By now the thermal trend is well-documented, and you’re no doubt seeing it in your stores — more and more hunters are using thermal optics for scouting, game recovery and night hunting (where legal). This trend is here to stay, and it’s only going to get bigger, but if you’re not selling thermal optics, you might be wondering where to start.
It’s always a smart idea to stock a variety of options and price points, of course, but be careful with bargain-basement thermal optics. The quality and durability isn’t always there, and thermal is new enough to the market that first-time buyers might not be fully educated on what to look for. If they default to the cheapest option because they don’t know any better, it could reflect poorly on you and your store if the optic doesn’t meet their expectations.
One way to introduce new customers to thermal while balancing price and quality is with a thermal monocular like Armasight’s Sidekick. Versatile and fast to use, monoculars are packed with all the advantages of a company’s thermal technology but at half the size of a binocular, and thus can be made less expensively. The Sidekick’s size makes it lightweight and easy to carry, or it can be helmet-mounted for hands-free use. In fact, Armasight calls the Sidekick the smallest fully multi-functional 12-micron 320/640 thermal imaging monocular on the market. It weighs less than 250 grams, with an ULTEM composite body and an ergonomic design.
A handheld monocular is incredibly helpful for hunters who are scouting, scanning for game to pursue to searching for downed game. Because it “sees” through darkness, fog and light brush, thermal imaging will allow your customers to find game that wouldn’t be visible to the naked eye. And with only three buttons that are simple and intuitive to use, the Sidekick is accessible to even the newest thermal user.
Of course, light weight and a value price are only as good as the quality of the unit, and this is where Armasight really delivers. With a 60Hz frame rate, you can expect smooth operation and industry-leading visual acuity, based on Armasight’s Iron Wolf thermal technology platform. The high-definition 1024x768 OLED display with image detail enhancement will show hunters a crisp image, with key information overlaid on the screen. Multiple color palettes are available according to the user’s preference.
The other advantage to smart optics like this is a host of electronic features, such as USB video streaming, video recording and image capture capabilities, a built-in compass, and a battery status indicator. One-touch in-unit video recording lets your customers capture all of their hunting and scouting experiences without fumbling with complicated controls. They can even plug the Sidekick up to an external device with a USB-C interface.
As for battery life, users can expect an hour and a half runtime on a single CR123A battery and five and a half hours on two batteries with the included battery extender. And since batteries are easily swapped out in the field, your customers can hunt all night if they carry a few batteries — no more stopping after a few hours to plug the unit into a USB charging station.
Armasight’s Sidekick comes in two models with either the ArmaCore 320 or the ArmaCore 640. The 320 retails for $2,299 and the 640 for $3,299; while neither is bargain-basement cheap, both are built for quality and value, and for the customer who wants a fast, lightweight thermal tool that won’t let them down when it counts the most, the Sidekick is a solid option you can sell them. And it’s designed and assembled in the USA.
