Familiar controls ensure ease of use.  Any user familiar with PVS-14 goggles will find the controls to be intuitive.  The switch and focusing functions are identical to the PVS-14.  The switch has 3 positions: Off, On, and On with IR illuminator.  Like the PVS-14, the switch does not cut power to the tubes when changing positions to turn the IR illuminator on.  The RNVG has IR signaling capability.  As a safety feature the switch knob must be pulled out to turn the IR illuminator on.  An IR spot/flood adapter can be used if the user desires more range from their IR illuminator.

The RNVG is designed to work off a single 123 battery.  The binocular has a battery life of over 16 hours and flashes a low battery indicator within the optics when the battery needs changing.

RNVG optics feature a full range of adjustment. The mil-spec objectives allow the user to focus between 9.8 inches and infinity, while the mil-spec eyepieces offer a diopter adjustment range of -6 to +2.  The interpupillary distance is adjustable to match the users eye spacing from 51mm to 73mm.  IP adjustment is accomplished with jackscrews that maintain user settings using a ball-detent method to prevent any changes due to vibration.

The RNVG was designed from the ground up to be extremely tough.  When a night vision binocular is dropped and broken, it will most likely fail at the joint between the optical pods and the bridge.  However, both the optical pods and bridge on the RNVG are CNC machined from solid billet 7075 aluminum to prevent breakage.  This material is 36% stronger than most common steel making the RNVG the most rugged night vision goggle in production.  Careful design combined with advanced machining techniques have kept the weight of the RNVG down to a very competitive level at 555 grams (without battery).

The components of the binocular are media blasted to give a non-reflective matte finish, then black anodized for durability.  For the Tan or FDE options Cerakote, a proven firearms finish, is applied over the anodizing to give a tough, attractive finish.