8 Best VR Headsets for Sim Racing [Buying Guide 2021]

I hope you will agree with my statement:

Only VR technology can replicate the true feeling of racing

That being said you can use many quality VR’s to get this feeling. But if you are using a low-quality VR headset for a racing simulator, this experience can be tainted. So, with that in mind, I decided to create this guide for you to ease your decision, and to help you make a quality purchase. But buying a sole VR headset isn’t enough for simulator racing. So, I would still recommend pairing your racing VR headset with a Racing wheel to add an extra layer of enjoyment. Furthermore, I have also answered a few FAQs such as “Which is the best VR racing game on PC” or “Which VR racing games are available on PC”.

Good VR headset for other games:

We have written below many comprehensive guide based on specific games. Scroll through our down on our site to find related articles for your specific game.

Parts required to build a VR racing setup:

To build the racing simulator setup, You need a high-end PC, A good quality VR headset, and a steering wheel setup.

If you want to look at the VR headsets for PCs specifically, click here. If you’re a huge gamer and a fan of Skyrim, see here for an article you’ll love! If you don’t want to go into the hassle of buying a VR-compatible device, just see these top VR standalone headsets. If you’re really looking for high quality, you can see the best Oculus VR headsets. If you don’t have a VR device yet, you can buy a phone suitable for VR headsets here.

Best VR headset for Sim Racing in 2021

Here is our list of top VR for racing sim

VR Headsets	Rating	Price
1. HTC VIVE PRO	10/10 (Editors Choice)	Check Price
2. Valve Index	9/10	Check Price
3. Samsung HMD Odyssey+	8/10	Check Price
4. Sony Playstation VR	8.5/10	Check Price
5. Oculus Rift S	9/10	Check Price
6. Primax 5K Plus	8/10	Check Price
7. Oculus Quest	8/10	Check Price
8. HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite	8.5/10	Check Price

1. HTC VIVE Pro Virtual Reality System

Why We love it?

Excellent Audio and Strap.
Good Noise cancellation.
Great resolution and very comfortable.

Pros	Cons
Low Screen Door effect	Difficult to setup.
Awesome Visuals	It's not cheap
90 Hz refresh and 110 FOV
Steam VR support

HTC VR headsets are the quality option for any gamer. The next level comfort of this VR and amazing resolution can double your racing enjoyment. With steam VR support, you can play all the popular racing games such as Dirt, Assetto Corsa, Project cars, etc.

Some games will let you pair your HTC VR with a steering wheel. By pairing this with a steering wheel I think you can create the perfect racing simulator setup.

Racing aside, you can also play so many popular games on this VR. It is also on our list for the Best VR for Beat Saber.

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2. Valve Index

Why we love this?

Improved Field of View
High-quality visuals
Integrated speakers instead of headphones
Sturdy Build Quality

Pros	Cons
120-130 degree FOV	Expensive
120 Hz Refresh rate
Comfortable

Valve index is a High-Quality VR headset developed by Valve. Since Valve owns steam, This headset is compatible with most of the VR games that are available on steam. Although you might consider it as an expensive option. But the build quality and features of this VR headset are top-notch.

Especially the embedded speakers that do not cover fully cover your ears. Instead, they sit an inch apart from your ears.

Our usual monitors have surpassed the refresh rate of 240hz. Sounds amazing right? But when it comes to VR they can still offer a maximum of 120hz refresh rate. This refresh rate might seem lower compared to monitors but trust me the 120hz refresh rate is amazing.

When I first played racing games on the 144hz monitor it was a game-changer. The smoothness was unimaginable. Even though better refresh rates are mostly built for FPS games but they actually improve the overall gaming experience as well.

So, the 120 Hz display and FOV of this VR puts it in the running for the most advanced VR headset for racing sim. You should pair this VR with a racing wheel to create the perfect VR racing setup for your self. The overall specs of this VR headset make it one of the best VR for gaming.

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3. Samsung HMD Odessy+

Why we Love it?

Quality VR headset
Reduced Screen door effect.
Windows Mixed Reality and Steam VR support

Pros	Cons
Light VR headset	WMR require a lot of effort to pair with SteamVR
360 Degree of spatial sound	Small Sweat Spot
90hz refresh and 110 Hz FOV

The + version of Samsung Odessy was designed to improve features. The 3k Display offers anti-sde and a good enough resolution. Although, a few users do complain about the headset being snug around the nose.

But the reason for that is, It has a very low screen door effect. So, this VR headset can prove to be a great fit for your VR racing simulator needs. The Samsung Odessy will provide you with a truly immersive VR experience during racing.

The main issue with this VR is that it takes a lot of effort and time to pair with SteamVR. Other than this some users have also complained that finding the sweet spot of this VR headset is very hard. Nevertheless, once it is perfectly tweaked, you will be able to tap into the full potential of this VR. And when it comes to WMR headsets, Odessy is the best WMR headset on the market.

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4. Sony Playstation VR – Best for PS4

Why We love it:

The only VR headset for PS4 racing games
Affordable for PS4 users
Easy to Setup

Pros	Cons
FOV of 100 and 120hz Display	Issues with USB Cable
Free and Fast Delivery	Blurry

Playstation VR is the only option for PS gamers to experience Virtual Reality. This is a very reliable VR headset as it does not require a high powered PC to run.

If you want to build the greatest VR racing set up at an affordable price. I think pairing this VR and your PS4 will be the best option. You can play games such as Grand Turismo Sport, Drive club, etc.

The only drawback of the VR headset is blurry visions but still, you can get used to it. The refresh rate of this VR can enhance the speedy gameplay.

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5. Oculus Rift S

Why we Love it?

Highest average rating
Affordable and reliable VR
It is lightweight.

Pros	Cons
High-quality display	80hz Refresh Rate
Built-in external sensors

Oculus Rift S is the highest-rated PC VR on amazon. It is rated #1 on amazon’s PC VR headsets list. This PC-powered VR is old but still very reliable.

We recommend using this VR headset for playing games such as Dirt Rally or Dirt 2.0. Which you can easily find on the Oculus or Steam Store. The lightweight design of this VR headset can let you comfortably play for hours

Even if the refresh rate is a bit low, you will not notice much of a difference. The built-in sensors in this VR headset is a huge bonus. It does not require you to buy any expensive and external hardware for gaming.

If you are looking to build an affordable VR racing simulator. I think this can be the best fit for you.

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6. PRIMAX 5k

Why we love this VR?

Wide Field fo view
Can be used for both seated or standing gameplay
Supports both Steam and Oculus Home.

Pros	Cons
Massive 200° FOV	Uncomfortable for lengthy gaming intervals
Smooth 120 HZ display	Bad customer support
5120*1440 total resolution

After reading these features you might be wondering is this best VR for racing sim? The answer is simple, FOV that the Primax 5 offers is a big plus for racing simulators. The 200 degrees field of view of this VR headset is nearly the same as our real-life FOV. So, this headset will enhance your racing experience.

Although this VR can prove to be a bit uncomfortable for longer gaming sessions, however, you can still improve its comfort by adding attachments. Other than this the smooth refresh rate of this headset will benefit in high-speed racing.

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7. Oculus Quest – Standalone VR headset

Why we love it?

It’s standalone and does not require a pc to run
Very Comfortable and Immersive
Wireless and untethered

Pros	Cons
Immersive Built-in speakers	Cannot play popular racing games. e.g. Dirt
64 Gb internal memory.
Casting feature for quick image transfer

The standalone nature of this VR is a drawback for most racing gamers. However, this is a cheap and reliable option for budget gamers. There are many racing VR games available on the Oculus store that supports this VR.

So, if you cannot afford a high-end pc to play heavy racing games such as Dirt, you should try VR racing games from the Oculus store. I know that racing games are on PC but the available games on the Oculus store are worth a try.

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8. HTC Vive Cosmos Elite

Why we love this headset?

Modular VR with a flip-up design
Wide Lighthouse tracking
Comfortable Padding

Pros	Cons
Superior Picture quality	Average Sound Quality
Easy to Setup	Tiny Sweet Spot
Cutting edge Technology
90HZ refresh and 110 FOV

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite offers modularity like no others. You can easily customize this VR to an extraordinary extent. It might seem expensive at first but the features that it offers are great for future-proofing.

Setting up this VR is easy but you might struggle to find the sweet spot. But once you manage to find it. This true potential of this VR headset will be revealed. The rubber padding of this headset is so comfortable that you can easily game for hours.

When you initially purchase this headset you will feel the essence of the cutting-edge technology that it offers.

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Conclusion

I understand that building a great VR racing setup is not easy and might be a bit expensive. But to build a high-quality VR racing simulator, you must have the best VR headset. So, the above products are our picks for the most impressive VR headset. I know you have watched a lot of videos showing amazing racing simulators. However, these simulators require amazing steering wheels and good quality VR headsets. But to build any VR setup you need to have some extra time and budget.

So, I recommend starting with the basics. First, build a good enough PC. Yes, I know you might be wondering why PC. The reason for that is because PC offers a lot of VR racing games. The high quality and smoothness of these games are no match for other platforms. Next, choose the top quality VR headset from our list.

Resources

Have you ever wondered how VR technology was invented and evolved? Check out this detailed resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best VR headset?

There are many high-quality VR headsets available in the market. To choose the best overall VR headset refer to our comprehensive guides. But if I have to pick from this list. I would say It depends on your needs. If you are looking for the most impressive VR headset for PC, you can either choose HTC Vive Pro or Valve Index

But if you are looking for PS4 VR then the only option is Playstation VR. So, to answer your question. It depends on your requirements.

What are great reviewed racing simulator games?

Here is the list of racing simulator games with the best reviews. These are the PC Ones:

Assetto Corsa
Project Cars 2
Dirt rally 2.0
iRacing
Need for Speed Series (Non-VR)

These are the highest-rated VR games for PS4.

Gran Turismo Sport
Assetto Corsa

Which VR racing games are available on PC?

The above-mentioned games are available on VR for PC. Apart from that, if you are looking for non-VR games, You can play games such as The Crew, Forza Horizon 4, etc. However, if you are looking for more games for VR racing with detailed reviews refer to this resource.

What is the best VR racing setup you have seen so far?

This is the perfect VR racing Setup I have seen so far: