Featuring:
Stefan Orman, Riccardo Tamburini
Estimated read time: 4 min.
Hunters come in all types – from dog handlers tracking wounded game in dense forests to mountain hunters scanning ridgelines for distant movement. When you plan to spend long hours outdoors, you need gear that is compact, reliable, and budget-friendly. That’s exactly what the Pulsar Axion Compact line delivers: a lightweight, dependable thermal monocular designed to meet the diverse needs of today’s hunters.
We spoke with two experienced users – Stefan Orman from Sweden, and Riccardo Tamburini from Italy – to learn what makes the Axion Compact line’s products a valuable tool in their day-to-day hunts.
Hunter's review
Lightweight design, maximum impact
In hunting, mobility often means success. Whether stalking quietly or hiking miles through rough terrain, carrying less is more. For Stefan, walking long distances to track wounded animals, weight and compactness are crucial.
Riccardo agrees, especially for hunters in mountainous regions:
“During stalk hunting, I walk in the woods with a small rucksack wearing also a bino harness where it’s possible to add some other small pockets to store helpful devices like a small thermal unit or a rangefinder. Quick and easy access to these devices is very important, as it helps minimize my movements that could otherwise alarm animals even from a great distance.”
Designed for diverse hunting styles
Axion Compact models are optimized for different hunting needs — from long-range precision to wide-area scanning:
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XG35: best for longer distances – 640×480 sensor + fine 12 µm pixel pitch = sharper detail
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XG30: ideal for scanning with slightly wider field of view and same high resolution (640×480)
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XQ30 Pro: best for shorter distances and higher humidity thanks to 320×240 sensor with larger 17 µm pixel pitch
“The XQ30 Pro and XG30 are my favorites because of their ~14° FOV,” Stefan explains. Also, he added that the XG30 is perfect for greater identification range.
Riccardo adds that even at extreme distances, the Axion Compact performs:
“For hunting in the mountains, it’s important to know whether there are animals nearby or far away, because often I’m looking for the right species, not just any animal. I’m also talking about very long distances, more than one kilometer, and the Axion Compact is perfect for that.”
Hunter's review
Awareness at a glance
A wide FOV of the Axion Compact series “is the most important feature,” according to Stefan. It allows the observer to quickly spot all hot objects and focus on the most interesting ones, while simultaneously keeping the entire scene in view.
Riccardo agrees: “When you are watching an animal, trying to get all the info about him, focusing your attention to a precise target, it’s important to have a large field of view because you are frozen on a specific point losing the possibility to see what is happening around.“
A clearer view in tough conditions
With multiple sensitivity settings, the Axion Compact adapts to your environment. This is especially useful in fog, rain, or at dawn and dusk. It has three amplification levels, combined with advanced filtration algorithms, brightness and contrast adjustments, optimize the rendering of both target and background objects in the observation scene.
“Increasing the sensitivity from N to U ((from Normal to Ultra – higher sensitivity for better visibility in poor conditions), I was able to see a herd of chamois 500 meters far from me through a very dense fog: you will lose some details, but it will be much easier to spot an animal, “ Riccardo explains.
Durable design
The Axion Compact’s magnesium alloy housing plays a key role. It keeps the device light without sacrificing strength. Whether it’s bouncing around in a pack or getting used in cold, wet, or rough conditions, it’s made to last.
“When you go hunting in the mountains every single gram is important; you need to bring with you a lot of things: from the safe kit to extra gear because the weather can quickly change; from a tripod with an optical scope to the food and something to drink. Saving weight is imperative: it means saving energy and increasing hunting time,” shares Riccardo.
It’s not just compact – it’s built for how you hunt
The Pulsar Axion Compact line proves that small devices can still pack a big punch. Whether you’re covering ground in thick forest, scanning mountain valleys, the Axion Compact offers clarity, adaptability and ease of use.
Hunter's review
Axion Compact devices offer long-range detection, wide field of view, and high image detail – thanks to advanced thermal sensors (384×288 or 320×240) and smart image processing algorithms.
Before purchasing any night or thermal vision device, please make sure you adhere to the local legislation and only use it when it is allowed. Our ambassadors come from various countries and travel a lot, which allows them to test different devices. We do not encourage or support the illegal use of our devices in any events. If you wish to learn more about export and sales restriction policy, please visit the following link: Export and Sales Restriction Policy.