Breathable fabric vs alcantara vs leather seats for sim racing - which is better?

Choosing the right materials for your sim racing seat is an important decision, with every kind offering distinct advantages and disadvantages. In this blog we want to take a closer look specifically at breathable fabric, alcantara and leather seats.

Fabric seats are often more breathable than Alcantara and leather. This can be a big advantage during long sim racing sessions as it helps to prevent overheating and excessive sweating. It also feels quite comfortable, is soft to the touch and tends to be more affordable than both Alcantara and leather.

However, it doesn’t provide the same level of grip as Alcantara or leather. During tough racing sessions you might find the seat to be slippery and not as comfortable as you would like. Since it absorbs moisture more easily, it also means that stains can develop after usage and it might look not as good as you would like.

Fanatec offers the CSL Seat specifically designed for the CSL Cockpit. If a more professional and motorsport proven seat is required, Fanatec also offers the established Sparco Pro 2000 QRT with FIA grade certification. Both use breathable fabric to keep you comfortable during long sim racing sessions.

The biggest advantage is that Alcantara provides great grip over time to keep you securely in place when you are pushing the car during long driving stints. Also, it looks and feels very premium and is therefore often used by the automotive industry in high-class car interiors. Alcantara is very durable and provides a certain amount of breathability but not as much as breathable fabrics.

But Alcantara requires a lot of maintenance to keep it as nice as possible. Cleaning it properly every time can be a bit of a hassle. Furthermore, it is quite a cost-intensive fabric and might not be for you if the budget is restricted.

Same as Alcantara, leather feels very nice and premium and is equally used by the automotive industry in their car interiors. It is much easier to maintain than Alcantara and very durable and long lasting.

Unfortunately, leather is the least breathable option of those three. As it is very temperature sensitive, it tends to store heat and moisture, which is not ideal when it comes to sim racing. As you might get hot and sweat during intensive race sessions, this probably makes your experience quite uncomfortable over time. Due to this, the leather surface also offers very low grip for your seating and might be slippery. And additionally, high quality leather also comes at a high price.

In general, the choice of your seat material entirely depends on your preferences, of course. For the most comfort during long driving stints, breathable fabric might be your best option, especially if you sweat a lot.

The best grip with a very premium feel to it provides Alcantara, specifically when you are serious about sim racing, as this material is also used a lot in real life sports and race cars.

Leather comes with a luxurious look and is easy to maintenance, however it is not really suited for sim racing, as it is very temperature sensitive and not breathable, which is not very comfortable during intense racing.