The Backyard – What Happens in Vegas… Fills Your Hobby Shop

Hey all, Happy Friday!

As if the last couple weeks weren’t crazy enough with all the product announcements, this past week in Las Vegas was the annual National Retail Hobby Store Association show, better known as NRHSA. It’s always a unique one on the calendar because it’s not just about the manufacturers showing off their latest toys, it’s also about the retailers who keep the lights on in local hobby shops across the country. That mix makes the show feel a smidge different than a typical industry tradeshow/expo — it’s equal parts product showcase and pulse-check on the health of the hobby.

And man, there were A LOT of new products that were shown off. Many of them were simultaneously announced to coincide with the show, but as of the writing of this there are still various vehicles that were shown off but still haven’t been officially announced, (HPI Kahuna monster truck cough, cough)! So I’d expect that next week we continue to see a flurry of official announcement press releases from various companies.

I think the one that got the most discussion was the Traxxas X-Maxx MT Monster Truck, which is an updated X-Maxx that introduces some scale monster truck goodness to the vaunted platform. This is much needed in my opinion. I’ve always liked the X-Maxx, but felt the one spot it was lacking was the cosmetics. Seeing the classic Ford BIGFOOT #8 design and those new tires- yeah THAT is more like it. I plan to write more about the X-Maxx MT, but for now I want to stay focused on the show in general, here.

What really stood out to me wasn’t just the sheer number of shiny new releases, but what it says about where the hobby is headed in the near future. There was a lot of gloom and doom in the hobby-sphere throughout much of 2025, what with all the economic uncertainties in the world right now.

When you see that much product energy concentrated in one place though it tells me that both manufacturers and hobby retailers are bullish. Manufacturers are confident that consumers are still hungry for new ideas AND the retailers are eager to bring fresh stock into their shops. That’s a positive sign, especially as we roll toward the holiday season.

If the NHRSA show is a pulse check on the hobby, I’d say it would appear to be alive, well, and maybe even a little rowdy right now. From big brands to niche players, everyone is trying to put their best foot forward, and that makes for an exciting time to be in the mix as a hobbyist.

If this week in Vegas was any indication, the rest of 2025 is going to keep our wallets light and our workbenches crowded.

That’s it for me this week. Until next time, keep it on all 4’s!