To Those Familiar with Night Vision Devices

[clamum]

I've been looking at purchasing a night vision device for a while and I think I have it narrowed down to two choices. The intended use is for SHTF, for now anyway.

The first is something like these Gen 1+ Yukon 1x24 night vision goggles. They're about $460 from Amazon. I like these because of the price and better depth perception from having two tubes.

The other are these Gen 2+ Armasight Sirius Monoculars. These I like because of the better image quality and flexibility (monocular, rifle scope, head mounted).

So for those that have used night vision, are the Gen 2 units worth it over the Gen 1s? What about depth perception between the monocular and goggles? At first I thought the goggles would be much more preferable but maybe the monocular isn't that bad?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[KeithTalent]

:hmm:

KT

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Not enough information to give advice. Who are you stalking? Will you be hiding in the bushes or behind the garbage cans? Is there a chance they can turn on their porch light and blind you? Does your escape plan rely on quick removal and easy portability? If forced to ditch the unit does it have a serial number that can be traced to you? Will it show fingerprints if captured by law enforcement?

 

[Nograts]

The monoculars are better in almost every way. I really can't think of a scenario where you'd want binocular night vision.

When you're walking around you'll (usually) still have moon light conditions so you'll be able to use that for close stuff. There is only one depth perception setting at a time so you'll set that to maybe....10-15 meters in front of you, everything else will be your natural sight.

If you drive in blackout conditions you'll still need to be able to see your gauges. Again, you'll set your optic to 10-15 meters in front of you and then use your free eye to watch the gauges.

If you can afford it, thermal vision is far superior to night vision, but the brightness difference will blind you for a few minutes after you take off the optic.

What is this SHTF scenario that you'd want night vision?

Anyways.....yep. :awe:

SOURCE: Stalked IED planters in their villages for 4 years during the night.

 

[clamum]

The monoculars are better in almost every way. I really can't think of a scenario where you'd want binocular night vision.

When you're walking around you'll (usually) still have moon light conditions so you'll be able to use that for close stuff. There is only one depth perception setting at a time so you'll set that to maybe....10-15 meters in front of you, everything else will be your natural sight.

If you drive in blackout conditions you'll still need to be able to see your gauges. Again, you'll set your optic to 10-15 meters in front of you and then use your free eye to watch the gauges.

If you can afford it, thermal vision is far superior to night vision, but the brightness difference will blind you for a few minutes after you take off the optic.

What is this SHTF scenario that you'd want night vision?

Anyways.....yep. :awe:

SOURCE: Stalked IED planters in their villages for 4 years during the night.

Good info here, thanks man.

Huh. I'm a little surprised monocs are that much better but I guess what you say makes sense.

Yeah thermal would be nice but Gen 2 units are already at the top of what I'm willing to shell out. Speaking of Gen 2, do you think it's worth it to spend about 4 times as much as the Gen 1 units to get the Gen 2? I'm guessing in the Army you used something similar to the PVS-7 or PVS-14 (Gen 3 if I'm not mistaken), but still since you have some experience with NV I'd like to hear your opinion.

Thanks again man.

 

[shortylickens]

theres a world of difference between gen 1+ and gen 2+.

 

[Six]

Depends what your purpose is....

But I would never get a gen 1 night vision. Those are practically useless. Your night adjusted eyes will work better than any gen 1 night vision. Get a gen 2+ or used gen 3.

Thermal imaging is not better than the best night vision. They both have their purposes. Thermal is good at spotting warm bodies. It can be rendered useless when the ambient temperature is close to body temperature. There are many other factors. Temperature sensitivity is more important than resolution.

Night vision is best for navigating terrain and identifying targets. Monocular is the way to go for reasons already mentioned above.

 

[Nograts]

Good info here, thanks man.

Huh. I'm a little surprised monocs are that much better but I guess what you say makes sense.

Yeah thermal would be nice but Gen 2 units are already at the top of what I'm willing to shell out. Speaking of Gen 2, do you think it's worth it to spend about 4 times as much as the Gen 1 units to get the Gen 2? I'm guessing in the Army you used something similar to the PVS-7 or PVS-14 (Gen 3 if I'm not mistaken), but still since you have some experience with NV I'd like to hear your opinion.

Thanks again man.

To be honest I dont think they're really worth it at all. I'm not sure what kind of scenario you are prepping for but I can think of a lot of ways to spend over 1k, night vision would not be one of them.

We use night vision to kill people that dig in the roads at night, SKT (small kill team) operations. If you're buying for the sake of doomsday prepping...unless you are going offensive it's not worth it.

So yeah. They are a cool toy but honestly for how much they cost I don't think it's worth it. Not sure about the generation lingo either. I had 7-delta's in Iraq (2006-ish) and then 14's thereon out. The only time I used the 14's in Iraq was if I was driving a truck because top speed at night was 35 MPH....

 

[mizzou]

theres a world of difference between gen 1+ and gen 2+.

this

 

[brainhulk]

I think to bag coons and possums, thermal would be better

 

[Murloc]

I think it's pretty useless in doomsday prepping compared to other stuff, but it's not clear what you want to use it for...

Hide in the woods and eat people?

 

[shortylickens]

I think it's pretty useless in doomsday prepping compared to other stuff, but it's not clear what you want to use it for...

Hide in the woods and eat people?

Really being prepared would involve a bunker and tons of food. And about a million gallons of water WITH a recycling system.

 

[WelshBloke]

Really being prepared would involve a bunker and tons of food. And about a million gallons of water WITH a recycling system.

And 40kgs of coke, 5kgs of heroin, and a few hookers.

 

[HeXen]

For doomsday prepping, I'd probably use infrared cameras so I could be alerted to people sneaking up on my territory at night.

 

[mrrman]

I think to bag coons and possums, thermal would be better

Looks like this dude eats his kill lol