Thermal Monoculars & Binoculars
A thermal monocular is the tool most night hunters reach for first: you scan a field, find every coyote, hog or deer by its heat, then decide where to set up or whether to raise the rifle. This category holds the handheld thermal monoculars and thermal binoculars we carry, from pocket-size scanners to 1280 binoculars with laser rangefinders.
Monocular or binocular
A monocular is smaller, lighter and quicker to pull out, and you keep one eye adjusted to the dark. A binocular is easier on your eyes during long scanning sessions and more comfortable for watching an animal for minutes at a time. Binocular options include the Nocpix Quest H35R, Quest H50R and Quest S50R 1280, and the Pulsar Merger LRF XP50, XL50 and XQ35.
How to choose
- Resolution: 384 units like the Nocpix Lumi L19 are compact and light; 640 models like the Nocpix Lumi H35R and Vista H35R show more detail; 1280 models like the Nocpix Vista S50R resolve the most.
- Lens size: small lenses give a wide view for close cover, larger lenses reach across open ground.
- Rangefinder: LRF models, such as the Pulsar Telos LRF, RIX Titan T6 and PARD SA62-45 LRF, read distance before you move.
- Hybrids: the Nocpix Mini 2 H25 combines thermal and night vision, and the Nocpix Slim H35 works as a monocular or a riflescope.
For hands-free scanning, look at the Helmet Mountable units and pair them with our helmet mounts. If the rifle needs a thermal too, compare our thermal scopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a thermal monocular work in daylight?
It does. A thermal monocular detects heat, so daylight doesn't stop it, and it is great for finding deer bedded in shade or hogs in tall grass. Contrast drops on hot afternoons when the ground warms up, so the cleanest daytime images usually come early and late in the day.
What are some good thermal imaging binoculars for hunting?
Among the binoculars we carry, the Nocpix Quest line covers a wide range: the H35R and H50R use 640x512 sensors with LRF, and the S50R steps up to 1280. Pulsar's Merger LRF XP50, XL50 and XQ35 are the other main family. Both put a rangefinder in a two-eye housing built for long scanning sessions.
Why use a monocular instead of binoculars?
Size, weight and speed. A monocular rides in a pocket or on a lanyard, comes up with one hand, and leaves your other eye adjusted to the dark. That makes it the better tool for quick scans between calling sequences. Binoculars win when you plan to watch the same field for long stretches.
Are thermal monoculars worth it?
For most night hunters, yes. Finding animals is the hard part after dark, and a thermal monocular shows you every warm body in a field in seconds without moving the rifle. Many hunters buy one before a thermal scope, then keep using it to scan once the scope is on the gun.
How far can a thermal monocular see?
Detection range depends on the sensor, the lens and the size of the animal, and makers list it model by model. Larger lenses and 640 or 1280 sensors reach farther. Spotting a warm shape happens much farther out than telling what it is, so judge a monocular by its identification distance.
