Whether you’re looking for night vision goggles for hunting at night, or just because you think that they are very useful, the question is; is it possible to purchase military grade night vision as a civilian?
Any civilian is able to purchase military grade night vision; there are no laws or restrictions preventing civilians from purchasing this equipment. More often than not, there just aren’t enough available night vision goggles or gear available for civilians to purchase.
Since they are available to the public, where can you purchase them, and what are the best available night vision goggles and gear on the market?
What Makes Night Vision Goggles Remarkable
When purchasing Military grade night vision goggles, something that is noticeable between them is the varying generations. There are four generations of night vision goggles, the first being civilian grade, and the fourth being the best, which is military grade. They go from least to most expensive, therefore varying in purpose, as well as the length of visibility.
Generation 1
- Entry-level
- Low resolution
- Short battery life
- Least expensive
Generation 2
- Roughly 200-yard range
- Distortion control
- Medium battery life
Generation 3
- Roughly 300-yard range
- Long battery life
- Military-grade
- Expensive
Generation 4
- Sharp image detail
- Daylight will not damage tubes
- Military-grade
Finding the Goggles/Binoculars for Your Specifications
Of course, all goggles or binoculars come in a variety of sizes, prices, battery life, and so forth. Military-grade night vision is far more superior than just regular night vision goggles that are commonly used by the public, because it is designed for tactical missions that are done in the dark, and can detect almost anything that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Whether you’re using night vision to hunt in the dark, surveying the campground for bears, or just regular surveillance of one’s property at night, finding the right night vision goggles/binoculars for your desired purpose and budget is important. It is also important to consider when you are looking through the immense variety of night vision equipment available.
Five Best Night Vision Goggles on the Market
JStoon Night Vision Goggles Night Vision Binoculars
These binoculars are available on Amazon, and are decently priced for the purpose they serve. Stated in the description, they are digital infrared binoculars with night vision [and] can take HD image & 960p Video from 984 feet in the dark with a 32gb memory card. With a 4.4 out of 5 star rating, and over 1,500 reviews, these binoculars are one of the most popular available on Amazon for a reasonable price. The SD card is interchangeable, so the amount of storage is practically infinite. With six hours of operating time, these binoculars are excellent for hunting and scoping out land in the dark. The reviews on these night vision goggles only attest to how wonderfully they work, especially for the price paid.
GlassOwl Infrared Night Vision Goggles
As rated on Amazon as the Best Seller for night vision goggles, with over 2,000 reviews, these are another excellent pair of goggles for a reasonable price. With 4.3 out of 5 stars, this pair of goggles are excellent for hunting, camping, and security. With a 32gb memory card, and availability to interchange SD cards, it’s excellent for hours of surveillance. However, it does take batteries, so they recommend rechargeable AA batteries, eight in total. Though having batteries may be slightly different to handle, these goggles are waterproof, has a zoom feature, as well as being lightweight for extended use on long nights. All of the reviews attest to how incredibly popular, affordable, and handy these goggles are, which only makes them that much better.
ATN PVS 7 Night Vision Standard Military Issue Goggles
These binoculars are true military grade night vision, which comes with it’s own military grade price tag. Though these are more pricey, the do come with it’s perks. Available through Optics Planet, these goggles have been manufactured by some of the best engineers, they are lightweight, waterproof, and designed to see well over sever hundred feet. They can be hand-held, attached to a head mount, or almost put on to a helmet. As one of the best goggles available on the market to civilians, it is perfect for any and all purposes. With a hefty price tag comes the many benefits of what the military equipment has to offer.
Bushnell Night Vision Equinox Z2 Monocular
Though this particular military grade monocular only has one viewing port, it still has excellent purposes. When connected to WIFI, it can livestream straight to any phone, tablet, or computer the footage viewed immediately. With the viewing capability to see anything over 1,000 feet away, this makes these goggles excellent for any hunting or scouting purposes. The price tag varies depending on where it’s purchased from and which model it is. Nonetheless, this monocular is an excellent option available to the public, as it has been designed by the greatest engineers in the U.S.
AGM Global Vision NVG-50 NL2 Dual Tube Night Vision Goggle/Binocular
These binoculars come with a rather large price tag, but certainly come with the perks that price tag offers. With the options to have this mounted, these goggles can see incredible distances, have dual tubing, waterproof, and can work up to twenty hours. These goggles are durable in weather well below the freezing point, as well as over 100°F. Military grade goggles come with a variety of perks, and allows for civilians to have those same perks for hunting and protection.
Where Can You Purchase Night Vision Materials
There are quite a few websites that have night vision goggles available for purchase, including Amazon. Of course, these type of goggles can also be purchased at Military Surplus stores. It does depend on the type of goggles/binoculars one is looking for and the budget that is available. The vast majority of these goggles/binoculars are incredibly expensive because the specific purpose they have, as well as the materials they are made of. Military-grade night vision is used for tactical operations, not necessarily for hunting small game, that’s why it tends to be more expensive since it is designed by the government.