How to choose the best sim racing pedals

The best sim racing pedals are the ones that give you a consistent, repeatable brake feel and fit the way you sit and drive. Seven things decide that: braking, throttle, adjustability, ergonomics, haptics, build quality, and support. This guide explains what each one does and how PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS and PurrPRO GT PEDALS approach it.

What to look for in sim racing pedals

• Braking: a load cell brake with hydraulic damping, for a pedal feel you can modulate precisely.
• Throttle: smooth, repeatable travel with adjustable travel and damping.
• Adjustability: pedal angle, face position and a mounting method that suits your rig.
• Ergonomics: heel position and face size that stay comfortable over a long stint.
• Haptics: a physical cue from the sim, delivered through the pedal.
• Build quality: machined parts and materials that stay rigid and consistent.
• Support: what is in the box, how long the warranty runs and where you get help.

Braking: load cell and hydraulic damping

A load cell measures the force you apply to the brake pedal, so your braking input follows how hard you press. Hydraulic damping shapes how the pedal resists and returns, which gives it its feel. Together they decide how precisely you can modulate pressure, lap after lap.

One buying tip: a sensor rating and the usable force at the pedal are different numbers. Read both.

How PurrPRO answers it. Both PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS and PurrPRO GT PEDALS use a 200 kg brake load cell with 195 kg max braking force, in a 3-stage braking system with hydraulic damping. Both brake pedals have twin adjustable hydraulic dampers: compression (push) and rebound (release) are tuned independently, so pressing and trail braking each get their own feel. Maintenance free hydraulic dampers. Focus on racing, focus on performance.

Throttle: travel and damping

A good throttle returns the same signal for the same movement, every time. A Hall-effect sensor measures position without physical contact, and adjustable travel and damping let you match the pedal to the car you are driving.

How PurrPRO answers it. Both throttles use a Hall-effect sensor, CNC-machined parts and adjustable hydraulic damping. PurrPRO GT PEDALS offer 35 / 67 / 101 mm travel settings and three stiffness gradient positions in the throttle arm.

Adjustability and fit

Angle, face position and mounting decide whether you can reproduce your real driving position. Check how the pedals mount (to a pedal plate or an aluminium profile rig) and how far the angles can be changed.

How PurrPRO answers it. The setup articles cover mounting to a rig, pedal base angle and pedal face angle, and recommended combinations by car class.

Ergonomics and heel support

Heel position and pedal face size affect comfort over long stints and how easily you can heel-and-toe.

How PurrPRO answers it.

• PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS have Active Pedal Kinematics (Non Tilt Pedal Face and Active Heel Support), “Your foot stays put”: the heel rest is built into the pedal. See Active Heel Support height by shoe size.
• PurrPRO GT PEDALS have classic fixed kinematics with a non-moving pedal face and larger faces for heel-and-toe: the throttle face is 20 cm long and the brake face 10 cm wide. There is no heel rest as standard. You can add Individual Heel Support, or use the baseplate with the classic full-width heel rest. See the bespoke heel cup guide. PurrPRO GT PEDALS can also be mounted inverted.

Haptics

Haptic feedback gives you a physical cue from the sim through the pedal itself.

How PurrPRO answers it. PurrForce haptic feedback, “Feel what your tyres feel”, is identical on PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS and PurrPRO GT PEDALS. It is set up through PurrOS 2.0 and SimHub. See what PurrOS 2.0 does and PurrForce haptics in SimHub.

Build quality and materials

Look at how the parts are made and what they are made from; rigidity is what keeps the feel consistent.

How PurrPRO answers it. Both sets are CNC-machined from billet aluminium with carbon composite plates. Load cell braking with hydraulic damping. Designed by an ex-F1 engineer, built by hand in Lublin.

What is in the box, support and warranty

Before you buy, check what is included, how long the warranty runs, what it covers and where you get help.

How PurrPRO answers it.

• Warranty: 3 years, covering mechanics and electronics. It follows the product through the original invoice or order number, so a second-hand buyer stays covered.
• Returns: 14 days.
• Help: Discord #support-center for diagnosis. Warranty, returns and RMA go through the form at fatblackcat.io/support.
• More: what is in the box, warranty, returns and maintenance, how to get support fastest.

PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS or PurrPRO GT PEDALS?

Both share the same brake load cell and haptics; the difference is the pedal kinematics and what that means for heel support and face size.

PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS: A 200 kg load-cell brake with genuine hydraulic feel, PurrForce haptics and Active Pedal Kinematics.

PurrPRO GT PEDALS: Our first pedal set with classic fixed pedal kinematics, perfectly suited for all types of racing.

Choose PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS if you want the heel rest built into the pedal with Active Pedal Kinematics. Choose PurrPRO GT PEDALS if you prefer classic fixed pedal kinematics with larger faces for heel-and-toe. See the PurrPRO GT PEDALS page and the PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS page for current pricing.

Quick answers

What is a load cell brake pedal? A pedal that measures the force you apply, so your braking input follows how hard you press.

What does hydraulic damping do in a sim racing pedal? It shapes how the pedal resists and returns, which gives the pedal its feel.

What is the difference between PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS and PurrPRO GT PEDALS? PurrPRO FORMULA PEDALS have Active Pedal Kinematics (Non Tilt Pedal Face and Active Heel Support) with the heel rest built in. PurrPRO GT PEDALS have classic fixed kinematics and larger faces for heel-and-toe. Brake load cell and haptics are the same.