Before you buy Gen 1 or something similar...

[Lowdown3]

Back in the long, long ago, in the before before time.... pre-NV we used to get a lot done at night in the field without NV and God forbid you used white light...

Often times now we look for something to "buy" instead of focusing on skill development. Before I spent a couple hundred on some Gen I unit that won't likely see much use, I would consider just spending some time in the woods at night with no NV and learn to use your God given NV (Mark I eyeballs) at night.

A big problem we see at our NV classes is people just getting a little freaked out at night. Most folks live in a suburban or urban environment. Their idea of going out at "night" involves- going into their well lit garage, turning on their Super Halogen Retina Burner 4000 headlights on their car, driving to a well lit parking lot and walking 50 yards to a well lit store. For most people, that's the extent of their familiarity with "night" conditions. So many get this false idea that they are used to night conditions.

Then they come to class. It's in the middle of the swamps, 30 miles from any town, 2 miles from the nearest streetlight in the middle of nowhere. It gets dark, then it's gets darker. There are sounds they aren't familiar with (some swear they hear banjos) , terrain they aren't familiar with, they may or may not have a lot of experience with their NV so that may give them a little confidence or even take away (at first) a little confidence in them.

While we rarely take long breaks at class, we have often just stopped a group of students and took a few minutes to talk about this stuff and try to get certain folks to relax a bit. Sometimes we can see or feel certain folks getting a little amped up due to the dark. That's when you take a few minutes to breathe, calm your psyche down, etc. You can't learn well in that state.

Just going out into the woods and sitting in the dark for an hour or so, listening to the sounds, taking in the sights, etc. will help you build confidence. Learn to walk around and feel with your feet, wherein you are not constantly looking down.

Spending some time doing things like that is better than wasting $400. on some Gen 1 trash that isn't going to viable to use. Put that money in the cookie jar and keep saving for a PVS14. You'll be glad you did.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

"(some swear they hear banjos)" LMAO....

It is amazing what sounds occur in the woods, day and night if you listen to the quiet. Thing is, at night you have lost one of your senses (sight) so you have to rely on other senses to work overtime. Things can be scary unless you have done it before...

[prc-104]

What's good with NV is a pair of the amplified earmuff hearing protectors with a mike on each ear.
Wow, with them turned up full and goggles up, you hear the bugs crawling in the grass and you pretty much own the night.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

So southernprepper1 just posted a vid last night where he gave two thumbs up for NV, he uses PVS14s. He praised JRH and promoted the company. He said NV is the best, in his opinion, force multiplier you could own. So look into your gun safe, and get rid of a few guns as you can only shoot one at a time, and get some NV from JRH. SP1 also said the Dbal is another thing to pair with the NV...I would agree...I think my 14 and dBal2 is my best force multiplier. I bought mine from JRH Enterprises and have trained with them for years.

Then, once you jet your 14s, go beef up your medical supplies...sell one more gun if needed...