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Question Seat choice?

Discussion in 'New users start here - FAQ' started by RandomCoder, Mar 1, 2017.

  1. RandomCoder

    RandomCoder Active Member Gold Contributor

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    Too much choice, I think that is the problem!

    Searching the forum for generic terms like "Seat choice", "Bucket" etc yields too many results indirectly relating to the question and so I thought it best to create a new thread (hopefully in the correct section!).

    My plan is to start small then extend as my knowledge and confidence increases. It seems like a sensible approach. The main constraints for my project will be cost, and space. I'm in no rush and therefore have plenty of time, albeit having a full time job, a wife, three kids and two dogs actually means I have little time and it is likely to be a long drawn out project :(

    What would be your advice regarding the choice of seat? Is a proper automotive bucket seat preferred over a PC gaming chair? Are there certain things to watch out for when buying a seat primarily for simulator use?
    My budget is <£200 for a seat and it's intended use will be in a seat mover style 2DOF (to begin with).

    Anyone able to list pros and cons of the different options?
    Or maybe you can recommend a particular seat?

    Here's my overview of the choice between gaming chair and proper bucket seat...

    Gaming chair:
    Pros
    Increased comfort
    Central fixing point
    Cheaper than a car bucket seat
    Plenty of choice​
    Cons
    No forward/backward adjuster
    Heavier than a bucket seat?
    Is mounting more limited due to central fixing point?
    Paying for chair base and gas lifter which is ultimately not required​

    Bucket seat:
    Pros
    Can include forward/backward adjuster
    Built to last
    Standard mounting
    Can be very light weight​
    Cons
    Generally more expensive than gaming chairs
    Even more bewildering choice!
    Can be very heavy​

    Here's a link to a bucket seat that I'm currently considering...
    http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/race-sport-tech-art-racing-seat/prod_685.html

    But having never bought a bucket seat or attempted to build a simulator I don't know what pitfalls to look out for?

    Any advice welcomed!
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    I think you should consider your personal preferences concerning comfort. Part of my personal choice was proper adjustable lumbar support as I have back issues.

    With a 2DOF it is not a good idea to adjust the position of the seat, as it changes the Center Of Gravity (COG). But many do use seat slider mechanisms to adjust the position of pedals to suit different size users, here is one example: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/car-seat-adjustable-inverted-pedal-mount.98/
  3. RandomCoder

    RandomCoder Active Member Gold Contributor

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    @noorbeast excellent point, I had not considered that using a seat adjuster would adversely affect the COG!
  4. principiamacb

    principiamacb Member

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  5. gin69

    gin69 New Member

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    Comfort is the key, i second that. You will spend many hours in that seat. My personal advice no matter what seat type you choose, try to find a place where you can test sit the seat. Even more important when buying a bucket seat, as there is no adjusting afterwards.
    I got a Recaro SPG for my upcoming motion sim project, bought it cheap secondhand. The seat fits like a glove, is surprisingly comfortable for it´s thin padding and is superlight (which means less mass to move)
  6. RandomCoder

    RandomCoder Active Member Gold Contributor

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    Great advice, thanks. The seat I linked in the first post is might heavy. After contacting the retailer to request the weight I was surprised to discover it weighs 18kg due to having a recliner and runners.
    I'm now looking for something a little lighter, I'm thinking that anything up to about 10kg will be ok. But testing the seat might prove a little difficult, I'll have to see what retailers are available locally.
  7. gin69

    gin69 New Member

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    Finding a place fo test the seats can be a hassle, but it is well worth it in the long run. I did a 250km trip last fall to do so.
    Another thing i forgot to mention, when looking for a bucket seat, i would stay away from seats that use a metal tubing frame (usually the ones with cloth/leather on the back).
  8. Zed

    Zed VR Simming w/Reverb Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    For now I'm just building a platform with ButtKickers at the corners and speed-dependent wind, and my Sparco R100 seat arrived today. It's actually a very nice seat but it is a bit heavy maybe for motion at 17kg/37lb unless it is for a 2 or 3 dof system with a universal joint taking the main weight. On the other hand it is nicely padded and very comfortable for me. It has a full cloth cover already and does recline - I didn't need that but it will be handy for adjusting seat position and the added weight doesn't matter much on a non-motion platform. It also came double boxed, the seat itself was wrapped in bubble wrap, and it's in perfect shape. I got the black with silver trim, am building the platform out of 80/20 black anodized aluminum strut and trim, and color-wise, it is looking like it will be a very smart-looking system.

    I built a platform a long time ago for use with my TV as a monitor and got one of those all plastic/poly seats and a very lightly padded cover. I don't have it any more but it was light but also not especially comfortable for long periods. It was also quite cheap and just came in a heavy plastic bag. Luckily it didn't get too beat up in shipping and the vinyl cover hid the very few scuffs. When all set up and with the cover, it looked perfect.

    I'm thinking it might be one of those triangle things with comfort, price, and weight at the three corners.