Skip to main content

Sim racing gloves are an important piece of equipment for any sim racer. Why sim racers wear gloves we explain in this article! Having gloves has many advantages and can significantly improve your sim racing experience. They help you keep a firm grip on the wheel as well as keep your hands from slipping during intense races. You can also steer much more accurately because you get an even better and more precise feel while steering. This ensures a much more consistent performance on the track.

The offer sim racing gloves is huge and overwhelming. That's why in this article, we'll give you a hand and take a look at some of the best sim racing gloves on the market so you can take your sim racing experience to an even higher level! Ready? Let's go!

Pros and cons sim racing gloves

If you choose to use sim racing gloves, there are a number of benefits. These include improved grip, greater comfort and reduced hand fatigue.

Do you have a more expensive high-quality racing wheel, such as, for example Fanatec, GSI or Moza Racing? Then choose sim racing gloves without a doubt! Many racing handlebars come with alcantara or leather grips. By using sim racing gloves you extend the life of these grips and keep your handlebars in better condition. This is because you protect your handlebars from extra slijtage by greasy fingers or sweaty hands.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to using sim racing gloves, such as reduced dexterity and the risk of not being comfortable during a race. I personally think the biggest drawback is the heat, as during a long race (stint) your hands do get very hot and sweaty due to all the effort. Does this bother you easily? Then be sure to choose a more breathable material. Unfortunately, however, you cannot prevent this. But oh well, that too is part of the extra experience, of course ?

In general, the decision to use sim racing gloves is personal. You will have to carefully weigh the pros and cons yourself. Fortunately, sim racing gloves are not expensive. You can get a pair from as little as 20 to 30 euros.

sim racing gloves

What should good sim racing gloves meet?

There are many factors you can judge sim racing gloves on. Which ones matter to you is a personal choice, but we'll give you a head start with our key factors that good gloves should meet.

Comfort

If you choose sim racing gloves, you want one thing above all: to improve your sim racing experience and your own performance on the track. Choose gloves that are light, this ensures maximum manoeuvrability, feel and comfort.

The wearing comfort of sim racing gloves varies enormously from model to model. It is important to know your own hand size to choose the right glove. Most manufacturers offer good size charts that make it easy to choose the right size to suit you.

It is especially important that your gloves fit snugly on your palm and do not pinch anywhere. This will ensure maximum comfort. In doubt? Then always opt for a slightly larger size!

Design

The range and design of gloves are diverse. Do you opt for a cool and eye-catching look? Or rather more of a quieter look. Of course, this is a personal choice that I cannot make for you. There is always something that suits you! The range is so large that - in my opinion - it is sometimes difficult to choose.

What is important to include in your consideration is the way the gloves are stitched. This is because you can choose stitching on the inside or the outside. The difference may seem small and not even noticeable, but it is hugely influential on the look and feel of your gloves. I personally think gloves with outside stitching look nicer and more realistic, but you often sacrifice manoeuvrability and comfort in this. In my experience, gloves with stitching on the inside feel more direct.

Material and grip

Choose gloves made of a lightweight and breathable material. It is also important to always have sufficient grip on the handlebars. This ensures freedom of movement, accuracy and consistency on the track. Choose gloves that are touchscreen compatible. Nothing is more annoying than constantly having to take off your gloves to operate your phone or touchscreen dashboards ?

Price-quality ratio

Sim racing gloves come and go in different shapes, designs and materials. From cheap to expensive and everything in between. The range is so large that it is sometimes difficult to compare and choose a brand and model that suits you.

Sim racers' requirements for gloves are much different from those of real racing drivers. You can choose racing gloves from official motorsport manufacturers, such as Sparco, Alpinestars or OMP. But you can also choose from gloves made for sim racing, such as IMB Racewear or Abruzzi. We can agree on one thing: sim racing gloves should be lighter ánd thinner. Also, the forearm does not need to be covered and these gloves certainly do not need to be fireproof ?

The quality and thus the manufacturing have a lot of influence on the price of a product. Gloves made from high-quality and innovative materials are logically more expensive than products of low or inferior quality. Regardless of your budget, there is always a product that fits your price range. Make a choice and weigh up carefully: do you opt for quality (and durability) and an even better racing experience, or do you opt for lesser quality and a lower price? The choice is yours.

What are the best sim racing gloves of 2023?

In this list, we have taken into account all the factors mentioned above. This will help you in choosing the right sim racing gloves!

1. Alpinestars Tech 1-K

When you think of motorsport, you think of Alpinestars. This name is indispensable from motorsport and is one of the largest manufacturers of motorsport clothing. Officially, the Alpinestars Tech 1-K is a kart glove, but you can also use it for sim racing without a problem. The price is a bit higher than the average because of this. The Alpinestars Tech 1-K is available from ? 40,-.

These gloves are my undisputed number one sim racing gloves. I have been using these for several weeks now and I am very impressed with these gloves. The tight fit and lightweight materials provide tremendous comfort. The material breathes, is light and offers tremendous grip and they come in a cool design with different colours. Because these gloves cover your forearm and wrist, it gives that little bit of extra experience compared to gloves that don't have this, such as the Sparco Hypergrip or the Sparco Meca 3 I had before.

2. IMB Racewear

If you are looking for many different and unique sim racing gloves, choose IMB Race Wear. This brand specialises in professional sim racing products with a unique and wide range that is fully customisable in terms of colour, design, name, race number and/or flag. The brand exudes sim racing from every angle and seam. The range and options are huge, each with its unique character and design. They have both long and wrist-long gloves, depending on your preference. The gloves are light and breathable and have sublime grip. Definitely one of my favourite gloves!

Tip: Also check out our own SimRacingHub.nl gloves which we have developed together with our partner IMB Race Wear.

3. Sparco Hypergrip

Our next recommendation is the Sparco Hypergrip. This glove is designed for sim racers for both steering wheels and game controllers. The Sparco Hypergrip is arguably one of the most popular sim racing gloves on the market. Sparco's strong brand recognition will undoubtedly contribute to this success.

The microfibre on the palm is perforated for maximum ventilation without compromising grip. There is extra soft material between the fingers for extra comfort. The thumb and index finger are "touch-sensitive" for operation of touch screens and can also be flipped over so that the fingers are visible again. As far as we are concerned, not really a must-have feature but rather a nice-to-have. As far as we are concerned, the Hypergrip series is an excellent option for long-term use and are available from ? 45 euros.

spanco hypergrip sim racing gloves

4. Sparco Meca 3

The Sparco Meca 3 are actually gloves for car mechanics, but are great for sim racing. In fact, the Sparco Meca 3 are perhaps the most popular gloves among sim racers! The downside is that they are not - very well - touchscreen compatible. Other than that, you get a lot in return.

These gloves have an insane amount of grip thanks to the abrasion-resistant PU (polyurethane) leather palms. They fit snugly to your hand and are still breathable. The very biggest advantage is their tremendous abrasion resistance and durability. Because they are gloves for car mechanics, they are extremely hard-wearing, light and of excellent quality. And all that for only ? 30 euros. They are available in different colours. In terms of price-quality, this is definitely one of the best choices!

6. F33L Sim Gloves

F33l is a company that hasn't been around very long, but that doesn't mean their sim racing gloves aren't worth looking at. Among other things, the young company has gained a lot of name recognition by working with one of the biggest sim racing YouTubers Jimmy Broadbent, but also has its own line at Sim Lab.

F33l sim gloves have a lightweight design, allowing the hands to breathe well. At the same time, this offers great flexibility and feel. These ergonomically designed sim gloves have a rubberised grip to reduce hand fatigue and strain. This is very useful for use in high-performance Force feedback. The F33l gloves are relatively expensive compared to the other more well-known brands and the colour range is also limited. They are available from ?40.

Sim racing gloves: should you buy it?

Sim racing gloves are undoubtedly a great additional addition to your sim racing experience. Are you a novice sim racer or a casual sim racer who occasionally does some laps on your Logitech G29 or Logitech G Pro? Then wait (yet) with sim racing gloves.

I think the added value of sim gloves comes only when you invest a lot of time and energy in this hobby with your own aluminium rig OR doing so on a (semi-)professional level in your Sim Lab or Trak Racer setup. One thing is for sure: it will take your sim racing experience to a new level. What do you think about sim racing gloves and which ones do you have? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to keep up to date with SimRacingHub content, news, DIY, tutorials, announcements and more? Follow us on Instagram @simracinghub.co.uk

Wilco Verhaegh

Over 18 years ago, my passion for sim racing began with Grand Prix 4. My passion for racing, motorsport photography and gaming knows no bounds. With Motorsport-Pictures.com, I capture racing cars on film. Moreover, I am proud of my book 'Mastering The Art Of Sim Racing', in which I share my knowledge and insights with aspiring sim racers worldwide!

en_GBEnglish (UK)

Discover more from SimRacingHub.nl

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading