Your sim racing seat sets your comfort, your driving position and how connected you feel to the car. The main choice is bucket vs reclining: bucket seats hold you firmly for competitive racing, while reclining seats trade some lateral support for adjustable, all day racing comfort. Ventilation and built in haptics are worthwhile upgrades depending on how you drive.
THE TWO SEAT PHILOSOPHIES
Bucket and formula seats (the ES and EFS families)
Fixed back seats hold you tightly in place, which is what you want when you are chasing lap times. Next Level Racing® racing seats come as bucket style (ES) or formula position (EFS). The ES1, ES2 and ES3 suit GT, Touring, Hybrid, and more reclined Formula setups; the EFS Elite Formula Seat puts you in a low, reclined open wheel stance. Choose a fixed back seat if competitive consistency and support matter most, or if you’re in a full motion setup where you need to be locked in.
Reclining seats (the ERS and PRS families)
Reclining seats let you dial in the backrest angle for comfort across long sessions and different disciplines. The ERS3, ERS4 and ERS5 recline freely; the PRS1 and PRS2 add adjustable lumbar support, which is the key differentiator if you spend hours in the rig or want extra back support.
FORMULA VS GT SEATING POSITION
A Formula position is low and reclined with your legs extended out in front, mimicking an open wheel car. A GT position is more upright with your feet below you, like a road or GT race car. Some cockpits and F-GT frames let you switch between the two; your seat choice should match the position you spend most time in.
BUCKET VS RECLINING: AT A GLANCE
| Factor |
Bucket or formula (ES, EFS) |
Reclining (ERS, PRS) |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral support |
Highest |
Moderate |
| Comfort over long sessions |
Firm, race focused |
Adjustable, all day |
| Backrest adjustment |
Fixed |
Reclines (PRS adds lumbar) |
| Best for |
Competitive lap chasers |
Comfort, mixed use,long stints |
| Example models |
Elite ES1, ES2, EFS |
ERS3, ERS5, PRS1, PRS2 |
ARE VENTILATED AND HAPTIC SEATS WORTH IT?
Two seat variants solve specific problems. HYPERCOOL ventilated seats (such as the ES1 HYPERCOOL and ERS3 HYPERCOOL) actively push air through the seat surface, worth it if you run long or warm sessions and want to stay cool. Haptic seats (such as the ES1 Haptic and ERS3 Haptic) build feedback motors into the seat, adding a layer of physical immersion without a separate pad. Choose these variants if cooling or in seat feedback is a priority; skip them if you already run a separate haptic pad or a cool room.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is a bucket or reclining seat better?
Neither is universally better. Bucket seats give more lateral support for competitive racing; reclining seats give adjustable comfort for long or mixed sessions. Match the seat to how you drive.
What is the difference between ERS and PRS seats?
Both recline. The key difference is that PRS (Performance Reclining Seats) add adjustable lumbar support, giving more tailored back support than the ERS range.
Do I need a haptic seat if I have a haptic pad?
Usually not, they serve the same purpose. A haptic seat integrates feedback into the seat itself, while a pad adds it to a seat you already own. Running both is redundant for most drivers.
