Explain the virtue spire variants, please?

[Cunha]

I’m having a tough time consolidating info in my mind about the spire 1/2/3/ir/?? and their co branded loaders.

can anyone help me understand?

What I’m really after is which one is the lightest and lowest.

I like the 260 capacity ones but maybe there’s a future version that doesn’t offer two sizes that I’m not aware of.

I assume they’re all pretty slow compared to a rotor or prophecy but fast compared to a revvy of course and all good at not jamming and stuff so I’m really wondering if the latest and greatest is lower and lighter, and what the latest and greatest is.

thanks for any help, whoever happens to know.

[Bulldogr6]

If I remember correctly I think Lone Wolf paintball did a video where they weighed and measured them and the Bunkerking Ctrl sat the lowest and might even have been the latest as well.

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[Magmoormaster]

Spire 1 and 2 are now about a decade old. The 2 was never a separate product ftom the 1, just some running changes that made them feed better. The biggest change with the 3 is that is comes apart differently. With the 1 and 2, a large chunk near the lid would pop off, and from there you could pull out the tray that holds the motor and batteries. Super easy, but not as easy to clean as a Rotor. With the three, the top hinges up and the back chunk doesn't come off anymore. Which is good, since the back chunk was polycarbonate adn therefore kinda brittle (think old halo). The Spire 4 comes apart more like a Rotor, in that the whole top part comes off.

The IR series is their budget version. Instead of using a vibation sensor, it uses an eye much like the old revis.The newer ones come apart closer to the 4, the older ones are the same as the spire 1 and 2.

They're "slow" compared to a prophecy, rotor, or even a Halo Too. BUT, they offer the best feed consistency and are probably the gentlest on paint.

I feel like hoppers are at a point where it just doesn't matter that much which one you get. They're all pretty good, and unlike the old halos or VLocities and whatnot, they all perform similarly. And with modern ROF caps, it matters even less. All that really matters is which one has the features, looks, and price you want.

[Jonnydread]

100% agree with the last statement. I use a 'slow' Pinokio Speed and it keeps up just fine

[Chuck E Ducky]

The Speed is super cool other then that lil tit that is by the feedneck that makes it difficult to fit on some fat feednecks I really like the speed. From behind it’s designed shape make your field of view better then any other hopper of its size and class. It’s like it’s not even there. I don’t know what it is about it’s design but it’s a nice hopper for sure.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I never got into the Spires mainly because my Rotor outlived 4 or 5 generations of Spires. While other players I know felt the need to buy every new spire that came out. The thing I didn’t like about them was the feed fingers going bad with use. There speed feed options sucked to. The fingers would get shot off all the time if they got shot close. (My exalt lasted 10+ years sandwiched between the Rotor lid they sent me a new one for free when it finally gave up) I didn’t need to buy fingers for it that were never in stock because every Virtue owner needed them every few months. Now they make aluminum ones and I still see them getting shot off. That BK one tells you to reload I guess I don’t get it. The soft shell bounces around on you they say it’s a feature to me it just seems like cheap plastic. I guess the shells themselves are durable tho haven’t seen anyone break them. They just feel cheep to me but they are not cheap.

I ended up getting a $99 LTR when I had trouble finding a rear window for my first Gen Rotor last year. Old rotor outlasted the PSP series and still works. I did end up eventually finding windows used so now I have 2 hoppers. The LTR works fantastic it’s the same thing. Like interchangeable parts same thing. Even found the same exalt speed feed for it for like $12.

[Cunha]

Thanks for comments guys.

I understand and agree that the speed of them is adequate. I also like the pinokio speed but I don't enjoy having to use 9volt batteries, and the capacity is pretty low. I really like it a lot though.

Is there a spire 4? Is it spire 4 vs bunkerkings CTRL?

Which one is lowest and lightest? I like the idea of the more basic IR but would always pay for one that is lighter and lower while being just as reliable / durable.

[Chuck E Ducky]

The BK CTRL is the newest one I believe. It tells you what angle your shooting at. I don’t know how it dose this or why this in important in any way but it’s supposed to be the lightest weight one.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=auWSWPO7DHc

[Cunha]

Thanks.

Spire IV
Spire IR2
BK CTRL

I guess it's between those, and the way cheaper price point of the IR2 makes it kind of a no brainer. I wonder what the exact weight and height differences are though.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Nothing noticeable that’s for sure.

[Bulldogr6]

I have the IR2, great so far.

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[Sdawg]

I have owned the BK CTRL, spire IR, spire IR2, and very briefly the spire 3.

The first spire IR was great for the money but the rubber fingers on the drive cone eventually wear out, and they appear to be out of production.

The spire IR2 is also great and very easy to disassemble and clean, which I think is just as important a feature as anything, especially in tournament play. It has no board programming, just turn on and go.

The BK CTRL is all I use. It does have smaller capacity, but they are now coming out with four different top shells that increase capacity by different amounts. I turn off the angle indicator, as it is just distracting. It has board adjustments, but only basic things (force, speed) that may not be noticeable.

The best part of the CTRL is that I can break it completely down in under 30 seconds, then deep clean and reassemble it, all without any tools. Anyone remember cleaning halos?


The virtue 3/4 is widely used and has some cool features, like Bluetooth connectivity and a buncha board adjustments that I will never use. The spire has a clamshell design where the bottom and top don't separate. I don't get that design choice. I prefer the BK shells that completely separate and don't have buttons or springs. Also, you can mix and match BK shell colors to make your CTRL super agg af.


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[Cunha]

Why do you like the ctrl over the ir2?

which is lighter and what’s the difference in capacity?

[Magmoormaster]

The Ctrl is definitely lighter. That's basically the main selling point, it's the lightest out there.

[Sdawg]

The CTRL is lighter and has a lower profile. The IR2 is the better budget option.


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[Cunha]

Sifted through some videos. Found 14oz for the ctrl with no batteries and 16oz for the iv with no batteries.

I think the iv had a ramp in place which means the difference is like an ounce.

Haven’t found ir2 weight but didn’t look that hard

these reviews are so much chatting all I want is specs haha