With a market that is flooded with thermal scopes heavy enough to replace your Jon boat anchor, I sought out to find the best lightweight thermal that is heavy on features, not pounds. And after many trips to the field and a heavy pile of critters stacking up on the tailgate, I can tell you for certain that I’ve found the answer for the best lightweight thermal scope that there is.
Since I’ve lived in Texas for nearly the last decade, I’ll tell you that I’ve definitely been bitten by the nighttime hunting bug. Whether it’s a hunt for predators, wild exotics or to simply do my part in keeping the local hog population in check, I’m all about it. As a hunter, there is nothing better than literally doubling the amount of time that you’re able to stay in the field by hunting after the sun goes down. Soon after moving to the Lone Star State, I picked up my first thermal scope, which I’m ashamed to say that I spent way too much money on and was quickly disappointed in the image quality and battery performance. Not to mention it was also like carrying a concrete filled pipe that was mounted on my rifle.
For years, it just seemed like it was impossible to be involved in the thermal scope game, unless you spent an inordinate amount of money. And, even if you did, how clunky was that thing going to be sitting atop your rifle? Finally, I can report the good news that there is an answer and it’s called the Wraith Mini, by SIGHTMARK. At first glance, this thermal riflescope can be utterly deceiving, since you might think that something this small cannot possibly give you incredible thermal clarity, an abundance of customizable settings and not break the bank. But truth be told, it can and while only weighing in at 19 ounces. I’ve spent the last few months taking this mini thermal out in the field and am going to breakdown everything you need to know about this powerhouse of a thermal riflescope.
Key Features
Right out of the start gate, the Wraith Mini comes loaded with customizable settings that gives the shooter tons of options to make everything just right for their hunting scenario.
Screen Brightness and Temperature Settings
If you’ve ever spent a night looking through the scope of a thermal, then you’ve definitely experienced eye fatigue that is usually unavoidable when staring down some of these scopes. And, regardless of how much you turn down the brightness, sometimes there’s just no getting away from it. The Wraith Mini gives you the ability to switch between 5 color palettes to find the right one for not only your current target environment, but to also keep you eye comfortable while hunting. On my recent hunts, I’ve really enjoyed using the green and multi-colored palettes to fully depict what I’m looking at. It should also be mentioned that this scope does work during the daytime hours and has no issues picking up animals with the same great crispness as it does in the dead of night.
Reticle Design and Adjustment
Much like the color of the screen, the Wraith comes loaded with 10 different reticle choices that can be switched to 9 different colors, yes, 9! For something that seems relatively minute, having the ability to swap reticles and colors quickly and easily gives you the feeling of a new thermal unit whenever you want it. Quite literally, with four clicks through the main menu, you can quickly change your entire reticle design and color while out in the field. And, as someone that grew up nothing more than a standard black crosshair reticle, I really like being able to change to something that works with my increasingly frustrating vision, or lack thereof.
And, while we’re talking about the reticle, it should also be noted that the one-shot zero is extremely accurate and simple to use. Accessing this screen is just a couple of quick selections through the main menu and once there, the process should take no more than a few minutes. The most important part of zeroing this rifle is having the rifle in a seriously stable rest where you can keep it aimed at the center of your target, while then adjusting it internally to mark the point of impact. I found that getting this thermal zeroed on my rifle was as simple as the instructions made it out to be. The scope was extremely responsive and accurately shifted to where I wanted the crosshairs to hit on the adjusted shot.
Micro SD Recording
All you need to record your hunts is one micro-SD card that plugs right into the side of the scope. After a quick calibration which can be accessed through the menu screen, you’re good to go. Best of all, this unit allows you to fully playback any of your recordings. So, if you have any doubt about your last shot, you can watch it through your scope before getting out of the blind to look for blood without having a phone, computer or app nearby. Once you’re back at camp, the small chip can quickly be removed and downloaded onto your computer. The files will come across as .AVI, which are quickly accessible through most video players. Did I also mention that it records sounds as well? A very cool feature to make all of your friends jealous.
Oversized focus knob
You can tell that the team who designed this scope is made up of some diehard hunters and it’s evident by the size of the focus knob on the front of the scope. Unlike some other thermals that I’ve had the chance to use in the past, the Wraith Mini has what almost looks like a small rifle bolt knob, which is attached to the front focus ring. Whether you have thick gloves in the dead of winter or just prefer to have an oversized piece to quickly acquire in the middle of the night, they have absolutely nailed it with this feature. Also, it should be noted that the focus ring glides with ease, so focusing this scope is quick, silent and effortless.
Price Point
Honestly, I’m not sure how you could really make this scope any better for the price point. Coming in at $1,699 is well below where I think this scope could be priced. Heck, I’ve seen plenty of scopes out there with far less features priced significantly higher. For the amount of features and HD imaging that it provides, this scope really delivers the value that is seen in many higher end optics. Simply stated, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on performance just because it’s less than other scopes with higher price tags.
Why it made the list
For years I’ve looked for a thermal scope that works for what I need, which is something lightweight, jam packed with features and one that doesn’t break the bank. The Wraith Mini is simply perfect in nailing every single one of my needs.Pros
External quick detach battery pack
One of the things that I liked the most about running this thermal was the ability to add an external battery pack. Everything from the picatinny mount to the battery longevity is genius about this small add-on. For one, being able to mount this unit wherever on your rail is great for comfort and balance. Regardless of whether you’re shooting freehand or have your rifle in a clamp-style rest, the external battery pack can literally be attached anywhere there is a picatinny mount, making it a must-have accessory. And, it goes without saying, that not having to worry about battery life in the field is critical.
Removable eye cup
Being comfortable behind your scope is absolutely paramount because without it, making a poor shoot becomes increasingly more likely. The Wraith Mini comes equipped with a removable eye cup that allows you to quickly add or remove it, depending on your preference. Personally, I really enjoyed running this scope without it during my time in the field. I also prefer to have my scope a bit further back on my AR-15, so being able to not have the eye cup right over my charging handle made operating easy.
Cons
A future mounting upgrade?
Now, I really want to make this clear that what I’m about to share is more of a request and not really a con. One of the benefits of this thermal is the ability to save multiple zeros for different rifles. On the current model, the picatinny rail mount is secured by a nut that should be properly torqued down with a small socket. And, as much as I love having all of my scopes torqued down to spec, it would be really nice to have a quick detach latch built in for when you’re wanting to move it to another rifle. Again, the current mounting solution is fantastic and does not budge when mounted, however it would be nice to upgrade this feature on the next generation to something with a latch.
Final Thoughts
It should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. This riflescope is what the thermal hunting community has been missing for years. It’s a powerhouse of performance packed into minimalistic housing, for a really affordable price. Between the oversized focus knob, the user-friendly top mounted buttons and the ability to record your hunts, this scope has it all. Whether you’re a serious night-time predator hunter or someone who is just getting into hunting after the sun sets, the Wraith Mini comes standard with all of the features of a much more expensive scope, without the high price tag. Well done, SIGHTMARK, you hit the bullseye with the Wraith Mini; it is simply exceptional.
If you enjoyed this, head on over to the Pulsar Talion Review and compare products!
