Whether you’re a hunter or a birder, or if you just want to keep a watch out for intruders after dark, you need quality night vision goggles. Read hands-on reviews of my top picks.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. HEXEUM - Best Night Vision Goggles Overall
Highlight: Adjustable seven IR levels.
Helpful review: Wow! Just love these things. Had no issue figuring out how to use them. Overall, really good. I can actually see things in the goggles that are invisible to my naked eye. Oh, and you can actually take videos and pictures and spot things in the sky that you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. Such a good value in my opinion. I've been using them as a camera for wildlife photography for a while, and I'm genuinely pleased.
They’re pretty solid for the price point too, and I highly doubt most users would be disappointed. The only step above these would be a military level grade binoculars and honestly I don’t think those are necessary, if all you’re wanting is to just be able to see in the dark. By the way, one of the reasons I got them was to spot predators who try to eat my chickens at night. Now I can definitely make that happen. Just a good buy all around. Four thumbs up! (Toes count too haha).
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
I've owned these night vision goggles for several months now and am so happy I went through with the purchase. For the price, you’re gonna get a lot. Honestly it’s amazing with how much you can spot in the dark with these things. With an open field, you’re going to be able to see up to five hundred feet, at least that was my experience. So perfect for wildlife! There is a little bit of a learning curve, but once you figure it out, it’s not an issue at all. The build is durable and good quality, and I think it will last a while. Yeah, there’s a little light that reflects back on your face, but not enough to cause an issue for me. Def recommend.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
It can take a second to figure out how to use all the adjustments and settings to ensure you get a good picture, but once everything is said it done, it has a really good quality night vision. I feel like the distance is average, not fantastic or anything. Probably a hundred to a hundred and fifty yards at most. My thermal scope does a lot better, granted that was about three grand. So yeah, I guess I’d say that for two hundred you’re probably getting your money's worth. I got them mainly so I could see if any animals are coming onto my property at night, and it definitely does the job there. So take that with a grain of salt. I’ll be keeping them, as they get the job done. — William Griffin
Get it from Amazon now: $139.98 & FREE Returns
2. VABSCE - Best Night Vision Binoculars For Wildlife
Highlight: Best rechargeable night vision binoculars.
Helpful review: Can’t say enough good things about this baby! Look... Super high tech binos meant for night viewing can cost as much as six grand, and that’s just out of my budget. I like these things because they’re more of a mid grade option, and honestly you’re getting good stuff for the price. You can use rechargeable batteries of eight double As, and even different power banks.
The binos have excellent visuals, at 1080p / HD. It does require a manual focus and a digital zoom, so keep in mind those batteries are gonna go fast. Honestly, I think your best bet is to get a solid power bank, and even then, you’re still not spending that much money when all is said and done. I love using these at night, but you can even use them in the day too!
And you can snap pics and videos, and it’s pretty cool that they come with a memory chip. Using batteries, you’re going to get a set viewing range, so if you want better night vision, you’re going to want a higher IR, and you can actually do that with a good power bank. The batteries will take it 5, but the power bank takes it to 7. And it’s just gonna last longer.
These actually work the best when it’s fully pitch black out, which I love. That’s pretty much why I wanted them. The night vision comes out looking gray, not green like they show in movies, but that’s what I wanted. So overall, love them. They're ideal for wildlife enthusiasts like myself. And one last thing... get the extra power bank. You’ll thank me later.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
What a great value for the money–but just make sure you reign in your expectations. They’re not fancy thousand dollar night vision binos, but they still let you see in the dark, and for one twentieth of the price. You’re also gonna get 4k resolution and I’d say that IR emitter is pretty decent too. In low light, you can see about a hundred yards away and it’s definitely better than the naked eye, and that’s what matters. I just love that you can actually record things and even see colors at night. This is definitely the future! Perfect for wildlife - as long as you understand its limitations. This is not a $12K camera. It costs about $300 and is worth the money.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
My ex-military husband once had a very pricey pair of night vision binos for almost three thousand bucks, but they got lost on one of our cross country travels. I knew I wanted to get him a good pair, but I didn’t want to spend that much. I was worried he’d be disappointed that these weren’t as good, but lo and behold, he was obsessed! After using them, specifically the video and photo features, he said he wouldn’t even go back to a more expensive version. — Renee Scott
Get it from Amazon now: $269.99 & FREE Returns
3. VtiISAMAO - Best Budget Night Vision Binoculars
Highlight: High sensitivity sensor allows 4K HD.
Helpful review: My favorite part about this is that I can see color almost perfectly at night! Especially when the infrared is on. The video and photo aspects of this work so well, I just love playing around with these whenever the sun starts to set. There’s no way to record the sound of the world around you, but that would be kind of hard anyways, because most of the things you’re seeing around you are pretty far off in the distance.
The zoom option works really great, too. And yeah, I’m sure there’s more powerful ones on the market, but I honestly feel like 10x for zoom is pretty good. I love that I can save all my pics and videos on a microSD card, and there’s also a 32GB one included. Honestly for a starter pair, I really can’t complain. It does everything that I want and then some. I really like the lanyard it comes with too. Def recommend!
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
When I used it during daylight, the picture was super clear, and night definitely didn’t disappoint either! The IR really shows everything that’s out there. Feels like I’m a spy on a mission whenever I use these! I have a forested backyard and love looking for little critters hanging in the branches. You’ll probably have to play around with the focus a little to get a good pic, but once you do, you won’t be disappointed. The controls have a slight learning curve when you use this at night, but once you figure it out, it’s super easy. Make sure you’re hitting the power button correctly to turn the IR off when you’re done. Other than that, it’s awesome!
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I got these night vision binos for my wife for her bday. She was stoked and is already planning our next camping trip. That night she took them out by the river in our back yard and she could see so far outside, and clearly, it was freaking awesome. Seriously, for this quality, this price is a steal. I do wish the range was a little longer, and they’re on the lightweight side, but honestly, I love them. Ten out of ten! — Edith Gaspar
Get it from Amazon now: $129.98 & FREE Returns
4. GTHUNDER - Best Night Vision Goggles For Hunting
Highlight: Infrared illuminator lasts for hours with no external light.
Helpful review: With the provided batteries, I’d say this works pretty darn good. It’s something I need for my job, so I wanted a good balance of quality, but also not something that was going to waste my money. It’s super simple and to the point to use, and it does exactly what I want. What’s that, you ask? To see in the dark! Now I can see all the bad guys who think they’re invisible in the cloak of night. I love that the batteries are rechargeable. I’ll definitely get the most use out of this thing as possible. Personally, the distance it gets in the dark is exactly what I’m looking for.
I don’t need to see a person’s expression in the dark. I just need to be able to see their silhouette and how they’re moving, aka, what their intentions are. If I tell someone is trying to steal a bike from three hundred yards away, then that’s all I really need to worry about. I don’t need to know about the freckle on their cheek. In that sense–this does exactly as I would hope it would do. The optic zoom is freaking fantastic, but I find that the digital aspect of it isn’t ideal for super far off distances. But at 7 magnifying zoom, it does the trick perfectly. But what about hunting. Bushes, trees, foliage, all that will inevitably obscure the IR, which is annoying. I wish there was an on screen indicator to show the output level of what the IR is set at. Instead, you have to cycle through seven levels to find the IR emitter. However, these goggles are very popular among hunters, and let me tell you why.
It’s super easy to take a pic and record a video. I’ll admit that I haven’t tried it inside a car yet, but outside, it works great. and when I say easy, I mean EASY. These goggles are definitely user-friendly. Keep in mind that brighter light will drown out the night vision but you can avoid that by not looking directly at the light source. I wanted it so I could see animals (and people) from several hundred yards away, and I love that I can do this even when it’s cloudy out. What about when it’s pitch black? Yep. You can still see. I wish there was audio recording, but I don’t know a good one that also offers that.
PROS:
- The rubber buttons are large and also well separated and sit on the top of the goggle. Makes it super easy to operate. I like that the menu is simple and to the point.
- I loooove the quality of the night vision image. Under both video and photo modes, you can see high res details at least fifty yards away. The built- in IR illuminator has a 7-level intensity adjustment. I think level two of the seven levels of intensity adjustor for the built in IR provides more than enough brightness, at least for spotting objects at that fifty yard mark.
- There’s some really solid infrared sensing tech. Not even that long ago, you’d get the cast of a faint red dot like ten yards away, and now you don’t.
- The device is on the lighter side, yet still robust. I like that it’s weather resistant enough to be outside with.
CONS:
- I don’t like that I can’t adjust how bright the viewing screen is. In total darkness, it’s just too bright.
- The case it came with isn’t anything to write home about. It’s definitely not meant for quickly taking out your binos, especially when you need it quickly. It does come with a neck strap, but c’mon, that’s too obvious for me.
Overall, I do love this thing though! Def recommend it, as it's quite perfect for hunters who are looking for something that is high quality and yet not too expensive. — Greg Brick
Get it from Amazon now: $169.99 & FREE Returns
5. Anyork - Best Night Vision Binoculars Under $100
Highlight: In 100 percent darkness you can view up to 200 meters.
Helpful review: While, yes, technically these are binoculars, I use them more as a camera for stargazing. They take great pictures, and that’s exactly what I wanted. I work professionally as a landscape artist, and I like to take pictures of my surroundings, and being able to do so at night offers such a cool expanse to my work.
An extra benefit I never expected? I can spot the little annoying pests that have made their home in my garage. They’re most active at night! Honestly for the price, I wasn’t expecting much, but man, oh, man, this is a powerful little camera!
Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to magnify things, and the manual focus can be a little tricky to figure out, but once you do, it’s smooth sailing! The screen can be a little bright, even when you have it on low, so just make sure you don’t look at it too much when you’re using it at night or it can disorient you. Honestly, just a great value. For the price, it’s a steal!
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
Yeah, you’ll be able to see at night, and you can get some crisp and clear images, but it’s not meant to be used for ACTUAL wildlife photography if you’re trying to get super up close and detailed pics of the nature outside at night. In other words, it's cheap! You’ll still have to get pretty close if you want extra details. The zoom isn’t great, and I hate how bright the display screen is, and for that reason, I’m probably going to return them. I don’t like that the light disrupts my normal night vision. Some people might, but not me. — Norma Benson
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
6. Profey - Best Night Vision Binoculars Under $50
Highlight: Night vision binos come with neck strap, cables, and portable case.
Helpful review: I got these night vision binos for the kiddos for Christmas, and the only downside is that now they refuse to go to sleep until they use them at night. Living in the Pacific Northwest, the sun doesn’t set until 10PM in the summer, so yeah, kind of annoying, but I guess that gives you an idea of how good they are.
In fact, I loved them so much I ended up getting an extra pair for my husband for his hunting trips. He loves it. The 4K screen is about three inches, there’s a variety of brightness levels, and the digital zoom goes up to 5x, which is exactly what everyone in my family wanted.
I love how well it works at night, but also in low light conditions too (helps with getting the kiddos to bed earlier when we can use it before the sun actually sets haha).
I plan to take a lot of photos with this, so I’m inevitably gonna upgrade to the 32GB to the 128GB just so I can have more room. Definitely worth it if you ask me. Oh, keep in mind that you will need an adapter for a micro SD if you want to plug it to your computer. (Can get them cheap on Amazon).
Overall, super durable, not fully a toy, but still works for kids and adults alike! Honestly, at this point I’ll probably just end up getting one for myself, I love them that much haha. Five stars from this momma!
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
A month into using this thing, I definitely don’t regret the buy. Finally I can see in my dark attic without effort, and I plan to take these on my hunting trip this Fall. Def will help me find deer in the early morning months. I love how close I can see things with the zoom function. Really awesome for the price.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I’m an urban outdoorsman, and while these don’t have the ability to zoom, they do everything else I want. The clarity is seriously superb. It can be a little tricky to figure out the IR spectrum for the first time between the first setting to the seventh, but honestly it gets easier! You’ll see what I mean. Still definitely worth it. Honestly, you’re getting value for every cent you spend on these. I think what you’ll use them for may depend on the person, but they'll definitely come in handy if you need to look for things at night! Isn’t that the point? Def recommend. — Joe Moss
Get it from Amazon now: $49.99 & FREE Returns
7. CREATIVE XP - Best Night Vision Binoculars For Stargazing
Highlight: Designed for high intensity activities.
Helpful review: As a law enforcement officer, I’ve tested out my fair share of night vision binos, and I was excited to try these out, specifically for civilian, off duty work. And while these aren’t the best for heavy duty tactical effort, I’d say that most every day civilians will find it more than adequate. There are a ton of pros to this thing, and for the price–literally thousands of dollars cheaper than the military grade versions–you’re going to get more than you need. Personally, I use then for stargazing. It all depends on what you need them for. Anyway, here are my thoughts.
PROS:
- I so love how solid the casing on this thing is. It’s also a nice touch that it comes with a referral bonus. I usually never use those things on products, but this thing became such a hit with some of my coworkers, that referral came back and paid off.
- The design of these binos are durable and sturdy. Prob won’t go throwing it any brick walls or dunking in the bathtub, but honestly you can tell they’re well-made and would probably withstand normal wear and tear. I love how the memory card attachment and the hookup for the accessory is sealed so moisture can’t get in. A rubber housing covers each of the buttons too. It feels more expensive than it actually is.
- Honestly, the IR illuminator is better than name brand mounting lights that are twice the price.
- The focus was super easy to use and the image quality was awesome. The focus feature lets you clean up the image super easily, and there isn’t a huge extreme between up close and far away image quality like older models.
CONS:
There’s not much to complain about, but the display is definitely on the bright side, and you can’t dim it down, which is kind of annoying. Plus, you can’t really use it for head mounts. However, the customer service of this company is awesome, and when I reached out to them about these issues they assured me they’re working on these issues for future models.
Overall, I’d say it’s beyond worth the value. It’s probably worth double the cost and even with the two issues, I’d definitely buy it again! — Sam Hill
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns