Gift box
GSM Performance Customer Car Colouring Book Edition 1
4WD Mini RC Drift Car - BMW
Which Sim Seat Has The Largest Shoulder Width? Our Widest Seats Compared
A customer asked us which sim seat has the largest shoulder width. The widest one we can put a number on is the Sparco Evo XL QRT, at 615 mm across the shoulders, against 580 mm for the standard Evo and the Evo L. The Evo L is not wider where you might expect. Shoulder width and waist size are two separate measurements, and one seat we sell is rated to a bigger waist than the XL.
- Shoulder and hip widths are Sparco's own dimensions, as set out in our Sparco Evo QRT guide
- Waist ratings come from the product listings, prices are read from the live site inc VAT
- Seats we have no shoulder figure for are named, so nobody assumes a number
Sparco Evo XL QRT Fibreglass Sim Racing Seat
£525.60inc VAT
The widest shoulders we can measure on a seat that suits a sim rig.
- 615 mm across the shoulders, against 580 mm for the standard Evo and the Evo L
- 560 mm across the hips, against 505 mm for the Evo L and 490 mm for the Evo
- Listed for drivers over 6ft with a 36 to 40 inch waist, side mount, seat only
- Sim racing version at £525.60 inc VAT
The Evo range, measured across the shoulders
Sparco publish dimensions for the three Evo QRT shells, and they are the shells we have shoulder figures for. The Evo XL is the widest at 615 mm. The standard Evo and the Evo L both measure 580 mm.
The Evo L looks like the bigger seat, and Cameron will tell you it isn’t, at least not up top. What it adds is 570 mm of seat depth against 510 mm for the standard Evo, and 505 mm across the hips against 490 mm. The XL goes to 560 mm at the hips as well, so it opens up everywhere, and at 930 mm it’s the tallest of the three, against 900 mm for the Evo and 885 mm for the L.
If your shoulders feel squeezed in the standard Evo, the L won’t cure it.
| Seat | Shoulder width | Hip width | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco Evo XL QRT | 615 mm | 560 mm | £525.60 |
| Sparco Evo L QRT | 580 mm | 505 mm | £519.60 |
| Sparco Evo QRT | 580 mm | 490 mm | £466.80 |
Widths are Sparco's own dimensions as set out in our Sparco Evo QRT guide. Prices are for the sim racing versions and include VAT.
Shoulder width is not the same as waist size
Seat makers rate a shell by waist, and the shoulder figure is a separate number that most of them do not publish. The Evo XL is listed for a 36 to 40 inch waist. The Sparco Sprint L is listed for 40 to 42 inches, so it is rated for the bigger waist, and our 42 inch waist sim seat guide gives it 570 mm at the base and shoulders.
That makes the Sprint L the pick for the biggest waist and the Evo XL the pick for the widest shoulders we can measure. The 570 mm figure sits in a guide and not on a drawing, so treat it as an indication until we have the drawing in front of us.
Garreth does not like the idea that wider is always better. A seat that is too wide for you lets you slide about, and your arms and legs do extra work every lap. Our Corbeau Pro Series and Pro Series XL comparison shows the same thing on a driver who went one size too big.
The four seats to compare
Product cards show prices excluding VAT. Prices in the text include VAT.
The Evo XL is the biggest Sparco shell without a head restraint, and it’s a different shell from the standard Evo. The listing sells it in sim racing form, side mount only, in black velour with six point harness compatibility and no head support wings. Sparco size the range by waist, and the XL is the one with real shoulder room.
It’s £6.00 more than the Evo L and £58.80 more than the standard Evo. If shoulders are what’s wrong, Garreth’s tip is that £6.00 is the easiest money you’ll spend. The L gives you nothing across the shoulders and the XL gives you 35 mm.
- £525.60 inc VAT
- 615 mm shoulders, 560 mm hips
- Listed over 6ft, 36 to 40 inch waist
- Gaming/Sim Racing approval, seat only, side mount
The Sprint L is a steel shell with an FIA 8855-1999 approval, cut for a 40 to 42 inch waist. It mounts on the base or the sides, which opens up more rig frames than a side mount only seat does. The listing puts the large Sprint at around 11 kg against roughly 8.7 kg for a QRT fibreglass seat.
For a rig the weight rarely matters, and it’s the cheapest way into a shell for a bigger waist. Cameron will still want your shoulder width before he says yes. The 570 mm figure is lower than the Evo XL’s 615 mm, and it is better to find that out before the seat’s bolted in.
- £284.40 inc VAT
- FIA 8855-1999, steel shell, black velour
- Listed for a 40 to 42 inch waist
- Base mount or side mount, seat only
Check the rig before the shell
Both the Evo XL and the Sprint L arrive as the seat only. On a sim rig, the Evo XL listing says to use side mount brackets from your rig maker, so your cockpit needs to take a side mount seat. Our sim racing bucket seat guide covers the mounting routes, and the SIM-LAB bucket seat page covers that rig’s spacing.
A wide shell leaves you less room on either side, so measure the clear gap between the rig profiles at shoulder height, including bolt heads and adjustment handles. Check that before you look at a single price. Delivery and build times are on the product page.
Send Cameron the gap between your profiles and your waist and shoulder measurements, and he’ll tell you whether a 615 mm shell goes in. Drop us an email or click to open a chat. A photo from underneath helps.
Common questions
Which sim seat has the widest shoulders?
Of the sim seats we have measurements for, it is the Sparco Evo XL QRT at 615 mm across the shoulders, against 580 mm for the standard Evo and the Evo L.
Is the Sparco Evo L wider than the standard Evo?
Not across the shoulders, where both are 580 mm. The L is deeper, at 570 mm against 510 mm, and 15 mm wider at the hips, 505 mm against 490 mm. It suits a taller driver more than a broader one.
I have a 42 inch waist. Is the Evo XL enough?
The Evo XL listing says 36 to 40 inches, and the Sprint L is listed for 40 to 42. Our 42 inch waist guide still puts the Evo XL first for how forgiving it is, and it is a close call, so tell us your waist and shoulder measurement and we will go through it with you.
Is a wider seat always more comfortable?
No. A shell that is too wide lets you move around under load, and that tires you over a long session. Fit the shoulders you have, and go up only if you feel squeezed.
Do you have a shoulder width for the Mirco XL?
We do not. The listing gives waist sizing, 32 to 36 or 36 to 40 inches, and drivers under 6ft. Call or message us and we will give you the showroom view.
Will the Evo XL go on my sim rig?
It is a side mount seat sold as the seat only, so your rig needs to take side mount brackets. Measure the clear width between the profiles at shoulder height. Send it to us before you order and we will check it against the shell.
I am tall and broad but slim at the waist. What then?
An XL shell is cut wider at the waist as well, which can leave you loose at the hips. We wrote that case up in our tall driver with a slim waist guide. It is worth reading before you buy anything.
What we would buy
Garreth
Garreth's top tip
For the widest shoulders I'd take the Evo XL at £525.60. It's the only shell here with a measured 615 mm. The £6.00 over the L buys you the width the L doesn't have.
If your waist is the problem and your shoulders are ordinary, the Sprint L at £284.40 is the cheaper way in. Ask me first if you're at the lower end of 40 inches.
Cameron
Cameron's fitting view
I'd measure your shoulders and the clear width of the rig before anything else. A 615 mm shell is a lot of seat for a narrow cockpit. If it won't go in, the price doesn't come into it.
Going up a size is worth it when the shoulders need it. If you fit the Evo L or the standard Evo across the shoulders, you're better off in a seat that holds you than one that's just roomy.
Not sure which shell your shoulders need?
Tell us your height, waist, shoulder width and the clear gap in your rig. Cally, our digital receptionist, takes your details and Cameron comes back to you with the right shell before you order.
