The best sim racing accessories

Sim racing products to up your game

Sim racing set up

by Myles Warwood |
Updated on

So you want to be a sim racer, but your rig ain't fly? Well, instead of a visit from Xzibit in some weird episode of Pimp My Ride, CAR will look through some of the best sim racing accessories out there to help you get the maximum from your rig and bring your driving up a level.

You don't have to have the most extravagant set-up to get the best out of your driving, but it is nice to have extra comfort levels while you game. This will keep your driving at its peak for as long as you can maintain while giving you something nice to enjoy.

What do I need to accessorize my sim?

This all depends on your personal needs and wants. Some people might want a new seat to give them a better driving position, a sharper, more controlled handbrake, new headphones with a microphone or even just some lighting to go around your sim to make it 'look cool' when you Twitch. Whatever your reason, there's an endless list of things you can do.

Do accessories make me a better sim racer?

No. Sorry.

Well, that's not strictly true. If you get a better servo for your steering wheel or some pedals with a better response, you can improve your driving by the feel that you get back through the controllers. However, as with anything in life, it takes practice.

Plus, some pretty lights around the edge of your sim will do nothing for your driving skill, but they might look nice on your Insta live stream.

The best sim accessories

This can be quite a long list, as it depends on what you're looking for, but let's get into it and see what comes out of it.

Stands and seats

Upgrading your rig with a stand or a seat is one of the quickest and easiest things you can do. Instead of having your pedals on the floor and steering wheel clamped to a desk, you can start customising things. This likely means you'll be more comfortable for longer and feel better behind the wheel.

Please note: All prices correct at time of writing. Prices, stock and deals subject to change without notice.

Description

Simple and practical, this stand will hold your wheel, pedals and gear lever/handbrake if you have

Pros

  • Folds away
  • Relatively low cost
  • Sturdy and strong

Cons

  • It would be best if you still had pedals, seats, steering wheel, etc

On offer

Playseat® Challenge Actifit – Black

Rrp: £199.00

Price: £170.00
Alternative retailers
AO.com£170.00View offer
Argos£179.99View offer
Robert Dyas£183.99View offer

Description

You might feel more like a racing driver with this Playseat® Challenge Actifit. The more laid-back

Pros

  • Folds down
  • Lightweight
  • Compatible with a variety of other products

Cons

  • Needs to be set up every time you play

Trak Racer TR80 Lite Aluminium Sim Racing Cockpit
Price: £379 starting

www.demon-tweeks.com

Description

An all-in-one purpose-built racing cockpit made of strong and rigid aluminium, it can withstand

Pros

  • Heavy duty
  • Angle-adjusted pedal plate
  • Seat adjustable backwards and forwards

Cons

  • Permanently set up

Discounted

Playseat® Trophy - Black
Price: £555.64

Description

It might not look like it, but this Playseat Trophy is fully adjustable. You can raise or lower

Pros

  • Hugely adjustable
  • Comfortable
  • Only 15kg

Cons

  • You can get more sturdy builds for less

Steering Wheels, Servos and Display units

Black Friday Deal

Thrustmaster F1 Wheel Add on
Price: £169.99

Description

So, you want your rig to resemble an F1 car? Well, Thrustmaster makes this add-on, which means

Pros

  • Looks cool
  • I feel like an F1 driver.
  • Adjustable

Cons

  • Only available for Ferrari
  • Already need a Thrustmaster set up

On sale

Logitech G Saitek Farm Sim Controller
Price: £206.81

Description

If you like riding the big rig and need something a bit more laid back and sedate for the farming

Pros

  • Made for Farming Simulator
  • Plenty of customisable buttons
  • Integrated steering wheel buttons

Cons

  • Expensive, but it is a particular set-up

Deal

Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo Base
Price: £369.99
Alternative retailers
Scan Computers£379.99View offer

Description

Updating its servo is one significant upgrade you can bring to your sim without buying a new

Pros

  • More responsive
  • Super-smooth
  • Quiet

Cons

  • Only compatible with specific models

Description

A purpose-built data display unit has been tailer mode for the simulator industries. This panel

Pros

  • Plug and play
  • Plenty of information
  • Built to a high spec

Cons

  • Expensive

Handbrakes

Up your drift and rally game with these handbrakes.

Cheaper than usual

64Bit PC USB Handbrake
Price: £61.59 (was £75.99)

Description

Taking nothing to install other than plugging into a USB port, this handbrake is an effective way

Pros

  • Relatively low cost
  • Easy installation
  • Height Adjustable

Cons

  • Limited compatibility

Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod+
Price: £280.66
Alternative retailers
Scan Computers£249.98View offer

Description

For a more trusted name in the gaming world, we can always rely on Thrustmaster and its products.

Pros

  • Handbrake and gear shifter
  • Respected brand
  • Durable

Cons

  • Higher price

Monitors, stands and mounts

If you want to up your sim experience, a monitor stand bringing the action closer to you can help. It'll make everything feel a lot closer and much more accurate. Differences in each won't be huge, but it'll be which you have to work with.

Description

This version can be upgraded in two widths to a triple monitor stand with the addition of side

Pros

  • Relatively low cost
  • Able to extend to a triple monitor set-up
  • Different sizing options

Cons

  • The buying of the stand is the cheap bit!

Description

If your rig doesn't support having monitors on top, a floor-mounted monitor stand could be your

Pros

  • Stable and sturdy
  • Able to make it into a triple monitor set-up
  • Different sizing options

Cons

  • You need a monitor to start with. Things get expensive, then.

4% off

LG

Rrp: £1499.00

Price: £1499.00
Alternative retailers
Electrical Discount£1495.00View offer
Peter Tyson£1499.00View offer
AO.com£1499.00View offer
Argos£1499.99View offer

Description

Good gaming TVs are super expensive compared to monitors, but LG tends to be among the best. Large

Pros

  • High resolution
  • 0.1ms response time
  • True-to-life picture

Cons

  • High cost

Headsets

Up your streaming and communication in-game with a headset which won't make you sound like a low-budget pilot giving the weather updates, and you'll be able to hear what people are saying to you, too.

£13 off

Turtle Beach Recon 70P Gaming Headset

Rrp: £31.77

Price: £24.99
Alternative retailers
Argos£21.99View offer
Robert Dyas£25.00View offer
Jacamo£29.99View offer
JD Williams£29.99View offer

Description

They are lightweight and comfortable, so when you have them on, they're bearable for long periods

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Low cost

Cons

  • Low cost doesn't always mean durability

Great Deal

HyperX
Price: £111 (26% off)

Description

With a USB audio sounds card amplifying your voice and audio for optimal Hi-Fi gaming, you can

Pros

  • Audio sound card
  • Virtual 7.1 surround sound
  • Memory foam for comfort

Cons

  • Not many at this price

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless Gaming Headset
Price: £175.99

Description

These are designed for gaming with a wireless connection you'll never lose, thanks to the 2.4G

Pros

  • Best microphone
  • 360-degree surround sound
  • Lossless wireless connection

Cons

  • Bit pricey

Lighting

Nothing will make your set-up look more relaxed than immersive lighting. The lights can also reflect what's happening in the game, giving you a much more immersive experience and feel.

Discounted

Philips Hue Lightstrip
Price: £67.55 (was £76.46)
Alternative retailers
AO.com£69.00View offer
Dunelm£79.00View offer
JD Williams£79.99View offer

Description

Philips were the OG in intelligent lighting with the Hue; it can produce colours of every, erm,

Pros

  • The original
  • Respected brand
  • Easy to extend

Cons

  • High initial set-up cost

Super offer

Nanoleaf Shapes
Price: £125.99 (was £179.99)

Description

These things are great for adding smart lights to your wall and connective panels which slot

Pros

  • Stunning wall lighting
  • Easy to connect
  • Fully customisable

Cons

  • It might give you a cable-hiding headache

Discounted

Govee LED Floor Lamp

Rrp: £99.99

Price: £59.99

Description

Set this floor lamp in the corner of the room and let it work its magic. When streaming your

Pros

  • Sync with Music
  • Voice and app controllable
  • Easy installation

Cons

  • Competitive market

Comfort accessories

Add these convenience items to your rig; they won't add performance, but they'll make your racing a bit more comfortable.

Description

A handy little cup holder which helps keep you hydrated on those mammoth endurance racing events.

Pros

  • Low cost
  • Easy installation

Cons

  • Could argue it's not needed, but it's a low price. Does it matter?

Description

If you want to up your mid-race chat game, this adjustable keyboard tray is suitable for mounting

Pros

  • Adjustable
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • High price for a keyboard holder

Description

Perfect for stopping your sim from damaging the floor while also there to instantly mop up any

Pros

  • Looks mega
  • Stops scratches from the sim to the floor
  • Dampens sound

Cons

  • Pricey

Myles is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, Parkers and CAR. His areas of expertise include cycling, fitness tech and hot hatches.

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