Unless you have $3k in your hand, I'd advise not even thinking about it.
For a decent PVS-14 without a ghetto nasty tube that's junk, you'll be looking at the upper $2k to lower $3k range used. Then you will need a helmet because a skull crusher is not realistic to wear for a prolonged period of time, so figure on $350-400 for a plastic bump helmet.
Then you will need mounting hardware, as the milspec J arm and bayonet mount rhino system is garbage and will result in your monocular being lost in the woods the first time you use it. So wilcox dovetail J arm for $250, and wilcox G24 for $520.
Now you have the bare minimum that's worth while. And you'd do well to interact and converse with people who have extensive experience with night vision as there's a lot of grifters out there who are big names and will charge you $5000 for a tube that's worth maybe $2000. They prey on the limited knowledge most people have. I won't name the one I'm specifically talking about, but everyone knows who it is.
Gen 1 isn't worth it for any purpose. Digital is laughably bad and potentially worse than gen 1. Gen 2 provides some use if it's a good tube, but a good gen 2 tube can end up expensive enough to not be worth it. Gen 3 is where you want to be, the less desirable tubes still perform amazingly well if you haven't been spoiled by the top shelf.
Also saying you won't use it for shooting purposes... Oh you will once the bug bites you, and plan on another grand or so for an IR laser and illuminator for your rifle.
I'd recommend this guy for NV related info, he's a pretty solid source from a non-elitist perspective:
P.S. all this supporting hardware is comically expensive because the market is absolutely tiny. Tubes are expensive because they're grown in a lab and have a high rejection rate.
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