The Best Racing Seats of 2023 | Autance

Racing seats are an application-specific product, meaning it can be hard to call something the best when it simply won’t work for many applications. This seat from Corbeau gets the award for Best Overall because of the fact that it checks off so many boxes for many car owners. For one, the thing looks killer, which is a big deal for any street-drive car. And yes, it does have a reclining function which means you can comfortably use it for daily driving. As far as racing goes, it has pass-throughs on multiple sections for your harness to make use of. It also offers plenty of support on account of the extra deep setting, so many street/race seats do away with. The cherry on top is the pricing. That dollar amount shown is for the pair, which is about the same as many single racing seats.

There’s very little to dislike about this seat other than the fact that it will only accommodate up to a 38-inch waist. That is just right for the average American, but it can be too big or too small for a lot of folks looking for the absolute perfect fit.

As a rule of thumb, you should never skimp on racing seats. Sometimes, however, there’s no need for a top-dollar model that meets and exceeds even the most scrupulous standards. This bucket seat from JEGs is a great way for builders to save a little money when they can. Despite being as basic as it can get, this seat is still designed with support in mind. Much to the surprise of many, there are reports that it is not all that uncomfortable. It can even be paired with a cover to make it a little more pleasant to sit in. The construction relies on high-density polyethylene, which makes for a rather sturdy but lightweight seat. It also includes all the pass-throughs you’ll need to run a proper harness.

Being so affordable, there are some sacrifices made. Even if it’s not as uncomfortable as it looks, costlier seats will outshine it in that department. Furthermore, it’s not FIA certified, nor does it provide much support for your neck or shoulders. Still, it’s a great option for many budget-oriented builds or platforms that don’t offer much room for seating.

It’s hard not to talk about Sparco when the topic of race seats comes up. It is easily one of the most iconic brands that many dream of featuring in their builds. Why? Quality. This seat from Sparco does a lot more than hold you securely in place. It features individual sections of padding that allow for proper ventilation. Those pads are also easy to remove, thanks to the use of Velcro. This is a fiberglass seat, but Sparco’s QRT technology helps to provide 30 percent in weight savings over traditional materials. Of course, it’s also more than strong enough for anyone and is designed to provide drivers with maximum support.

Sparco doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to pricing. This is our premium pick for a reason, after all. Of course, you can justify the cost by saying it’s a high-quality piece of race equipment, but that doesn’t change the fact that you can get plenty of respectable seats for a much lower going price.

If you’re going hard on the trail, chances are you’re in for a beating. I’m not just talking about the rig, either. Your body’s in for a real smash. Thankfully, a set of seats like these from Corbeau will mitigate the damage. These are suspension seats, which means the seat absorbs the energy rather than your bones. Sure, your factory seats might not be all that bad, but they won’t give you the support of a racing seat. As you can see, the deep seating of this model will do that as well. And it even has a couple of pass-throughs to make sure you’re not going anywhere in the case of an accident. Don’t let that price shock you, either. That’s actually the price for the pair.

As for the cons, there aren’t many, especially considering it’s pretty much perfect for some off-road events. That isn’t to say it’s perfect for all, though. For example, there isn’t a whole lot of head or neck support featured on these seats. That does mean they won’t create a blind spot, but more hardcore events do warrant a little more containment.

The Sportsman is a seat that needs little introduction. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the name, chances are you’ve seen this exact seat, if not something identical. The purpose of this seat is to provide street-driven cars with something that’s both comfortable for daily use but supportive enough for hard driving. It even has pass-throughs for shoulder harnesses, allowing owners to make use of their roll bar. That said, this is often described to be as comfortable as a racing seat can get. In fact, it looks to be a go-to choice for race-sim cockpit builds because of its affordable price and comfort.

As great as this seat is, it does leave a lot to be desired. There is very little hip, neck, or head support. While that might not be a bad thing for daily driving, it’s less than ideal for real racing applications. That said, it’s still a solid choice for a street/strip build or just a daily that needs something a little more support than normal.

I think many will agree that, when it comes to containment seats you can grab off the shelf, Kirkey is hard to beat. Starting with the obvious, a model like this one offers more than enough support to keep the driver firmly in place throughout the duration of most crashes. It’s a super high-quality build and reflects that it should be a go-to brand for many racers. It is also reliant on aluminum construction, meaning it’s exceptionally lightweight—something any racer will appreciate. But, however great the seat is, that’s not what most love about it. Instead, it’s the fact that it’s attached to a relatively low price tag despite it being a serious piece of race equipment.

Of course, this isn’t the seat for everyone. A full containment design does restrict movement and might not be necessary for many racing events. One can also argue that the aluminum construction and lack of FIA certification do hold this seat back. However, most racing events that call for a seat of this nature don’t require FIA stickers, and a back brace will prevent the risk of bending.

For those wondering where the halo seats are, that’s what we’re wrapping this list up with. Of course, it’s a Sparco seat, too. So, what makes this a halo seat worth mentioning? We should start by mentioning that this is yet another model that Sparco uses its QRT technology for. So, even though it is fiberglass, it’s about 30 percent lighter than comparable models. Those weight savings are no compromise to strength either. Those bolsters will keep your head on your shoulders through turns and in case of an accident. It is also HANS compatible, so you can rest assured knowing that whiplash won’t be a problem.

Just like anything else with the Sparco name on it, this bad boy does drum up a premium price tag. Even if it is a halo seat, you can find plenty of worthy contenders at much lower prices. Speaking of halo, that feature does limit this model to a specific demographic, which may or may not make it a good choice for you.