Budget Night Vision for Preppers
Some preppers need to know the difference between the gear they need versus the gear they want. You might be one of those people. Sure, we might think we want top-of-the-line everything, but let’s be real—most of us don’t have the funds to shell out thousands on high-end military-grade gear. When you’re prepping for the worst—whether it’s a hurricane, grid collapse, or a good ol' SHTF situation—you’ve got to prioritize where to spend and where to save.
First things first: you need to cover the basics like food, water, medicine, and security. No argument there. But when it comes to certain items, you can get away with bargain hunting. Bandages? You don’t need designer gauze. A coat? That surplus-store special will keep you just as warm. And when it comes to night vision? You can absolutely find affordable options that won’t leave you eating ramen for the next year.
Why Go Budget on Night Vision?
Night vision has always been one of those holy grail items on a prepper’s wish list, but let’s be honest—traditional, generational night vision gear can easily run you upwards of $5k. For that price, you could stockpile enough supplies to live off the grid for a month and have money left over for a good security system. The thing is, in a survival scenario, you’re not going to be using night vision goggles every day like you would a flashlight.
Night vision is there for stealth—whether it’s hunting, scouting, or just getting from point A to point B without alerting anyone (or anything) to your presence. So why break the bank for something you won’t be using every day, when you can get cheaper digital night vision that does exactly the same thing? It gives you a lot of the same advantages without obliterating your budget.
The Firefield Hexcore
If you’re looking for solid budget night vision, the Firefield Hexcore is where it’s at. Don’t let the price fool you—it might be $179.97 but this thing is no slouch. It’s packing a 1280x720 CMOS digital night vision sensor, so you’re not just seeing blurry shadows in the dark. The clarity is crisp enough that you could spot a raccoon trying to steal your last can of beans from 150 yards away, thanks to its built-in IR illuminator. And with the 640x360 TFT LCD display, you get great contrast, making sure you’re not mistaking a bush for a bear.
Want to capture what you’re seeing for later? The Hexcore’s got your back. It has a built-in video recorder that can record up to 11 hours of HD footage. Whether you're hunting game or just keeping an eye on your perimeter, you’ll have all the evidence you need in 1280x720 resolution. And yes, it takes photos too—so you can capture those survival moments in 720p glory.
The 1-3x digital zoom will bring distant objects into focus without you having to risk getting closer. Powered by four AA batteries, it gives you up to eight hours of daytime use—plenty for most scouting trips or nighttime patrols. Plus, if you’re after a hands-free setup, the included head mount converts it into night vision goggles, freeing up your hands for whatever else you need to do.
Why the Hexcore Makes Sense
For preppers, gear is about function, not flash. The Firefield Hexcore delivers solid performance at a fraction of the cost of those high-end military units. In a real-world disaster scenario, you don’t need to see in absolute pitch-black across a battlefield for several nights in a row, like what military night vision optics are designed for—you just need to see the immediate threats around you. The Hexcore gives you exactly that and more, without draining your budget dry.
So if you’re stocking up and want to make smart financial choices, don’t sleep on budget night vision. It’s one of the areas where you can get great performance without having to splurge.
To shop the Hexcore, click here.