Existing threads on this control seem to be a year old.
I haven’t bought anything yet, doing my homework. The Gladiator NXT EVO ‘Space Combat Edition’ has excellent reviews. Are there arguments for and against this controller versus another in the same general price range? What are you likes and dislikes of it?
Feel free to give your opinion and suggest this or another controller.
Nothing to complain about VKB other than it’s heavy. 
But heavy bases are actually a benefit, not a con - stability wise.
I’ve had mine since about 2022 and I’ve expanded it to an SEM side module and the really awesome GA Panel. Very flexible and easy to configure. Built like a proverbial brick outhouse, very solid controls. I didn’t choose to change the strength springs (they come with several tensions) - it felt good out of the box.
It replaced a TM Airbus which had the bad rudder axis design defect - sad to say but I’ll likely not buy TM ever again - I had a full HOTAS setup in the day for my combat sims, but their quality seemed to have gone downhill.
I bought two of the Gladiator NXT EVO - one with the Gladiator EVO Grip for the left hand and the other with the EVO Omni Throttle for the right hand. It’s a brilliant combination.
I’ve learned to fly with this left hand stick set up and it was very easy to change from my usual right handed grip with my old system. This allows my right hand to operate the throttle but more importantly also my mouse which is essential in VR.
The Omni throttle looks a bit weird and clearly isn’t a normal throttle but it works really well and is one of the few ways of having a throttle for the right hand.
The kit is really well made and I would highly recommend it.
I bough a Saitek X52 back when I was flying FS9. It finally wore out last year, and even then it was just one of the cable connections. I had heard the build quality of the new Logitech edition wasn’t as good, but I decided to try it anyway. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the build quality was just as good as ever, and I’m quite happy with it. I can’t find anything else that has as many analog inputs, and I use every last one of them.
My computer room is FULL of VKB gear - 3 EVOs, 2 THQs, SEM, FSM and a STECS - it all works flawlessly, is almost infinitely configurable and I don’t regret getting any of it.
The only down side is that it is a bit on the expensive side here in Aus, but then again so is everything…
Thats fascinating.
The same happend to me with my X56 - it finally gave in after almost two decades. I bought a new one and I have to say that indeed the build quality is… not as good as the old one. Not terribly bad but still, a step down.
I bought the VKB NXT Evo Space Combat Edition Premium Right in July 2022, and since then, I haven’t had any problems with it. It’s really a great joystick and very well-built. Before that, I had a joystick from the HOTAS X56 set. After some time, I bought TCA sidestick Airbus edition but unfortunately, its twist axis was defective – a manufacturing flaw. So, I purchased VKB and I have no intention of switching to another joystick because it’s really fantastic.
edit
The only thing is that you need to get used to the gimbal, but it’s not a problem.
I also have two VKB Gladiators. They’ve worked flawlessly for two years. I fly helicopters, so they are perfect. Replaced the Airbus.
Ditto the comments above.
For heli with the springs removed, its a built in feature design, not a mod, works wonderful.
Dont let the name throw anyone of, it’s just a multi function joystick opposed to the specific model. f16 style as example
If the Gladiator NXT Evo is in your price range and you need / want a new joystick, there is nothing to compete with it. It is effectively the entry-level to high-end controls.
Logitech X52 / X56 and Thrustmaster T16000 / Airbus captain might be similar in cost or appearance, but they fall down badly against the VKB in any comparison of build quality, functionality, adjustability and durability. I’ve had an Extreme 3d Pro, T16000M and X56, and although the 3d Pro still works the other two had mechanical and electrical failures that killed them both.
I had a Gladiator NXT Evo that did over 1,000 flying hours in MSFS, and it looked and worked exactly the same as it did when I unboxed it. I only changed it because I had the opportunity to move up to a VKB Gunfighter based stick.
The damping, adjustability, bearings, build and electrics in the VKB kit are hugely better than the competitors, but the software is another major bonus. It takes a little familiarisation, but there are loads of tutorials on the VKB site and YT that you can follow. Once used to it, you can configure and adjust pretty much every control and LED, set very precise curves and configure & update the whole device if you have additional VKB modules in use or attached to it.
I had the plain NXT Evo originally, then added the THQ, SEM and FSM GA modules to the Evo base, making a super-hotas. I still use these three modules pretty much every day alongside the Gunfighter stick and S-Tecs throttle, and they remain faultless and looking as-new after 5 years.
9 yes - 0 no.
It sounds like a winner.
def worth the investment into their ecosystem. couple with spad.next and you can do just about everything. I have Gladiator NXT and STECS Max. Hugely wonderful with the detents which makes flying things like Airbus’s and Fairchild Republics (iykyk) more immersive.
If you’re interested in purchasing from VKB, the following code gives you a 5% discount:
SALTEMIKEI use it when flying the COWS DA40/42. It’s a very, very good joystick for the price.
Thank you very much!!
You’re welcome.
I took the leap and ordered a VKB stick. I found what looks to be an excellent YouTube vid on button bindings for MSFS.
Feel free to ask here. Noting what aircraft you are flying will help with suggestions.
Great Stick, very stable and feels right. Just enough buttons. The only problem is that it is not recognized in 2024. I mean you can use it, but in the controls section it is not listed.
I am surprised and disappointed to hear that. How in the world does Microsoft leave out such a popular stick. 