The Differences Between Night Vision Monoculars vs. Binoculars: Which is Better?

Are monoculars better than binoculars? For years now, there has been a debate between hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts regarding monoculars vs binoculars and which is better. This debate gets even more interesting when narrowed down to a night vision monocular vs binocular scope. You probably have your own opinion on the subject already, and while some may think the answer is obvious, we wanted to take the time to go over the differences between monoculars vs binoculars and present our case for which we think is better.

The Difference Between Monocular and Binocular

The difference between monocular and binocular products should be pretty obvious to anyone familiar with Greek and Latin prefixes, even if they've never used either product before. "Mono" means "one" in Greek, while "bi" means "two" in Latin. Catching on yet? Monocular scopes have one lens that you'd look through with one eye, whereas binoculars have two lenses you look through with both eyes. You can think of monoculars as if they were a pair of binoculars that were cut in half.

With the difference between monocular and binocular products clarified, let's move on to which one is better.

Monoculars vs Binoculars: Which is Better?

When it comes to NVG monoculars vs. binoculars and determining which is better, there are several factors to consider. Binos have much more general application and can be used in just about any situation where you need optical enhancement, but the two lenses can present some problems. More doesn't always mean better, and in this case, the two lenses mean it may take you a longer time to focus than if you were using a monocular. Binoculars are also much larger and heavier than monoculars, making them uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. The size of monoculars means they're also less expensive and more convenient to carry around with you. Many scopes can also be mounted to a firearm like a rifle, giving them more functionality than binos.