Operating temperature
The temperature range the maker says the device will work in. Batteries lose much of their runtime well before the low end of that range.
What it means
Operating temperature is the range of air temperatures in which the maker says the device works as designed. The most common figure on this site is −22°F to 131°F (−30°C to 55°C). Some units stop at about −13°F or −4°F at the cold end, and a few go lower. Storage temperature, where listed, is a different and wider range for a device switched off.
What it changes in the field
Winter is prime coyote season, and many hunters sit long, still nights in single digits or below. The electronics will usually keep working within the rated range. The batteries are the weak point: lithium cells deliver much less of their capacity in hard cold, so a unit rated for 8 hours at room temperature may give a fraction of that at 0°F. Owners report some proprietary packs dying in under an hour in the cold.
Other cold effects owners mention: rangefinders becoming less reliable, and fogging when a cold unit comes into a warm cab. At the hot end, summer heat hurts the picture more than the device; see thermal imaging.
What to look for
- A low end at or below the coldest nights you hunt.
- A battery you can swap, or a port for an external pack you can keep warm inside your coat.
- Owner reports of cold runtime, which tell you more than the rated range.
- Keep spare batteries in an inside pocket, not the truck.
How we use it on this site
We show the maker’s range, converted to Fahrenheit, or “Not published”. It is not scored.