The Best Night Vision Goggles

Have you ever peeked out your window at night wondering what is responsible for desecrating your garden or knocking over your garbage can? Are you a hunter who rises before the sun and yearns to know what beasts are lurking under the cover of darkness? If so, investing in night vision goggles is a great way to illuminate your situation. Consumer night vision products have become much more affordable and technically sound over the years, but finding the perfect product for you can still be tricky. We made this guide to showcase some of the best night vision goggles out there so that you can find a product perfect for your unique needs.

Shedding Some Light On Night Vision Goggles

Looking for the perfect night vision goggles can feel like searching for a lost object during a moonless night. Thankfully, if you focus on a product’s viewing range, infrared capabilities, and ease of use, you are sure to find a pair of night vision goggles that you’ll love.

• Viewing Range: Determining how far you will be able to see with night vision goggles or binoculars can be somewhat complicated. Available light, the size of the object you are viewing, and of course, a product’s optical and digital zoom and other technical specs will make a huge difference in viewing distance. However, when shopping for night vision gear, pay closer attention to optical zoom as opposed to digital zoom since this will provide you with your best chance at long-range nighttime viewing. Additionally, a high-quality multi-coated lens will cause less visual distortion than a budget alternative, although models that feature these lenses will typically be a bit pricier.
• Infrared Capabilities: When looking for night vision gear, you will likely come across products advertising their night vision capability based on infrared measured in nanometers (nm). While the science behind this is far too complicated to get into here, all you need to keep in mind while shopping is that an infrared range of 800 nm to 850 nm is perfectly suited for modern consumer night vision products, including goggles and binoculars. If the product you’re eyeing falls within this range, you should be all set for a clear nighttime viewing experience.
• Ease of use: If you will be taking your night vision goggles into the field at night, you will be relying on them a lot. For this reason, finding a lightweight unit that is comfortable to use is very important. Additionally, some night vision gear has added features, such as the ability to take photos and videos and to optimize optics on the fly. If you are new to the world of night vision and think these added features might get into your way, it might be a good idea to find a simple-to-use model as you acclimate yourself to the world of night vision.

Now that you have a better idea of what you are looking for, let’s check out some of the best night vision goggles you can buy.

Top Pick: CREATIVE XP Digital Night Vision Binoculars

For crystal clear night vision at distances that are perfect for keeping tabs on your property and even hunting, this is our top pick. The CREATIVE XP Digital Night Vision Binoculars allow for total nighttime clarity for distances up to around 200 yards and feature 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom so that you can focus on any objects that grab your interest. This product is also IPX4 waterproof, so it’s perfectly suited for use in rainy conditions. For those seeking technically-sound night vision binoculars at a great price, this is the product for you.

Best Value: ACPOTEL Night Vision Monocular

If you’re looking for long-range infrared night vision on a budget, the ACPOTEL Night Vision Monocular is an extremely impressive device. This product sports impressive 5x optical magnification and a built-in 850-nm infrared illuminator that is designed for long-range nighttime viewing. It makes taking photos or 720p video effortless and gives you plenty of memory to play around with fresh out of the box with its included 8-GB memory card. Additionally, while this monocular is comfortable in the hand, it can also be easily mounted to a helmet or tripod for added versatility.

Best Video Quality: JStoon Digital Night Vision Binoculars

Video quality tends to be hit-or-miss with consumer night vision products, but these night vision binoculars from JStoon absolutely exceed all expectations. Featuring 30-fps video at a resolution of 1280×960, your nighttime escapades will be better in terms of picture, clarity, and viewing distance than a vast majority of night vision products out there. Additionally, the six-button interface makes it easy to optimize your viewing experience on the fly, making this a night vision product that is definitely worth its price tag.

Best Long-Distance Viewing: TKKOK IR Night Vision Binoculars Goggles

If you value viewing distance and battery life over other factors, the TKKOK IR Night Vision Binoculars Goggles are for you. These night vision binoculars provide an amazing viewing experience at 200 meters, but the 20x optical zoom will help you see things in complete darkness at distances you would imagine as impossible. This product can also maintain power for 6 hours with infrared illumination on, making it one of the most impressive night vision options in terms of battery life. While this product is priced higher than some of our other picks, it’s definitely worth every penny.

Best Hands-Free: Nightfox Swift Night Vision Goggles

Rounding out our list is this hands-free night vision offering from Nightfox. Although this product only offers 1x optical zoom and doesn’t record video, it is comfortable to wear and allows for easy infrared optimization to ensure your optics are on-point while exploring the night. This lightweight unit is also USB rechargeable so that you can connect a portable charger and exceed its 3-hour max battery life. For those looking for a great entry-level, lightweight night vision option, take a look at these goggles.