When it comes to racing seats, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. But here is the truth: it is not about brand loyalty or price. It is about fit. At the NASA Racing Gear Store powered by OG Racing, we carry top-tier options from Sparco, OMP, and Sabelt, and we’re here to help you find the right seat for your size, your car, and your racing goals.
Start with Fit: Measure Yourself and Your Car
Almost every seat we sell is accompanied by an overwhelming sizing chart, so for the sake of your sanity, I will do my best to simplify it down to waist size. Please remember this is only one metric, and all of these seats fit differently. However, this should quickly narrow down your options. Getting this wrong leads to discomfort at best, and serious safety risks at worst. Before anything else, measure your waist and check your car’s interior width where the seat will be mounted. Check out the product listing for each to dive deeper into the measurement before purchasing.
Should You Choose a Containment Seat?
If you are driving competitively with a harness and head/neck restraint, the answer is yes. Containment seats — also called halo seats — provide critical lateral head protection, which traditional devices like HANS cannot offer during a side impact. Containment seats are ideal for:
- Wheel-to-wheel racing and Time Trial.
- Endurance and rally competition.
- HPDE events with proper harness setups.
For serious racing, a containment seat is a no-brainer.
Bonus, A Hybrid Option: The Simpson Hybrid
If you need your car to pull double duty between street and track, consider the Simpson Hybrid, the only head/neck device with some side impact protection. It’s not as robust as a containment seat and a head-and-neck support device, but it’s a solid solution for dual-purpose builds.
Non-Containment Seats: Better for Street-Driven Track Cars
Non-containment seats are lighter, more comfortable for daily use, and easier to get in and out of. If your car sees more street miles than track days, start here, but be honest about your usage. If you’re driving hard, don’t sacrifice safety for comfort.
Non-Containment Seats
Evo S – Small (up to 32” waist)
Evo – Medium (up to 34” waist)
Evo L – Large (up to 36” waist)
Evo XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)
QRT-R – Large (up to 36” waist)
Pro2000 – Medium (up to 34” waist)
Sprint – Medium (up to 34” waist)
Sprint L – X-Large (up to 40” waist)
Grid QRT – Medium/Large (up to 36” waist)
Containment Seats
Circuit – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)
Circuit II – Large (up to 36” waist)
ProADV – Medium/Large (up to 35” waist)
Highlights:
The Evo line is best for dual-purpose cars (easy entry/exit).
QRT-R is a top pick for lumbar comfort.
The ProAdv offers the most shoulder support of every seat on this list.
Non-Containment Seats
- WRC-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- WRC-R XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)
- TRS-E – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- TRS-E XL – X-Large (up to 40” waist)
- First-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- Champ-R – Small (up to 32” waist)
ARS-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)
Containment Seats
- HTE-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)
HTE-R 400 – Medium (up to 34” waist) - HTE EVO – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)
- HTE-R XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)
- RS-PT2 – Large (up to 36” waist)
- HRC-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- HRC-R XL – Large (up to 36” waist)
Highlights:
The HTE-R 400 fits very similarly to the base HTE-R, but the 400 model has a narrow halo, allowing for better fitment in tight driver compartments
Several OMP seats offer airknit covers, allowing a small amount of airflow in the seat, keeping you cooler.
Non-Containment Seats
- GT3 – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- Titan – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)
- Titan Max – Large (up to 36” waist)
Containment Seats
- X-Pad – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- GT-Pad S – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- GT-Pad M – Large (up to 36” waist)
- GT-Pad L – X-Large (up to 38” waist)
- Tauras – Medium (up to 34” waist)
- Tauras Medium – Large (up to 36” waist)
- Tauras Max – X-Large (up to 38” waist)
Highlights:
GT-Pad’s modular padding system is perfect for teams or shared cars.
The X-Pad is one of the best seats for a Miata. Its small frame makes it an excellent option.
Final Advice
If you’re unsure where to begin, ask yourself:
- Is the car street or track-focused?
- Do I use harnesses and a HANS?
- Will this seat be used by multiple drivers?
- Do I care more about comfort or performance?
Still not sure? That’s what we are here for.
Call us, email us, or drop by the showroom in Sterling, Va. We have been helping drivers get since 1990, and we’ll make sure you get the right one.
