Joystick Opinions On The VKB Gladiator NXT Evo?

[Synthetic Frost]

Okay. I give up. I've been on twin T.16000m FCS sticks since ED's alpha phase, and I'm so tired of opening up the sticks every few months to clean the drifting twist axis. Thus, I have decided to throw in the towel and just fork over the cash for a higher quality stick. But here's the rub. I'm handicapped and left handed. I have extremely limited use of my right hand, so "just learning to fly right-handed" and using a traditional HOTAS like most lefties seem to do is not going to work for me. Even in this current twin stick layout, I use the left stick as the "primary" for pitch, roll, and yaw, with the right stick for strafe and throttle.

This is mainly why I've stuck with the T.16000m's for so long, despite being endlessly frustrated with them for wearing out. There are just very few left-handed sticks on the market. I've looked at all the popular models, the warthog, etc, and they just don't have left-handed versions.

On top of that, I love ED and other flight sims, but I'm just not willing to fork out the hundreds of U.S. dollars for a more enthusiast-level flight sim setup like a Virpil stick+base combo. But lately I've been hearing a lot of talk about the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo. And to my pleasant surprise, they make a "space combat" variant that comes with a left handed option. I've looked at a bunch of reviews for it and almost all of them say it's a major step up from a T.16000m, but they don't really give details on how well it fares long term.

I've just pulled the trigger on ordering one, but before mine gets here, what are your thoughts on the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo?

 

[Helmut Grokenberger]

I love mine. In my opinion they are the best bang for the buck at the moment.

They are still plastic, but very high quality; apparently glass fiber enforced. The bearings are not plastic on plastic, but ball bearings. The clutches on the EVO line are a great feature, allowing you, along with the three different spring sets, to have the joystick as loose or tight as you want. The sticks are completely modular, and every part can be replaced. They are meant to be completely user serviceable, if you are inclined to do so. The EVOs are very precise and feel great. They aren't just good for the price. They are good, period. Of course there are higher quality options where you get machined metal parts, but personally I find the prices hard to justify for a game.

I have been through a few different options since I started ED. I started with a HOTAS X to see if I like ED and a HOTAS at all. Next was the 16000 with its throttle. The stick lasted two months before the yaw began to drift. Also, its button placement makes them useless. The throttle is pretty good though, if you regrease the rails and like the linear design.

Next I swapped to the Logitech X52 Pro, which all in all is pretty good for its price. Lots of buttons and options, and a versatile throttle too. I used that for the longest time until I replaced the stick unit with a Gladiator EVO Premium, keeping the throttle.

Compared to the EVO all other consumer sticks feel like cheap toys. Probably because they are. The EVOs feel much more... grown up, if you know what I mean.

My last iteration was to swap the throttle for a second EVO with the omni throttle adapter. Together with the locking plate and clutches and removing the spring for the Y axis you can make it work like a traditional throttle while maintaining side to side movement. i kept it with the traditional joystick setup and use it for lateral and vertical, and the twist for forward and reverse.

Getting your head around the programming software can be a little daunting, but actually you can use them just out of the box, no programming needed if you don't want them to do anything special. But this is probably the one piece of equipment where reading the manual is not optional. VKB also has a load of guides and tutorials on YT. Most important thing: Do not, ever, calibrate them through the windows settings. Always do that with the VKB software.

I am really satisfied with my purchase. Alltogether I paid around 450 Euro for both sticks together, which is alot of money, but they punch well above their weight class. In this price range, there is simply nothing better in my opinion.

The introduction post on the VKB forum has a few details on the specs if you are interested in the geeky stuff.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

....

I've just pulled the trigger on ordering one, but before mine gets here, what are your thoughts on the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo?

Just great, super quality, buttons feel a bit like they are on stalks (compared to CHPro Fighterstick) but seem robust enough.

Virpil is a magnitude better quality but way more expensive, VKB is more than a magnitude better than T16000 though - different ball-park really.

 

[Hooplah]

I've had mine for two years and all the controls still feel new. There is a startup calibration which was a little confusing and course I've forgotten how to do it. Once past that it is very precise and reliable. Replacing an X-56 gray joystick which showed wear and loose controls it had a pinky finger button and lever where the NXT only has the button. Using it for flight assist toggle I just binded it to another control. I purchased the premium version with all the extra parts and switches and haven't needed any of them.

I also have the Gladiator Mk III Space Combat Edition which has the exact same joystick grip for a future custom 'flight chair' build. However the NXT works so well that I have never opened the box on the Mk III.

 

[GreySix]

I fly with a pair of Gladiator NXT sticks and have no complaints.

 

[Riverside]

I have a gladiator mkII, one of the predecessors to the NXT, upgraded to take a space grip so effectively a Gladiator K. It still has a mostly plastic gimbal (so the current NXT is an improvement on what I have) and it's got something like 10,000 hours on it now, it's been excellent.

I had an issue (early on) with one of the hat stalks that broke, I was able to get a replacement part (looks like a golf tee) no problem & fitting it was straightforward, I have a couple of spare tees but haven't needed them.

The red thumb button can get a bit flakey, again it can be replaced but I adapted to use the pinkie button for secondary fire instead. Probably doesn't help that I use frags a lot so lots of click click click rather than just holding it down for a while.

I have the premium grip with the extra thumb hat on the side but I found that it was hard to press it down (centre click) without also pressing 'up' on the hat so I swapped it for the single button (supplied with the premium grip). IMO the premium grip isn't a must-have, but it does give more options that personally I only use because I have them.

Excellent quality & great value for money, I have heard very few complaints (unlike the T-16000 I had before).

The vkbconfig software looks phenomenally complicated but very flexible. There are helpful guides on the vkb forum that are worth checking out, I have set up S-curves for my analogue axis and split the controller into two 32 button virtual controllers as a workaround for ED & directx's 32 button limits.

 

[CMDR Harada]

Gladiator Mk II with Kosmosima grip ( Space Combat ) on my desk. Had it several years and ZERO complaints. I burned thru a bunch of T16ks.

You're going to find accuracy and feel are light years ahead of what you have now. Plus you won't have to compensate with dead zones for the T16k notorious centering issues.

There's also the new stick adjustment period, and programming the controls, to what you like. One option that you'll have to learn is the VKB software so you can step around the 32 button issue. I used it to program some buttons so they mimic a keyboard key-press instead of 'button 45' . The software is very granular, and can do amazing things.

Like Riverside, I also snapped off a hat stalk after almost two years. A quick email to VKB and I had a replacement and a few spares inside of a week. The new ones were aluminum instead of plastic.

You made the right choice.

 

[LifesAJourney]

The only potential disadvantage of Gladiator series is plastic gimbal. This is also the main thing that differentiates it from more expensive Gunfighter series.

I use Gladiator for left hand and Gunfighter for right hand (both Kosmosima grips, of course) and the only issue I have is one button which just stopped to be 100% reliable after two years of extensive use.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

The only potential disadvantage of Gladiator series is plastic gimbal. This is also the main thing that differentiates it from more expensive Gunfighter series.
...

However the EVO series uses ball-bearings in the gimbals:

"...
Gimbal with ball bearings
Adjustable dry clutches for user-tunable load
..."

 

[Elephant42]

I'm extremely happy with my NXT EVO SCG, so happy in fact that within a week of receiving it I ordered an Omni Throttle for the left hand. I'm currently suffering with impatience for Monday - Australia Post doesn't deliver on weekends, even for Express Post.

 

[Pville_Piper]

I'm extremely happy with my NXT EVO SCG, so happy in fact that within a week of receiving it I ordered an Omni Throttle for the left hand. I'm currently suffering with impatience for Monday - Australia Post doesn't deliver on weekends, even for Express Post.

I know the feeling... My Vkb rudder pedals are at the distribution center and will be delivered Monday. Unfortunately I will be traveling out of town on Monday!

 

[the100thmonkey]

Apologies for the necro, but there is a good concentration of Gladiator users here, and I'm considering an upgrade to my T.16000M, specifically the Gladiator NXT Evo.

I must be the only player who has used the Thrustmaster stick for years and has no complaints (I'd love to give Thrustmaster feedback for their next iteration, however)- I permanently fixed the yaw pot issue and use practically every button on the base, despite not being an octopus. The issue is software for me, in that I can't use TARGET to implement a joystick curve.

I see that the stick has onboard memory - I just want to confirm that you can set response curves in the software, write to the flash on the stick and you can then use it without needing the software open like TARGET. I no longer play on Windows, so this is the primary concern for me in a new stick.

 

[pFVD]

Yes, you can set curves that are stored on the stick itself, no need to have the software running; You are basically writing to the sticks firmware when you save. Can you use the software on non-Windows OS? No idea.

 

[CMDR Harada]

You are correct. Once you flash the setup to the stick, you don't need to keep it running, and it SHOULD xfer to where ever. I haven't tried under LINUX, but it works that way under Windows.

Upgrading from a T16k is lightyears better. You wont regret it.

 

[Mr Lindsay]

I don't use it for ED, but I've had one for about 6 months that I use for DCS, and I've been quite happy with it so far.

I'm not sure how useful it will be with your specific needs, but one thing you may wish to look into if you find the stick is short of buttons and switches is the Side Extension Module or the Throttle Quadrant, which can be attached to the side of the stick for additional controls with your right hand. I got the SEM, it was a little fiddly to install, but I find it a lot easier than resorting to keybinds for most things. Extra expense, of course, so have a good look into it first to see if either of them would be suitable.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Thank you for your replies.

I still have Windows PCs in the house, so that particular issue isn't a concern - my kids play a much greater variety of games than I do (one of them streams Fortnite), so I don't think I'm going to persuade them to move to Linux any time soon.

I have plenty of options for buttons - I have a Stream Deck and input for the left hand already, and the Gladiator itself has 4 hats, if I'm not mistaken. That will be more than enough.

 

[Wily Rites]

I'm scared to read to much about these, for fear of spending more money that I don't really have; Dang they sound great though!

 

[Walter2]

I'm scared to read to much about these, for fear of spending more money that I don't really have; Dang they sound great though!

They really are worth saving up for - a delight to use and more buttons than you need for ED.

 

[Willyum-71]

but one thing you may wish to look into if you find the stick is short of buttons and switches is the Side Extension Module or the Throttle Quadrant, which can be attached to the side of the stick for additional controls with your right hand. I got the SEM, it was a little fiddly to install, but I find it a lot easier than resorting to keybinds for most things. Extra expense, of course, so have a good look into it first to see if either of them would be suitable.

Just adding to your post for the visual, here is my desktop configuration. When I would race or do PVP I got a little aggressive and flip the sticks... so I joined them together to be fully stable.
1 SEM I use for in-game control, the other SEM I setup a few external tools like Nvidia picture and video capture and other stuff, and I attached my Streamdeck to the tablet adapter that normally mounts in 2 parts, I just disconnected the back half and used Velcro to connect the streamdeck to the front half... that's why I'm holding 1 side up so you can see it's all connected as 1 unit...

 

[IstvaanDCIV]

As a proud owner of one of these on the right hand and an omni-throttle on the left hand, I can say that they are 100% worth it. I started off using a Logitech X52, which I liked the design of, but which broke within a month of use. I got a second one on warranty, hoping maybe that I had just got unlucky with the build quality, but that one also broke within 3 months. So the next one I tried was the Logitech X56, hoping that its higher price would translate to more durability. Which it did, kind of. The flight stick lasted a whole six months of daily use before the torsion spring broke.

There was an intermediate period when I was using the X56 throttle alongside the VKB flight stick, since it was a few months before there was an omni-throttle that I was able to buy. Had to pay import charges because I was shipping it in from the EU, but it was still worth it.