7 best thermal imagers for hunting

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Thermal imagers react to body heat in the form of infrared radiation. It is not visible to the human eye, but thanks to the optics with germanium coating, it is captured and fed to the matrix to draw the silhouette of a living creature. This allows you to see moving and static objects that generate heat. Unlike night vision goggles, they are not dazzled by sudden light. Our experts studied various models and ranked the best thermal imagers for hunting with optimal performance and positive feedback.

The best thermal imagers for hunting

When hunting in rain, fog, snow or twilight, it is quite difficult to detect prey without additional funds. Even when hunting, you often have to overcome long distances, climb on a hill or lie down, so the devices used must be strong and hardy. Here is a rating of just such thermal imagers, with which you can not only travel or watch your livestock in the pasture at night, but also hunt.

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best thermal imagers for hunting	1	Pulsar Trail XQ50	RUB 298,500
	2	Dipol TG1	RUB 400,000
	3	ATN OTS-HD 384 4.5-18X	RUB 311,000
	4	GUIDE IR510P	RUB 79,000
	5	FLIR Scout TK	RUB 60,000
	6	Seek Thermal Compact PRO	RUB 49,900
	7	FORTUNA GENERAL GOGGLES 40S3	RUB 351,000

Pulsar Trail XQ50

Rating: 4.9

An expensive thermal imager in a sealed housing, optimally suited for use on the hunt. The device has a high resolution of 384×288 pixels, providing a clear picture. To calibrate the sensor, you can use manual, semi-automatic or automatic mode. For viewing objects at a great distance, a digital zoom of up to 10.8 times is provided. You can use the sight at temperatures from -20 to + 50 degrees. The owners in the reviews confirm that all connectors on the case are protected by rubber plugs and it can withstand shocks up to 6000 J, including shots.

The experts ranked this model as the best thermal imager for dynamic hunting. Thanks to the design of the sight with fixation to the rifle, it can be easily attached to the weapon in order not only to search, but also to fire. The 50Hz refresh rate will allow you to see the picture without 'hovering' and not to lose sight of a fast moving target, such as a running deer.

Advantages

• a wide rubber eyelet that covers glare;
• the lens has its own flip cover;
• perfect image;
• detects objects at a distance of 1350 m.

disadvantages

• it is required to recharge the battery before each hunt;
• adds 620 g weight to the rifle, so you need to get used to the platoon;
• there should be enough time between the purchase and the first hunt to understand the many settings ('Frame in Frame', 'Zero Point Memory', etc.).

Dipol TG1

Rating: 4.8

This is a product of Belarusian origin with a high-aperture 75 mm lens. There is a video output on the side to connect a monitor and see the search results on it. Users note in the reviews excellent picture transmission dynamics thanks to the 50 Hz refresh. The matrix resolution of 384×288 pixels gives a clear and crisp image. The design of the thermal imager in the form of binoculars allows you to completely immerse yourself in the search and look with two eyes. The thermal imager is powered by three batteries, and when they are discharged, it signals with an indicator.

Experts recommend this thermal imager from the rating as the best for long-term ambushes in one place and monitoring in order to identify places of the night or watering of animals. You can hunt with it at temperatures down to -40 degrees. If the hunter has poor eyesight, then the thermal imager can be adjusted for diopters from -4 to +4. The device is well suited for static observation from one place on the hunt due to the detection range of 1700 m.

Advantages

• the possibility of increasing by 5x;
• a tripod socket is provided;
• color screen with a resolution of 800×600;
• when the battery is discharged, you can connect an external power supply (portable battery).

disadvantages

• bulky and inconvenient with frequent ambush changes due to the dimensions of 241x139x87 mm;
• high price;
• weighs 1.1 kg due to the aluminum body;
• people with different visual acuity in each eye will not be comfortable (it is impossible to adjust each eyepiece separately).

ATN OTS-HD 384 4.5-18X

Rating: 4.7

British thermal imager with 50mm lens. Has a front protective cover with an elastic band, frame clarity control and a powerful Obsidian T II processor. A smart gadget for hunting is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can look not only through the eyepiece, but also broadcast the data to the screen of your phone or tablet. For this, an application has been developed for all operating systems. The sensor has a resolution of 384×288 pixels for high-definition image transmission.

Our experts liked this thermal imager for hunting in several ways. The device has a zoom that allows you to zoom in on the object up to 18x, which helps to see it more accurately. The left side of the screen shows the distance to the target, which is critical when firing to make corrections. The electronic module is connected to the GPS satellite, so the route of movement is kept in the memory and it is possible to track where the herds of animals were seen, indicating the places on the map. All this gave him a well-deserved place in the ranking of the best.

Advantages

• image stabilization;
• the ability to configure from the remote control without touching the device;
• detection up to 1500 m;
• video recording with sound.

disadvantages

• cannot be mounted on a rifle – a separate sight is required;
• sky-high price;
• black and white image.

GUIDE IR510P

Rating: 4.7

Another British thermal imager with a small 19 mm lens and a weight of 305 g. Allows to recognize large animals, such as wild boar, from a distance of 500 m. For better visibility, there is an 'Isotherm' function that highlights the warmest zones in red. The model is equipped with a video output for wired connection to a monitor, as well as a Wi-Fi module for wireless data transmission. If you wish, you can shoot a video or take a photo in JPG format. Despite the small lens, the thermal imager is capable of zooming in up to 2x and 4x. According to reviews, it is especially enjoyable to see the picture on it thanks to the latest generation of LCD with silicon crystals.

We ranked the thermal imager among the best for its robust, thick-walled housing that resists impacts well. The manufacturer carried out its own tests by dropping the device from a height of 1 m. It also has a laser pointer that can be used for hunting as an alternative to a sight at close distances.

Advantages

• protective cap for the lens;
• comfortable rubber eyepiece;
• lanyard for hanging on the wrist;
• the buttons are arranged in a row and, having memorized their sequence, you can enter the settings without looking.

disadvantages

• small storage pouch does not have a loop for fixing on the belt;
• not for long distances;
• works autonomously for only 5 hours;
• one USB connector does not allow charging the battery and transferring data via the cable at the same time.

FLIR Scout TK

Rating: 4.6

One of the cheapest thermal imagers used for hunting. The display has a resolution of 640×480 pixels, and the lens is 14 mm in diameter. The Vox Lepton sensor detects any heat at a distance of 150m, and the case has a brightness and backlight adjustment key to improve the perception of the picture. Data can be transferred to a laptop via USB. This connector also serves to charge a 3500 mAh battery.

It is the most compact hunting monocle in the ranking with thermal imaging function. It is barely larger than a clenched palm and weighs only 170 g. The rubberized body can be dropped into water and onto hard surfaces from a height of 120 cm (tested by the manufacturer). But the recognition range is only 150m and the frame rate is 9Hz, so we recommend this product for beginners to get basic skills when hunting at night.

Advantages

• a neat cap on the lens;
• wide eyepiece;
• Snapshot or video recording with one keystroke;
• water-proof USB connector.

disadvantages

• a modest matrix 160×120 pixels;
• poor picture quality with blurry outlines;
• narrow viewing angle of 20 degrees;
• sold without power adapter.

Seek Thermal Compact PRO

Rating: 4.5

This is a product of American origin made in the form of a small camera. The device contains a thermal imaging camera with a matrix, and the picture is transferred directly to the screen of another device, since the thermal imager does not have its own monitor. This design made it possible to significantly reduce the price, but affected the ease of use. The model is delivered in a sturdy case, convenient for transportation to the hunting area. The matrix picks up the temperature in the range from -40 to +330 degrees.

Our experts singled out this thermal imager as the cheapest in the rating. If you really want to hunt in twilight or dense fog, but the budget is limited, then this is the best choice for the price. But the frame rate of 15 Hz allows it to be used for searching and observing only quietly grazing animals, not moving ones.

Advantages

• light weight 14 g;
• viewing angle 32 degrees;
• compact dimensions 44x25x25x mm;
• video recording and adjustable focus.

disadvantages

• no own eyepiece – you just need to connect to the monitor;
• it is impossible to aim – the device will only help to detect prey;
• the USB connector is open and not protected from dirt when hunting;
• only compatible with operating system Android.

FORTUNA GENERAL GOGGLES 40S3

Rating: 4.5

Thermal imager in the form of glasses with two eyepieces and one common objective. Inside it is equipped with an Amoled display with a resolution of 800×600 pixels with a high-quality picture. Crystals work well even in freezing weather. The reviews show the convenience of quick adjustment of clarity and the possibility of both optical (3.3x) and digital zoom (2x, 4x). The frame rate of 50 Hz is suitable for observing fast moving animals.

Unlike bulky thermal imaging binoculars, this model made it to the rating thanks to its spectacle-shaped design. The thermal imager is attached to the hunter's head with an elastic band and allows you to have free hands for dynamic hunting (pursuing prey, climbing obstacles, quickly changing location). A wide 40 mm lens and a matrix resolution of 384×228 mm allow you to see everything around you clearly and widely.

Advantages

• fast lens with F / 1.0 aperture;
• completely free hands while hunting;
• durable aluminum body;
• silent calibration.

disadvantages

• high price;
• autonomous work no more than 5 hours;
• weight of 500 g is felt on the face;
• The case is waterproof to IP66, but the glasses must not be dropped into the water.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.