Only use my in the Fall for bowhunting turkey and find it to be very helpful. In the Fall though I'm dealing with a lot more sets of eyes than in the Spring. I'm sure you can take one without a blind but it does make it easier with one

Bought mine for like $100 or $130 a few years ago. Looking someday here soon to have a Double Bull blind, the Matrix 360 Now thats a sweet blind but out of my budget right now.