Sim-Lab S1 Enduro Seat Review

Sim-Lab have long been known for their mid to high-end sim racing rigs and cockpits. Based out of the Netherlands, their 8020 aluminium profile cockpits are among the best you’ll find. This also extends to racing seats.

Previously, we’ve had the Speed1 and Speed3, and I’ve been using the Sim-Lab Speed3 as my main seat for a good few years. Now, those two seats are gone, and in their place we have the S1 Enduro.

This is a GT seat, very similar in design to the older Speed seats. But, this comes in a two piece split design. And this I’m sure is a design choice from Sim-Lab to reduce packaging, manufacturing processes and shipping.

But does the new two-piece layout hinder the seats rigidity or performance while sim racing? Well, I have this S1 Enduro, sent over by Sim-Lab. So I’m going to give my full review, and compare it side by side with my Speed3 seat to truly test performance.

What is the Sim-Lab S1 Enduro Seat at a glance

But first, what is this S1 Enduro seat? Well, it’s a premium GT-style sim racing seat, designed to replicate the bucket seats found in GT cars. It features a fixed-design, meaning no recline or adjustment options, and it comes in a single size.

The seat itself is formed from a rigid shell, covered in foam and a thermal controlled comfort system. Aka, breathable mesh fabric. There are four cutouts to thread a 4-point harness through if you wish, just like in a real-world GT car. And you have some pretty well cushioned bolsters and seat.

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Price of the Sim-Lab S1 Enduro

All of this comes in at a price of €449.00. This is about on par for this style of fixed bucket seat. Other brands such as Next Level Racing, Trak Racer and Sparco, all price their similar seats at or around the 4-500 mark.

There are more expensive options if you’re looking for carbon fibre or true FIA-approved seats. And there are of course cheaper options from brands such as GT Omega.

Region	Price	Buy
UK	£388	Buy S1 Enduro UK
EU	€449	Buy S1 Enduro EU

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Why choose the S1 split seat compared to the single molded Speed1?

Now, the real question with the S1 Enduro isn’t so much its comfort, as I’m sure that’ll be spot on if the Speed3 is anything to go by. Although I will test this shortly. It is in fact the new two-piece design.

Implementing the two piece style inherently adds a weak spot to any design. And with a racing seat, where rigidity when pressing pedals is crucial, this design could actually hamper the performance of the S1 Enduro.

Does it? Well, no. If anything, this extra bracing across the middle has strengthened the seat rather than introducing flex. There is the tiniest amount of flex present when really twisting the chair in unusual ways. But when I jump into the sim, and start pushing on the seat when using my pretty stiff brake pedal, that flex is no longer present.

In fact, compared to my Speed3 one-piece racing seat, there is actually less flex when stamping on my brake pedal. A single-piece seat will inherently flex more due to the stress compounding as you move up the seat. While the two-piece seat has extra stiffening right in this center point where force is most prominent. This results in the top part of the seat moving less under load than the Speed3.

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The design of the Sim-Lab S1 Enduro

So the flex issue is, well, a non issue. So what about the design of this S1 Enduro, and how does the new two-piece construction affect the aesthetics?

That really depends on your view on industrial design, and how much you like to see bolts and rivets. For me, having this seat directly next to the Speed3 with its smooth rear panel. I have to say I prefer the all-in-one look. This isn’t because the two-piece design cheapens the look at all, rather, it just muddies it a little.

I like the sleek curves and contours from the Speed3 seat, rather than the harsh bolts introduced here. Outside of the new bolts, the rest of the seat is very Sim-Lab. You get the trademark blue seat cushion, although the blue colour has changed slightly becoming a little lighter. There are the same harness slots, and a very similar cushion design.

This is a design that is very aesthetically pleasing, and one with real impact. Blue and black are the only colours you can currently get, and most likely the only colours you’ll be able to get.

This may impact your buying decision, especially if you’ve styled your sim racing cockpit in a different colour and don’t want the blue to clash. For me, my cockpit is all-black, so this blue actually lends a really nice contrast, and I rather like the impact it brings.

Materials and build quality

As with all previous Sim-Lab seats, and many non carbon seats, the outer shell is constructed from GRP, or commonly known as fibre glass. This is common practice and results in a really rigid seat frame.

The cushions that Sim-Lab use are really nice, using a high-density foam. They have a good level of squish and padding meaning you remain comfy during the duration of your race session. In fact the rear cushion is comfier than on my older Speed3 with more padding this time around. This is a big step up from some brands who opt for really thin and not overly comfy seats. Yes, Next Level Racing, I’m looking at you!

Encasing the foam is a breathable 3D mesh fabric, which is slightly rough to the touch. Especially compared to softer cotton or other fabric types. This is designed to let air ventilate around you, ensuring you stay cool during your race.

I’ve spent hours and hours on end in my Sim-Lab Speed3 seat, which uses the same 3D mesh fabric. And I can attest that this breathable fabric does work in preventing heat and ultimately sweat. The only caveat here is that if you like to bare all and race topless, the fabric isn’t the softest on your skin.

Installation

The S1 Enduro does only support side mounting, which is a bit of a bummer. Although this is fairly commonplace among fixed seats, and seat brackets are required to adjust the lean angle and position of the seat. It is fully compatible with a seat slider which is great.

I had to do a little adjusting when swapping from my Speed3 to this as the seat is slightly wider, meaning I had to perform one of my favourite jobs, adjusting the seat slider position…

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Ergonomics and comfort while sim racing

Now, being a single fixed design, there are no adjustments or alternate sizes available if you’re a big boy, or even if you’re on the shorter size.

The width across the shoulders is 58cm, across the middle waist is 37.5cm and the length of the seat cushion is about 46cm from the backrest. This seat is obviously designed for a fairly average build person. I’m 6 foot 1, fairly average build, and I fit comfortably in the seat.

Things are on the tighter side though, although slightly better when compared to my older Speed 3 seat. My shoulders and legs are pretty snug, with very little additional room. Around the waist, I have an inch or so of space to play with. But I have to say, if you’re on the larger side, things may not be massively comfortable.

The good news for those on the smaller side, the length of the leg rest area is pretty short. So if you’re a little shorter, or younger, you should be comfortable.

Regarding the ergonomics, I’m pretty happy. The tighter fit lets me lean against the side bolsters and shoulder area, which can be helpful during a long tiring session, or if I’m punishing myself with higher force feedback. Stepping out of the seat after a few hours, I felt very little discomfort or back pain. So I’m giving a big thumbs up in this department.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the side bolsters are lower in this new S1 Enduro compared to the Speed 3. This makes it much easier to slide in and out of the seat rather than having to lift myself in and out.

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Final thoughts

And that brings me onto my final thoughts on the Sim-Lab S1 Enduro. This racing seat takes the formula that Sim-Lab has laid out with its previous seats, and re-engineered some of it to make life easier.

The new two-piece split design is purely out of necessity for easier handling and shipping, and I wouldn’t call this a performance upgrade compared to the older single-piece seats Sim-Lab used to offer.

With that said though, the new support that runs through the center of the seat does stiffen the seat up slightly. This results in slightly less flex at the top of the seat, which is always a good thing. Especially when chasing braking consistency, as the last thing you want is the seat moving or flexing under load.

Would I choose this over the Speed1 or Speed3 single-piece seats? Possibly, although I prefer the look of an all-in-one seat. But I can see why it is here, and it does do a very good job of keeping everything that made the older Sim-Lab chairs as good as they are.

This, is a still a very good GT-style fixed bucket seat, and I would highly recommend it if you’re in the market for one. It’s competitively priced, extremely comfy for longer race sessions and performs outstandingly under the harshest sim racing conditions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pros & Cons of the Sim-Lab S1 Enduro Seat

Pros

• More rigid than the older Sim-Lab racing seats.
• Breathable fabric really does keep you cool.
• Very comfy padded foam, meaning the seat is comfy for long races.

Cons

• Two-piece design isn’t as pleasing aesthetically as the older seats.
• More steps during construction.
• No bottom mounting option.

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