly recommend watching it and giving him a follow. We aren't sponsored by him, it is just great content that will help you buy the right stuff. There honestly isn't a more informative video about a basic night vision kit anywhere else on the internet.
Keep in mind this video is four years old, but the fundamentals still hold true today.
Things to consider when deciding what to buy:
- Monocular or Binocular
- Green or White Phosphor
What should I buy first, a monocular or a binocular night vision?
The main factor when choosing what to buy is what you can afford. Binoculars are more expensive than monoculars as it is two units, but they offer much more versatility than a single unit. Both a monocular and a binocular are going to give you roughly the same FOV (field of view) at 40 degrees. Binocular housings also usually offer more stability and rigidity. The housing is firmer to the helmet and they tend to move around less than monoculars.
Buying binoculars is the better choice, but if you're tight on cash, you can always buy a single unit PVS-14 and when you have more money buy another PVS-14 and connect them both with a Noisefighters Panobridge.
Should I buy a green or white phosphor night vision device?
Most people tend to think white phosphor is better than green phosphor. That isn't entirely true. The only actual difference is the color pallet, green vs. white colors. Some people say white is easier on the eyes, some prefer green. It is preference.
White phosphor will always be more expensive than green and that is because high quality tubes are made with Elbit thin film. Most Elbit thin film is only white phosphor. So, high quality tubes are associated with white phosphor.
If you can afford it, buy white phosphor. You will most likely have a higher quality night vision device and it will save you from upgrading down the road. Don't try to cut corners and buy a cheap device from Ebay or somewhere else. It will end up coming back to bite you. Buy from trusted suppliers and proven products.
I have my Night Vision device, now what?
Now you need a helmet and a mount. These two are basically required. You could run your nods with a skullcrusher, but it will be extremely uncomfortable.
As far as helmets go, you have two types you should initially look at. A bump helmet or a full on ballistic helmet. Bump helmets are going to be cheaper and lighter but they won't offer any ballistic protection. So if you are active military or law enforcement you are definitely going to want a ballistic helmet. If you are an outdoor enthusiast you can get away with a bump helmet.
There are a bunch of different helmet mounts out on the market right now. The two most prominent and the ones most people recommend are the RHNO mounts/ the G22 and G24 by Wilcox.
Besides a helmet mount you're going to want an additional way to keep your nods on your helmet. A lanyard or dummy cord are good options. Some people even use heavy duty rubber bands.
Last thing you'll need for the helmet set up is a counterweight. You can get a simple OpsCore counterweight kit, or you can get a battery pack to act as a counterweight. A battery pack is recommended if you are using a pair of binos or dual tube night vision devices. Who doesn't love extended battery life.
Will I need anything else not on my helmet?
Night Vision needs a tiny amount of light to work. If you are trying to see in complete darkness they aren't going to work. It is generally recommended to have an additional IR illuminator. IR light isn't visible to the normal eye but can be used with night vision to illuminate complete darkness. Most binocular devices have IR illuminators built in. If you intend to be shooting at night, you'll want an IR illuminator on your weapon. A SureFire IR flashlight is a good choice, or you can get an IR Laser to use for CQB.
To sum up what you'll need:
- NODs (based on your budget)
- Helmet (based on your intended use)
- Mount (G22 or G24)
Optional (but recommended)
- Lanyard or dummy cord (for additional NOD security)
- Counterweight or battery pack (your neck will thank you)
- An IR light source (IR Flashlight or IR Laser)
These are just the basic items you'll need for a night vision set up.
How much is this NV set up going to cost? (these are average ranges)
- Monocular ($2,300 to $5,000)
- Binocular ($5,000 to $12,000)
- Helmet ($500 to $1500)
- Mount ($300 to $500)
- Lanyard ($30 to $50)
- Counterweight ($50 to $100)
- Battery Pack ($400 to $600)
- IR Laser ($800 to $1500)
So if you wanted to start off with a monocular, you are looking at spending around $4,000 dollars for a good set up.
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