Hobby-grade RC, explained without the hype
Send it.Then fix it.
Which truck to buy first, which battery it actually needs, and which parts break first. Honest RC buying guides for adults, kids and everyone who just wants to jump something.
Who's driving?
A truck for a six-year-old and a 6S basher for you are completely different buys. Start with the driver.
Crawler fans
SCX24, TRX-4M or Ascent-18: the small-scale crawlers you can run in the backyard, compared.
Grown-up beginners
Ready-to-run trucks that survive the first month, and the first upgrades worth buying.
For kids
Toy-grade or hobby-grade, picked by age and by how much crashing it can take.
Batteries & chargers
Most RTR trucks ship without the battery you actually want. Here's what to add, and how to charge it safely.
The big matchup
The question everyone asks first. The short version is below; the full guide covers durability, parts and value.
Traxxas
Arrma
- Parts at almost every hobby shopParts & supportWidely sold online, fewer shelves
- Slash, Rustler, Maxx, X-MaxxLineup to knowGranite, Kraton, Mojave, Typhon
- Easy to learn and fixKnown forBig power for the money
What it really costs to start
The price on the box is rarely the whole bill. Here's a typical first setup for a 1/10 brushless basher. Exact prices are on each guide, checked against Amazon.
LiPo safety: charge on a fire-safe surface or in a LiPo bag, never unattended, and store at storage voltage. Our battery guides follow the manufacturers' instructions.