Your sim rig and your desk may be in the same room. So you may wonder: why buy two seats when you only use one at a time? Using a sim racing seat as an office chair can be a smart solution. But you need the right type of seat.
The seat needs to work well for both jobs. A fixed bucket seat can feel too restrictive at a desk. A normal gaming chair can move too much when you race. The backrest and mounting system make the biggest difference.
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What makes a seat work at a desk and on a rig?
At a desk, you want to move, turn and sometimes lean back. On a sim rig, you want the opposite. The seat should stay firmly in place while you steer and brake. A seat that works for both needs an adjustable backrest and the right mounting options.
The backrest has a big effect on comfort. A fixed bucket seat keeps your back in one position. This works well for racing, but can feel uncomfortable during a full working day. We compare both options in our guide on bucket seat or reclining seat. For use at both a desk and a rig, a reclining seat usually makes more sense.
The mounting pattern is important
Office chairs normally use a mechanism under the seat. Sim racing seats usually mount to sliders or brackets. If you want to use one seat for both, it needs to work with both mounting systems.
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SIMGASM | Core Recline Office Chair - Black
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The Core Recline Seat has an extra 193 × 193 mm mounting pattern underneath. This pattern fits almost all standard office chair mechanisms. The Core Recline Office Chair uses the same seat together with the SIMGASM Office Kit. This means it comes ready to use at your desk.
How does the swap work in practice?
On your sim rig, the seat sits on sliders. These let you move the seat forward and backward. The SIMGASM Dual Locking Seat Slider Set has four welded nuts, which makes installation and removal easier. At your desk, the office mechanism gives you features such as height adjustment and swivel.
However, most sim racers will not want to move the seat between the rig and desk every day. There is another option that may be more practical. You can start with the reclining seat on your rig and move it to your desk later.
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SIMGASM | Core Recline Seat - Black
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One seat, two uses
This is one of the main benefits of a reclining sim racing seat. You can start with the Core Recline on your cockpit. If you later upgrade to a fixed seat from the Atlas range, you can move the Core Recline to your desk. Your old racing seat then becomes a racing-style office chair instead of sitting unused.
This way, you can keep using your first seat after an upgrade. If you are already thinking about your next seat, read what makes a modular sim racing seat different. A modular seat can be a logical next step.
Where are the limits of using one seat for both?
An office chair base is not ideal for serious sim racing. The wheels can roll and the seat can turn when you brake. This becomes a bigger problem when you use stronger pedals or a powerful wheelbase. We explain this in more detail in can you use a gaming chair for sim racing.
For the best result, use the seat on your rig when you race and on an office base when you work. This gives you the stability you need for racing and the freedom of movement you want at your desk.
Space also matters. A sim rig with a seat takes up floor space, even when you are not racing. Read how much space you need for a sim racing cockpit before you plan your room. You can then choose a racing seat for your sim rig that fits your room and the way you use it.
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SIMGASM | Dual locking seat slider set - Black
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What should you check before you buy?
First, check the office chair base you want to use. Most standard office chair mechanisms fit the 193 × 193 mm mounting pattern. You should also check the height range. A racing seat can be deeper than a normal office chair, so enough height adjustment can make your desk setup more comfortable.
Next, look at the backrest angle. At a desk, you often want to sit more upright while typing or working on a screen. The Core Recline backrest can move to an almost upright position. This makes it more suitable for longer working sessions.
Finally, think about how you want to use your rig in the future. If you move the reclining seat to your desk, your rig will need another seat. Decide whether you want to keep the recliner on your rig for now or move it to your desk straight away.
Frequently asked questions
We'd like to address a few frequently asked questions:
Does the Core Recline fit any office chair base?
It has a 193 × 193 mm mounting pattern that fits almost all standard office chair mechanisms. Always check the mounting pattern of your office base before you buy.
Is a bucket seat good as an office chair?
A fixed bucket seat is usually not the best choice for office work. The fixed backrest gives you less freedom to move and change your seating position during the day.
Do I lose rigidity with a recliner on my rig?
A reclining seat has more moving parts than a fixed shell. However, good sliders, a solid mounting system and tight bolts can keep the seat stable for most sim racing setups.
Can I race on the office chair version?
Light sim racing hardware may work with an office chair setup. But the seat can still roll or turn under braking. If you use a strong wheelbase or load cell brake, mount the seat firmly to your sim rig.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
