The Best Budget Flight Sticks for Your PC

Getting a quality flight stick that will not cost you an arm and a leg is not an easy thing to do. Many sticks retail for 100 dollars or more, so today we are going to look at 3 quality sticks that you can have for under 50 dollars. Having a quality stick can not only improve your simulation gaming but also other games where the controls are less than stellar as default settings.

25 Dollars

This entry has 12 buttons and 4 axes, all programmable with an interesting button that allows you to switch between configurations on the go. It also includes a mapping button that allows users to instantly relocate functions from one button to another without having to reprogram. It has built in memory to save programming while the controller is not plugged in, and this model is also compatible with PS3, for those of you who are console gamers.

30 Dollars

This model has 5 thumb buttons, rapid fire capabilities and a central control system, which makes it great for left handed gamers who don't find that other models fit their hands well. Yes, I did make a left handed gamer test it for the review. The ability to program this stick is limited, and since it has no memory, your stick will not remember any programming that you do. My advice on this one is to use a default setting, or failing that a USB hub to keep it plugged in all the time. Unlike the one above I do not recommend using this one on the PS3 as well as the PC.

43 Dollars

This large controller features buttons on the base and a roomy wrist rest. It's very basic in terms of programming, but this won't be much of a problem as, it does come with a very intuitive setup right out of the box. When you really think about it, this is not something that a lot of flight sticks can say. After trying it with both a flight simulator and with a first person shooter, the controller performed admirably in both of these scenarios without needing any programming at all. You can be sure that you will be able to run all but the most complicated simulations with it.

Now that you have some quality options for your flight sticks, go ahead and take down your enemies without having to take down your bank balance.

Note on prices

If these prices are still out of your reach, consider this quick and dirty guide to getting discount PC accessories.

1. Look for sales - certain times of the year (Black Friday, Presidents Day, Mid-summer) are cyclical sales slumps for retailers. If you can buy during these periods, you may get a deal.

2. Consider refurbished or Ebay to get your stick. As long as it is in working order, you won’t miss the plastic wrap.

3. When all else fails, put it on your birthday/Christmas/Hanakka list. Some people even put it on their wedding registry.