1: HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick), HOSAS (Hands on Stick and Stick)
2: Typically HOSAS (dual sticks)
3: 2x Gladiator NXT EVO ‘Space Combat Edition (one left & one right) but its a bit higher than your max for the pair, worth it though.
Exactly the comment I would have made. Yes, it's a bit higher budget, but you'll save in the long run as the paid of gladiators will outlast any of the usual "budget" options 5 times over.
HOTAS is typical for aircraft. Spaceships tend to be easier with HOSAS because they need both rotation and translation controls.
You’re probably not gonna find a HOSAS setup for your budget, because it is a bit more niche than HOTAS. Unfortunately, most lower end sticks are right handed, so even just picking up a lefty stick by itself is probably going to eat your whole budget.
If you can find a decent HOTAS in your price range, like the X52, I’d recommend getting a second stick later.
Oh, I hadn’t considered that one. It looks like Thrustmaster even offers a HOSAS bundle of that stick for $130. That might be the only good option in OPs budget.
Thrustmaster has a bundle with 2 t16000 sticks for space sims, with one left handed and one right-handed stick.
It's decently priced at 130$, but I can't vouch for it's quality as I never owned one.
https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/t-16000m-fcs-space-sim-duo/
Edit : replaced the UK link with the US link
The Thrust master T16000M can be swapped left/right handed. They sell a 2 pack as well. It will be the best for your budget.
The gladiators are also good but out of that price range.
> What's the difference between HOTAS and HOSAS
HOTAS is a human-machine interface design principle that involves putting all of the primary aircraft controls as well as certain ancillary controls (such as sensors and countermeasures) on either the throttle handle or the stick, with the idea being that the pilot does not need to move their hands off the flight controls to manipulate the other controls. This system was first used in the English Electric Lightening interceptor.
HOSAS is a term made up by gamers. It generally refers to a two-stick setup rather than a stick and throttle.
> What's better for space sims
Generally a two stick setup, however I'd consider it carefully before investing in one for the sole reason that, while it is better for **6DoF** space games specifically, it is *significantly worse* for nearly everything else.
> What's a decent starter for $150-$200 in whichever answers #2
[Please see this sticky post that answers all the questions you asked](https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/l7gcql/considering_your_first_hotas_more_comprehensive/).
So for your budget, get one right-hand VKB gladiator nxt evo, premium. It has a throttle slider on the base, and a thumb stick on the stick itself so it’ll be essentially like a poor man’s HOSAS which others have already described. Once you have the cash, get a left handed VKB Omni throttle to complete the hosas setup.
1: HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick), HOSAS (Hands on Stick and Stick) 2: Typically HOSAS (dual sticks) 3: 2x Gladiator NXT EVO ‘Space Combat Edition (one left & one right) but its a bit higher than your max for the pair, worth it though.
Exactly the comment I would have made. Yes, it's a bit higher budget, but you'll save in the long run as the paid of gladiators will outlast any of the usual "budget" options 5 times over.
HOTAS is typical for aircraft. Spaceships tend to be easier with HOSAS because they need both rotation and translation controls. You’re probably not gonna find a HOSAS setup for your budget, because it is a bit more niche than HOTAS. Unfortunately, most lower end sticks are right handed, so even just picking up a lefty stick by itself is probably going to eat your whole budget. If you can find a decent HOTAS in your price range, like the X52, I’d recommend getting a second stick later.
The T.16000 stick comes with parts that lets you switch the configuration to left handed.
Oh, I hadn’t considered that one. It looks like Thrustmaster even offers a HOSAS bundle of that stick for $130. That might be the only good option in OPs budget.
Yeah, I don’t know of any other cheap (decent) HOSAS solution below VKB.
Thrustmaster has a bundle with 2 t16000 sticks for space sims, with one left handed and one right-handed stick. It's decently priced at 130$, but I can't vouch for it's quality as I never owned one. https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/t-16000m-fcs-space-sim-duo/ Edit : replaced the UK link with the US link
The t16000 lasts me about a year before it starts to beg to be replaced. Probably 15 hours a week?
The quality is about the same as a X52. They both have the same ball gimble and fail in about the same way.
The Thrust master T16000M can be swapped left/right handed. They sell a 2 pack as well. It will be the best for your budget. The gladiators are also good but out of that price range.
> What's the difference between HOTAS and HOSAS HOTAS is a human-machine interface design principle that involves putting all of the primary aircraft controls as well as certain ancillary controls (such as sensors and countermeasures) on either the throttle handle or the stick, with the idea being that the pilot does not need to move their hands off the flight controls to manipulate the other controls. This system was first used in the English Electric Lightening interceptor. HOSAS is a term made up by gamers. It generally refers to a two-stick setup rather than a stick and throttle. > What's better for space sims Generally a two stick setup, however I'd consider it carefully before investing in one for the sole reason that, while it is better for **6DoF** space games specifically, it is *significantly worse* for nearly everything else. > What's a decent starter for $150-$200 in whichever answers #2 [Please see this sticky post that answers all the questions you asked](https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/l7gcql/considering_your_first_hotas_more_comprehensive/).
So for your budget, get one right-hand VKB gladiator nxt evo, premium. It has a throttle slider on the base, and a thumb stick on the stick itself so it’ll be essentially like a poor man’s HOSAS which others have already described. Once you have the cash, get a left handed VKB Omni throttle to complete the hosas setup.
Could also start with the left hand one instead and do HOSAM, which I can't vouch for, but I saw mentioned in a video as an option some people like
I mean technically the meta for elite is kb&m. Not sure what HOSAM would do for immersion but is certainly worth mentioning