A high-end Rennsport rig that is designed for Fanatec’s Direct Drive wheels would be as useful for a Thrustmaster TMX as a fold-up solution would be for a 32Nm Simucube 2 Ultimate – the key takeaway being that your rig must be suitable for your setup, amongst many other requirements: Enjoy the perfect balance between comfort and stability with the 6 seating positions of X-Adapt™. Fine-tune positions of pedals and wheel to replicate the feeling of being in a car. New Racing Seat that Combines Affordability with Uncompromising Quality for Console and PC Users to Experience the Thrill of Racing at Home!

Let me report my experience, starting with a Playseat Challenge, then switching to a more solid Raceroom Rig and finally ending at a super-solid Simlab-like aluminium-profile rig with a CSL at first, a DD1 and now DD2: The most expensive rig in this list is the Pro Simrig PSR3. It’s far from entry-level but is probably the cheapest rig you can buy that’s made from aluminium profiles. This means that it’s really, really strong, has nearly zero movement when under heavy load and can handle the strongest of direct drive wheelbases. It should match your medium-term or long-term aims for your setup. Are you hoping that your rig will hold a Direct Drive or hydraulic pedals once you’re ready to make the step up? Console/PC Compatibility PC, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Wii, XBox, Xbox 360, Xbox One Make sure there is sufficient padding and that the height and angle of the seat (and all mounts) is adjustable. If it’s not all that adjustable, then at least make sure its standard dimensions are suitable for your own. AffordabilityEquipped with gearshift mount, allowing you to upgrade your race experience with the Logitech G Driving Force Shifter. This rig comes with a wheel and pedal mount, and they’re designed to offer a decent amount of adjustability. However, the real star of the show is the comfortable racing seat you get with this rig. It’s not in the same low profile position as the Playseat Challenge, but this makes it more versatile for other forms of racing.

One word of warning though: If you have a particularly heavy wheel, like the Thrustmaster TS-XW, it's better to detach the wheel mount from the chair before folding it up. The Challenge is very light and a really heavy wheel makes folding it up quite awkward and unsettles the whole thing. However, I find this feels precarious if you have a heavier racing wheelbase. It starts to feel like mounting a gigantic camera zoom lens onto a tiny camera body. It’s designed to stop you getting sweaty, although I’d recommend the Alcantara version if you want a more luxurious feel. In either, you get racing seat-like cut-outs towards the top of the seat, which look the part and are cushioned. Playseat pedal interface This can often mean it’s more comfortable over long sessions. It’s made from high-quality materials, and it’s a sturdy, durable choice. While not as portable as the F-GT Lite, you can fold the seat and adjust the mounts to reduce the size and make it easier to keep out of the way. Note: The post that holds the wheel mount can get in the way of the pedals sometimes, so that's worth bearing in mind if you plan to choose this setup There’s room on the Playseat Challenge for your pedals too, of course. They sit on foam-lined metal frame bars that curl up at the end, to avoid you pushing the pedal set off into the distance when you depress the brake.

A good rig however will stop any flex you may experience when braking hard, will stop any wobble or movement when you have those direct drive forces being applied and it can help the overall immersion of your gameplay with proper seating and monitor/tv positioning.

Your wheel attaches to a plate that folds up and down. Up lets you get in and out of the seat, and when it's down it sits across your knees at chest height. There's no stretching of arms to be done, you're very compact, and the whole experience is pleasing. The GT Lite features two metal plates to mount pedals – which we can help you choose in our 2023 Buyer’s Guide – that can be set at a raised angle or placed flat on the floor depending on the user’s preference. I tried both the Thrustmaster T-LCM, which work great, and the C. These are not well-suited to the Challenge as the Fanatec’s rubber feet don’t properly line up with the slim foam cover of the pedal stand here, and the pedal set does not have a flat base. And if you plan on using a powerful load cell brake, you will likely want to get something more substantial either way. Comfort is a big thing to take into account when choosing your Playseat alternative. You don’t want to be uncomfortable during long gaming sessions in your racing seat as it ruins the whole experience and breaks your immersion. Not only that, but an uncomfortable chair can be detrimental to your health if it doesn’t support proper posture. The main thing that's always put me off setting up a proper racing rig is the space requirement. The footprint of these things is sizeable. And while you still need a fair bit of room to use the Playseat Challenge, you only need it while you're racing.For those just getting started, though, it can be a little daunting, and the Next Level Challenger is a perfect entry point into the world of sim racing. It's simple, comfortable, doesn't take up much space, and with the option of an integrated monitor mount, you can have a complete little setup without needing acres of space in your room.