Next Level Racing Launches Reclining ERS3 Elite Sim Racing Seat

Next Level Racing Launches Reclining ERS3 Elite Sim Racing Seat RD.jpg
The Next Level Racing range of seats for sim racers has expanded, with the ERS3 Elite aiming to be a more versatile option to cater for more drivers.

Images: Next Level Racing

Those shopping for a seat to complete their sim racing rig now have further options as Next Level Racing has launched its new ERS3 Elite.

To be clear from the outset, this is not necessarily designed to be exactly like a real-world race car – perhaps the existing Elite ES1 product line is closer to a racing bucket – but rather offers something that increases accessibility for a wider range of individuals.


“This inclusivity is a pivotal aspect of the seat’s design, ensuring that every racer, regardless of size or shape, experiences optimal comfort and support,” claims the Australian manufacturer.

To that extent, this is a reclining seat that can be tiled backwards up to 135° allowing the switch between a more upright stance (for example GT or truck driving) or lowering it down (in combination with adjusting the rig) for a formula-style seating position.

It can support up to 331 lbs plus heights between 3’9″ and 6’9″. The tilting mechanism can reach twice as far as the company’s existing ERS2 seat, and the seat slider is also twice as long.

Next Level Racing ERS3 Elite Reclining.jpg


The chair uses cold-moulded foam wrapped in animal-free PU leather. It is compatible with eight existing Next Level Racing cockpits and frames, plus set-ups from different brands.

The ERS3 Elite Reclining Seat is available now for €279/$249/£229.

Do you own any Next Level Racing simulation equipment? If so, let us know your experiences in the comments below, or on X: OverTake_gg.
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About author
Thomas Harrison-Lord
A freelance sim racing, motorsport and automotive journalist. Credits include Autosport Magazine, Motorsport.com, RaceDepartment, OverTake, Traxion and TheSixthAxis.

Comments

Premium
At least it has brackets on both sides of the seat. Whether or not the adjustment locks are on both sides is another story.

Price wise... I've seen worse for more. I'd still go with a seat rated for actual automotive use for less money, though.
 
Deleted my original text... I was corrected about something which could have provided an unfair opinion on the seat, specifically it have dual sided adjustment mechanism, not one, great news.
 
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This seat looks decent for bigger folk like myself as I have to use the GT Omega XL RS, and it's awesome to see any seat that caters for most sizes as simracing obviously isn't like real life where you probably have to be 5'4" and 60Kg to be in a position to be using such a seat.

But it also looks like my biggest issue with the XL RS will carry across to this seat by not being cushioned enough in the seat / butt area itself. The lowest picture in the article doesn't show a great deal of depth to it, and if it's like my XL RS it'll become uncomfortable on anything more than a relatively quick session. Good arse padding is one of the most important elements if you're gonna make a chair for inclusivity, and they might've skimped a bit too much here? Obviously hard if not impossible to tell without sitting in it.

I would like to change my seat at some point for something more comfortable, but as I don't use a motion rig then I have no need for anything sporty / bucketed and just need comfort, and at a decent price, so I'm going to carry on keeping a lookout for a comfortable real car seat as they're built for that purpose.
 
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Switching between GT and Formula positions requires much more adjustments than just seat reclining. Misleading advertisement.
 
At this point they should integrate the HF8 pad. I was hard on the pad at first, but I have come to love it. My GT Omega seat is so comfortable, but I put the HF8 pad in it and I loose a lot of that comfort. Worthwhile tradeoff in my opinion. But if the chair natively had the motors, then you're on to something.
 
I know fast bois like bucket seats, four-figuer-priced u-shaped rims, upright (non-inverted) pedals, formula position and purchased car setups,

but I like my simulator as close as possible to the real thing.

So I might be reasonable and ditch my tight uncomfortable bucket seat to a reclining seat like this one.
 
Premium
I'd be wary of this, I expect it to be the same at the GT Omega seats. I have one and the side without the adjustment mechanism has no rigidity at all. This leads feeling a slight twist as the left side of my torso can move back. The Titan cockpit is great, I'd just avoid the seats.
It has back adjustment mechanisms on both sides.
 
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So I might be reasonable and ditch my tight uncomfortable bucket seat
Why it's tight and uncomfortable, wrong sizing?

BTW, Recaro had reclining sport seats for ages.
 
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Why it's tight and uncomfortable, wrong sizing?

BTW, Recaro had reclining sport seats for ages.
Yep, Sparco too. I had an R333 until recently. Not the most comfortable seat though.
My old Recaro from a Ford Escort RS Turbo was the most comfortable recliner I've ever had on my rig. Never should have sold it!
 
Yep, Sparco too. I had an R333 until recently. Not the most comfortable seat though.
My old Recaro from a Ford Escort RS Turbo was the most comfortable recliner I've ever had on my rig. Never should have sold it!
Having the same mindf*k issue here.
Got a great Simlab rig with a really nice looking proper racing chair.
But my previous homebrew rig had a sporty fully adjustable highend "Scheel" car chair that was so much more comfortable on long sessions. Also could recline for driving those openwheelers in style.
But it does not fit nicely, just a bit too wide.
Also makes the rig look like it's made for a taxi- or truck driver.
Real racing chairs never been made for comfort, just enough padding to not be hurting.

Still have that old rig here in the corner, waiting to be taken apart.
In the meanwhile having a bit of a sore back after an hour (but hey it looks so cool).
 
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Having the same mindf*k issue here.
Got a great Simlab rig with a really nice looking proper racing chair.
But my previous homebrew rig had a sporty fully adjustable highend "Scheel" car chair that was so much more comfortable on long sessions. Also could recline for driving those openwheelers in style.
But it does not fit nicely, just a bit too wide.
Also makes the rig look like it's made for a taxi- or truck driver.
Real racing chairs never been made for comfort, just enough padding to not be hurting.

Still have that old rig here in the corner, waiting to be taken apart.
In the meanwhile having a bit of a sore back after an hour (but hey it looks so cool).
I think I swapped my RS Turbo Recaro for the Sparco R333 while I was building an SFX100 (or it might have been prior to that when I bought a NLMv3 seat mover)... from memory I convinced myself that I needed a firmer seat for the motion, and a newer one to eliminate any potential squeaks and rattles. Plus, it looked nicer. It ended up being a bad decision.
My GS5 G-Seat is actually a lot more comfortable than the R333 ever was, despite being a rigid Kirkey bucket. All I had to do was add a thin foam seat pad (from some old garden furniture) under the G-Seat cover and it now feels great. An added bonus of the all-metal construction is that vibrations from my DDW transfer through the 8020 chassis and into the seat.
 
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Premium
Shawn Cole's video on the seat sells it better. And thinking about it, its 30 - 40 dollars more than some seats I was considering from Summit/Jegs...

I changed my opinion. What The Sim Pit said that sweyed me was about the comfort and how the seat back didn't flex or twist under hard braking. I am sure the seats I was vonsidering wouldn flex like that, but there is no shot in hell that those thin stiff things will be as comfortable. Seeing how I am hating life in my current arrangement, being comfortable should be a higher priority than thrift.

Ok... I'll bite.
 
Premium
How much? At least Dick Turpin wore a mask. I can pick up a really good real life car seat from a scrapyard for a lot less than that.
 
Ok... I'll bite.
Please report back here if and when you get it.

Check the Grayze Dynamics YouTube channel video "Next Level Racing GT Track & ERS3 Seat Review". In reply to a comment, he says:

The seat is well priced and more comfortable than many seat. I think you’d be able to race in it for hours and be okay. I’d recommend a lumbar support and honestly it is fine for us broad fellas. I am 5’9 220 and it is comfy. Firm when braking because they have a 2 lever system that makes it really nice. I’d say it is worth the upgrade and well worth the cheaper price. I’d get it for sure.
 
I'd still think thrice before even considering a pleather seat, based on previous personal experience. They're not very pleasant at all on warm days.
 
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