With every sim racing setup comes several key aspects that can make or break your experience when racing. Many sim racers start their journey with their office chair and a wheel clamped to a desk, which is great for getting started, but often leads to discomfort after long periods. It also fails to make the most of the immersion offered by titles such as iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione.
One upgrade that can transform the look and feel of your setup is the seat, so let’s dive into what the best ones are in 2023. If you’re in the process of making a whole new rig or upgrading your old one, and the seat is just your first step, check out our guide on the best Sim Racing Setups in 2024 to find out the best combinations you can get your hands on today.
How To Choose A Seat
There are many different types of seats for sim racing and these often represent the type of car they have been designed for such as formula cars or GT’s. The most important thing to understand when choosing your sim racing seat is the different types on offer:
- Formula seats will offer a low-profile seating position to keep your centre of gravity as low as possible. These seats keep you snug within the seat and give you a particularly high level of immersion if formula or LMP cars are your most common choice when racing
- GT racing seats are the most common choice as they offer the typical upright racing position but still have all the benefits of a bucket seat. They are often tight-fitting, keeping you secure but still have headrests and padding/cushions so strike a good balance between comfort and purpose
- Road car seats that you will find in an everyday car offer a level of comfort that others just can’t match. This seat type is for those who favour their comfort first or have a full focus on driving road cars within their chosen sim
The Features To Consider
With the host of different options on the market, it can get a little overwhelming trying to decide which option to choose, but there are a few key aspects to consider.
Quality
Make sure that the seat is made of high-quality, long-lasting materials – a sim racing seat is something you will want to keep for a long period. Additionally, bad-quality materials can flex and become uncomfortable to use after long periods. If you are concerned about a motion rig setup, then quality is even more important as safety when moving in the rig is of high importance
Comfort
Not all sim racing seats are made with comfort in mind, and it is important to remember this. Many seat offerings are made to keep you secure and this is not conducive to comfort.
When looking for a seat, consider what levels of adjustment are on offer. Also, breathable fabrics are a great option to consider as they keep you well-ventilated during longer periods of sitting.
Price Range
This may seem like an obvious consideration, but it is one to ensure you aren’t fooled by. The more expensive the seat is does not equal a better product; sim racing is a stationary activity so many of the additional safety features you may find on some real-life certified-for-use seats just aren’t necessary.
Find something that is within your price range, and don’t be drawn in by fancy materials like carbon fibre if that is not within your price range, these are nice-to-have options not essential things for sim racing.
Our Top Picks
Now that you are familiar with the most common types of seats and what options to consider, let’s look at some of the best offerings on the market. These must be noted as suggestions and that there are hundreds of different offerings that can be found online, but these are a great place to start if you are unfamiliar with the sim seat market.
| Name | Price | Style | Pros | Cons |
| Next level F-GTLite | Low | GT/Formula | – Easy to store– Highly adjustable | – Fixed to cockpit frame– Potential flex on high-powered wheels |
| Cobra Monaco Sport | Low | GT | – Rigid chassis | – Side mounting brackets not included |
| Next Level Racing ERS3 Elite | Low | GT | – Recline feature offers more adjustability than fixed seats– Open design means wide range of sim racers should feel comfortable | – Narrow bolstering at the bottom could cause comfort issues |
| PRO SIMRIG Nordschleife by Cobra Motorsport | Mid | GT | – Ideal for bigger drivers– Fixed back provides excellent strength | – Not suitable for drivers with a smaller frame |
| Next Level Racing Elite ES1 | Mid | Formula | – Molded Polymer design promises excellent durability– Optional NLR seating bracket offers up to 98 different mounting solutions | – Cannot be cleaned, costly new pads need to be ordered instead |
| Sparco Circuit QRT | Mid | GT/Touring | – Real-life racing design– FIA-approved safety rating | – Limited vision due to required racing safety features |
| Sparco Grid-Q | High | GT | – Latest innovations from Sparco | – Not suitable for larger frame builds |
| Sparco EVO XL | High | GT | – Suitable for all types of drivers | – Very expensive |
Next Level F-GT Lite
| STYLE: Formula/GT | BRAND: Next Level |
The Next Level F-GT Lite is not your typical sim racing seat, but this is what makes it stand out from the crowd and makes it perfect for a particular type of sim racer. The seat is arguably the best foldable seat out there, as it offers compact storage ability and can be set up in GT or Formula-style seating position. This functionality is something that no other seat on this list can offer and, for that reason, is a great choice for any new sim racer looking to start their sim racing journey.
Additionally, the Next Level F-GT Lite is compatible with a host of different wheels and pedals, as it has several pre-drilled mounting holes, making this seat the only piece of equipment you need to get started with racing. If you’d like to pair up a seat like this with a shiny new set of pedals, make sure to check out our guide to the best Sim Racing pedals.
So if you’re looking for your first journey into the sim world and don’t want to spend a fortune on lots of sim rig equipment, then this is a great choice to consider.
Cobra Monaco Sport
| STYLE: GT | BRAND: Cobra Monaco |
With a more upright seating position, the Cobra Monaco Sport is a GT-style seat that’s constructed from tubular steel with support for a five or six-point racing harness. Its wider design makes it suitable for larger frame drivers with support for both side and base mounting. Unfortunately, though, side mounting brackets are not included, so the total cost will be higher if mounting the seat at the base isn’t an option for you.
The Cobra Monaco Sport may be a budget seat but it includes features like the tubular steel frame and support for a racing harness that is generally found in seats that are in a much higher price bracket. The seat is priced to appeal to sim racers on a budget but still promises excellent rigidity with understated visual appeal.
Next Level Racing ERS3 Elite
| STYLE: GT | BRAND: Next Level Racing |
While the first two options are solid, they don’t feature the adjustability of a reclining seat. This is where the Next Level Racing ERS3 Elite comes in, as it offers the adaptability of a recliner but at a cheap price. Despite its lower cost, the synthetic leather finish gives it a premium look.
Its double-seat recliner mechanism should keep it sturdy at any angle, while its open design makes it ideal for a range of different sim experiences. These can include GT racing, truck sims or even flight sims. The synthetic leather finish, which is backed up with soft moulded foam cushioning on the inside, promises to provide both comfort and long-term durability.
PRO SIMRIG Nordschleife by Cobra Motorsport
| STYLE: GT | BRAND: Cobra |
The PRO SIMRIG Nordschleife from Cobra Motorsport not only gets a cool name, but it’s also unique from other sim racing seats on the market. It has been designed especially for larger drivers to fit in comfortably, with larger pilots having tested it to find the ultimate fit. Developing it with the help of drivers of around 6ft 3 inches, and those with a waist of 50 inches/127 cm, has ensured that for drivers of this size, this may be the best option around.
The seat is also made from Cobra’s breathable fabric to ensure you remain as cool as possible during intense battles. It can also be either base or side-mounted, meaning it should be able to fit on rigs of any layout.
While smaller drivers may want to steer clear of this one, larger drivers who have struggled to find a comfortable sim seat may want to give the PRO SIMRIG Nordschleife a look.
Next Level Racing Elite ES1
| STYLE: Formula | BRAND: Next Level Racing |
Fancy a fixed formula-style seat for a solid price? Well the Next Level Racing Elite ES1 could right right up your alley. The seat comes layered with a high-quality suede material that provides both grip and comfort, while the included PU foam should provide good lumbar support.
The ES1 should also remain solid for years to come thanks to NLR’s five-axis molded polymer design. It also comes with all the mounting gear included as standard, so attaching it to your sim rig should be straightforward. For a premium, a special Ferrari version of the seat is available for those who want to channel their inner Charles Leclerc.
Sparco Circuit QRT
| STYLE: GT/Touring | BRAND: Sparco |
The Sparco Circuit QRT is a great choice for any type of sim racer looking for that authentic racing car feel. The seat is an official FIA-approved offering that has been tried and tested in all types of motorsport around the world.
The seat is constructed from sturdy QRT materials, offering a high-quality, long-lasting product that will be more than enough for any sim rig. The seat is also lined with non-slip fabric in key areas, such as shoulders and seat restraint, keeping you firmly in place. Comfort has also been considered with both leg and seat cushions that can be removed from the seat to ensure the best fit and comfort options for all types of sim racers.
It must be noted that the Sparco Circuit QRT is another offering that has been designed as a real-life motorsport seat first, and as a result, has rather large side protection designed for wearing a helmet and neck restraints while racing. This can lead to your view being blocked on either side, which isn’t ideal for triple monitor users or those using large VR headsets.
The Sparco Circuit QRT is still a great seat for those looking for the authentic race car feel from their sim rig, though. The quality is unquestionable and is one that is more than enough for any sim rig.
Sparco Grid-Q
| STYLE: GT | BRAND: Sparco |
The Sparco Grid-Q is a very popular bucket seat amongst sim racers and it’s obvious to see why. Updated with new QRT technology, the GRID seat maintains its high mobility feature due to its reduced bulk under the shoulders. The seat is made up of customisable pads fixed with Velcro. New stitching. Fixed using lateral fastenings with 290mm spacing.
The Sparco Grid-Q bucket racing seats can come in two options also, with a leather version available – although slightly more expensive – alongside the suede version should that take your fancy. You should be able to mount the Grid-Q onto any profile rig providing you purchase the correct side mounts, fixtures and fittings.
Sparco EVO XL
| STYLE: GT | BRAND: Sparco |
F1 drivers tend to be small in stature, but that’s not the case for all racing drivers, as well as sim racers. Luckily, the Sparco EVO XL is designed for drivers that are 188cm/6’2” or taller.
The seat is constructed using Sparco’s Quick Resin Technology (QRT) to create a shell that’s almost as light as carbon fibre with the cost savings of fibreglass and it has integrated lumbar support with space for drivers that have broad shoulders and weighs up to 158kg.
Overall, the Sparco EVO XL is a GT-style seat and does not allow for adjustments to a more reclined, Formula-style driving position. It does however have support for seat belts and a seat slider that must be purchased separately, making it a strong overall candidate.
Final Recommendations
Now that you have a good understanding of the range of different seat options and some recommendations to get you started, make sure to do your research on what is best for yourself. Everyone’s sim rigs will be of different shapes and sizes and what works in one set-up may not be the best for yours.
However, here at Coach Dave Academy, we would recommend the Sparco Grid-Q seat for its quality, immersion and FIA certification. It’s a great all-rounder for any profile rig.
Whatever option you choose, make sure that quality is the first element you consider. Looks and design can be tempting but a seat is a product you spend lots of time interacting with so choose wisely. You don’t want to end up with a bad back after all.
