Preferences in the world of sim racing are plentiful: Different sims and different hardware are just the tip of the iceberg of choices they have to make, and what to wear is another element that each person has a different view on. We want to know: Do you race with or without gloves?
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
It can sometimes feel like a highly intense debate about something as minor as gloves: Some sim racers swear by them, others think they are over-the-top and not needed at all. Of course, this means those racers who own a wheel - although if you use a controller and wear gloves when doing so, we are extremely curious about the reasons behind it, so please share them in the comments!
For anyone aiming to replicate real forces felt in their wheels, which modern high-end direct drive wheel bases are capable of, gloves may make sense to protect their hands from blistering or similar wear and tear. The right choice of gloves also offer additional grip, helping matters when wrestling cars with high FFB torque around a circuit.
Ah, that brand-new wheel feel - definitely the reason why digital racing drivers usually wear gloves.
Racing bare-handed also makes it easier to stay cool - this can make the experience much less uncomfortable, particularly during the summer months. Some sim racers may go without gloves at least temporarily as a result.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
It can sometimes feel like a highly intense debate about something as minor as gloves: Some sim racers swear by them, others think they are over-the-top and not needed at all. Of course, this means those racers who own a wheel - although if you use a controller and wear gloves when doing so, we are extremely curious about the reasons behind it, so please share them in the comments!
Immersion Booster & More Grip
For some, gloves are an immersion booster. After all, real racers wear them as well, so why not follow suit? For others, it is about preserving their wheels better: Alcantara grips, for example, tend to look worn significantly faster when used without gloves due to sweat and oils from the skin on a racer's hands accumulating in the material. Gloves prevent this and keep grips of this type looking fresh for longer.For anyone aiming to replicate real forces felt in their wheels, which modern high-end direct drive wheel bases are capable of, gloves may make sense to protect their hands from blistering or similar wear and tear. The right choice of gloves also offer additional grip, helping matters when wrestling cars with high FFB torque around a circuit.
Ah, that brand-new wheel feel - definitely the reason why digital racing drivers usually wear gloves.
Got to Stay Cool
On the other hand (no pun intended), racers might not deem it necessary to bother with gloves for any of the reasons listed above. After all, dexterity is better without wearing anything on your hands, so pushing a wheel's buttons and rotating its switches is easier.Racing bare-handed also makes it easier to stay cool - this can make the experience much less uncomfortable, particularly during the summer months. Some sim racers may go without gloves at least temporarily as a result.
