The smallest truck here and the easiest to live with. The Spryte is a 1:20 4WD monster truck with independent double-wishbone suspension and geared differentials, and a speed switch on the controller keeps it manageable for small hands.

Best for: a first monster truck for a young child. Our best RC car for kids guide has more by age. Watch out for: its size. It is an indoor and patio truck, not a field basher.

A step up in size and ability. The Slyder has 4WD shaft drive, independent suspension and waterproof electronics, and comes ready to run with a 7.4V Li-ion battery and USB charger. It is the cheapest truck here that is happy on a lawn.

Best for: beginners and children who want a truck for the garden. Watch out for: the brushed motor. It is lively, not fast, which is exactly right for a first truck.

A full 1:10 brushless monster truck for not much more than a hundred pounds. The Thunder has a waterproof 60A speed controller, a metal chassis with CNC-machined parts and a listed 70 km/h, and the 7.4V LiPo and charger are included.

Best for: anyone who wants proper size and speed on a tight budget. Watch out for: the pace. 70 km/h in a tall truck takes some learning, so ease into the throttle.

Our best-selling monster truck, and the one we recommend first. The centre differential and steel spiral-cut gears put the power down cleanly, the gyro keeps it straight when you get greedy with the throttle, and the 5000mAh battery in the box means long runs.

Best for: parks, fields and BMX tracks, for beginners and experienced bashers alike. Watch out for: rolling it in fast corners, which every monster truck does. The bodyshell takes the knocks.

Maverick is HPI’s sister brand, and the Quantum2 MT Flux is its current 1:10 brushless truck, with a 3500KV motor and a speed controller that will take 3S. The appeal is the name behind it: a long-established brand with a deep spares catalogue.

Best for: buyers who want a mainstream brand and easy parts supply. Watch out for: what is in the box. Check the listing for the battery and charger before you order.

USA-1 is one of the famous names of full-size monster truck racing, and Kyosho’s 1:8 version does it justice: a licensed body with a separately moulded grille, lights and supercharger, over a 4WD chassis with five-link suspension. Brushless motor and waterproof speed controller come fitted.

Best for: enthusiasts who want a truck that looks like the real thing and drives like a Kyosho. Watch out for: the price of the extras. A 1:8 truck needs large batteries and a capable charger.

The Savage is the nitro monster truck, and has been for more than twenty years. The XL 5.9 has a 5.9cc engine, an extended twin-plate chassis and a long, wide stance that keeps it stable on rough ground. Nothing electric sounds or smells like it.

Best for: drivers who want an engine. Read nitro vs electric first if you have not run one. Watch out for: the commitment. Nitro needs fuel, a glow starter, running in and tuning, and somewhere you can make noise.