Let’s face it; most of us will never compete in a Formula 1 championship. But, sim racing has allowed us to participate in a virtual version of it, so it’s best to make the most of this opportunity. The problem is that several players don’t know how crucial simulation gloves are to the immersive experience and make the horrible mistake of playing without them!
Please, don’t be that player. You are investing a significant amount of money in your sim racing gear, so why not make it perfect? You don’t even have to worry about making the wrong decision because this blog will give you tips for choosing the best simulation gloves. So, let’s get started!
Why you Need Simulation Gloves
Firstly, let’s talk about why you need the simulation gloves, to begin with. Several players have mentioned that they don’t necessarily contribute to the performance, so there’s no point. But what if we tell you they do affect performance?
Following are the core reasons why getting simulation gloves is the right choice.
1. Enhances the Immersive Experience
Professional racers wear gloves, which are part of their attire during sports. Therefore, playing a racing game without wearing them is only okay if you’re using a VR headset and can’t see your hands.
If you are relying on monitors for the visual output, you’ll feel the slight disconnect, preventing you from getting as enveloped by sim racing as you’re supposed to be. With gloves on, you’ll feel less more aligned with the virtual experience, making the experience better.
2. Gives a More Realistic Feel when Holding the Steering Wheel
If you got sim racing equipment to feel the authenticity of real-life racing, then you’re missing if you don’t have the gloves. Wearing gloves will change your grip and the way your hands feel when you clench them around the steering wheel.
We are not saying it will be better or worse for the performance, but the effect will be closer to real racers’ feelings behind the wheel.
3. Absorbs Excess Sweat
Racing gloves are specially made keeping a racer’s needs in mind, especially when it comes to sweat. People often sweat when stressed or during intense driving sessions for elongated hours. You’ll be doing both, so it’s reasonable to assume you’ll be sweating to some extent.
Wearing simulation gloves will help keep the sweat away from your hands, adding stability and minimizing the chances of slipping.
Tips for Choosing the Best Simulation Gloves
We hope you are convinced that simulation gloves are necessary for the sim racing experience and are looking forward to getting the right ones. Let’s move to the tips for choosing the best simulation gloves.
1. Budget
As always, the budget needs to be your first consideration when buying anything sim racing-related. So, open your banking app to look at your available savings, do a little research, and set a spending limit.
The average price for simulation gloves is around $45, but there is extensive variation. You can expect to find several good options in the $30-$40 range, but you’ll also find some in the $65-$70 range.
The best solution is prioritizing features and deciding which glove you want based on an objective assessment.
2. Grip
The grip is essential when choosing sim racing gloves because it affects how steady your hand remains on the steering wheel. The glove’s design and material (covered below) are the primary factors that determine how effective it is.
Some simulation glove manufacturers add slight abrasions to the glove’s design to increase friction mildly to prevent your hand from slipping during a critical turn. Others play with material and try to optimize the results.
3. Weight and Thickness
The lighter your glove is, the easier your sim racing experience will be. Heavier gloves weigh your hand down and tire you out more quickly compared to lighter gloves, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to hit performance goals or win a race.
Similarly, thicker gloves will likely be heavier, and they’ll affect your grip on the steering feel due to extra fabric. Therefore, choose a simulation glove with optimal weight and thickness to avoid a negative impact on your experience.
4. Material
The two most common materials used got making simulation gloves are rubber and leather, but some brands use other materials. Your first job is to try as many as you need to get an idea about their general feel. Hence, consider your options based on how comfortable both materials feel.
The goal is to improve your performance, so choose accordingly.
5. Wheel Material
Sim racing steering wheels usually have either rubber, leather, or plastic-based covers, and the one you have will dictate how limited your glove options are. Rubber covers are suitable for all glove types, so that’s the flexible option.
However, plastic covers are sleeker and don’t provide the same level of friction as rubber. Therefore, there are high chances of your leather gloves slipping off the plastic steering wheel at a crucial moment.
So, keep these details in mind when you go glove shopping.
Simulation Glove Recommendations
You are all set for knowing how to choose the best simulation glove, so let’s look at a few recommendations.
1. Sparco Hypergrip
Sparco is one of the most renowned brands and makes some of the best sim racing gear in the industry. Hence, it is no surprise that their product was the best among the ones we tried. It has several size variants and uses a perforated microfiber material on the palm side for additional ventilation.
The fingertips are specially designed while considering the touch sensitivity factor to enable players to transfer their intended pressure onto the controllers. The best part is that they are reasonably priced so that they won’t stretch your budget.
2. Sim Hound Gloves
Sim hound is the perfect choice for people who want the most comfortable option. They are made using breathable materials and are incredibly durable, so you can continue using them for quite a while.
The material is also optimized for touch, so you don’t need to take them off to access your smartphone or other devices when needed. Overall, we struggled when placing them on this list because we liked them as much as we liked the Sparco Hypergrip.
Therefore, we recommend that you give these a try before finalizing your purchase.
3. Alpinestars Tech 1-K Race Gloves
The Alpinestars Tech 1-K race gloves are a cut above the rest because of how adaptable they are. They provide a firm grip that will keep your hands focused on the wheel even when things get a little rough on the virtual road.
They also mold themselves to the player’s hand shape after the first few days of wearing, so you won’t have to worry about them feeling uncomfortable. However, they are on the pricier side of the curve, so keep that in mind when choosing.
Final Thoughts
In short, simulation gloves are a necessary part of the sim racing experience, and following our tips will help you find the best ones. We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and will check out our other blogs for more information about sim racing.
