Hi Everyone,
I have been trying to buy the competition kit and 6x8 field set from the VEX website. but they have been showing out of stock from last 2-3+ weeks and its pretty uncertain when these will be back. Same applies for the game elements kit for Rapid Relay.
Please let me know which alternative options I can buy to get started.
For fields, i see I can buy 3 Half Kits (115$ x 3 for $345)
But I am not sure what can I buy to full fill the needs of the competition kit and how and when to expect game elements available for purchase again.
If anyone can guide me , I will really appriciate.
I’ve been buying the three half fields to create a full field, it’s only a few dollars more than what the full field costs. Plus you get some extra side parts.
On the out of stock, this is becoming a big problem, there are shortages in V5, VIQ and GO. Some of these are recent, others have been that way for months. I have school districts queued up to buy 80+ kits, but zero availability. I had political things to overcome vs LEGO, not being able to get kits may swing it back.
Yeah the stock issues are hitting hard across all the programs. I haven’t been able to get certain necessary products at all for months now, basically since 2024 started.
Thank you for the confirmation of buying 3 half kits. In fact if you calculate , 3 half kits only costs 345 vs full field for 360. That solves the field issue for me.
For the game elements we all got to wait.
I truly hope VEX restocks everything soon.
Good luck everyone waiting like me to buy the kits.
No there was plenty of room for two robots and the game pieces on the 4x8 field. Coaches, specifically middle schools ones, wanted the ability to have more challenging games. The answer was to make the field 30% bigger. (Rather than suggesting they move to V5 and get much more challenging robots and games, but that boat has sailed.)
So the easy fix was for people that had the 4x8 fields buy a new 1/2 field and use it.
And while I’m here on a small rant, this years game plays fine on a 4x8’ field. The shooting is the same, the running back to get another ball is the same. All that’s missing is the 6’ long robot (that is about as practical as a 4’ robot).
A Few benefits - middle school coaches got the possibility to have more complex games. RECF got a chance in the short term to help their flagging MS program. If the transition from VIQ-MS to V5-> HS stays at a high rate needs to be seen. Many VIQ-MS teams are there due to roboteers not thinking they can do V5 and a dearth of MS V5 capable coaches. Cost per roboteer is still well under what tennis, swimming, art, judo, music, etc. lessons cost.
I’ll predict in 2025-26 we will see VIQ-HS on an 8*8’ field. (Well that is if VEX gets their VIQ supply chain issues figure out)
I hope not. I would love a game with that size but I would not be able to do IQ at home with an 8x8 foot field. Also, the IQ motors are only 120 RPM, which is not vey fast so having a drivetrain fast enough to quickly manuver around that fiels would be much more difficult.
OK, so the reality is your parents don’t need to park the car in the garage. And actually their bedroom is a perfect size for the field, and TBH to see you be successful, they will be happy to sleep on inflatable mattresses in the hallway. This isn’t really a problem.
Hey @zhangwei08648 good news, bad news, my vGO battery got back in stock (still no motors). I waited 12 weeks, so you there is hope kits will show up just after school starts.
@Foster
That’s great. Thanks for the prompt reply. I also just heard from VEX support that most of the kits will be back in stock by late July.
Fingers crossed. Thank you for the update.
