THE CAGE
NIGHT VISION
where you are! ITAR plays a big part in
what can be shipped between countries,
and indeed some technologies may well
still only be available to professional
users and the military, so beware “that
guy online” who tells you that you can
have the very latest Gen 4 kit! Where
has this come from? It is not unknown
for unscrupulous individuals to offer
stolen goods - as stories within the
community have sadly proved over the
years.
CAGE UP!
So with all this in mind the questions
that I posed for the team this month
were “Do you use Night Vision Devices
and what place do they have in
airsoft?”What happened next was a
surprise even to me!
Scott: “I’ve got dual white phos tubes.
They’re fine for larger events like Stirling
(MilSim) games, but for me, only slower
paced games. A big torch always wins!”
Callum: “Other than MilSim 24hr games
not sure I see the point of them tbh,
despite how cool they look!”
Steve T: “I know this is an unpopular
opinion amongst players than can afford
and own NV, but I also know a lot of
players that would agree it’s the airsoft
equivalent of pay-to-win in videogames.
Of course, players can spend as much
as they want on their kit but when NV
costs more than many players can afford
to spend on their primary and secondary
combined, then it’s no longer a level
playing field. Night games are zero fun
if only one side can afford NV, because
it can make games so unbalanced
they’re almost pointless. Those with
the available budget are able to buy a
potentially unbeatable advantage - far
more so than the slight edge gained by
a new inner barrel or higher Rate of Fire
- and where’s the fun in that? There’s no
denying it’s incredible kit but good luck
to everyone taking on the NV overlords
with an el-cheapo flashlight for the
win...”
Iggy: “Night vision does have a place in
airsoft, in the bigger MilSim games and
events. I personally don’t have any but I
don’t mind them at all.... a useful aid.”
Phil: “If you have the cash and want
them then go for it. It’s your money.
I can certainly see the advantages of
them having had the opportunity to look
through some on a couple of occasions
though. I can’t afford them and I did
want some but I have played one night
game and zero 24/48hr MilSims in over
25 years, so they’d only be a fashion
accessory!”
Baz: “We’ve used some pretty high-
end gear and I have to say it’s a game
changer, but it makes it all pointless if
the other team doesn’t have it. You can
see as far as you can in daylight but in
the pitch black. And you don’t even
need the IR torch. It’s incredible. This is
Milsim though, where guys generally
spend more on their kit…”
Stef: “I use the Sionyx camera with
night vision and an IR lamp on nights
with little or no light. I use this camera
all at MilSims.”
Turgay: “In Turkey we can’t use it, it’s
forbidden to use night vision; even Gen1
is not useable!”
Rob: “I have used night vision from low
grade, through to full dual-tube Gen
3 and FLIR at games BUT never at the
advantage of when others don’t have
NV. At large events it is common so yes,
at smaller games I had tended to use
it to catch people cheating (there are
always a few) like those who go out of
bounds etc. My stance is it shouldn’t be
like entering a cheat code!”
Sean: “Night vision and thermal devices
are pretty popular in Canada. At any
event where there’s a dark room or night
time action you’ll probably see them
show up. Anything from single and dual
tube amplification devices, thermal clip-
ons or scopes and Sionyx cameras could
be present. Cost is the primary limitation
for most people. With the US as our
closest neighbour and exports of ITAR
restricted items being heavily controlled,
night vision can easily cost thousands
more than it does south of us. Tactically
and strategically speaking, night vision
shifts the dynamic of events. There’s still
a belief by non-users that it is a magical
and unstoppable force and you can see
that in the way behaviours change when
the sun goes down. It’s definitely not
magical and it can be easily defeated but
very few groups organize well enough
to make that happen. There are some
really fun events here that prohibit these
devices in order to encourage everyone
to fear what goes “bump in the night.”
It’s a dynamic technology and it’s
interesting to see it evolve for airsoft!”
Now, I have “abridged” the conversation
that went on in our “virtual team room”
as, believe it or not, some bad language
“may” have been used as we thrashed
out our feelings as a group. I believe I
can sum up though and tell you that
there are concerns about how NV can
create a “cost ceiling” between players
but we do, although not with utter
consensus, agree that NV most definitely
has its place in airsoft… in the correct
setting where opponents have access to
the same technology if they wish.
Airsoft, it seems, is sometimes all
about the gear and as Sean rightly points
out, just having top-end NV doesn’t
amount to much if you’re not using
it correctly in a tactical sense and as a
cohesive team. However, as a largely
OPFOR-focused player these days, I
can honestly say that it really doesn’t
bother me personally, as I’ve been on
the receiving end of “moons out, goons
out” on numerous occasions and it
makes it all the sweeter when you pop
a proper night ambush on the “Gen 3
Warriors” and come out victorious (I find
a big strobe taclite and an PKM helps)!
As we Brits say, “If you want to spend
your money that way and it enhances
the enjoyment of your gameplay, then
crack on!” AA
“I’VE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF “MOONS OUT, GOONS OUT” ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS
AND IT MAKES IT ALL THE SWEETER WHEN YOU POP A PROPER NIGHT AMBUSH ON THE “GEN 3
WARRIORS” AND COME OUT VICTORIOUS (I FIND A BIG STROBE TACLITE AND AN PKM HELPS)!”
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