NVG-Alpha Night Vision Review - 6/4/2025
NVG-ALPHA Review - Why We Are Upgrading from the BNVD 1431 Mark 2
The NVG-ALPHA Is Now Our GO-TO Goggle For Gen 3 NVG
We at Adams Industries, Inc., were early adopters and advocates of the BNVD 1431 Mk2. It was a major step up from the original 1431, which was a budget goggle that always felt like it was trying to grow up. More than that, the BNVD 14313 Mk2 was a step forward for the entire industry – so much so that one of the “big boys” took extraordinary measures to full-stop the little goggle that DID – and they failed. When the 1431 Mk2 dropped, Argus fixed critical issues the original had and raised the bar while lowering the price for everyone else. For those of you who weren’t around or have forgotten: when the 1431 Mk2 came out, many (if not most) of its “high end” competitors were 3d printed, machined out of aluminum (heavy), or machined out of plastics that don’t really like the process (There was warping and an inclination to lose tolerances. Not speaking badly about what was available; it was simply where the industry was at the time. There was the real PVS-31, and then everything else). Argus gave the Mk2 better sealing, a reinforced pod design, true support for MX11769 and Photonis tubes, and internal improvements like longer IP screws, better dovetails, and programmable flip-off. The result was a step up and the first of the goggles that made us think, “I’m not sure I even need a real PVS-31 anymore.” Adams Industries took it a little further by correcting pod switch failures, reinforcing solder points, and assembling everything in an overpressured cleanroom before vacuum and nitrogen purge.
But the 1431 Mk2 left room for improvement, and it has arrived.
Why We Moved to the NVG-ALPHA Night Vision Goggle:
1. It’s Not a Mod; It’s a Purpose-Built Ground Goggle.
The NVG-ALPHA night vision goggle was designed from the ground up as a ruggedized, field-ready binocular. It’s not a look-alike in any way. In fact, some of the choices that may spark opinions are replies to real-world issues in the field. Is an aluminum bridge heavier? Why yes, it is. Is it worth it to have the hinge not wear out, so you don’t have to finish your airsoft game, pig hunt, or actual mission with half your goggle hanging like you had a NVG stroke? I think so, and I think other people will as well – but I already know there are those out there ready to argue the point vociferously.
2. The NVG-Alpha Is State of the Art, but Simple.
There is nothing you will need to do to your goggle in normal use scenarios that requires tooling beyond your multitool. That is a really good thing, and someday you may be very happy about it in the field.
3. It Got a Factory Wiring Upgrade.
I’d like to think we had something to do with this one. Wiring is now done so well that we really don’t need to mess with it. All the joints have proper wire relief (so they don’t pull too tight) and sharp edges to rub against have been eliminated. We will still check it all out as part of our meticulous assembly process (of course, plus I just wanted to say meticulous).
4. The NVG-Alpha Is Rugged as Hell.
Injection-molded nylon shell. 7075 aluminum IP stops. Steel bearings on all rotational points. It’s built like a tank, and it moves like a Bentley. Everything about the NVG-ALPHA is tighter and more survivable than the 1431. It’s also smoother and has that feeling of permanence in every configuration it’s put in.
5. It Has True Next-Gen Ergonomics.
The ALPHA isn’t just stronger; it’s also lighter and better balanced. Sure, you won’t feel it the first hour you wear them. Tell us how it compares after 4 hours under nods.
6. This Is the Apex of Affordable Night Vision.
The NVG-ALPHA isn’t a step in the right direction; it’s the destination. Until there is a major disruption in night vision technology, current design goggles are at the point where every benefit has a cost somewhere else. The NVG-ALPHA is at the pinnacle of this curve. It’s all just fiddling after this.
7. It’s Not Cheap. It’s Correct.
We’ve built cheap. We’ve built premium. This one’s just built right. With the cost of tubes these days, you shouldn’t be gambling on housing. The NVG-Alpha is the platform you don’t regret.
8. The NVG-Alpha Is Available.
In recent months, 1431 housings have experienced the same rollercoaster ride that all products made in China have. Availability and price uncertainty have made Chinese products a real pain to deal with for everyone. Truth is, some of the components in the NVG-ALPHA are made in China. Through the magic of the components they add in Canada, the addition of Canadian labor in the assembly process, and perhaps a touch of maple syrup, the NVG-ALPHA manages to ship to us without the schizophrenic tariffs we’ve recently been stuck with. So God bless Canada, eh?
Final Word On The Best Night Vision Goggles For The Money:
The 1431 Mk2 gave the world affordable dual tubes. The NVG-ALPHA earns its place as the next level with performance, design, and durability that the BNVD 1431 Mk2 never quite reached, even with our enhancements. For the investment, there really is nothing on the market to rival the NVG-ALPHA.
Display prices in:USD
