So which product is best for a kid? Well, our suggestion is to select something that's going to be durable enough to put up with a bit of knocking around, yet has enough fun features to keep it interesting.

As a starter, the Condor-1 is a great little scope. The optics are reasonable, it's lightweight, has an integrated hand strap (reducing to possibility of drop damage) and it doesn't need batteries. All you have to do is point-and-squeeze - the scope has a built-in power generator that powers it up whenever it's needed.

If "rugged use" doesn't even start to describe what kind of punishment they'll be dishing out, the Argo-3 has the real advantage of being 100% waterproof. They dropped it overboard? Not a problem - the Argo-3 floats!

If your kid's like us and they think those evil Borg dudes from Star Trek look pretty cool with those one-eyed mono-goggles, then you should think about the Viper-1.

It's our best priced mono-goggle, has a good optics package and best of all it mounts to a headset to let them wear it hands-free. All the better to chase the cat around in the dark. Here kitty, kitty!

Bottomline, night vision is loads of fun and your kid is gonna' love it!