What happened to all the mid range hoppers?

[Chuck E Ducky]

I agree the entry level gear coming out is amazing right now. They are just striped down versions of the high end stuff without all the useless gimmicks. They are so good that they are appealing to players that want a no frills down to brass tacks setups.

You still have your Walmart specials. I see People every week having issues with the crap amazon and box stores push. But there are great options already on the walls of the pro shop. It's a great time to get into the sport cheap, with good gear that works. Even rentals are reaping the benefits of it.

[Trbo323]

The HALO TOO was most definitely $50 when it came out, and for a few years after. That was the only reason I bought one in '10. I'd sure never pay more than that for one now, when there are alot of better options.

Yeah this is what I was mentioning above, I wasn't trying to say the empire b was $50, the halo too was $50. I bought my first empire b at like $53 on the used market

I suppose it's popular, just seems odd that it actually went up in price over the years though

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[Meleager7]

Toestr I could be wrong, but I don't believe they're currently being made.



I can't speak from experience (yet), but I'd think the Speedster would be fine. Here's a vid about it. The test shooting starts at 15mins, tested on a Macdev Prime, and keeps up at NXL speeds. It's capable of going slightly faster than it's advertised rate. I'm considering picking one up for my mechs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y26kWs9c6w

I think the midrange is creeping up. The current "midrange" is the LTR and the Spire IR. IMO you're hard-pressed to get a bigger bang for your buck with any other new loader. The reliability, toolless teardown, durability & speed of a hopper that's $150+ in something that's ~$100 (less if used) is hard to beat (which is part of the problem, see below). There's also the low-end electronic loader, the JT Revolution, which already retails at, what, $50? Seems like it'd be kinda tough to make something that fits smack in the middle of the two current loader tiers.

The problem, in my eyes, is that people are willing to shell out for the LTR & Spire IR. Why go down any further & sacrifice profit margins? Perhaps there's no real demand? IMO it's kinda the same with pickup trucks- people are willing to buy big dollar trucks, so manufacturers cheap out on the base models & there's no compact truck market anymore.

I also want a lower dollar "midrange" hopper, but I just don't see it happening right now. And honestly, there's nothing wrong with the Revolution. I think most manufacturers simply don't see a market between the $50 and $100 price points, at least not one worth pursuing.

If the Speedster could run a bit faster rate, but same price, could that be considered a more mid-range loader?

i wonder what is limiting the spin speed? Motor itself? The electronics? Gears?

[glaman5266]

I’d say so. As for the last one... That’s a really good question, lol. Someone needs to buy one & tear it apart, perhaps?

[Skipdogg]

i know it sounds high end, but a NIB Spire IR for $100 is the way to go. they are great hoppers for the price. Also they can be used in any application. Run them on pumps for rec ball, and in tournaments on electros.

[Trbo323]

i know it sounds high end, but a NIB Spire IR for $100 is the way to go. they are great hoppers for the price. Also they can be used in any application. Run them on pumps for rec ball, and in tournaments on electros.

I agree with this (looks like it's $110 now from virtue) that hopper will basically run until you are bored of it. It is a good investment and what not I just would have a hard time telling a player getting into the sport that their $150 spyder fenix needs a $110 hopper on top because it's one of the cheapest options that can actually keep up with it.



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[ChoSanJuan]

Are we taking about hoppers with batteries or anything with an excellent feed rate into the (low) double digits? I know someone mentioned PAL hoppers, but that's Emek exclusive. Proto Primos, Base LS, or GOG multical?

[JonM]

The PAL is also compatible with the latest Etha 2 generation.

[Meleager7]

i was really intrigued by the PAL when it was first launched.....UNTIL I saw the various shooting vids....that thing skips shots and the shooter is having to shake it like a shake n bake gravity hopper. I don't like that ......i'll take a slower feeding , but more consistent loader all day long !

I don't know if my Revvy has ever not fed (unless I forget to turn it on)

[Trbo323]

Are we taking about hoppers with batteries or anything with an excellent feed rate into the (low) double digits? I know someone mentioned PAL hoppers, but that's Emek exclusive. Proto Primos, Base LS, or GOG multical?

I suppose batteries, I guess I would consider anything that can reliably feed into the double digits. Not to take anything away from the core and primo I just wouldn't consider them reliably able to get above 10.

Think of it this way, you are getting into paintball, have your first marker and want to upgrade from a gravity hopper, it used to be you were not going straight to the top of the pile, you were looking for something in the middle ground, what do you look at today?

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[Chuck E Ducky]

PBdna has shake n bakes that rip! I run his JoLO on my Emek it feeds great! But I don’t see the average new player buying a printed low cap hopper.

[spikeball]

I think the concept of the anti-jam gravity fed loaders really would have fit the bill for a kind of midrange loader. Problem is I don't think the information, or in this case marketing, was really behind them very well. Out of the Empire Splitter, Valken V Lite, Proto Primo and Virtue Base, only the last two are still readily available.

[ChoSanJuan]

A couple of us have Base SE loaders coming... I plan on doing a review on it so we can confirm if it's worthy. 😁

[Chuck E Ducky]

Bra.... I got one of these I run it on my Emek all the time. They feed as good if not better then a revvy. No battery’s needed. I run it on pumps, electro, and mech markers. It’s the best low cap on the market. PB DNA. It works exactly as advertised.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lThHdR4mZs8

[Jonnydread]

I bought mine on sale so I don't know what their current retail price would be, but I absolutely love my Pinokio Speed. It's light, feeds well on everything and is super easy to disassemble.

[glaman5266]

Jonnydread I have come to appreciate the speedfeed on my LTR. But the way the Speed is designed (back end being "raised up") the fingers push into the hopper & the balls can't roll to the front. PITA.

[Brokeass_baller]

The Speed is still being made. HK bought the Pinokio brand and is currently making both the Speed and original Pinokio under their name.

[glaman5266]

I knew HK Army acquired them, but I didn't think they were actually being made right now... I guess I stand corrected.

[nerdcore]

Because the price point to sell "mid range hoppers" is damn close to manufacturing costs....

Gi sportz discontinued the revolution again because it was the gap between cost to make and whole sale costs was so narrow they were losing money selling them

They did?? That's dumb! I thought they'd be even more popular with the surge in mech play, even good for low bps electro play. The used market is gonna see a jump again.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Most new age mech need force fed hoppers to really get the full potential out of them. Revvy really is not the best choice when looking for a hopper for mech.

It will work. But not as good as the newer force fed hoppers.

[Meleager7]

Because the price point to sell "mid range hoppers" is damn close to manufacturing costs....

Gi sportz discontinued the revolution again because it was the gap between cost to make and whole sale costs was so narrow they were losing money selling them

That company makes such odd decisions. Cancel the Revvy? Just add a new feature , i don't know , bring back a few of the cool old colors, and new shaped paddle, and charge a bit more.

Every brand new player, starting off with lower end gear should be getting a Revvy first thing, and not even considering a gravity fed loader.....Plus if they stick with the game, and upgrade to a higher end loader, the Revvy is the perfect backup loader to keep in your gear bag

anyhow, i guess positive is there are tons of revvys out there, so if you want one, so easy to find.

[Ecapnation]

That company makes such odd decisions. Cancel the Revvy? Just add a new feature , i don't know , bring back a few of the cool old colors, and new shaped paddle, and charge a bit more.

Every brand new player, starting off with lower end gear should be getting a Revvy first thing, and not even considering a gravity fed loader.....Plus if they stick with the game, and upgrade to a higher end loader, the Revvy is the perfect backup loader to keep in your gear bag

anyhow, i guess positive is there are tons of revvys out there, so if you want one, so easy to find.

They were losing money selling them.....

[Cunha]

You can get a z2 for 100 dollars, thats a great deal. Pinokio or pinokio speed is also a good lower cost hopper.

I wouldn't get a halo TOO

It does make sense that there is no reason to make a revvy when a design like an egg or pinokio costs basically the same to produce, and is better.

I wish there was an egg 2021 that could sit mega low like the old one, but had a normal lid. And didn't break so easy.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Love the egg. The lid is part of its charm IMO. And in its current shape, IDK how you'd mount a more normal lid.