HOTAS Recommendations Needed

[Pugs]

So I bought a ThrustMaster 16000M in January 2019 and this past week, the Z Axis (twist left and right) decided to poop the bed. You may have noticed an earlier post from me about the Z Axis drifting on its own, with no physical twist applied to the joystick. Upon further research and reading feedback from this sub, this issue with the 16000M unfortunately seems all too common. I was able to obtain a full refund through Amazon, but I now find myself in a pickle…

I love Elite and I was just starting to get into DCS World. I want a new HOTAS and am willing to spend quite a bit for a new one – maybe up to $350-400. The issue is, almost every HOTAS I see listed online has poor reviews from angry customers complaining about cheap plastic parts and faulty sticks. The only HOTAS I am considering is the ThrustMaster Warhog, but there is no twisting in the joystick, and I don’t want to spend even more to add pedals. So…I come to all of you.

What HOTAS would you recommend? How long has yours lasted?

[<Caeris↝]

Got it since a while, but you need enough space for it.
Also it´s heavy 5kg> . So put it on a stable platform.
You have a smoother movement, better accuracy and enough buttons to configurate.
Got mine since half a year and no problems with it.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960720-Thrustmaster-Hotas-Warthog/dp/B00371R8P4?th=1

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Get the Warthog. Especially if you also eye the DCS World. It doesn't have the twist, but you can use a little analogue knob on a throttle as your yaw.

I bought mine over 3 years ago. Have over 4,000h of playing E:D with it. Still 0 drifting with 0 deadzones.

It is very heavy and very "stiff", comparing to other joysticks. It needs getting used to. But it's well worth the money. Lots of buttons on the main stick, too.


P.S. Yes, my T16000M also got that twist problem. It's all jerky now, and sometime registers the opposite movement for a moment. And I only used it for several months... They use a pot there, unlike so praised hall effect sensors that they use on x/y axis.

[Pugs]

Originally posted by Caeris:

Got it since a while, but you need enough space for it.
Also it´s heavy 5kg> . So put it on a stable platform.
You have a smoother movement, better accuracy and enough buttons to configurate.
Got mine since half a year and no problems with it.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960720-Thrustmaster-Hotas-Warthog/dp/B00371R8P4?th=1

Thanks for sharing. There is no twist on this stick though, right? How do you deal with the Z Axis?

[Mu77ley]

Originally posted by PUGS:

Originally posted by Caeris:

Got it since a while, but you need enough space for it.
Also it´s heavy 5kg> . So put it on a stable platform.
You have a smoother movement, better accuracy and enough buttons to configurate.
Got mine since half a year and no problems with it.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960720-Thrustmaster-Hotas-Warthog/dp/B00371R8P4?th=1

Thanks for sharing. There is no twist on this stick though, right? How do you deal with the Z Axis?

Most people buy pedals for that.

[Bannor]

I've played most of my 2300 hours of ED on a Saitek x52 Pro before it eventually wore out. Now I have a few hundred hours on my x56. Both are GREAT joystick / throttle bundles. Not *perfect* - but right up there!

[Qrazy]

https://virpil-controls.eu/

https://vkbcontrollers.com/

[Crimson Echo]

For elite specifically using dual sticks can be an option also. (probably not a good option for DCS) Mainly due to having more analog DOF with large throws. Good left hand sticks can be hard to find, but should be available given your price range if you opt to not get a throttle.

The CH fighterstick usb is a good primary stick, but the mech can be very noisy. The CH throttle is garbage. What ever you get you will want tons of hats. Elite has an insane number of binds. Using keyboard + high end stick may also be a good option if you are not using VR.

The Saitek stuff is now owned by logitech and should have better quality than the old reviews reflect if you can find the logitech branded stuff. (elites in game hotas is modeled on the x52 or x56 iirc)

[One Eye Jack]

This is the one I have been using for a while now. Very pleased with it. No issues whatsoever.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960778-Thrustmaster-T16000M-HOTAS/dp/B01KCHPRXA

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by One Eye Jack:

This is the one I have been using for a while now. Very pleased with it. No issues whatsoever.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960778-Thrustmaster-T16000M-HOTAS/dp/B01KCHPRXA

That's what the OP had problems with. In time your yaw axis will become bad, too - they have a cheap pot in there controlling it.

[Pugs]

I bought myself the Warthog. The price was tough to swallow but if the quality is as good as advertised, it'll be worth it in the long term.

[One Eye Jack]

Originally posted by Dolphin Bottlenose:

Originally posted by One Eye Jack:

This is the one I have been using for a while now. Very pleased with it. No issues whatsoever.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960778-Thrustmaster-T16000M-HOTAS/dp/B01KCHPRXA

That's what the OP had problems with. In time your yaw axis will become bad, too - they have a cheap pot in there controlling it.

That's what I get for reading just the headline. LOL But I haven't had any yaw problems yet. I have 2000 plus hours in the game and over half of that is with that stick.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by One Eye Jack:

I have 2000 plus hours in the game and over half of that is with that stick.

Lucky you! Or maybe you just play the game the right way (pitch/roll)?.. :)

[Straight White Male]

I wore out two T-16000 and am now using the X52. Trigger and other most used buttons wore out on mine.
While it does have less buttons, it feels like it will last longer.