Picking the Best HOTAS for Elite Dangerous (HOTAS/HOSAS/Joystick/Throttle for space/flight sims) 

UPDATE: In the video I *incorrectly* state the CH Pro Throttle doesn't have an analog axis for thrusters - if you look at the slide it is correct in that it does have this axis. Also I stated in the slide that it has twist - another mistake. Fuck me, I just screwed that one all to hell, didn't I? Apologies for the mistakes everyone!

My HOTASS mouse and keyboard is unmatchable.

The best way to pronounce HOTAS is, of course, "Hot ass."

So now we need to list get rich quick schemes for getting these. Lol

I use dual sticks and pedals, but I really enjoyed the video. I appreciate the clean, focused narration and willingness to just share information.

I've been using the T-flight as my entry into simulator-style gaming, and it has seriously changed my experience with Elite Dangerous. Having played it since launch with keyboard, when I made the switch half a year ago I can say the difference is night and day. I am no Ace pilot, but using a hotas makes me feel like one. I have no experience with more expensive options, but I can only imagine they further enhance the range of options available. I still have some options mapped to the keyboard and use Voiceattack to make up gaps in convenient access. I strongly recommend anyone curious about HOTAS control for either E:D or games like Star Wars: Squadrons to pick one of these up. It is convenient, mostly plug-and-play and well-supported, and at the price point you really can't go wrong.

Like many, I started on the T.Flight and highly recommend it as a starter fit. When I moved up, I went with the Saitek x55 Rhino (the x56 is only different by replacing the thumb button with another ministick), and I love this stick. Yes, it's plastic, but I've been 'sploding 'Condas in it since 2015 and it's still going strong. The higher end rigs were deal-breakers for me due to lack of twist-to-yaw, and with the shear amount of controls, I really feel like it's the Warthog option for people who refuse pedals. It even has corner bolt holes so I was able to screw it all down onto a wood base to make it a single lap unit (solving for one of the only 2 things I missed from the T.Flight, the other being a center detent on the throttle; I no longer throttle negative to reverse, now I need a forward/reverse switch mapped. Less than ideal, but I've adjusted)

I got the T.16000M specifically for playing Elite in VR and it's nearly perfect. Solid build, smooth analog, and enough controls that I can do everything I need to do in game by touch alone (obviously critical in VR) with extra controls left over. I have relatively small hands so I do have to reach a bit for the lower castle on the throttle, but that's set to wingman controls so I almost never need to use it. The buttons on the base of the joystick took a bit of practice to learn to hit without being able to see, but the pips in the buttons make identifying them by touch easy. To me, the paddles on the throttle are fantastic. I have them set for hyperspace/supercruise, scrolling through menu tabs, and SRV turret toggle/handbrake. It's easy to reach when I need it and completely out of the way when I don't. The Warthog is undeniably a fantastic setup with a great feel and built like a tank, but I found it too limited, particularly the lack of twist. Maybe outside of VR it's an acceptable option, but for me it was a no-go.

FWIW, the stick in Elite: Dangerous is apparently modeled on the X-52.

I’ve got the dual t 16 setup and I have to say I am absolutely in love with them. They’re my babies.

Watching this to learn about hotas before squadrons comes out because I’ve never used one before. Thanks for the content.

Actually picked up the t16000m after the new years and find it so much more enjoyable and a great setup for a beginner like myself :)

I've had my CH setup since 2009 with no issues. I simply love my CH Products it. I returned the Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS (predecessor to the Warthog) because it was simply way to stiff to fly with for me. With the Fighter stick, Pro Throttle, Pro Peddles, and Multi Function Panel all play nice together in one ecosystem and operate under the CH-Products Control software making it very easy to use once you take the time to program it. The power of that programing system is awesome. Additionally, the CH Products setup does have a programmable mode switch on the Throttle that can allow you to switch between 3 different modes, and you can set up a button to act as a kind of "shift key" so that each button can be assigned 2 functions in each mode. This means that each button or hat direction can have a total of 6 different functions. This doesn't count the 25 to 50 buttons that you can have on a single MFP in the CH ecosystem and the ecosystem will allow you to have multiple MFP's, Fighter Stick's, Throttles, etc. Honestly, I'm not sure what the limit of the software is.

I use the CH Products hotas and yaw pedal. Fantastic gear. If you don't need flashy looking design then you cannot go wrong with CH Products.

Impressive. Really well done review. Complete. I'm getting "back" into Flight sims and wanted a good review of the various platforms available out there. I especially appreciate you mentioning that the Thrustmaster Warthog and some of the others have no twist stick for rudder control, making rudder pedals a necessary purchase. Outstanding point. I could get the rudder pedals as well, but am not sure how well I will adapt to the "new world" of virtual cockpits and controls, so over-investing is a consideration for me. Thank you for putting this video together. Bravo Zulu, CMDR.

Thanks for the HOTAS overview, very informative. Not sure if I'll ever buy one, but if I do, I'll re-visit this review for sure.

I have the thrustmaster warthog and it's great, however for Elite I would be extremely comfortable using the X52 pro as elites ship controls are a carbon copy of it, I've used the X52 pro in elite before and it's a great setup

CH products, great great build quality despite the appearance. The throttle has 3 buttons perfectly placed for pip management, and the index finger hat is a nice reset for them. Side buttons are great for thrusters, and landing thrusters as well as assist toggle and FSD activation. the analog stick on the throttle is very useful for thrust and for tuning in the exploration tool set. The actual stick it's self has the same design the the higher priced, flashier models have so far as button placement. The mode switch doesn't have to be a mode switch. That said, you can have 3 different complete bindings if you wish and toggle through them. I just use one and Voice controls. In VR, you can't see what your controls look like and if the old school cosmetics of the CH is the only thing stopping anyone I would highly suggest looking past that. They are accurate, and very reliable. I have over 1k hours and counting on mine (500+ in elite) and they are rock solid. You also get a throttle dial on the joystick with a centering indent and a trim adjuster on the joy stick as well for your tilt and roll. I use the ped set as well, so if a twist stick is a must, maybe just check out the throttle. For pip button placement alone it's worth it heh.

Excelent video as usual. I have the t flight hotas since 2015 and it is an excellent product even after a year on my car trunk getting hit by things and moving around as I drive it still works today. But since 2018 I upgraded to the x52 pro version which is just a beast. Highly recommend both products

I have to got to add my support to the TM 16000. I did quite a lot of research on the HOTAS available and took the opportunity to experience friends HOTAs setups. However, having purchased the TM 16000 I really enjoy it and get great immersive game experience.

Also worth mentioning is that the t16000 also has a bundle that gives you pedals for a pretty decent price, so the t16000 is very nice for those first getting into the game.

this excellent review helped me choose! Tnx and kudo's to CMDR Exi.... thought the background music(?) was waaaay too loud and somewhat annoying however

Had my HOTAS X since 2014 for Elite and to this day still works wonderfully! Thinking about upgrading though.

Thanks for the video CMDR. Funny you post this not even an entire day after I was perusing Amazon and considering the x52. I've been flying with keyboard and mouse since premium beta, and don't consider myself too bad a pilot. I wouldn't want to get into a PvP scuffle with a HOTAS using commander but its been enjoyable. Recently I got my paws on a cheap Dell Visor (WMR) headset and discovered the torture of trying use the galaxy map with a mouse and KB in VR. Its a nightmarish cavalcade of misery and grief. You know its bad when you suddenly feel a sense of great accomplishment from successfully plotting a course. It will definitely be a learning curve for me when I finally decide to pull the trigger (pun intended) on buying one. I tried a friends HOTAS setup, and because I was so use to KB and Mouse; hilarity ensued. I'm glad he put me in a Sidewinder for the test drive. His words...."Go home. You're drunk" lmao. Thanks again. This has helped a ton. As tempting as it may be, I think I may start out with your first recommendation as a cheap entry for two reasons, 1. I may end up hating it in the long run (old habits die hard after all), and 2. Elite is the only flight sim I have, and with the F*ck up Fairy putting in over time at Frontier; I'm not entirely sure my interest will be peaked for much longer.

I'm offended that you don't pronounce it "hot-ass Thrust Master"

I would like to point out that the X-56 now has an updated version that is of a much higher build quality. This new version can be distinguished by the black and grey styling instead of the blue. Id recommend testing the new stick yourself as i love the new X56. Logitech really did a great job fixing the saitek screw-up with button quallity improvements and general sturdyness and feel upgrades

I love my Thrustmaster Warthog. Only hotas I've ever used. I started Elite Dangerous with TrackIR5, so I was very familiar with controls locations before I started in the Oculus Rift. In combination with VoiceAttack, ... No wonder I'm triple Elite.

That is an excellent overview. I went from X52 (which I still have) to the Rhino (returned it as the main fire button stopped working) and eventually to the Warthog plus Saitec rudder pedals. What my concern was with these HOTAS was the mounting issues. How to fix it to the desk? With the X52 and Rhino (this was a must as the throttle was very stiff) I had to screw it on a wooden board. The bord I clamped to the desk. That takes a little time for setup ervery time I played Elite. So after reimbursing the Rhino I made the decision to purchase the Warthog. Expensive but I love it since. No need to screw it down. Just wipe the rubber pads on the bottum with a wet cloth. This way the stick to the desk in particular during a fight! With the foot pedals this is a perfect setup. As you rightly point out in your video! NEvertheless I should mention that the red paint is gone at the main trigger button.

Awesome! Now we need a guide how to build a flight chair. For Immersion!

I had an X52pro but it was beginning to fall apart (lots of squeaks and groans) so I bought a CH products stick and throttle. It's rock solid and after thousands of hours it feels about the same as when I bought it. I'd recommend CH products over and X52 any day.

I use the legendary Microsoft Sidewinder Forcefeedback 2 and CH Products Pro Throttle. The Sidewinder does have twist and the forcefeedback does work to provide motorized resistance. It has to be plugged into a wall power socket on top of usb, but it truly is fantastic.

I fly with an Xbox One controller and use my Logitech G27 pedals as yaw rudders and my H-Shifter for throttle positions. Had a wheel lying around anyways, figure I might as well bind some mappings to it. Works great!

I agree completely on the best budget option being the T.Flight Hotas. I used it for years, desipite the lack of a full 6 analog axis. However, I'd say I'd move the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS above the X52/X52Pro (I may be biased since I had an x52 that just died on me. From what I've seen here it is generally these Saitek joysticks that are regularly commented on having poor build quality compared to their price tags.) The Thrustmaster FCS wins out with better functions for a lower price for me. Just a few notes on the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS: The joy does have less than ideal buttons but I managed to get away from that by moving some less important - non combat - functions to the buttons on the base. The throttle acts up a bit indeed on the slide but if you adjust the tension screw to loosen it it becomes smooth. I'd love a 50% range detent but to get that I'd have to downgrade for the T.Flight Hotas or go way up in the price range for the Virpil products. The paddle is big but I use ot for SRV turning only - keeping the index finger ministick purely for thrusters. This way I can independently drive my SRV fully from the throttle while I aim the turret with my mouse. (Using a joystick for aiming like that is just super awkward for my brain). Overall I'd say the FCS is a better option than the X52/X52pro as these are more expensive, can have their electronics just die on the inside and still only have 5 analog axis since the ministick on most versions is aggressively only for moving the mouse pointer. Not sure if later generations changed that.

*I found some aircraft types only partially supported among current products.* As of November 2018 nobody manufactures a counterpart of the Dunlop roll/pitch column used by the Grumman Iron Works (F9F, F11F, A2F, F14F) in addition to British aircraft manufactures - the column is pivoted at the base for pitch, midway up for roll. Nor does anybody manufacture a satisfactory collective-pitch arm for helicopter apps, although the VIRPIL® MongoosT-50® southpaw version would be a satisfactory collective grip. The Logitech HOTAS stick grips (applicable to the in-house G940 Flight System as well as the MadCatz-developed X52/PRO and X56) are panned by real-life pilots for switch placement inconsistent with any plane or helo outside of experimental builds. VIRPIL now supports the THRUSTMASTER® HOTAS WARTHOG® stick grip on the MongoosT-50 base/gimbal unit. For cutting-edge Russian machinery, the ideal sim stick grip isn't yet in production, but it would pack two analog ministicks (both with push select), two four-way and two five-way switches, two folding two-stage triggers of different lengths and swing arcs (àu OKB Kamova), and five pushbuttons in specific locations.

thanks for the very informative video. My last joystick was red plastic with one white button on top. I played many hours of Elite on the Commodore 64 with it... now getting into elite:dangerous....

Another member of the creeping yaw club on the T16000M checking in. Both stick Z and throttle Z (paddles) Thanks Thrustmaster.

You forget to mention that Ch fighterstik also need pedal's

O7, CMDR Exegious. I was curious if there was any chance you might be able to do an updated comparison for HOTASes. Thank you. -CMDR Zane Kata (Edit: spelling)

Someone asked me what your channel was like (big FPS player) and I said imagine a space sim level cap. Very thorough testing and analytical. Great content too!

Great Video, I may not agree with you on the fcm but you make some great points and well versed. Thank you.

I freaking loved my T1600M, it was perfect for elite dangerous in my opinion. But... there seems to be a problem with the the twist axis. I did recalibrate it and it fixed the problem for about a week. But it died today. So I did some research and it seems to be a very common problem with the T1600M sadly. So don't get it, save your money for something better i'd say. It's such a shame tho, Thurstmaster seems to have alot of problem with quality control lately.

You must have gotten a bad T16000m (RARE) - I have tried most too and it is excellent, you have 3 easy to reach buttons that can be used as shift so there is nothing you cannot map, even in VR and I don't even need to use any of the buttons on the stick base. I have a setup in an arcade room and have had dozens of people try out the sticks and almost all prefer the T16000m. The Throttle however needs to have a special non-binding grease to really shine (Nyogel 767A) and then it's smooth as butter. The paddles I just use to tab menu's so never an issue and the build quality I found on par or better than all other other plastic hotas's. The Wathog does not even have yaw so I never include that, it's nice but incomplete without major $$ and so out of the price range of others it's not even close to apples to apples. I found the Saitek / Logitech x series ok but often button placement was awkward, In fact I have a new x56 Rhino(New Gray/Black Logitech version even) collecting dust that is likely heading to ebay, for as cool as it is with the lights, switches and all the buttons it just is not as comfortable to me as the T16000M even though twice the price, I have average to maybe slightly above average size hands and the buttons are not where I feel they should be and this was pretty common among guests who have tried it. For the $112 U,S, Amazon has these for you cannot go wrong - I would suggest anyone looking try one of them, worst that can happen is you send it back, best that can happen - like me you get a better more comfortable setup and save $$ too - The build quality is fine on both throttle and stick but the grease will set you back about $25 and literally makes it so much better I do consider it almost mandatory bringing it's price to $137 but it's worth it. Of course as Exigeous mentions, your mileage may vary but quite opposite of my findings.

Thank you. I’m starting with the Thrustmaster to see if HOTAS is the format for me. If it is, I’ll start looking at those mid and high end options. The points about hats and switch’s are great. (Edit) I just ordered the Logitech x52 Pro on Thanksgiving 2020. My Thrustmaster T-Flight is experiencing yaw and roll creep. Not a bad starter joystick, but I seem to death grip. I haven’t had it long, but I’m not upset about it. Like I said, "Eagle Claw" is ruthless to the hotas, lol. I always appreciate your thought out work.

I have the T1600m FCS HOTAS and moved to it from the T.Flight HOTAS X. I would have bought the X52 but, at the time I was looking, the quality control was a hot topic to say the least. The X55/56 (quality control issues aside) and Warthog are really nice sticks, but my hands are on the small side and it's hard to use them. The I like the throttle, with no issues for 2 years now. I only use the paddles for forward/backward navigation in the menus but I find the layout of the rest of the buttons and the hats to be great for me and I've refined my layout over time to really work well. My current layout has all the functions I need quickly on the throttle except for the triggers, pips, target lock and next fire group that are on the stick. I have setup curves on the 4 way analog mini stick on the throttle and I really love rip around outposts using the thrusters. The stick is way better than the T.Flight HOTAS X as it is very accurate and with the TARGET software I can really work the curves to give me great control. Button refinement helps make this stick work well for me and it is just the right size for my hand. The base mounted buttons are pretty useless, on the right side they are used to deploy hardpoints, lights, cargo bay system and gal map and one recenters the HMD. All functions that are not repetitive or overly time critical so I it works well without interrupting the flow of using the stick or I can activate the hardpoints with my pinky easily. On the left side I don't use them at all as it would interrupt my hand being on the stick. But I love the stick. To get around the limited amount of usable buttons I use an Orbweaver since I already owned one. I place it along side the throttle just like the setup in Elite and works very well, the buttons are easy to find even in VR. I have been using one of these (originally a Nostromo from Belkin, that was made by Razor) since playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 and COD Modern Warfare and love them. I can't play an FPS shooter without one and it really adds to the feel of immersion in Elite. I also have the TFRP pedals which I like quite a bit as well. I was starting to get some issues with carpal tunnel using the twist on the sticks (that dang SRV really tore me up!!!) so I decided to get a set of pedals to see if it would help and it did. I didn't want to spend a heap on pedals, in case I didn't like them or it took too long to get used to them, but I took to them like a duck to water. I've had these longer than the HOTAS , and they've held up well. Some people say they are cheaply made, but I haven't an issue with any of them for 2 years now. I feel I've gotten my monies worth out of them, anyway, good review, I enjoyed it.

You should update by mentioning that Logitech redesigned the X56 with much better internals that what Saitek offered. Also, you might confuse people by including the "Blue" colored X56 (which are still sold on Amazon), since those are the older Saitek models and god awful. The newer "Gray" colored sticks are the ones made by Logitech.

I've been flying the X-56 for a while, and I love it. May be I got lucky but I have 0 QC issues. The 2 extra analog sticks make thrust super precise and landing very easy, and the plethora of buttons make VR flight a breeze

By far the best comparison video I could find. Picked up the T.Flight HOTAS 4 for a marked up $100 (thanks Flight Sim and Squadrons). I actually didn't choose it for the lowest price, I chose it because you made a good point, it's the only one designed for lap use. Since I'll be playing in my room scale VR setup that lacks a desk or office chair it will probably be the best bet when playing from the couch.

I like your honesty with the products. This is awesome! i can only imagine with VR(opinionated)

Soooo guess I'll just join the airforce or the navyyy?

Great video as usual, although I strongly disagree on your evaluation of the thustmaster versus the x52. I ordered the x52 and returned it due to the poor quality of hardware and software, I tested the thrustmaster at frontier expo and found the build quality excellent for the price, and the precision is way better than the chproducts I have. I would have probably bought the thrustmaster, if it had been out when I made my purchase. I'm now saving for some awesome high end setup, warthog,virpil... something...

I'm definitely appreciate your candor about these items. There's alot of haters about the logitech, in which I was leaning towards. If there's any additional information it will be appreciated.

I bought the X56 in 2016. Couldn't do much with it until this year. I did test it tho. When I went to use it, it was basically brand new yet had phantom buttons (randomly which is why I didn't see it when testing it). Got the T1.6 and I like it. I use the flappers on the throttle as a secondary (and quick) throttle reverse

I have the T16000 Hotas and like it for the most part. I don't find the paddles on the throttle to be odd, however, I think they should have angled the side with the thumb buttons on it to make them easier to reach. That said, I have not tried others. This one was the right price purchase was made on that and reviews vs the x56

WARTHOG! done. Actually CH Products are very good for a cheaper stick. Yes they look cheap and plastic but I will tell you I got my CH Pro Pedals for Christmas of 1997 with the new connector called a USB and yep they still work.

This is absolutely fantastic. I am that guy that loved space sims back in the days of Wing Commander in DOS. I hadn't touched another in a long time. Now I am back with Elite Dangerous VR and I picked up the T.Flight because dangit, in VR a keyboard is not easy to use and I hate "gamepad" flight. It is definitely excellent as a starter as I wasn't sure of what to get or what I would like. Having this, I now know what I want in a flight stick and your video cleared up a TON of questions I had about them. Happy with my buy but will be upgrading at some point and this video let me know where to go. Excellent!

Minor corrections for the CH Fighter Stick. ( Beyond the currently stated corrections.) I mostly use it for X-plane these days. Buttons = 4 Primary fire, Secondary fire, Pinky button, and index finger button --( which normally acts as the mode switch) Knobs = 3 There are 3 rotary knobs at the base, one is a lower friction axis which acts as a throttle similar to the T1600, the other two are high friction firmware trim modifiers with centering detents. ( allows you to over ride where the stick reports it's center - good for dialing in a climb or turn and walking away. ) Twist = NONE. It's a designed to work with rudder peddles. Oddities and others items: The stick size is a bit larger than you might think based on the pictures and the self that you rest your hands on sits higher than every other stick I've owned. For longer flights I've found it more comfortable to put it on a second shorter table and use some folded blankets to act as an arm rest so my arm rests in line with the stick. Another thing to get use to is that the main X and Y axsis are actually two independent rockers mounted on top of one another. It makes for a very unique feel that can be very off putting at first, but does allow for a higher degree of precision when wanting to separate yaw from pitch. Final Verdict. It's an awesome stick and it's best feature is one that's really hard to sell folks on. Durability. I think I paid about 100.00 USD for mine back in 2001, and it's still rock solid. I figure that means I paid about 6.00 dollars a year for it so far. No issues, no maintenance. It's the Glock or Ak of the flight stick world. That said for ED, and other space combat sims.... the lack of twist just feels wrong for space combat.

I had a T16000M (just the stick) and brought a X-52 (non-pro) only to be disappointed. The X-52 has a horrible stick. The buttons are fine but the actual stick has a horrible deadzone/accuracy issues and feels terrible to control. There are some after market mods that you can do with magnets that apparently help though (and maybe they have fixed it somewhat in newer versions). The T16000M is a decent quality on the actual stick. The thumb buttons seemed fine to me although the base buttons require you to remove a had so they suck. What I ended up doing was using the X-52 throttle with the T16000M stick which works well although there isn't quite enough buttons for ED. With combo buttons it works well and I don't have to use the base buttons. Remember you can use the HAT's as buttons. Still the X-52 throttle is ok but still far from perfect. I had to open it up and physically remove the annoying haptic 'dent' at the halfway mark. Also the throttle has 3 sliders, 1 is useful for zoom/FSS tuning in ED but there is no use for the other 2 in ED. It also has an annoying thumb mouse which isn't much use either (you might be able to turn it into another HAT in software though, unfortunately last time I checked it seem the current version of the software might have been missing the feature. The thumb button placement isn't great either. The hat switch is great though If you are looking at the X-52 series, defiantly get the X-52 PRO not the basic X-52 since apparently it has a much better stick. Opinion seems to be the X-56 is worse because of the silly pinky trigger and general quality but I haven't tried it. As for the higher end stuff, personally I couldn't live without twist on the stick, I don't want pedals taking space under my desk and like to put my legs up, but I can see the appeal for a more 'realistic' or flightsim cockpit setup.

Thank you for the guide . I do have a question..... all the research I did when choosing a Hotas there were some issues about reliability. In two of your recommendations were cited for having poor reliability and quality control issues. Have you experience any issues with any of the joysticks that you’ve used ?

Thanks for sharing the reviews. I am working on the tutorials and looking for beginner advice.

Good review, thanks Commander! o7 I started with the LOGITECH Extreme 3D Joystick, and later bought the CH Pro Throttle. For the Throttle, I added a little detend using Velcro (you can find guides in the net everywhere), and found I never regreted my choice (given my rather low budget). Full up position is not at a 100% though, more like 95%; for the rest I used a button. I really like the little Ministick, which I am using for the Thrusters. It is not perfect, put far better then a simple 4way-button. I use the leftmost button at the front with my pinky as a shift-button, to effectively double the input-options on both the Throttle and the Stick. (Elite allowes you to use any button or key to function as a shift-key/button, which is awesome!). (I decided to buy the CH Pro Throttle after watching this: /watch?v=ceOdOytgT64, which is a comparison of a CH vs. Saitek-Video from Brumster100 (the guy who developed the ED-Head-Tracker; come to think of it, Headtrackers would be a good topic for a video as well. ;) .) The Logitech Stick is known for starting to drift after some time, which I only found out about a year AFTER I purchased it. I replaced it with the Thrustmaster T160000M V1 (the one with green rather then orang lighting) and like it; it has fewer buttons then the Logitech, though, and begins to drift as well, but after 2 years I am not surprised. What really bothers me is that the base of the stick lights up every time you move it - I don't want a lightshow, I want a reliable input-device, thank you very much. -_- Also the many buttons at the base and the Throttle-slider are useless to me; half of the buttons you can not use, anyway, as they are on the "wrong" side (regardless if you are left or right-handed). I would LOVE to buy a CH Flight Stick, but the lack of twist is holding me back (that and the lack of money); I actually do not WANT pedals, as the twist feels rather natural to me.If someone would borrow me padels for a week for free, I would test it, though, but I can't imagine that I would prefer it over the tiwst. It's a pity that the Saitek Stick is not stand alone; it is connected to the Throttle via a special connector-cable and can not be used without the Throttle; otherwise I would have bought the X52 instead of the T.160000M, which I would still recommend as a beginner stick (if you do not want or need a Throttle or are uncertain at the moment and want to wait). (The option to use this stick both left or right hand is pretty unique, too, and I wonder why Thrustmaster is effectively the only one offering such a solution; now if they would offer a right hand Throttle, too.... well... lets say I am glad to be right handed.)

CH Pro throttle has analog input, the very good thumb stick for thrusters.

Very weird you didn't like the T16000m. I went from an X-56 that I got for ~$350AUD and having the torsion spring in the stick snapping just over a year later. When I opened it up and had a look the torsion spring metal looked cheap as shit. This is in addition to a few other issues: namely, the stick being made for overly big hands, and a few times the calibration went wonky. I got a T16000m and for half the price it felt better, played better, and I haven't had any real problems with it.

On Point, thx mate, great review. Unfortunately i buyed the Rhino x-56, it's not a crap but as soon as you take a closer look at it...you already explained it ;).

Fair play sir your video and production quality is excellent.

I've been close to buying the Warthog several times. The lack of the twist-function held me back. I think I'm gonna settle with the X56.

Keyboard+Mouse doesn't ruin my immersions because if I had a spaceship in real life I'd have it modified for Keyboard+Mouse controls

As someone who has had a number of Saitek (now logitech) HOTAS, and had each one lose precision in the stick after a short while, I finally spent the money and went with CH Fighterstick, with Pro Throttle and Pedals. 10 years later, they still work perfectly. They aren't pretty, and certainly not cheap, but they work well, and are extremely good quality. Although there are only a limited number of buttons, there are plenty of hat switches, which can be mapped as separate buttons depending on position pushed using the supplied control software.

I used to have a Thrustmaster Hotas X for starters, but after that died, I've selected the CH Combatstick matched with the Thrustmaster TWCS, just because I fell in love with the paddle in front of the throttle, which is IMHO the best yaw control without having to bother with pedals...

After some many hours with warthog you know, that it does not have any issues with potentiometers as it uses HALL effect instead of classic sensor and it remains very precise. Sadly you did not mentioned that so criticised T16000 also uses this technology and after year or two this stick will be superior over rest which will wobble a lot. Though it is worth mentioning that T16000 uses classic potentiometer for yaw axis and this one becomes loose just after few months of heavy usage. But still, you can't know it after 2 weeks of testing all of sets.

god damn those ch sticks look pretty much the same as the one my dad had when I was a kid like 20 years ago

Love my X-56 the dual thumb sticks are great for docking and mining I ordered custom plates for the throttle switches from etsy got them labeled correctly now

I bought the X55 Rhino when ED was in Beta. Still have it now with over 1500hrs use. Still works w/o any issues and I love it. Essentially it's down to what you feel you can afford and feel comfortable with. If we all loved the same things life would be boring!

I owned the X55 and X56 and loved them, but i could not recommend due to the poor build quality, in the space of over a 14 months I had to return the products on 3 occasions due to dead switches or axis issues. I gave up with this model and and bought the Warthog, other than lack of z axis twist I can find no faults with it. I'm yet to purchase rudders and rely on a button to change the yaw and roll function

Surprising to hear a recommendation of the X52 (which has a history of poor quality control) over the T16000m (which has a history of high accuracy for the price).

The CH Fighterstick feels just as good as the Flightstick and Flightstick Pro that came before it. I haven't used one of these since before they moved to USB, but it's good to see that CH is still around. One thing to note is that the Figherstick does not have a twist access as shown in the video.

I came from the X-55 which was a little disappointing and switched to a Thrustmaster Warthog with additional TM T.Flight Rudders and TM Multi-Function-Displays. This setup is extremely good for VR in my opinion, as you can identify buttons on the MFD and Throttle with ease, without looking and the rudders compensate for the missing z-axis on the stick, while providing extra control, when in the SRV for example. Excellent video by the way. The overview and info provided should point any buyer in the right direction, where to look and on what to keep an eye on. Well done!

Literally the only person I've ever heard/seen who shit on the 16000m. I actually prefer it to all other HOTAS which I have tried, meaning all of them from this video except the Virpil or VKBSim products. Warthog would beat it if it had twist yaw, as I can't stand pedals, and of course Warthog throttle is king. The Saitek products are pure garbage in my experience, though I'm told the quality has improved since Logitech took them over, mine were/are from the bad old days though.

Not even a mention about analog joystick On CH Throtlle ?

I've got an X52 Pro and I am extremely pleased with it.

i tried my friends x52 and i liked it aside from having pretty much no indication for where center is on the throttle, making it nearly impossible to simply come to a stop, in elite. unless of course you use the full range then have a button for reverse, which i tried and didnt like.

I must admit i think your a little overly harsh on the t16000m, while i agree it's a HOTAS for those on a budget here in the UK at least it represents the best value for money over here as there is a £50 price difference at retail between this and the x52 HOTAS which is significant for us on a budget and compared to the t flight HOTAS is has many more options for configuration. I still feel the t16000M is the best value for money for the lower end of the price range

Huge mistake about Virpil ! - You are showing constelation delta grip and telling us that it dosnt have twist ! Not true

I actually have used the T16000M FCS and Throttle for the last two years and personally I can agree that the throttle is a little odd to use as it feels oversized but overall I couldn't be happier with mine. I may get some lithium grease to put on the support rails of my throttle to try and make it move smoother though.

Great overview thanks! Would be nice if you could say something about the software of each hotas. I wouldn't care about the best product in terms of material quality and functionality if it's software is garbage

Wow! we completely disagree 😂 Had the x52. flimsy and uncomfortable. Had the x56. flimsy, uncomfortable and super hard throttle. Loved the t.flight! Cheap, comfortable and functional. Doesn’t require a reverse button. Now I’m on the t.16000m fcs purely for the comfort of the stick. Guess we got different hands, as no “saitek” product ever fit me :)

man the music is so load in the back! sry good review tho

My first purchase for a HOTAS system took a little while. I got a second hand X52 throttle and a new Logitech 3D Pro stick for about the same price as a new Thrustmaster T Flight. Main reasons for this is that the X52 throttle has the USB on it (usually the stick has it on a HOTAS) which means that I can get any stick I feel comfortable with and I find the 3D Pro is an excellent choice for the price, really solid, well built and comfortable. Only bought it to "get going" and have been so impressed with it I haven't bothered upgrading it in 2 years. Just thought it was worth mentioning as it is possible to mix and match if the USB is on the throttle part.

I 100% agree with your choice of the Warthog and VKBSim Mk4 pedals. Sure they're expensive. Sure I had to fabricate my own center detent for the throttle. Sure I had to build my own stick extension to fly helicopters in DCS, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd do exactly the same thing. Both kits are absolutely worth every penny.

I have had a CH set for what must be going on 16+ years.

A highly subjective topic but a very objective and useful review. What a great video. Thanks.

Good review! I use the X52 and love it. The detent in the throttle seems to be a common failure with the X52 though, but since I didn't like the detent anyway, I opened it up and removed it. It's not missed a beat in the 4K hours using it. I'll probably go to the X56 if the X52 dies though as I really don't want to lose the twist to yaw ability... plus the cost of course.

Back in my day it was a ZX Spectrum and A,S,D,X,O,P. Hardcore.

I got an x52 used on facebook for 80 bucks and then I got elite dangerous and voice attack. In vr this is the game I have dreamed about since I was a kid .

I like this review! Once upon a time, I owned the Logitech (then Saitek) X52. I was playing a space sim named Descent: Freespace. Some of my fellow older gamers probably know this one well. The X52 was phenomenal to say the least. The ONLY reason I don't own or use it now for Elite is because I own Elite on console and they don't make the X52 for PS4. I currently own the Thrustmaster TFlight HOTAS, and it is a distant but adequate replacement. I agree about the lack of quality. After long hours of use, it falls out of calibration with no way of correcting and recalibrating it. In fact, my second stick is beginning to do the same after only about 100+ hours of use. Other than that it is a great option for the console. Well it's one of only two options I know of on console, so 🤷🏾‍♂️ That's my two cents.

I have the X52, but mine is the old Saitek version. Love it!

"Ambidextrious"

Game sound in this was insanely loud

I mostly play elite.Bought my first Hotas due to mainly reliability reviews and price went with t16000 fcs. So far I love it, feels good for long flights and not cheap in the hand for the price. Love the twist on the stick and yeah a ton of buttons on stick base is not the most convenient but I don't bind anything there that I need in a hurry. Yet to figure out what to use a knob on the end of throttle for yet though. For the cost and not wanting to buy peddles I think (imo) it's a great choice.

I've bought the t16000 hotas as my first controller. I have never even used a joystick before (so I can't compare it to anything), but I really like this one, the button layout is great (for me) in both controllers, and the stick is well built. The throttle could be better though.

I totally disagree ... the X52 is pure junk, it will quit on you within a year and drive you crazy with it's lack of precision. Seriously, save your money a bit longer and buy a better quality product ... stay away from ANYTHING with the name Saitek on it, you can thank me later. PS: It's CH Products for me ... perfect in terms of price/quality and really up there in terms of precision and durability.