Introducing The AVP Pocket Scope

A few years ago, we were exploring the idea of bringing an optic to market and were astonished by the prices in the marketplace. One segment in particular, the handheld monocular segment, was particularly egregious. With prices ranging from $180 to $400, we were quite confident that we could bring something comparable to market that offered a significantly better value. This video below compares the image quality of a $180 competitor product with our optic which retails for $45.

Originally called the Z-Pro tactical scope, we started developing a prototype of a monocular which we hoped to be the ultimate compromise between functionality and performance. It was destined to be lightweight, durable, and to offer the same exact performance as many competing optics. We also wanted it to be an EDC item for everyone. Whether you're a police, a hiker, a photographer, or just a bird watcher - the Z-Pro had a spot in your pocket.

We quickly ran into problems during development. For example, how were we going to prevent fog? How were we going to prevent moisture from accumulating behind the lens? Most people would suggest rubber seals but this proved to not be as effective as we had thought. Instead, we had to pressurize the optic from the inside out using nitrogen gas. This outward pressure, combined with the rubber seals, proved to be the only way to keep moisture out. 

While the product was in development, we noticed a new product on the market: a miniature phone lens. These dinky little lenses were essentially miniature telescopes which could be clipped on to the front of a smartphone to provide telescopic functionality. The product itself suffered from build quality issues but the foundation of the idea was brilliant. This unlocks a whole new world of digital applications which you can use in conjunction with your scope.

This prompted us to try something similar with the AVP Pocket Scope. Despite it being a bit cumbersome, our tests showed that the combination was indeed quite effective. The massive lens of the AVP allowed us to capture far more light than what would normally be possible with the smartphone. It also allowed us to layer the smartphone's digital zooming capabilities with the optical zooming capabilities of our AVP Scope. What initially seemed like a novelty or a gimmick turned out to be a highly effective tool that could be added to anyone's every day carry (EDC)

After many iterations, we finally have a version which strikes the perfect balance between price and performance. The internal frame is constructed from the same aeronautical metals found in our flashlights. The optic is constructed entirely from glass - not plastic resin like in many competing optics. Lastly, the exterior is coated in a hard shelled marine vinyl which repels water (similar to those miracle fabrics) and retains grip even in wet conditions.

We truly believe the AVP Pocket Scope is one of the most competitive optics on the market. The performance, build quality, and utility is something you can not find in competing optics at this price.