Gift guides: the best RC gifts for Sinterklaas and Christmas

Sinterklaas and Christmas are coming up, and an RC car, truck, or crawler remains one of the most fun gifts to unwrap. But which model should you choose? An 8-year-old needs something different from a hobbyist who already has three crawlers on the shelf. In this gift guide, we’ve listed our favorites by budget, along with a few tips to make sure the gift can hit the ground running on the big day.

Is this the first RC car in the house? Then also read Buying your first RC car: the beginner’s guide. Prefer a build kit? You’ll find one in our gift guide to build kits.

First, three questions to ask before you choose

• Who is it for? A young beginner mainly needs something sturdy with parts that are easy to replace. A hobbyist is more likely to want more detail, more speed, or an upgrade for a model they already own.
• Indoors or outdoors? Small scales (1/24, 1/28, 1/76) work great in the living room. From 1/14 and 1/10, you’ll need space: a garden, parking lot, or woods.
• What’s in the box? For a gift, preferably choose an RTR (Ready To Run): everything is included, including the transmitter. Find out what the other labels mean in RTR, BNF, PNP, Roller or Kit: what does it all mean?

Please note: a battery and charger aren’t always included with an RTR model. Always check the product specification table (the Battery and Required rows). There’s nothing worse than a gift that still can’t run on December 6 or Christmas Eve.

Small gifts under €50

Ideal as a stocking stuffer, an extra little gift, or for someone who’s already fully into the hobby.

• 4WD Drift 1/24 RTR (from €39,99): a small drift car available in several versions. Perfect for indoors, on a smooth floor.
• WPL E-1 Tank 1/16 RTR (€49,99): a tracked vehicle that crawls over anything. Always a hit with kids.
• Injora hex screwdriver set (€13,99): the tools every RC driver uses. For smaller scales, there’s the 5-piece set from 0.9 to 2.0 mm (€32,99).
• Gens Ace iMars Mini USB-C charger (€29,99): a compact charger for 2S to 4S LiPo batteries. You do need a suitable USB-C adapter.
• SkyRC NC1600 AA/AAA charger (€30,99): for rechargeable batteries in the transmitter. Never search for batteries again.
• Gift card: not sure? Then let the recipient choose.

From €50 to €150: the best beginner models

In this price range, you'll find real RC cars that children and adults alike can enjoy for a long time.

• B24 Military Truck 4WD 1/16 RTR (€61,99): a rugged army truck for the garden. A good first RC vehicle for young children.
• Amewi Mercedes-Benz Unimog U4000 1/18 RTR (€69,99): a recognizable Unimog as a small crawler, in green or gray.
• Turbo Racing Mini Race/Drift 1/76 RTR (€89,99): a tiny race or drift car that fits in the palm of your hand. Race on the kitchen table, for young and old alike. One of our bestsellers.
• WLtoys 144001 1/14 RTR (€125,99): a powerful 4WD buggy that reaches up to 60 km/h. Parts are available everywhere (including from us, of course), so a crash is no big deal. Our favorite for a first "real" RC car.
• FTX Ravine M.O.A. Rock Buggy 1/10 RTR (€127,99): a 1/10-scale rock buggy for scrambling over rocks and logs.
• MJX Hyper Go MTX14 1/14 RTR (€139,99): a powerful brushless monster truck. Jump, do stunts, and run over everything.
• FMS FCX24M Range Rover 1/24 RTR or Defender D110 (€139,99): small, detailed crawlers in Camel Trophy yellow. You can build an indoor course with them.

From €150 to €300: for those who want more

• FMS Ford F100 Monster Truck 1/10 RTR (from €158,99): a classic pickup as a monster truck, also available in black.
• WLtoys 144010 1/14 Brushless RTR (€168,99): the speedy sibling of the 144001, with a brushless motor that reaches up to 75 km/h.
• FMS Ford F-100 FCX18 II 1/18 RTR (€209,99): the new generation of FMS's popular 1/18 crawlers, featuring a classic Ford F-100 in blue and white. Compact enough for the garden, detailed enough to display on a shelf.

Over €300: the big gift

• RGT EX86190 Rescuer LC76 1/10 RTR (€476,99): a 1/10 scale crawler modeled after a Toyota Land Cruiser 76, with plenty of detail.
• RGT EX86160 Land Commander 1/10 RTR (€479,99): one of our most popular large crawlers. Ready to head into the woods straight out of the box.

Do they already have an RC car?

In that case, an upgrade or an extra accessory is often the best gift:

• An extra battery means longer driving time. Be sure to check the voltage, connector and battery compartment dimensions. Read more in our guide to batteries for RC cars.
• A better charger, such as the SkyRC B6 Neo+ (€39,99). This is a DC charger, so you'll need a separate power supply.
• A better servo or new tires: two of the most noticeable upgrades. First, read how to choose a servo and how to choose the right tires.
• Visual upgrades for crawlers: lighting, badges and scale accessories from our collection of visual upgrades.

Not sure which parts will fit? Send us the model and we'll find out for you.

Order in time

Some of our products are stored in our own warehouse, while others come in through our supplier. For the latter products, you should allow 4 to 12 days for delivery. So don't leave ordering your gift until the last minute, especially for Sinterklaas on December 6. If you order several products, your order may arrive in multiple packages. You'll receive a separate tracking link for each package.

Conclusion

For a young beginner, it's best to choose a sturdy RTR car with parts that are easy to find, such as the WLtoys 144001 or the MJX MTX14. For indoor use, the Turbo Racing 1/76 and the FCX24M make great gifts. And for the hobbyist who already has everything, make it special with an upgrade or a large 1/10 crawler. Still not sure? Feel free to contact us - we're happy to help you find the perfect gift!