ebay is risky ... in theory some deals are covered ... but putting that theory into practice is an uncomfortable additional step, if the deal goes bad and the other person already has your money. There is probably a reason ebay prices look lower than they should sometimes. That being said their are reputable dealers on ebay ... but that is not the case 100%. Learning about NV/Thermal also involves learning about the supply chain. If it was me, I would stick with the reputable dealers at first.
I have two PVS-14s and also two helmet mountable thermals. I used to use the 14s every time I went out ... and when I was driving I always wore the 14s in a dual mount ... poor man's goggles. But I've evolved into only wearing the 14s when needed. The moon is a giant flashlight in the sky, when it is there. I've spent entire nights (dusk to dawn) hunting and moving in the woods, without tripping, under a full moon and no PVS-14 used and had no problems seeing.
When I have no head mounted NODs, I just scan with the rifle mounted thermal .. by using a technique involving trying to keep my elbows against my body when holding up the rifle and gripping the 30rd magazine with the trigger hand when scanning and the support arm far to the rear on the forearm, I can hold the carbine up a lot without strain.
When I do wear head mounted NODs, I usually have 1xPVS-14 and one thermal up there ... either an ATN ODIN on the dual mount beside the 14 or a PAS-29/COTI clipped on to a single 14. These setups provide both NV and thermal together which allows for both navigation (with the 14) and critter detection/ID with the thermal. And both can be done hands free while moving, either on foot on driving on 4-wheeler.
As to seeing in the woods. My woods are thick and difficult to move in during the day, lots of fallen branches, sticker vines and sticker trees (Locust trees). But with moon and a 14 it is bright as day. With no moon, I can actually see better with the thermal in the woods than with the 14. Hence having both NV/Thermal provides safe navigation, whether driving or walking in most conditions and in conditions when just one would not work as well.
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A head mounted 14 is a good general purpose device. It can be used to navigate both driving and walking and can see through glass (thermal cannot) so can be used driving a vehicle with glass. The 14 can also be used in conjunction with a rifle mounted ir-laser to engage critters. A 14 can be mounted behind rifle scopes and spotting scopes to enable them to be used at night. There are even ways to mount 14 in front of scopes. A 14 is probably the most flexible NOD, but it is not designed to take recoil, so I only mount mine on a .22LR these days, in the rare cases when I mount to a weapon.
A new "class A" set up will probably cost around $5k. This includes a good bump helmet and good mounts and a decent ir-laser. A good PVS-14 can be had for around $3,000 with the mounts and helmet and ir-laser consuming about $2,000.
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ODIN, 17mm, 1x, 320(30) side by side with PVS-14 on head with TEO, Mk3, 35mm, 2.5x, 640(60) on carbine. This is approaching full kit for cool weather dusk to dawn hunt.
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I have both a bump and a ballistic. I got the ballistic a size too large. I can wear thick balaclava under it during cool half of the year ... lack of holes retains heat and also keeps out water. The bump is good in warmer half of the year .. holes make it cooler and it is a size smaller, so is tight without the thick balaclava. It can take a thin balaclava. I also have a Crye Precision night cap which is good for a single pvs-14 and nothing else. And I have a couple of skull crushers in the parts bin.
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PAS-29/COTI on PVS-14 on bump helmet with ODIN thermal on .22lr ... a coop patrol setup.
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Dual 14s on bump and a 3x magnifier slipped on one of the 14s. I use this primarily in conjunction with the LRF. Standing still, remove 3x from pouch and slipon 14, operate LRF with right hand, while flipping out the right hand 14. The left side 14 with the 3x can see the dot from the LRF, sometimes out as far as 800yds. The right eye reads the vis display.
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From the ancient archives ... 14 with 3x magnifier screwed on and behind EOTECH. I don't do setups like this anymore, but they can be done. The 14 is very flexible.
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