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July 10, 2026

THE CAT SHARPENS ITS CLAWS

Redcat is showing a sharper side of performance crawling with its new Vertex-10 and Vertex-10W lineup.

For years, Redcat has been known as a brand that brought a lot of people into RC with affordable, approachable vehicles. But with the Vertex-10 platform, Redcat appears to be pushing harder into the serious crawler conversation.

This is not just another trail truck with a scale body and soft tires.

The Vertex-10 lineup is aimed at crawler drivers who care about chassis layout, steering angle, suspension geometry, stance, electronics, and tuning options. The new Vertex-10W is available as both an RTR and a pre-built slider chassis kit, giving buyers the choice between ready-to-run convenience and a more custom build path.

That choice matters.

The Vertex-10W takes the standard Vertex-10 idea and gives it a wider stance. The 10W is wider by 12mm per side, or 24mm total, compared with the standard Vertex-10. That wider setup is aimed at drivers who want more stability and confidence on wider lines.

Underneath, the Vertex-10W is built around a flat-rail carbon fiber chassis, rides on portal axles, and is listed with a serious 58-degree steering angle. It also uses aluminum-bodied oil-filled air-emulsion shocks and aluminum suspension/chassis links.

That is where the story gets interesting.

Modern crawling is no longer just about having a truck that looks cool on the trail. The performance side of crawling has become much more technical. Drivers are paying attention to weight balance, breakover angle, steering throw, axle clearance, tire size, link geometry, shock behavior, and how the truck transfers weight on steep climbs and sidehills.

The Vertex-10 and Vertex-10W fit right into that trend.

The RTR version of the Vertex-10W is listed with a Hobbywing 2812 1700KV brushless outrunner motor, a 60A programmable brushless ESC, a 50kg steering servo, 2.2-inch beadlock wheels, and a 2S–4S ready power system.

That is a pretty serious factory setup for a crawler.

But Redcat is also offering a slider version, and that may be just as important. A slider gives hobbyists the chassis and core platform without locking them into a full RTR electronics package. The Vertex-10W Slider comes pre-assembled with a pre-cut, unpainted cab-only body, while the buyer supplies the motor, ESC, radio, wheels, tires, and battery.

That gives crawler fans two different paths.

Buy the RTR, charge a battery, and start crawling.

Or buy the slider and build it your way.

That is a smart move because crawler customers are not all looking for the same experience. Some want a strong out-of-the-box performer. Others already know exactly which motor, ESC, servo, wheels, tires, foams, and radio system they want to run.

By offering both, Redcat is not just selling one truck. They are giving hobbyists a platform.

And that is the bigger point.

The crawler market has grown up. There is still plenty of room for scale trucks, trail rigs, backyard crawlers, and casual weekend fun. But the performance side of crawling is getting sharper every year, and customers are asking more detailed questions than ever before.

Narrow or wide?
RTR or slider?
Trail or comp-style?
Scale realism or pure performance?
Factory setup or custom electronics?

The Vertex-10 lineup gives Redcat a stronger answer to those questions.

So yes, the cat has sharpened its claws.

And if this is where Redcat is headed with performance crawling, the rest of the crawler market may want to pay attention.

Question of the Day

Would you rather buy a crawler as a complete RTR, or start with a slider and build it your way?

And for crawling, what matters most to you: width, steering angle, tires, weight balance, electronics, or scale looks?