I had the pleasure of connecting with Will regarding getting my sons started with RC planes. Will was very knowledgable and informative. He wa very patient with us and told us exactly what we need to get started without trying to sell us. I would recommend Will for anything RC related! read more

Had an awesome recent visit to NorCal Hobbies with my son. I hadn't been there since 2015 after taking a long hiatus from the hobby, so it was really cool to come back. My 4-year-old is obsessed with anything with 4 wheels, so getting back into RC with him has been such a blast. We came out to get my 2WD buggy on their awesome indoor carpet track and let my son check everything out. The whole experience was great. The track is fantastic, and the shop had such a welcoming vibe. One of the highlights was their indoor rock crawling area. We had been wanting to try crawling, and Will was kind enough to loan us a crawler to test out. Needless to say... we ended up leaving with one! Overall, we had an awesome time. Everyone was super friendly, helpful, and made us feel right at home. Can't wait to come back for more track time and check out some of the upcoming events. Be sure to support your local hobby shop! read more

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I had no clue of what I needed other than an SCX24 for myself and a gift for my nephew. Will was a great help and salesman as he wasn't trying to upsell me on the many mods I could get with my purchase and was able to help us navigate which type of micro RC crawler was suitable for an 8yo. His honesty made us feel comfortable about what we needed to purchase and was very welcoming to the RC community, by welcoming us back to tryout the facility they have there, which was pretty dope. As a Noob, it could be very intimidating walking into a store full of equipment and not knowing what to get. My wife and I felt none of that, as we were helped with great service and left knowing that I'll be coming back for parts later. The indoor track and "crawl park" (if that's what it's called), was very impressive and the atmosphere was welcoming along with the patrons that were there. Spend your money here if you're looking for great knowledge & service as well as a place to run your RC. read more

I purchased an Axial SCX30 a week ago and have returned twice for parts. The staff is kind and helpful. They have an insane crawler room with everything from 1/30 to 1/10 scale. They have challenging lines for you to push your rig to its limits! read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

A Christmas Review Story... I went here to find gifts for boys ranging from 5-23yo. I came out with a perfect haul of more than just stocking stuffers. NorCal has a wide range of gifts that are hobby grade toys. They're not your typical Target/Walmart toys but a little better quality for not much more. I love the selection here. Service is key for hobby stores. NorCal excelled today as I was a little unsure how some of these hot wheels looking cars work. A man with Xmas lights necklace came out and showed how fun they can be. A 1:43 scale car can drift right out of the box! One dude started showing off a tiny RC drone, and another was busy helping a customer on RC parts. I don't know how they can staff so many people but they sure did today. Although I was expecting each gift item to be around $50 for each gift, there were some really cool micro gifts like remote control hot wheels for about $25. Last year I bought some RC warbird planes for about $100 each. I didn't see them this time around but that's ok. I want to give a proper review outside of Xmas shopping. I'll return when I'm ready to upgrade my Traxxas truck. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Great Xmas shopping haul. All of this for $175! - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Will was very helpful over the phone explaining things and is willing to help us if we come in this weekend when he is here. Thank you Will. I appreciate your help. You saved me a trip to San Jose today. read more

Awesome service, nice and very knowledgeable staff. I was looking for a mini crawler, and called to see if they had it available, they were friendly over the phone and when I went over they helped answer all my questions. The location is also great, they usually have events in their parking lot, and inside there are tracks for racing and crawling. From what I saw they had a huge inventory, and I bought my rc at MSRP which is great. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - SCX30 Mini Crawler - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

We highly recommend Nor-Cal Hobbies! Our pre-teen son has taken many STEM camps in the Bay area, and this RC build/racing summer camp has been his absolute favorite. Under Eric's guidance, he has learned RC car mechanics, racing strategies, engineering principles, and real-world physics concepts in a fun and engaging way. Eric didn't just give the answers; he helped the kids learn how to problem solve, trouble shoot, and think creatively/independently. Our son continues to learn even after the camp has ended. He keeps going back, and the staff is just as engaged, helpful, and welcoming. The community is great; they share tips on the track, talk strategy, and help each other out. Highly recommend for anyone who is just starting with their first RC car or has years of experience, who is interested in the camp or just being a part of the community, who wants to rent a car for the day to race or build/work on their own,. Wish we knew about this place sooner! read more

Honestly, this place is awesome for a single reason only: Not only as a shop well laid out with a section for the track and modification, also they have a dedicated shop department for any parts you need But this is not what sold me. What sold me was the level of customer service despite not needing a specific part for the hobby itself but for a separate hobby The amount of time and care to hear me out and help me with my project was honestly refreshing. I've been to many shops and a lot of places give up from trying to help. For this reason this shop is valuable and I am willing to drive far just to take a look at their selection and get their input. They have experience, great prices and a wide selection. read more

I am so impressed with the staff at Nor Cal Hobbies. They are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Will helped me find everything I needed and suggested some stuff to improve my experiences with my RC vehicles. I will continue to support them. These days it is so easy to shop online, but it is so nice to deal with people who know what they are doing. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

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I absolutely love . We all the way out from Santa Cruz because my son enjoys being here and driving on the indoor track! It's only $25 for the day to drive and the team is so helpful if any parts need to be replaced! They have an awesome selection of RC planes and boats and and buggies. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Landon rocks !!!!! - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

First time coming to a place like this. Totally blew my mind. Watching the cars speeding around the track was exhilarating and I wasn't even the one driving. This visit may have made me switch hobbies! read more

My grandson and I stopped by NorCal Hobbies to pick up some parts for his big monster truck. Will, the manager, was incredibly welcoming and took the time to help us troubleshoot and answer all our questions. Even though the shop was busy, he went out of his way to assist with the setup and get the truck running smoothly again. The store is well-stocked with just about everything you'd need to stay on the track. Thank you, Will, for your outstanding help. We highly recommend NorCal Hobbies to anyone looking for support or parts for their RC cars and trucks. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Took my boys to get their very first RC car and we had the best time. The guys working there were super patient and really knew their stuff. They explained everything in a way that made it fun and easy to understand, even for total beginners like us. Felt more like hanging out with cool RC experts than shopping! The kids were over the moon excited and honestly I was too. We've gotten so many compliments on the car and the boys are still playing with it every single day. It's holding up like a champ and we already can't wait to upgrade it! Seriously such a fun experience. Whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart, this place is awesome. Go check it out and prepare to become slightly obsessed like we did PS: they host parties, teach kids how to build, and you can also come race cars on their cool tracks! read more

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This shop is amazing for RC enthusiasts and vehicle lovers of all ages. I popped in to check this place out for my son's 9th birthday and it was awesome. This isn't your polished commercial kid party scripted kind of place. It's a roll your sleeves up and get tinkering and try cool stuff out kind of place. When we got there it was in an industrial building with plenty of parking. They were prepping for races later that day so there were several people tweaking their cars and testing them out on the track. It's no frills in the best way. Just focused on building, racing and making cool stuff. There's the main track, an off roading corner area, tables for repairs and vehicle adjustments, and a shop for all the tiny RC parts you can imagine. The guys there were really friendly and offered to show us what they were doing to their cars. My son and his friends noticed a freezer with several frozen treats options that looked like the only food item available. It's not really a birthday party setting in the traditional sense but after talking to Will about how I can make it happen, my son will be celebrating here soon. NGL, I'm kind of excited to try racing myself. read more

My son and I had such a fun time at Nor-Cal Hobbies. We recently got into RC rock crawling and found this place in the south bay. Le me tell you it's worth the drive. The staff were super friendly and very helpful. Made us feel right at home. The cost to crawl your RC cost $10 for all day use. No complaints here! They also a wide selection of everything you need for your RC hobby. During our time they had a big race event, which looked awesome. Oh yeah, having a big bathroom for there customers and easy parking was a huge plus. read more

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Amazing place and super helpful and friendly staff! Has so many different types of RC cars and accessories. The perfect place for RC car enthusiasts! read more

I am new to the RC hobby. Coming to NorCal-Hobbies, the staff makes you feel welcome and are available for troubleshooting and answering any questions I have. I would like to give a special thank you to Landon. He went above and beyond, helping with getting my first build completed and setup. I have attended a few Boot Camps and plan to attend many more. Eric's knowledge and patience with beginners and children is remarkable. They have a well stocked hobby shop where you can find pretty much everything you could need to keep you on the track. Pit tables are available at first come first serve, and are fitted with pit mats, for all your adjustments and charging needs. My only complaint is that it took me so long to find this hidden gem. Thank you Eric, Landon, Will and the NorCal hobbies team. read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Off-Road, Indoor carpet track - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Couldn't be happier haven't had my rc cars going in a while, one trip to Norcal got all my trucks back in action looking better than ever!! From the tire choices to color selection to the countless options of new toys!! Definitely a place to check out! read more

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Will at NorCal Hobbies was incredible. He took the time to walk me through different RC cars, explained everything clearly, and helped me find the perfect one for my son's birthday. You can tell he genuinely cares about helping customers, not just making a sale. No pressure, no upselling -- just honest, knowledgeable advice. This is exactly how a hobby shop should be run. Highly recommend stopping in if you want real guidance instead of a sales pitch. read more

This place is the place for racing fixing and shopping for RC cars! Great staff. They won't oversell you. In fact they try to save you money whenever they can. What retailer will do that? The collegial vibes in the pits makes you want to bring your cars and stay a while absorbing the great energy and knowledge from other hobbyists. Definitely go to check out Friday night races. You can watch and learn a ton too. My son loves this place! read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Driver's Stand at the Raceway - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

After having an itch to get into RC for weeks, I decided to jump into the RC Crawler market. After doing my online research of brands/models, I researched local stores to visit as there are no RC Hobby shops in Oakland/Emeryville/Berkeley. From my research, Nor-Cal Hobbies appears to have the largest in stock inventory. I must say the 1 hour drive from Oakland was well worth it. After checking their crawler and race courses, I was happy to see their inventory was as plentiful as I was hoping. Even though I had a general idea of what I was looking for, thank goodness for Will's (store manager) help. Will helped me understand the differences in the models I was interested in, answered all my questions without getting exasperated, and clearly explained how to use my battery and charger for long life. Even though it is a little bit of a trek from Oakland, I will definitely visit Nor-Cal Hobbies again to buy upgrades for my new Traxxas TRX-4 High Trail F150 Pickup Truck and try out their crawler courses. Thank you Will for all your help! read more

I went in looking for a cool Christmas present for my son. Will helped me understand the RC options and I got an awesome Traxxas truck for my son. I appreciate the info and knowledge and I'm really psyched to bring him to their Tuesday night intro session (after Xmas). read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - My kid is psyched! - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Came in today and I must say, Will the manager helped a ton and knew everything there is to know about batteries and adapters! His service was very helpful and much appreciated and of course I'll be coming back for more fun and goodies! Thanks Will, you're awesome! read more

Top- notch, legit five star place. The guys there are exceptionally polite and helpful. They're interested in helping and are always no pressure. My most recent experience was similar to any other one I've had there; I needed advice on a charger. They provided advice, made a recommendation, pulled one from the package and let me get hands on it before buying. They answered all my questions and set me up properly with all necessary adapters. I felt confident leaving the store and that proved out when I put the charger to work at home. Also, the selection is massive. They are stocked floor to ceiling with all of the kits you'd ever want and can special order what they don't have. Prices are on par with online retailers but the service and ability to get eyes and hands on things before buying makes this an easy go to. Check it out and tell a friend. read more

I stopped in with my five-year-old son on a whim recently. He loves his RC cars at home but I wasn't sure when walking in what he might be able to do at a facility like this. The staff was very friendly, as were the handful of adult hobbyists tinkering and racing around the facility. The staff let us use a starter RC truck and directed us to a very cool room with climbing obstacles for that kind of truck. Eventually another family with a six-year-old came in, and we shared the loaner truck and also used the low-power RC truck we'd brought from home. Of course it's also very fun for a kid to even just watch the adults test and race their high-powered cars around the incredible track that takes up much of the facility. We had a great time, we'll be back soon! read more

Super friendly, knowledgeable staff! Great warm vibes Kid friendly, my 10yo is stoked to come here. Huge rock crawler track too read more

Walked in some some questing and left with some cool items. Out here enjoying some awesome rock crawlers. We look forward to joining in on some of the starter classes as well. Huge thanks to will for exposing us to these solid crawlers. Look forward to upgrading and coming in to use the tracks! read more

I used to absolutely love this place and Eric. I've supported them for years. Hosted my kids birthday party there. But suddenly they've stopped repairing cars. So now I own thousands of dollars worth of cars that my son can't use. I've asked to pay the guys to help repair but they won't help. So sad. read more

Very friendly staff and great place to get your RC fix even for beginners!! Will was super helpful in giving me an intro and crash course on handling an RC truck. Also got a chance to hit the track on first day!! They have lot of options to pick from. Folks at the track are friendly as well!! read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Cool Nitro racer - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

I purchased an aftermarket steering servo from Norcal hobbies for my trx4m and it was causing the light kit on it to flicker for some reason. I brought the car in and was helped by Will, and he helped me out and exchanged it for me for a traxxas servo. It all works good now. Ive been to Norcal hobbies about 4 times now and they've been very friendly and helpful everytime. They have a cool place with a carpet racetrack and rock crawling courses. They even do on road races in the parking lot on certain weekends i believe. Its a very passionate environment and if you're in to R/C's or you wanna get in to it at all, then i recommend you check this place out. read more

Talk to Will. Had a great phone call that brought clarity to what's out there. I just want to spend more time running R/C's with my kids, and it's a confusing landscape of products to sort through. No high pressure sales in my experience at NorCal hobbies, just a genuine interest in getting you the best for your money with a ton of great experience to back it up. I recommend these guys, and I'm feeling more excited than confused after the call! read more

Have come to Nor Cal Hobbies several times with my son. Every time we've come, we've received excellent, professional assistance even when the store is busy. RC car racing has a learning curve, and the staff has always gone out of their way to answer questions and get us taken care of. There's a great community that races here as well. So glad we found this place. read more

Service always excellent. Very knowledgeable staff. And excellent selection. Landon helped us with a complex battery problem and got us dialed in. Well done! Looking forward to doing business with these guys in the future as well ! read more

What a great experience I had at NorCal Hobbies! Went in for the first time to check out the track and see what's inside the shop. They have a huge selection of cars at great prices and even some sells going on. Wanted to get a car that I could race especially something for beginners. Ended up talking to the Store Manager Will and what a great experience that was. We talked about my options and after much though I ended up buying a Traxxas Slash and even came on a night where they have beginners class and was able to learn about motors and got to do a real race on the track even though I got last place but had a blast in the process. Thank you Will for your generosity and answering all the questions I had and I'm very happy with my purchase. Can't wait to go back and race on the track! read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Getting My Slash Ready To Race on Beginners Night. Thanks Will For all your help in getting this setup! - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

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Thank you NorCal for being helpful awesome and down to earth. Great staff, awesome courses for both racing and crawling, and helpful with the knowledge of the different kinds of RC. read more

Will is being so helpful. We were left with 9 remote control cars from My brother that we had no idea what we had or what to do. He has helped so much. We now have some Of the cars working and it means so much. Thank you Will your the best read more

This hobby shop is the BEST! They are so knowledgeable! They helped us so much, we are new to the sport, they have a great selection, if you have RC cars you must come here! read more

Nor-Cal Hobbies - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Great selection of both basher and racer hobby grade RC cars/trucks. Wonderful place to do on-road racing and helpful staff to find what you need when you break your car. read more

Great place with tons of knowledgeable people! Had all the parts to fix my Typhon after I crashed it. Will be back soon!