Best budget night vision scopes

Top pick: Night Owl NOXM50DG — the cheapest way into real night vision, with 3x magnification and 2x digital zoom for scanning fields and treelines. Its short run time (about 150 minutes) is the trade-off, so carry spares.

Who the others suit:

• NVG30 monocular — best for pure observation: light, wide 40° view, long battery life, and you can hand-hold it or mount it.
• NVG50 monocular — a step up in glass and build if you mostly watch rather than shoot.
• ZULUS HD V2 (3-12x or 5-20x) — the budget rifle-scope choice: 1080p sensor, 60 Hz, good eye relief for mounting on a rifle.
• ZULUS HD 3-12x with rangefinder — add a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator if you're shooting at distance.
• AGM Spectrum 4K Mini — compact 4K scope if you want more magnification range.
• ZULUS 4K and AGM Spectrum 4K LRF / Neith / Spectrum-IR — the premium tier; only worth it once budget stops being the point.

For hunting at night, check your state's rules on night-vision and IR use before you buy.