My son wants to get into night hunting hogs and coyotes so obviously I can now justify a ridiculously expensive thermal. I live in Amarillo. So it is pretty open. Most of my shots will be between 125-250 yards, with the occasional 300+ shot.

I have narrowed down my options to either a NOX 35 or XRF. This will be my only thermal. I like the NOX 35 because it's small, light, has good FOV and doesn't have recording gear.

The XRF with the higher base mag would be better for coyotes and the RF would be nice to have, but it has the recording gear I really don't want, is much larger and heavier.

Both of these have been out for a little while now, so I am a bit hesitant, thinking something new that will make me want to sell and upgrade will come out soon. Taking a nice loss.

Also made in USA is important to me. I wouldn't mind a Pulsar, but I am sure as he'll not putting a chicom thermal on my rifles.

Which would you guys lean towards and why? Or would you look at a different option altogether?

If you're only getting one the nox is a lot more versatile. If you take the weapon mount off (2 screws) it's quite compact and will fit in a coat or cargo pocket. Another difference is noxs have manual focus while I'm pretty sure the xrf is auto. Probably not a big deal in the wide open but I prefer manual.

For what it's worth I think Pulsar is a Euro company.

 The XRF is an amazing coyote scope. However, with that said the XRF is heavy and designed to be used on a weapon. If you wish to pop it off and use as a handheld at times, the NOX35 is the much better choice. The NOX35 is also a better hog/coyote combination scope unless trying to be a sniper and shooting hogs at longer distances. You will appreciate the more generous FOV of the NOX35 when you shoot a hog and the group scatters. The NOX 35 has a bit more magnification than a Bering Optics Super Yoter 35, and I consider that a 300-yard scope. With that good BAE sensor in it, the NOX35 should be very capable of a 300+ yard shot on occasion.

N-Vision is a US company with a US sensor. As far as Pulsar, they are typically assembled in Lithuania and they have a French Ulis/Lynred sensor. I have a quote from Pulsar saying they have zero Chinese components in their scopes. This is a hard thing to say. N-Vision won't even make that claim, but N-Vision is one of the most US-centric thermal companies out there. If buying US is important to you, then N-Vision is a very strong option. However, as mentioned, Pulsar is not "chicom" as you called it.

Night Goggles is an ARFcom sponsor, and we carry N-vision, Pulsar, and Bering Optics. Feel free to send me a PM if you want to dig into the N-Vision options more, and.or if you wish to discuss Pulsar and/or Bering Optics as well. My job as a Product Specialist with Night Goggles is to test equipment and then work with customers to find the best fit for them.

Thanks for the help! Looks like I need to look for a good deal on a NOX 35!

So I ended up buying a used Nox 35 off snipershide. I am really impressed with the versatility of this thermal. The size of it for the performance you get is great. I can scan with it, then put it on my rifle when I see something. In a perfect world, I would have a nox 18 bridged with a pvs 14 on a bump helmet, and a dedicated weapon sight like an XRF. For now I wanna keep both kidneys. If only owning one thermal I think the Nox 35 is tough to beat. The RTZ is dead on. I went 5/5 with a 40% ipsc target at close to 250 yards. Really happy with this so far!

I have a Nox18 and love it. Would like to get a Nox35 someday.

I'm the reverse.  I have a Nox 35 and I can't wait to get a NOX18 for certain weapons that really would benefit from the 1X base magnification.  The cores in these things are marvelous.