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The Best Night Vision Goggles For Nighttime Exploration

Last updated on May 17, 2023

We looked at the top 14 Night Vision Goggles and dug through the reviews from 30 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Night Vision Goggles.

Best Night Vision Goggles

Our Review Process

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If you’re an international spy who needs a new pair of night vision goggles to work under the cover of darkness, you’ve come to the right place. Not involved in espionage? No worries — night vision goggles are a great accessory for nighttime games, hunting and more.

Owls, foxes and other nocturnal mammals have stellar night vision, but their abilities don’t translate to humans. Luckily, night vision goggles can help you see clearly in the dark for hundreds of yards.

Night vision goggles work in a few different ways. Some goggles use a tactic called image enhancement. This grabs tiny amounts of ambient light from a source (like a person or a deer) to give you a nighttime view.  

You’re probably familiar with the way image enhancement looks in night goggles. It’s the classic green shade often featured in movies and TV shows when a character is sneaking around in the dark. 

Other goggles use thermal imaging to create night vision. Thermal imaging captures portions of the infrared light spectrum that we can’t normally see at night, then picks up on heat and uses it to create a grayish or blue image.

However, night vision goggles have come a long way from image enhancement and thermal imaging. Decades of research and development in night vision goggles have made the view clearer than ever.

Now, they can amplify much smaller amounts of light for a more detailed view, and it helps you become more aware of your surroundings. Color night vision goggles are becoming the norm.

Newer goggles can deliver crystal-clear views from a much greater distance than their predecessors. Some can help you see up to 1,000 feet away.

Some night vision goggles can also take photographs and record videos. Look for binoculars that have a microSD card slot to store any visuals you want to keep. They offer 7x magnification in darkness and 2x Digital Zoom create clear videos and photos that you’ll want to keep around. 

Many night vision goggles provide monocular vision. That means you’ll only see out of one eye when you’re using the goggles.

Other models let you see in the dark through both eyes. Binocular-style goggles are great for taking video or doing quiet outdoor activities like bird watching. Monocular styles often come with headgear for hands-free use.

You don’t want to ruin your new investment when faced with a sudden downpour. Look for a model that has a rugged, water-resistant design, as this will make a great addition to any outdoor adventure. Some night vision goggles also have a tough rubber exterior to protect against drops. 

Night vision goggles are amazing tools. If you’re having trouble deciding which goggles are best for you, our Tips & Advice will send you in the right direction.

Our Picks For The Top Night Vision Goggles

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

CREATIVE XP Zooming Night Vision Goggles

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

CREATIVE XP

Zooming Night Vision Goggles

These night vision goggles have a long battery life: up to 4 hours with the infrared setting on and up to 8 hours with it off. The goggles come with a neck strap, 32-gigabyte microSD card for capturing images, phone and computer card reader and a protective storage case.

Overall Take

Clear Photos and VideosThanks to the built-in 4-inch screen, you won't have any trouble viewing wildlife in their natural habitat with these night vision goggles.

 Runner Up

Fvtga Digital Screen Dual Use Night Vision Goggles

Fvtga

Digital Screen Dual Use Night Vision Goggles

Outstanding picture clarity is what you can expect from these high-quality night vision goggles. They are designed for use in both daylight and night darkness and come with three modes: photos, videos and playback. A neck strap, SD card and data cable are also included with the binoculars.

Overall Take

Two Color OptionsYou'll find these night vision goggles come in a choice of black or camo green.

 We Also Like

HEXEUM Hunting Photography Night Vision Goggles

HEXEUM

Hunting Photography Night Vision Goggles

Whether you're hunting, fishing or observing nature, these night vision goggles are an excellent buy. They come with a 32-gigabyte memory card to store all your stunning photos and videos. Top features include 3X optical zoom, 4X digital zoom, a 17 hour runtime and a sight distance of up to 94 feet.

Overall Take

Waterproof OptionSince these night vision goggles are waterproof, you'll find they are an excellent option near bodies of water or on nights when the weather is iffy.

 Strong Contender

CREATIVE XP Hiking Outdoor Night Vision Goggles

CREATIVE XP

Hiking Outdoor Night Vision Goggles

Complete darkness is no match for these top-notch night vision goggles. They're extremely versatile and can be used when hiking, fishing or camping, or for added security when needed. The googles are even available in a choice of black or green.

Overall Take

High-Tech PickIn addition to photos, you can use these night vision goggles to record videos with sound.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
21

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the night vision goggles available to purchase.
14

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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30

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: The Smart Consumer, Binoculars Guru, Night Gadget, Night Vision Gears, Range Expert.

7,969

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 14 Night Vision Goggles and also dug through the reviews from 30 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Night Vision Goggles.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Fvtga Digital Screen Dual Use Night Vision Goggles

User Summarized Score

8.8
874 user reviews

Our Take

Outstanding picture clarity is what you can expect from these high-quality night vision goggles. They are designed for use in both daylight and night darkness and come with three modes: photos, videos and playback. A neck strap, SD card and data cable are also included with the binoculars.

What to Look For

  • How will you use your goggles? If you’re looking for a pair that you can use while you’re hunting, you’ll want a hands-free design with a long focus range. Some models can be adjusted to fit perfectly on your head, and you can keep your rifle or other supplies at the ready. If you want something that has more bells and whistles to capture exciting moments at night, a feature-rich pair might be up your alley.
  • How often will you use your goggles? If you’re only going to trek around in the dark occasionally, a budget choice might be best. If you’re serious about hunting, fishing or camping, investing in the pricier model might be worth it.
  • Do you prefer a monocular set of night vision goggles or a binocular set? Monocular sets tend to be lightweight and easy to carry. They frequently come with a headset or lanyard for easy viewing. Binocular night vision goggles are heftier but have more accurate depth perception.
  • Modern night vision goggles have fun features like photography and video recording. Some also have an image capture option. Consider a model that has a high-resolution camera for both photographs and video, with an anti-glare coating on each lens for clearer images.
  • Taking care of your goggles is essential for their performance and longevity. Humidity can damage the goggles and create image distortion. If your goggles don’t already have built-in water resistance or weatherproofing, you’ll need to buy a case to protect them. Water can also sneak in if you replace your batteries in a damp area. A weather-proof battery case will keep your batteries dry as you change them out.
  • To clean your goggles’ lenses, use compressed air to knock out any debris. Then, you can use a disposable lens cleaning cloth from Nikon or other camera companies to gently wipe away smudges. And, make sure to always use your lens cover when you’re not using your goggles.

Night Vision Goggles Rankings

1. CREATIVE XP Zooming Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 1

2. Fvtga Digital Screen Dual Use Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

3. HEXEUM Hunting Photography Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

4. CREATIVE XP Hiking Outdoor Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 1

6. GTHUNDER LCD Screen Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 1

8. VABSCE No-Glow Long Battery Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 1

9. JStoon Long-Range Widescreen Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 1

10. Solomark Handheld Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 7

11. EyeClops Headgear Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 6

12. Bestguarder High Image Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 4

13. Sightmark Rifle Scope Lightweight Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 8

14. Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Goggles

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 11

More to Explore

If you think your night vision goggles are taking up too much room in your backpack, just be glad you weren’t one of the soldiers who relied on them in World War II. These first-generation night vision goggles needed massive infrared searchlights that had to be mounted on flatbed trucks. Instead of being a stealthy accessory, their sheer size made American soldiers an easy target for the enemy.

Luckily, night vision goggles improved dramatically over the years. The giant World War II goggles could amplify existing light by about a thousand times, but today’s goggles can amplify it by 50,000 times or more.

More to explore