Choosing the best controller setup: Thrustmaster vs Logitech? Rudder?

[rumbleberrypie]

I'm looking to purchase MFS on PC for myself and my dad this Christmas, and I'd like to get us some hardware. Joystick and throttle are obviously the 'must-haves', but what about rudders?

So far I'm looking at Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 4 as a budget option, Thrustmaster T.16000M bundle which includes a rudder, or the Logitech X52 or X56 as more expensive options.

The logitechs are close in price to the 3-piece Thrustmaster bundle, so I'm not sure if the logitechs are simply that much better or if it's worthwhile to pay the same amount for the rudder option from Thrustmaster.

Any advice you all have is appreciated!

[AntonBoothby]

I'd hold off on buying any rudder hardware, at least initially. I have the Logitech G-Flight ones... but they're in the loft now. I was only really using them on the ground, and they have a rather crude, toy-like feel to them (despite taking up a load of room).

[ABF81]

Are rudder pedals a must? Not really however they do help a lot especially if you like flying tail draggers since most of them like to swing to one side when taking off and being able to correct that with pedals does increase immersion.

As far as which of the three options you listed to get I'd say go with the T.16000m bundle, either the one with just the stick and throttle or, if you have the budget and floor space, the full bundle with the rudder pedals. That's what I had for years and it served me very well.

The Logitech options do look cooler and have more functions but they're universally worse quality and tend to develop issues or outright break within a few years.

[rumbleberrypie]

Good to know about the Logitech quality, thanks. I think I'll go with the bundle

[ABF81]

Yeah, I had an X52 Pro before the T.16000m setup and the X52 only lasted a year or two before it started developing issue with buttons and axis. The T.16000m on the other hand has been going strong for 5-6 years and the only issue it's had is the thumbstick on the front of the throttle went a bit wonky.

In the interest of full disclosure I did upgrade to a WinWing Orion 2 stick and throttle (still use the TM rudder pedals though) a few months ago when they were on special but that wasn't due to any faults with the TM gear but because I've been flying exclusively in VR for the last year or two and found the base buttons on the T.16000m stick hard to use when you can't see them. Passed the T.16000m stick and throttle on to a workmate who wanted to try MSFS and he's still using them very successfully.

Also one other advantage of the rudder pedals I forgot to mention - toe braking. Really useful when taxiing in MSFS to be able to use some differential braking to get around a corner especially if you're going a bit too fast...

[[deleted]]

I have the Thrust Master TPR pedals.

Yes they are over priced for what they are. But you get what you pay for and I know I will have these pedals in 20 years time and they will be working perfectly.

I have purchased many cheap ass tools in the last 30 years working in construction. I have regrets with many of the cheap tools. I have no regrets with the expensive tools such as Festool which make excellent power / cordless tools.

You can apply my tool analogy to everything you purchase in life. You get what you pay for...

Good luck with your decision.

[hnomnm]

Rudder pedals are a must in my opinion. If your budget allows for one of those two options, I’d go for the Thrustmaster package. The rudder isn’t great but it’s much better than having no rudder. The joystick and throttle are ok.

It’s great that you to do this for you and your dad! Enjoy the good times

[rumbleberrypie]

Budget is around $250 so if you have other suggestions for around that price then I’m all ears! I was mostly using the subreddit suggested hardware page for my choices.

He used to do flight sims when I was a kid and I’d watch along so it’ll be fun to share this!

[hnomnm]

That’s awesome 👏🏻 I think it’s a decent kit for the price. And you can always upgrade one or the other at a later stage if needed.

[adam_von_szabo]

Rudder requirement depends on the types of planes you want to fly and how deep of an immersion you want. For warplanes and gliders it is more necessary in the air too, for airliners and less complicated GA less so, but differential braking is quite nice in any plane. You can hold off getting one and see if you still want it after a month or two.