When I was a child – admittedly that’s not just a couple of years ago – remotely controlled toys were very much an expensive luxury, and most Christmases, kids I knew were forced to begrudgingly settle for models which were controlled via a fun-sapping wire between transmitter and vehicle – a design feature which embarrassingly limited the radius of your ‘drive’ to a distance of a few feet, unless that is you were shameless and desperate enough to run after it as it moved. These days it’s very much a different landscape, and due to advances in technology and the lowering of prices, radio controlled toys are far more readily available – and not just cars anymore. Oh no. These days, all tastes are catered for.

For your consideration: 10 radio controlled Christmas gift ideas that won’t break the bank, starting with the least bizarre.

A Power-Sliding Car

We’ll start with the bread and butter: the radio controlled car. Specifically, the Top Gear Remote Control Power-Sliding GT-R; a piece of kit modelled on the Nissan GT-R which, without so much as a whimper, power-slides around corners with a level of finesse that will attract admiring glances from all onlookers due to the inclusion of ‘a revolutionary motion sensitive steering wheel which controls the car without any need for conventional joysticks’. Incredible.

Here’s the car in action:

A Helicopter

I personally believe the Silverlit Picoo Z Tandem Camouflage Remote Control Helicopter to be an engineering marvel, but then I’m easily impressed. However I can’t imagine many people would be unimpressed by this amazing gadget, especially when it costs little more than £20. Powered by twin rotors and home to an impressive gyroscopic stabilising system, the whole family will be precision parking this beauty within minutes, and don’t worry about downtime either as it only takes 20-30 minutes to recharge the battery.

Watch it hover:

A Boat

A radio controlled speed boat that can reach 25MPH whilst only costing £37 should surely not exist, but it does, and it’s a stunner. It goes by the name of Aqua-Bladez 3D, is pictured above in all its glory, and can be controlled from a distance of up to 100 metres. Too big for the bath, this is a must-have for anyone who lives even slightly close to a lake, or at the very least a large pond. A quick look at the boat in action will help to cement this gift’s inclusion on your list.

Here it is:

An Amphibious Tank

The positives associated with the Transforming Amphibious Tank far outweigh its one negative: its looks. Let’s be honest: it’s unattractive. But who cares when you can, at the press of a button, transform what was a bullet firing tank into a boat in which to escape from all normal non-amphibious tanks in the vicinity. The radio controlled monster even comes equipped with a stash of BB bullets, plus space on its deck to carry four cups when travelling on land. The possibilities are endless.

Here it is in action:

A Falcon

The Radio Controlled Flapping Falcon is an incredibly unique machine that, unsurprisingly, owes its design to nature. By imitating the flight of birds and other winged creatures, the motorised flapping wings of the falcon generate the necessary thrust and lift to keep it airborne for sustained periods of time from a distance of up to 40 metres. A definite crowd pleaser and perfect gift for people of all ages, plus for some reason it costs less than £30.

Here’s the flapper in action:

A Tarantula

The fact that there’s at least one arachnophobe in every family (I created that statistic, but I’m confident in its accuracy) instantly propels this radio controlled tarantula into ‘must-have’ territory for Christmas. Each of its furry little legs moves independently – adding to the realism quota – and it can be controlled from up to 9 metres away, giving the perpetrator more than enough distance from which to hide and scare a loved one. All in all, an essential gift.

The spider in action:

A Shapeshifting Robot

The RCRC Transforming Robot does exactly what you’d imagine: it transforms. With an effortless flick of the joystick you can switch it from robot to tank to car, all different modes offering extreme levels of fun. Really, this is a radio controlled joy to behold and should be hidden from view if you’re looking forward to a quiet Christmas afternoon.

Watch it switch:

A Tiny Bird

As with the aforementioned falcon, the Silverlit iBird is essentially a scaled down ornithopter. What makes this one stand out though is the fact that it’s extremely scaled down, to the point where it’s one of the smallest in the world. The iBird works straight out of the box and is a thing of beauty, resulting in a radio controlled gift that can’t fail to please even the most stubborn of recipients.

The Silverlit iBird in flight:

A Flippin’ Rat

That’s right: a rat. A radio controlled rat. Maybe you have, or know of someone who has, a passion for these specific vermin in addition to a yearning for a radio controlled toy, in which case this would be a perfect gift. Of course, the icing on the rodent-filled-cake is the ability to flip the rat over as it trundles, thereby causing even more confusion amongst all panicked onlookers. In fact, forget buying it for someone else – buy it for yourself and cause some havoc on Christmas day, just as the Queen begins her speech. You deserve it.

Watch it slink around below:

An Astronaut

Okay, so this isn’t strictly a radio controlled toy, but it deserves inclusion in the list due to its brilliance. Called the Z Flyer Hand Command Astronaut, this little jetpack-wearing spaceman hovers in mid air thanks to the overhead rotors. In order to control the Z Flyer, you place your hand underneath it, at which point sensors within the astronaut then cause it to move away from your hand. With practice you’ll be coaxing the little man around with one eye closed. It’s as if you possess a force field with which to move objects. How is that not a positive experience?

Here’s the Z Flyer in flight:

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