A successful hunting experience is one of the most appealing things in life, especially if you are into this type of activity. You get to spend some quality time in the nature, look for prey and come back with a tasty reward. The better you get ready for this experience, the more memorable it becomes. If you think about it, a hunting experience is about testing your capabilities and skills against game in all kinds of environments – most of them unfamiliar. Plus, count the weather in as well.
But before you go on with this experience, you obviously need the right equipment. Make sure you plan this trip in small details. While there is always a room for unexpected situations, you need to do a bit of homework about the environment and get the optimal gear to help you out. You can always buy one thing from a provider and another one from a different provider. But when you get everything from the same place, you know there are no compatibility issues, not to mention overall quality standards.
This is when Optics Planet kicks in. This review will introduce you to what the company has in store for you, as well as its quality standards, ranges, safety gear and so on. The name makes it crystal clear – while mostly specialized in optical tools and equipment, Optics Planet brings in a series of other tactical, camping and outdoor products to ensure you will never get caught off guard while in the wilderness.
Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Optics Planet brings in a wide variety of tools, gear and equipment at competitive prices. It represents the main store in OpticsPlanet Inc. and apart from the actual gear, it brings in a supportive blog with numerous how to articles to help people get their tactical experiences at the highest standards.
Over the years, the company has become one of the most reputable online retailers in terms of tactical stuff, military equipment, hunting tools, sport optics, scientific items, eye wear and so on. Apart from its competitive prices, the international shipping capabilities, quality and selection are not to be overlooked either. Moreover, the company keeps expanding its line, only to keep its customers happy.
According to pretty much every review out there, the service is exquisite. It makes no difference what you need. Do you need help choosing the right binoculars? Not sure what type of ammo you need? Worried about the size of a laser sight? How about compatibility? Whether it comes to the actual products or the customer service, you can expect a top notch experience.
It has begun this venture with optics only. The name is self explanatory, after all. It brought in some of the most advanced optics in the world. Overtime, it has diversified its selection a little. Today, it represents the primary choice for millions of people – both amateurs and professionals. There are literally dozens of thousands of products to choose from – coming from more than 800 reputable brands. No other retailer on the market can match this kind of selection.
Still not convinced about it? Optics Planet has been featured in Inc. Magazine and Internet Retailer Magazine, among many other specialty publications. It is worth noting that it is not a reseller, but a retailer. It has a massive campus in the heart of the USA – over 300,000 square feet. With more than 300 employees looking after customers and their orders, it is obvious what turned this initially small optics retailer into a giant.
Other than that, it is worth noting that this company is also a primary choice for a few governmental and law enforcement agencies. No matter how advanced or inexperienced you are, chances are you can find what you need – make sure you go through the guides and how to articles as well.
Optics Planet was launched in 1999 by Mark Levitin and Pavel Shvartsman. It became an official company in 2000. Both founders still activate within the company – CEO and president. It is based in Northbrook, Illinois since it was founded. It started as a small business with just a few employees, but little did the founders know about the giant it was about to become.
The two founders entered the market as an optics reselling business. Practically, they have managed to get into an agreement with LOMO (Leningradskoye Optiko-Mekhanicheskoye Obyedinenie) – an optical mechanical association from Saint Petersburg, Russia. The little business became the exclusive reseller of LOMO products, which mostly dealt with optics.
Nobody knew about LOMO, so lots of buyers took a gamble and they were happy with the result. With time, LOMO products gained some notoriety and the business soon became an image of quality and exclusiveness. LOMO products could not be found anywhere else. Encouraged by their successful venture, the two co-founders launched OpticsPlanet and took their venture a bit further.
The primary role of Optics Planet was to create a connection between professional manufacturers and consumers. It was established over the Internet, providing access to such products all across the country. In a time when the Internet was still growing, Optics Planet came as one of the pioneers of this industry. The e-commerce business was sponsored with the earnings from the LOMO reselling activity.
One thing led to another – constant dedication, hard work and a constantly growing selection. By 2020, two decades later, it is almost impossible to find a negative review. The company has grown to make an annual revenue of more than $163 million. It counts over 300 workers handling consumers' orders.
Other than that, Optics Planet is now one of the top 500 e-commerce companies in the USA based on Internet Retailer Magazine's rankings. Furthermore, it was listed as one of the best workplaces by Chicago Tribune in 2011, 2018 and 2019. Simply put, this is the type of company that looks after both its employees and customers.
On the other hand, while it initially started with optics, Optics Planet is not dealing with a wide variety of products related to camping or outdoor activities, hunting, military, science or survival. It only deals with reputable manufacturers, so it brings in some of the most advanced products in the world. Some of its stuff has gone viral.
Optics Planet has a plethora of categories and lots of subcategories – obviously, even more products in there. When it comes to sport optics – its main specialization, you have binoculars, crossbow scopes, monoculars, night vision gear, goggles and rifle scopes. Other than that, you can also purchase red dot sights or rangefinders.
Your offer is even more diversified when it comes to hunting. Apart from the actual optics, you have a decent selection of weapons too – mostly crossbows. There is archery equipment available, choke tubes, game calls, game feeders, hunting bags and ammunition, not to mention trail cameras and thermal imagers.
Talking about weapons, you will not find too many firearms. You will, however, find ammunition for pretty much everything. You can also get belts, gun cases, cleaning equipment, parts, safes and slings. Hearing protection and holsters are also available, not to mention parts and accessories for the AR15 or pistol parts.
Are you more into camping and outdoor survival experiences? There is nothing to worry about. According to every review out there, the selection is impressive. From backpacks and camping gear to hiking and mountaineering gear, you have anything you can think of. Moreover, you can buy GPS devices, first aid kits, communication devices, fishing gear, sleeping bags and tents, among many others.
The military and tactical category is what you need to look into if you are into guns. There are many knives available for sale, AR15 parts, belts, holsters and tactical goggles. Military surplus stuff is available for sale too. This category is updated all the time with new things, from rifle scopes and gas masks to sleeping systems and steel helmets.
You will not be disappointed if you are after science and laboratory stuff either. Centrifuges are quite popular among its customers, but laboratory glassware, magnifiers and loupes are also quite common. You have an interesting collection of microscopes too, as well as telescopes and safety equipment.
Those interested in sports and outdoor stuff will love the wide variety of action cameras, bikes and accessories. There are bow fishing accessories, compasses, dog training equipment, goggles, drones and accessories. Some of the top brands in this category available on its website include Thule, Vanguard and Ravin.
There are a few other categories worth being mentioned – police stuff, eyewear and apparel. Apparel and footwear bring in brands like Lowa, Tru-Spec and Kenetrek. Obviously, there is no fancy stuff in there, but just heavy duty equipment for outdoor experiences. Just like you have probably guessed already, there is a miscellaneous category too, comprising of all kinds of heavy duty items.
If you are not really sure what you want, but you are after a good deal, the main category will take you to the right place – special deals. There are more types of deals out there and every review mentions them.
For instance, you could get instant savings, but you could also look around the seasonal promotion subcategory. Some items come with free express shipping, which is also a saving. You can also get demo items for particular categories and stuff, not to mention new products, gifts, extra buck savings, items on sale and clearance gear.
Optics Planet also provides coupons and special discounts every now and then, so keep an eye on them. It might be a good idea to subscribe to the newsletter for special offers and updates – simply scroll down to the bottom of the page on the official website.
With over 800 brands and thousands of products, Optics Planet has something for everyone. Some products do stand out in the crowd. A few specialty kits have become viral overtime and have helped the company grow – the Santa Stakeout Kit, the Invisible Man Kit and the Z.E.R.O. Zombie Kit. These kits bring in a plethora of items sold over Optics Planet in single packages. Prices could be quite high, but the value for money is exquisite. Such kits have also been mentioned over Fox News or Gizmodo.
One thing to draw some attention in particular in the Wetley GGRX. Optics Planet have introduced it in 2014, becoming the first brand out there to provide prescription lens for Google Glass devices. These inserts could be interchangeable with various devices, providing a solution to a long debated problem.
There are more things to like about Optics Planet. Most importantly, you have an impressive selection of products in a plethora of categories. From goggles and sheaths to knives and crossbows, you have everything. There are more than 500,000 products in the shop and they come from 800 different brands – quality and world renowned brands in this industry.
Other than that, you will love the special offers. They get updated on a regular basis. There are more categories. You can find items on sale, as well as special discounts and coupons. You can get some instant savings as well, not to mention the seasonal promotions. Many offers come with free shipping as well – there are over 250,000 products in this category.
The quality standards are not to be overlooked either. Optics Planet has invested in quality. First of all, it only deals with reputable brands and manufacturers. Second, it employs veterans and former law enforcement agents. In other words, even if you are new to this industry and you have no clue what you need, you can always get in touch with the customer service for some individualized recommendations.
While there are many other things to like about this store, almost every review mentions the blog and how to articles. There are two separate categories. One of them covers the blog, which brings in reviews, new products and ideas on how to use products. The second one is a mix of how to guides, which will teach you how to use the gear or how to assemble it. What else could you ask for?
Last, but not least, there are a few things to like when it comes to shipping and returns too. Apart from free shipping on many products, you can also order from anywhere in the world – over 190 countries. Shipping rates are fair and competitive. In terms of returns, you can return items for free. Optics Planet will pay for your return, whether you are not happy with the product or you have changed your mind.
There is not much to dislike about the company. In fact, you will barely be able to find a negative review. However, in terms of payments, it only takes one online payment platform. If you do not feel like using your credit or debit card, you can pay by other means – when it comes to online payment, you only have PayPal. There are no other options like Skrill, Google Pay, Payoneer or Stripe.
When it comes to discounts, some of the competition goes a bit further. Optics Planet provides significant discounts to veterans, regardless of their history or branch. On the other hand, other companies may also provide discounts for students or seniors – no such thing with Optics Planet. Luckily, there are lots of special offers to compensate for this minus.
Finally, while not necessarily a minus, contacts are somehow limited. You have particular opening times for calls, which will make it a bit uncomfortable for international shoppers on different timezones. Other than that, you can only contact the company by email on weekends. There is no such thing as a 24/7 contact.
While you can go through a review or two, you will still have a few questions before making a final decision.
It has managed to become one of the largest military and sports providers in the entire world and not just the USA. It features more than 800 brands, as well as dozens of thousands of products. It has been featured in various magazines as well. It does not really sell proprietary products, but it operates as a retailer – meaning it resells products from reputable brands.
It has a massive warehouse of over 300,000 square feet. Unfortunately, you cannot just go in there, browse and hang around thousands of guns and hunting equipment. Instead, Optics Planet operates as an online retailer, so you can only order over the Internet. The company is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois – right in the heart of the country.
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With all these, you do not have to be local to order. In fact, it makes no difference where you are. Optics Planet ships to over 190 countries – there are, of course, a few conditions in terms of shipping rates and weight.
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Items are usually shipped over the next day. The company provides a shipping calculator on its official website, so you can get some hints about the price and duration. There is free shipping for over 250,000 items in stock.
There are more types of shipping options – anywhere between one and 15 business days. It depends on your location and choice. Generally speaking, items in stock are shipped the next business day, yet it depends on what time you order.
Just like any other genuine retailer, company allows returning the item. Whether you are not happy with it, you ordered in error or the item looks damaged, you can always return it. In fact, Optics Planet will pay for returning it, so you have free returns.
Optics Planet provides a plethora of exclusive guides. There are two different places you go to for guidance and tutorials. The blog has new posts on a regular basis. You will find reviews of new products or guides on how to take advantage of all of their features. At the same time, you can go to the how to category in the menu and you will find various guides on how to use or set specific equipment. Posts are well detailed and provide lots of useful information.
Optics Planet employs over 300 people. Many of them are veterans or former law enforcement agents, from actual policemen to military people. In other words, you can count on an excellent selection in terms of products. On the other hand, whether you need help deciding on an item or you are not sure how to choose the right product, a customer service representative will discuss your needs and make appropriate suggestions, so you can leave yourself in professional hands.
As a short final conclusion, Optics Planet has grown to become an innovative company in this industry. It started as a small business dealing with optics and grew into one of the biggest military and hunting providers in the world. It has been constantly featured in world renowned magazines, but it was also named one of the biggest e-commerce giants in the USA.
Whether you count the impressive selection of products, numerous special offers and coupons, reputable brands or exquisite customer service, you can leave yourself in good hands. It is almost impossible to find a negative Optics Planet review and it is easy to tell why. Other than that, the selection leaves no room for issues – whether you are new to this industry or you are an experienced hunter or veteran.