Swampfox Optics Releases the Kraken II Enclosed Pistol Optic
The Kraken was Swampfox’s first foray into the enclosed pistol-optic market, a segment where Aimpoint and Steiner had already established a firm foothold with the ACRO and MPS, respectively. Swampfox positioned the Karken as a more affordable alternative to these established optics, giving shooters another option in the growing enclosed-emitter market.
However, the original Kraken was blockier and larger than its more expensive counterparts, creating holster-compatibility issues for some end users while also utilizing a unique mounting footprint. Last week, Swampfox teased the second generation of the Kraken, and now the Kraken II has officially arrived with several changes to the original design.
What We Need to Know
- The Karken II body is constructed from 7075 aluminum and uses stainless-steel mounting plates when attaching to a pistol.
- Swampfox redesigned the body of the Kraken II to improve holster compatibility across the board while reducing potential snagging hazards created by the original optic’s blocky profile.
- The Kraken II features a wide 22mm window designed to provide an unobstructed sight picture and aid target acquisition.
- Swampfox upgraded the emitter to produce a crisp reticle across all brightness settings. The Kraken II also features two brightness settings dedicated to night-vision use.
- Swampfox’s engineering team designed the Kraken II to sit as close to the pistol’s bore axis as possible. The result is an optic that potentially sits more naturally within the shooter’s line of sight when presenting the pistol.
The Details
Specifications
Name: Kraken II
Construction: 7075 aluminum
Dimensions: 1.80” L x 1.14” W x 1.26” H
Weight: 2.17 oz
Illumination: 10 brightness settings (8 day time & 2 night time)
Reticle: Red/green single dot or multi-reticle
Dot size: 3 MOA
Battery: 2032 (Approx. 2yrs of battery life)
Waterproof: IPX7
Parallax: Parallax Free
Price & Availability
MSRP: Green/Red dot variant: $329
Green/Red multi-reticle: $369
Availability: Now
Who Is This For?
The Kraken II is designed for a range of applications, including:
- Law enforcement and military
- Concealed carry
- Personal defense
- Shotguns, rifles, and PCCs
- Competition
The Bottom Line
Swampfox took the limitations and criticism of the original Kraken and redesigned the optic to address them. The Kraken II features a new, slimmer design while retaining the rugged construction needed for duty, EDC, and competition use.
The Kraken II appears to be a more refined optic than its predecessor while maintaining the affordable positioning that helped make the original Kraken appealing. However, the proprietary footprint could still hold the optic back from achieving wider adoption.
If Swampfox has successfully solved the original Kraken’s biggest shortcomings without sacrificing durability or affordability, the Kraken II could be a much more competitive option in the enclosed pistol-optic market this time around.
