So, I got my 31As from TNVC on Thursday. I think I might have pestered them so much about delivery times that they just gave in and sent them over even before they had them in inventory. I haven't had a lot of time on them yet, just about thirty minutes two times out, so it isn't much of a review, but here it goes.
So why did I get these? I have had 31s before, so I knew what I was getting, but the opportunity to have a set with a warranty was appealing to me. So with that as preamble, the goggles arrived exactly as you would expect them to. Full kit, packed nicely in the multicam bag. The two differences between this and others I have had, is that these came with spec sheets, and they came with the piece of mind that I knew L3 wanted me to have them, and that L3 would take care of them for me if something went wrong. For me, this is huge. It is probably unreasonable fear, but there you go. Anybody who knows me know that I am a little nuts.
So, how are they? They are great. The tubes are very clean with one small spot in one tube. They are 72 line pair, 37 and 37.1 SNR. The spot specs for these are, as far as I can tell, identical to UM L3s. The biggest difference, so far, is that there is almost no fixed pattern noise. As in you can't even find it if you look for it. Very impressive. The two nights I have been out have had moons, but I have been out after sundown and before moon up, so pretty dark conditions, though we have had good starlight. These are probably the brightest tubes I've seen through. I am never sure whether I think 31 optics are better or worse than 14s, but these are very clear. Driving a side by side with them, without additional IR was a piece of cake, and when I flipped on the 940s even better. As with all 31s, they are light and comfortable, and easy to wear. I haven't had them much under tree cover because we still have pretty damn deep snow, but soon.
So, it isn't much of a review, but I figured I better get it out, because TNVC was pretty damn awesome at getting these out to me quickly. I think I like 31s more than other goggles I have. I also really like my DTNVSs. What is great, though, is the piece of mind from having something that we were all wanting though were very hard to get clean, with warranty. The sheets are nice as well, though I am less of a stickler for sheets than some other people. Anyway, thanks to TNVC, Vic and my girl Jaimie. These came good and quick. Cheap I can't say, but there yougo.
snap some through the tube pics 