The Definitive 2025 HOTAS Buyer's Guide!

Video Description

Discounts & affiliate links ahead! Use them to support my work. It doesn't cost you anything. Thanks for watching the 2025 HOTAS Roundup! :) Shoutout to @CaptainCollins for borrowing me his Constellation Alpha grip and the Aeromax for this video! Go and check out his channel if you're into space games! WinWing: http://winwingsim.com/ Virpil: https://virpil.com/en/ VKB EU: https://flightsimcontrols.com/ VKB US: https://www.vkbcontrollers.com/ MOZA: https://mozaracing.com/ Get the Beam Head & Eye Tracker here (Black Friday Discount!): https://beam.eyeware.tech/?via=mysh Review: https://youtu.be/UXxEUyfP4SQ Pimax VR Discount (+Black Friday Discount!): Code at checkout: MYSH for 3% off (accessories are not included) Shop Pimax Crystal Light: https://pimax.com/products/pimax-crystal-light?ref=mysh Shop Pimax Crystal Super: https://pimax.com/products/pimax-crystal-super?ref=mysh Get the Tobii Head & Eye Tracker here (Black Friday Discount!): https://tobii.gg/mysh Donate via Kofi to keep me rolling! :) https://ko-fi.com/watchmysh (Best way to support, I receive 95% of the donation!) Shop on Amazon with these links to support! (your prices stay the same): USA Amazon link: https://amzn.to/49dQU9Q Germany / EU Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3vYgt0h Amiga Shirt: https://amzn.to/3WA9B3q 5% discount for the Next Level Racing store (use link + code to save 5%!): Link: https://bit.ly/3IbWiTi Discount code: mysh24 To apply the discount, follow the link to the NLR website and look under "products". "Buy" just lists resellers. GameSir G7 Pro Controller Discount: Official Store: https://gamesir.com?ta_aff=PGXNPNRIIF Use this discount code: G7PRONOW USA Amazon link for GameSir G7 Pro: https://amzn.to/49dQU9Q Germany / EU Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3vYgt0h Gimbal Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtmES9zJURQ Landing Comparison: Cutting ... launching soon! :) This is my complete 2025 HOTAS buyer’s guide and hotas market overview, covering everything from ultra-budget flight sticks to high-end cam-and-spring bases and force feedback systems. If you are looking for the best HOTAS in 2025, this guide will help you make the right decision based on real hardware design, long-term reliability, and actual use in flight and space simulators. You will learn: Which HOTAS systems are actually worth buying in 2025. The differences between ball-and-cup, pincer, cam-and-spring, and force feedback gimbals. Which flight sticks and throttles offer the best value for money. Reliable upgrade paths from budget to high-end setups. What to avoid when buying your first HOTAS or upgrading an old one. This guide is made for: Microsoft Flight Simulator, DCS World, IL-2, X-Plane, Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous, and general space and flight simulation. If you are new to flight sims, this buyer’s guide will help you avoid wasting money. If you already own a HOTAS, this hotas market overview will help you decide what actually makes sense to upgrade next. Early access and behind-the-scenes footage are available for channel members. If you have questions about specific gear or want personal setup advice, leave a comment. Dumb purchases are worse than seemingly dumb questions. My rig: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D https://amzn.to/4nHUSPb Alphacool waterblock https://shop.alphacool.com/en/shop/gpu-water-cooling/ MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi https://amzn.to/4nPIcpD 64GB Mushkin Redline DDR5 @ 5600Mhz https://amzn.to/3IAkiPR Zotac RTX 5080 / Alphacool Waterblock https://amzn.to/3VAVUAG NZXT C1200 PSU https://amzn.to/4niFzN5 Bunch of SSDs (850X, 990, SN7100, ...) WD SN7100: https://amzn.to/3KkEtlq WD SN850X: https://amzn.to/4ndPd3H Samsung 990 PRO: https://amzn.to/46kjWGh 00:00 Intro 00:55 Gear Overview 01:42 Important Gimbal Basics 03:53 Logitech Extreme 3D Pro 04:37 Trustmaster T-Flight HOTAS 05:22 Thrustmaster T16000M Flight Stick 06:06 WinWing Ursa Minor Airline Joystick 07:15 WinWing Ursa Minot Fighter Joystick 08:40 VKB Gladiator NXT EVO Standard 10:33 Thrustmaster T16000M TWCS HOTAS 12:00 TurtleBeach VelocityOne Flight Stick 13:05 Thrustmaster Sol-R 1 13:58 Winwing Ursa Minor Combat Throttle 14:33 Logitech X-52 / Pro 15:56 Logitech X-56 17:00 VKB Gladiator NXT EVO Premium 17:30 Virpil CDT Aeromax 18:24 TurtleBeach Flight Deck 19:02 HORI Hotas 19:38 Please Like the Video 19:55 Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS 21:08 WinWing Metal Warthog HOTAS 21:51 About WinWing's Customer Service ... 24:08 Thrustmaster AVA and F-18 grip 25:12 Virpil's High-End Lineup 28:15 Please help keep the channel rolling! 28:46 MOZA's High-End Lineup 31:20 VKB's High-End Lineup 35:02 Recommendations 35:13 Best Budget Sticks 36:05 Best Budget Allrounder 36:49 Best Value Base 39:07 Best Long Term Base 40:29 Best Mid-Range Full HOTAS 41:43 The Ultra Flexible Combo 42:45 Best Value High-End Entry 43:21 Best High-End Combos 45:53 Combining High-End Gear 46:35 Pedals 47:20 Console Options (PS5/XBOX) 47:43 Upgrade Paths 51:27 Desktop Bases 51:43 Desk Mounts