First shown at the SHOT Show 2016 early this year, the Sig Sauer ECHO1 Thermal Imaging Reflex Sight is now available for civilian use. Primarily marketed for hunting, it is based on the newest thermal imaging sensors and can also be used for law enforcement, military, SAR, and home defense. And being a reflex sight, it also means it has been designed for quick target acquisition similar to red dot reflex sights, and is more compact than many existing thermal sights.

With a 206×156 uncooled VOx microbolometer array which is used as the detector in thermal cameras, the Echo1 has thermal radiation detection range of 1,000 yards with target range measurements of up to 300 yards.  It can be used for day and night predator hunting and like a conventional reflex sight, the shooter can acquire targets with both eyes for even better situational awareness.

The ECHO1 has five reticles the shooter can choose from and there is an option to design and upload the reticles to the sight, which should be interesting as shooters may have different ideas for reticles. As for zoom capabilities, it has 1x/2x magnification. It also has 4 levels brightness.

When using the thermal sights, the ECHO1 offers 8 different display modes such as “white hot”, “black hot”, green, red, blue, and others to provide a clear image and the contrast against the background. The thermal sight can also take images in single shots and bursts, no video recording capabilities mentioned though. The color LCD display is standard on each sight for day or night direct-view targeting. It also features a top-mount peep sight and ROMEO1 adapter plate for backup sights which should make those who want backup sights as insurance feel at ease. With two CR123 batteries, it has a runtime of total of 8 hours.

Whilst, it can be used for airsoft for those who want to a have dedicated thermal sight is also a reflex sight, it is an expensive piece of equipment even if it is also marketed for civilian use. It has an MSRP: $3,124.99 that only airsoft players who can use it for other purposes apart from airsoft games such as hunting would be able to recoup what they have invested. If that is expensive for you as an airsoft player you can have options to use some thermal devices that are cheap enough and can be used with your smartphone.