Night vision binoculars? On a campervan trip? Surprisingly good

Could this be the outdoor accessory you never knew you needed? Find out what happened when Fi took a pair of Cigman Night Vision binoculars on a campervan road trip to Scotland.

Please note: I was gifted these binoculars free of charge by Cigman in return for an honest and open review.

I’ve often thought being able to see in the dark would be an advantage during my wild camping trips. No more worrying about what was making THAT noise or who owned THAT staring pair of eyes. Which is why, when I was offered the opportunity to get my first experience of night vision technology, especially in the super darkness of the Cairngorms National Park, I jumped at the chance.

At first sight, I found the Cigman CNVPRO Night Vision binoculars a bit daunting. With their impressive packaging and multiple buttons, they appeared to be made for someone with more experience than me. But, once I had sorted out which end to look through and read the user manual, I was proved wrong.

With modes for daytime, low light and darkness as well as video, photo and playback options and a flashlight, these binoculars offer lots of options and do take a bit of getting used to but the user manual explains each function really well and it only took me about half an hour to get the hang of the basics.

4/5 ****

PROS

Super clear night vision

Easy toggle between video and image capture

Durable build

Micro SD card included

Quick computer/device connection

CONS

Not a lightweight item

No carrying case

No built-in image stabilisation

For me, the high definition screen made viewing through these binoculars easy on the eyes. It took me a while to get used to the zoom and focus adjustments but once I had that sorted, I found them comfortable, if a bit heavy to use.

The included neck strap was comfortable and took the weight off my hands but, as I spent a fair amount of time enjoying views from the campervan window, I perhaps should have taken advantage of the option to fix a camera stand.

When it came to daytime viewing quality, these binoculars offered a similar experience to the small analogue pair we usually keep in the van with the added digital fun of video and photo capture.

Note: The image above was taken at a distance without the use of a tripod.

What a revelation my first experience with night vision was. I was amazed by how clearly I could see around me. Despite several night time sessions staring into the Scottish wilderness, I didn’t manage to spot any animals or birds but I did enjoy looking at the scenery in a different way, and we did have some fun filming each other creeping around.

The intuitive button system on these binoculars makes it easy to swap to infrared night vision mode. So easy that, once I had had some practice, I didn’t need to take my eyes away from the screen to make the switch.

One thing I did notice was a temporary reduction in my usual night vision levels when I took the binoculars away from my eyes. When I camp on my own, I tend not to use my torch in order to reduce the darkness of the shadows around me and I don’t think I would use these on solo trips for the same reason.

With company however, the Cigman Digital Night Vision binoculars were great fun and I’m sure, with a bit more time, better weather and perhaps a tripod, I would have been able to spot and capture on video some amazing night wildlife shots.

Whilst in Scotland we didn’t have the opportunity to try the wifi mode, which connects the binoculars to a phone app. Again with a tripod, I can see this would be super useful, enabling the user to stay in the warm and dry while the binoculars do the work outside. You can also use the app to capture photos and videos. I’m thinking of doing this to spot night time visitors to my allotment where there are rumours of badgers.

Who doesn’t want to be able to see in the dark? Even though I didn’t spot any wildlife (apart from Mr D. creeping around a dark car park), I thoroughly enjoyed trying and, had the weather been warmer, would have happily sat out on my camp chair well into the night. I also enjoyed having the ability to capture video and images, although the results prove I need a bit more practice at this.

Overall I loved the binoculars. They were on the bulky and heavy side so I won’t be carrying them far in my rucksack but this wasn’t a problem in the campervan. My only other issue might be one that is unique to me. I found that focusing on one narrow field of vision at night made me feel more vulnerable from the directions in which I wasn’t looking. Again, this wasn’t an issue from the comfort of the van and I think it would be something I would get used to over time.

The Cigman CNVPRO digital Night Vision binoculars are currently (October 2025) retailing at a reduced price of £187.00. When it comes to digital technology pricing, I’m no expert but I can tell you that I had an immense amount of fun using them and am confident of, one day, being able to capture some impressive footage.