I’ve been thinking about making the plunge into a dual tube system for a while now and would like some info/advice on how big of an improvement (depth perception/FOV) I would expect to see going from a single PVS14 system to maybe a TNV/Sentinel setup.

I have also considered going the thermal route with a really nice clip-on system that could pull double duty as a handheld unit but I am torn on whether I should go thermal or upgrade to a dual system. I’m sure that there are quite a few folks here that have agonized over the same thing. For those that have gone one way or the other do you have any regrets?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Get both.





That is all.

LOL yeah, I knew that was coming...

Thermal.

'Cuz I say so.  

Came here to post this....

A small minority (like me) does not consider dual tubes to be an "upgrade", and they will do nothing to improve the field of view; in fact, they tend to reduce peripheral vision.  Thermal and I^2 are complimentary technologies, and with both you will have enhanced versatility.

I have anvis9,  and wish I could transition between the thermal scope and nvg without having to flip them up and down contiuously. I am putting together a pvs14 now and the anvis will be sitting in the back of the safe . I am thinking that running the pvs14 on my non dominant eye and being able to shoot with the thermal scope without flipping everything around will be as close to ideal as I can get. Once you see the big advantage of thermal you will never want to go back to nvg only. I sold my first thermal with the intention of buying one of the new scopes. I didnt realize they were pre order only at the time. I was without thermal for a month waiting for the scope. Hunting during that time without thermal was just not the same. So I say get a thermal. Dual tube is great for driving, riding a mountain bike, ATV, etc, but not necessarily a more successful hunt like a thermal.

If you have a PVS14 already, your next move should be thermal.  For detection it is an absolute game changer.  In your shoes I'd do the 35mm thermal Vic recommended.

Also, I have and like my dual system (Sentinel).  It is my first out system now.  The eye strain is MUCH lower than my PVS14.  I do give up some peripheral vision in exchange, but over longer periods of time my head thanks me for it.  Thus, the end point answer is get both.

PVS14 --> Thermal --> Dual I2

Thanks much,

How well would the IRD Hunter MK II work as a standalone thermal monocular?

It would "work" but not very well. I'd get an x320 or HD19s. A big, honkin' scope like that is unwieldy at best.

If you want to go higher-end for a monocular, get an Insight MTM or a FLIR M18 (or track down some Unobtanium).

What's your budget for thermal?  That's what you need.

I have been slowly building myself up to budget around a T50 to T70 range thermal, but I was originally looking to get into a dual NVG system. With some of the suggestions here I am now leaning more toward a thermal unit.

If I were you I'd go thermal over dual NVGs.  Thermal changes the whole equation in your favor.  If you are looking at higher end thermal devices, you should look into the L3/Insight LWTS unit as one of your options.  Check out my thread if you wind up considering that unit.  I couldn't be happier w/ the unit and it works great as a handheld as well.  It has an incredible picture and a nice large FOV.

I'll bet if you asked nicely CTM1 would let you steal his FLIR T50 for a song. Don't ask me how I know.  

At this point I am not sure that I would part with it as I just flat out like looking at it and fondling it.  
Now if there was only a way to hang laundry off of it like my treadmill