The first sim racing accessories worth buying in 2026 are the ones that fix a daily problem: a seat slider to set your driving position, a heel rest for steady pedal work, a cupholder for long sessions and a mount for your shifter or handbrake. Screens, button boxes and motion come later, once the basics feel right.
In simple words, an accessory is any part you add to a cockpit after the frame, seat, wheelbase and pedals. Some make you faster. Most make the rig easier to live with. Below you see which ones pay off first, and why. First, take a look at a SIMGASM rig with its first upgrades in this independent first look.
What counts as a sim racing accessory?
A sim racing accessory is a part that bolts onto your frame and adds comfort, control or order.
Think of seat sliders, heel rests, cupholders, keyboard mounts, caster wheels and brackets for extra hardware. They do not steer or brake for you. They do change how easy it is to find the same position every time you sit down, and that is where lap times start. On an aluminium profile frame, most accessories slide into the T slots of the profile with T nuts, so you move them in minutes.
Which accessories should you buy first?
Start with the parts that touch your body, because they shape every lap you drive.
1. A seat slider for a repeatable position
A seat slider lets you move the seat forward and back without touching the pedals or the wheel. That matters when you share the rig, or when you fine tune your reach after a few weeks. A seat slider is not included with SIMGASM cockpits, so it is often the very first add on.
The SIMGASM version has four welded mounting nuts on the slider. So you do not chase loose nuts inside narrow rails during assembly. Both rails lock, which keeps the seat still under heavy braking.
SIMGASM | Dual locking seat slider set - Black
2. A heel rest for steady pedal work
Your heels need a stable base to press the brake with the same force every lap. A heel rest gives them that base. It also takes strain off your calves during a long stint. We explain it in more depth in our guide on whether you need a heel rest, which follows in this series.
3. A shifter and handbrake mount
Rally and drift fans want the shifter and handbrake close to the wheel. Good news for SIMGASM owners: every cockpit already ships with the Core side profile shifter and handbrake arm. You only need an extra mount when you want a second device or a different position.
Which accessories make long sessions easier?
Once your position is fixed, comfort and order decide how long you enjoy a session.
Cupholder and accessory holder
It sounds small. Yet the top answer in many sim racing threads is simply a cupholder. A drink within reach means you stay seated during a one hour race, and you stop placing glasses on the floor next to cables. An accessory holder does the same for your phone, headset or gloves.
Keyboard, mouse and PC mounts
If you race on PC, you open menus, set up cars and chat with your team. A keyboard swivel mount or a mouse tray keeps those tools close. A PC tray puts the computer inside the frame, so you need no desk next to the rig. For buttons on the wheel side, our guide to button box layout and mounting helps you plan the space.
Which upgrades are fine to leave for later?
Some upgrades only make sense once the frame and the basics are sorted.
Motion brackets, belt tensioner brackets and larger monitor setups belong in this group. They ask more from the frame, so check the profile size first. A Hobby frame uses a 40 x 40 mm main profile with a rated braking load of 150 kg at the pedal deck. The Sport moves to 40 x 120 mm and 300 kg, with integrated cable passthroughs and motion ready construction. If you plan motion later, a bigger aluminium sim rig saves you a second purchase.
SIMGASM | Heelrest 400mm - Black
How do you test if an accessory is worth it?
Judge every accessory as part of the complete rig, not as a loose part on a table.
That is also how SIMGASM develops its hardware. Every product is tested as part of a complete simulator rather than as an isolated component. Founder and product designer Johan Akkerman has raced since 2008 and has tested a wide range of cockpits, pedals, seats and accessories from across the market. His rule is simple: a product needs to solve a real problem, stay affordable and be strong enough to last.
So ask yourself three questions. Does it fix something that annoys you every session? Does it bolt on without flex? And does it still fit when you upgrade your wheelbase? If the answer is yes three times, it is a good buy. Short on room? Check how much space you need for a sim racing cockpit before you add parts that stick out.
Where do you find accessories that fit your frame?
The easiest route is to buy accessories made for the profile system of your frame.
SIMGASM develops its own hardware from its base in Wijk bij Duurstede, the Netherlands, and designs the add ons around the Hobby, Club, Sport and Pro frames. That means matching hole patterns, T slot sizes and finishes. You find the full range of sim racing accessories in one place, from seat sliders to motion brackets.
Questions and answers about first accessories
Here are short answers to the questions racers ask most before their first upgrade.
What is the most useful sim racing accessory?
For most drivers it is a seat slider, because it fixes your driving position. After that, a heel rest and a cupholder give the biggest daily gain.
Do accessories fit every aluminium profile frame?
Most parts use standard T slot mounting, but hole patterns and widths differ per brand. Always check the product page for the frame widths it supports.
Is a shifter mount included with a SIMGASM cockpit?
Yes. Every SIMGASM cockpit ships with the Core side profile shifter and handbrake arm. The shifter or handbrake itself is sold separately.
Should you buy accessories before a better wheelbase?
Buy the position parts first, such as a seat slider and heel rest. A stronger wheelbase feels better when your body already sits in the right place.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
