Thank you for posting this Brad! I've been waiting for your TFX-3 review for a while. I knew that you would be the one to give a good overview of not just the hopper itself, but also the real question of how it compares to the Spire/CTRL/R2. I'm glad you're back!
I have a TFX3 on my Shocker Amp, Dye Rotor R2 on DSR+, and CTRL on LV 1.6. All are reliable and great hoppers. The issue with most hoppers is how it is a pain in the ass to assemble and disassemble and the cheap thin plastics used in some of them. The R2 being the most difficult, in my opinion, to fiddle with. The R2 has annoying tabs you have to press etc. CTRL is the easiest.
Although the CTRL is the easiest it has proven to me to be the least reliable design of them all. I had to replace my upper shell because the original wore out over the course of a few Months. My loader got to the point where you could dive on a pile of feathers and it would explode apart.
Love my TFX 2 but popcorn effect is real and I don't think I would shell out anymore $$$ for the TFX 3. Only thing that takes some getting use to is the capacity limit and learning to run the hopper almost empty before a refill
Idk, the included speed feed and rechargeable battery just make it the better deal. Don’t have to spend another $100 on those things for your spire, so you save a lot of money and the tfx really isn’t bad. Just has a bad rep
HK needs to release a TFX "Lite" version and keep up with the rest of the market. Get rid of the battery pack, get rid of the over engineered spring ramp, and get the price down to $100 range. I like the shape and profile of the shell, but don't need the fancy add ons, just a loader that works.
For $250 I just don't think it's worth it. The Spire IR2 with a speed feed and ramps is $165 on BFPG, and if you really wanted a rechargeable battery, the N-Charge is $45. Still have enough money left over to buy a case of paint.
Do all these hoppers use brushless motors like on high end drones and power tools or do they use the old noisy brushed motors, last time I used an electric hopper was 2005
Well I messaged dye and they said they have toyed with brushless motors but the rpm’s would be way to fast and increase cost significantly, so there is no need to upgrade to a more modern motor, but my opinion you can use an esc(electronic speed controller) and slow down rpm’s and it would be whisper quiet. The cost is already high so I wouldn’t be bothered to pay some extra $ for premium parts.
On a side note. I think we are too far in the future to continue to treat the loader and the marker as separate entities. Why does a hopper even need eyes if it could wirelessly communicate with the marker? There needs to be a standard (like qi charging) so that hoppers can efficiently communicate with the marker either via bluetooth or some other technology. Pull the trigger, the loader feeds, easy. The pulse did this back in the day, and I thought it worked well. It just feels like all loaders are essentially the same and nothing really separates them from one another.
You mean like how the spire 4 can use bluetooth to sync your phone and to a CS2 or virtue ace? Its a great set but ridiculously expensive (looking at like 1600-2000 for the setup)
@@kekethebasedcat No. You use your phone to adjust the different settings (shot sensitivity, drive strength, etc). The gun and hopper just connect when you’re playing. One of the reasons I think it hasn’t switched over to the Bluetooth connectivity for everything yet is because of the resurgence of mech play. You need to have some kind of analog system in place for those marker setups that have no electronics
@@tylerbaker9878 Yup they did and eventually nobody used it. Most people want to hit the button and go. Not adjust a hopper every time they strap it on a new gun. They want affordable.........not expensive but not measurably better. Hoppers very dependable these days, there's nothing to be really gained by syncing it to your gun other than a new point of failure and added expense.
That ring on the first set of paddles is what's causing the popcorning to be so bad. I never see popcorning in my rotor, I never saw it in my rotor LTR, I think it's just cuz that ring doesn't allow the balls to fall properly in the panels. You know realistically that wouldn't be hard to test. You could literally hold a baller over it dumping in 30 times. I mean come on you've done efficiency tests where you're literally having to pay for the paint that you're destroying, not to mention the air. This wouldn't actually cost you anything, except time.
I have a TFX2. It was faulty from the beginning. I sent it back for supper. They kept it for 3 months and forgot about me until I remind them. Got it back it still wasn’t up to par. Still would stop feeding and ultimately didn’t compare to other hoppers. Never again with HK.
Brad my opinion of the tfx and tfx2 is already negative. Can't even fit a full pod in them, the buttons still sucked on the tfx2. They feel real cheap. I like that they come rechargeable standard, but I also do not like it because if it dies on you, you can't just swap them out.
Between my experience and watching others play with this junk, wouldn't purchase this loader. Watched it come apart on hard dives. Had it full and was shot in the side and broke a good bit of balls so basically was just a blender. Hella mess to clean. AND having to shake a several hundred dollar hopper when it gets low like a $20 gravity hopper to get it to feed.. HELL NO!! Do not buy this junk.
Which would you pick Spire IV or TFX 3?
Tfx s love the low profile
Spire, Dont like HK
still rocking the spire ir2
Tfx
Spire/CTRL
Thank you for posting this Brad! I've been waiting for your TFX-3 review for a while. I knew that you would be the one to give a good overview of not just the hopper itself, but also the real question of how it compares to the Spire/CTRL/R2. I'm glad you're back!
I have a TFX3 on my Shocker Amp, Dye Rotor R2 on DSR+, and CTRL on LV 1.6. All are reliable and great hoppers. The issue with most hoppers is how it is a pain in the ass to assemble and disassemble and the cheap thin plastics used in some of them. The R2 being the most difficult, in my opinion, to fiddle with. The R2 has annoying tabs you have to press etc. CTRL is the easiest.
Although the CTRL is the easiest it has proven to me to be the least reliable design of them all. I had to replace my upper shell because the original wore out over the course of a few Months. My loader got to the point where you could dive on a pile of feathers and it would explode apart.
Big fan of virtue. Used the the original spire and have the spire IR right now and never had any issues with either.
Love my TFX 2 but popcorn effect is real and I don't think I would shell out anymore $$$ for the TFX 3. Only thing that takes some getting use to is the capacity limit and learning to run the hopper almost empty before a refill
They upfront lied about the capacity and never offered a larger shell.
Idk, the included speed feed and rechargeable battery just make it the better deal. Don’t have to spend another $100 on those things for your spire, so you save a lot of money and the tfx really isn’t bad. Just has a bad rep
Hi guys I bought a spire 4 and I’m in love with it and I’m never buying anything else unless a spire 5 comes out or if I can find a spire 3 :)
@@HoustonPB32 bro was hacked by Virtue
$180 now. I shall get one.
Love the background music! And all your vids, keep it up!
Have the first tfx and a spire iv.....love de tfx better by far
HK needs to release a TFX "Lite" version and keep up with the rest of the market. Get rid of the battery pack, get rid of the over engineered spring ramp, and get the price down to $100 range. I like the shape and profile of the shell, but don't need the fancy add ons, just a loader that works.
Ans gear has a special on them rn! You save like 60-80$ on the tfx 3
I like this idea 👍
$180 now.
The production quality has been on point lately
For $250 I just don't think it's worth it. The Spire IR2 with a speed feed and ramps is $165 on BFPG, and if you really wanted a rechargeable battery, the N-Charge is $45. Still have enough money left over to buy a case of paint.
Do all these hoppers use brushless motors like on high end drones and power tools or do they use the old noisy brushed motors, last time I used an electric hopper was 2005
Well I messaged dye and they said they have toyed with brushless motors but the rpm’s would be way to fast and increase cost significantly, so there is no need to upgrade to a more modern motor, but my opinion you can use an esc(electronic speed controller) and slow down rpm’s and it would be whisper quiet. The cost is already high so I wouldn’t be bothered to pay some extra $ for premium parts.
If you cut off the round ring on the top paddle so it is just 3 arms you reduce a ton of popcorning
Worked?
@@alexysortiz9683 yeah it works on all the TFX models
@@allahallah123 thanks for the tip!
Yep! Good call 🙏
We need a video of this done ASAP!! This is golden info if it works
I can't wait until it gets warmer out so i can get to the fields easier
I live for summer!
r2 all the way haha I just use energizer rechargeable aa's
Good review sir!
On a side note. I think we are too far in the future to continue to treat the loader and the marker as separate entities. Why does a hopper even need eyes if it could wirelessly communicate with the marker? There needs to be a standard (like qi charging) so that hoppers can efficiently communicate with the marker either via bluetooth or some other technology. Pull the trigger, the loader feeds, easy. The pulse did this back in the day, and I thought it worked well. It just feels like all loaders are essentially the same and nothing really separates them from one another.
You mean like how the spire 4 can use bluetooth to sync your phone and to a CS2 or virtue ace? Its a great set but ridiculously expensive (looking at like 1600-2000 for the setup)
@@dramalifeny I didn't know it could do that actually. Been out of the game for a long time. So a phone has to be in the mix for it to work?
@@kekethebasedcat No. You use your phone to adjust the different settings (shot sensitivity, drive strength, etc). The gun and hopper just connect when you’re playing. One of the reasons I think it hasn’t switched over to the Bluetooth connectivity for everything yet is because of the resurgence of mech play. You need to have some kind of analog system in place for those marker setups that have no electronics
Also angels had tellafeed and communicated with hoppers like viewloaders and halos
@@tylerbaker9878 Yup they did and eventually nobody used it. Most people want to hit the button and go. Not adjust a hopper every time they strap it on a new gun. They want affordable.........not expensive but not measurably better. Hoppers very dependable these days, there's nothing to be really gained by syncing it to your gun other than a new point of failure and added expense.
Good job on the video
Awesome review
Lacey Extension
880 Flatley Alley
That ring on the first set of paddles is what's causing the popcorning to be so bad. I never see popcorning in my rotor, I never saw it in my rotor LTR, I think it's just cuz that ring doesn't allow the balls to fall properly in the panels.
You know realistically that wouldn't be hard to test.
You could literally hold a baller over it dumping in 30 times.
I mean come on you've done efficiency tests where you're literally having to pay for the paint that you're destroying, not to mention the air. This wouldn't actually cost you anything, except time.
were those reball?
Yep
Susanna Field
Ullrich Well
Miller Run
Antone Loop
The colors on these things look so cheap
❤
Kassulke Forge
Gerlach Isle
I have a TFX2. It was faulty from the beginning. I sent it back for supper. They kept it for 3 months and forgot about me until I remind them. Got it back it still wasn’t up to par. Still would stop feeding and ultimately didn’t compare to other hoppers. Never again with HK.
Nikolaus Tunnel
Brad my opinion of the tfx and tfx2 is already negative. Can't even fit a full pod in them, the buttons still sucked on the tfx2. They feel real cheap.
I like that they come rechargeable standard, but I also do not like it because if it dies on you, you can't just swap them out.
Between my experience and watching others play with this junk, wouldn't purchase this loader. Watched it come apart on hard dives. Had it full and was shot in the side and broke a good bit of balls so basically was just a blender. Hella mess to clean. AND having to shake a several hundred dollar hopper when it gets low like a $20 gravity hopper to get it to feed.. HELL NO!! Do not buy this junk.
The TFX is a terrible loader.