The Best Sim Racing Handbrakes – Buyer’s Guide

Last updated: February 22nd, 2023

If you’ve been following our recent posts as we build your sim racing cockpit, you’ll have had the opportunity to add some great upgrades. Of course, another appealing component that can add an extra layer of immersion to your sim racing experience is a handbrake.

While you do not need a handbrake to play racing sims, having one can provide a much more immersive feeling. If you plan on only playing F1 games, then a handbrake will have limited use. However, let’s say that rally or drifting is your favourite racing discipline. Then it’s vital to consider adding a handbrake to your rig.

Some drivers just love to have extra control with a handbrake, particularly for rallying and drifting. What’s more, your gameplay will feel more authentic, and you’ll have more control of the vehicle, giving you better lap/rally stage times. With all this combined, a handbrake becomes a very fun and practical addition.

An interesting fact to note is that certain shifters can also work as handbrakes by switching the mode. This includes Thrustmaster’s TH8A and TSS shifters. Also, handbrakes do not work on all sim racing games. This is usually due to either compatibility or support issues. It’s a good idea to double-check that what you’re buying is compatible with your simulation software, particularly if there’s a load cell installed.

Sim racing handbrakes: contents

• Fanatec ClubSport V1.5
• Universal USB handbrake
• Heusinkveld Sim Handbrake V2
• Meca EVO Handbrake
• Simagic TB-1 Handbrake
• Thrustmaster TSS Sparco Mod+
• Akina Handbrake
• VNM Handbrake V1
• Handbrake by Sim-Lab (coming soon)

Fanatec ClubSport V1.5

The Fanatec ClubSport V1.5 is a sturdy, all-metal construction with a foam-style grip. It has actually been available on Fanatec’s website for a long time which I suspect is a sign of the quality of the thing. If it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it! This is a very popular handbrake and, treated with respect, can prove to be very durable.

The handbrake can be set up vertically or horizontally, which is a level of customization that really appeals at this price point. This can help a lot when you want the handbrake to be in an upward position like the set-up of a rally car. One downside is the lack of mounting choices, which are not much better than that of the universal handbrakes and will require a similar custom solution to connect it securely to your rig.

In terms of connectivity, everything is fine if you plan on using this handbrake in unison with a Fanatec wheelbase. The ClubSport is compatible with PC, Xbox, and PS4/PS5 (assuming you’re using a Fanatec wheelbase). However, if you want to use another brand of wheelbase and use the Clubsport handbrake as a stand-alone device on a PC, you’ll need to purchase an additional USB cable from Fanatec. Priced at a very appealing $160, the Fanatec ClubSport V1.5 handbrake is a great step up from the entry-level models but still doesn’t give as much feedback or provide as much connectivity as some of the higher-priced items further down the list.

Universal USB Handbrake

For a highly budget-friendly suggestion, I recommend checking out a universal handbrake which can easily be found on online marketplaces like Amazon. There’s a good selection of styles, colours, and sizes to choose from, all for less than $100. If you’re trying to save up money to purchase other peripherals, but are also looking for a sim handbrake, then a generic handbrake could be the right choice for you.

How you mount the handbrake to your rig will, of course, depend on which model you choose, but most likely you will need to devise your own custom mounting solution for handbrakes in this category which is fair enough when you consider the price point. One very important thing to note is that these types of handbrakes generally only work on PCs. Having said that, considering the economic price, this lack of compatibility can be forgiven. In general, the overall quality of these devices is not bad, but they cannot compare to other choices on this list.

This type of handbrake is a safe bet when looking for a starter-level item for your set-up. However, if you know you’re planning on creating a top-of-the-range system, perhaps it’s best to keep on reading.

Heusinkveld Sim Handbrake V2

Anyone familiar with the name Heusinkveld will know that the company is heralded for its top-shelf offerings, and the Heusinkveld Sim Handbrake V2 is no different and in our opinion, is probably the best pick of the bunch. It’s only slightly more expensive than the Thrustmaster TSS, but don’t forget that this is a dedicated handbrake only. Still, if you can afford it, then it’s worth making the investment.

This Smartcontrol compatible offering from Heusinkveld uses an upgraded load cell to measure the forces between the real world and the simulated environment, which at the time of development was quite a technically impressive thing to do.

Compatibility-wise, this is a PC-only device, although at least the USB cable is included with the unit. Mounting choices are still not amazing, even at the top end of the scale. It seems to be an area where manufacturers across the board have room for improvement regarding sim handbrakes. Still, all those little niggly issues aside, if you want to truly immerse yourself into a game like Dirt Rally, Automobilista, or Richard Burns Rally, then this is the handbrake to get.

Meca Evo Handbrake

Meca is a small manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. They’re actually better known for their Meca Cup1 hydraulic sim racing pedals (in my opinion!). As their pedals get great feedback, so should their 200kg load cell-based sim racing handbrake, the Meca Evo Handbrake.

In Meca’s own words: “…developed in cooperation with real rally drivers, thanks to which you will have the opportunity to experience the feeling of passing the hairpin through the handbrake.”

Sounds good to me!

The load cell (pictured) is a strain gauge-based single point Load Cell with a max load rating of 200kg (item: NA151), which is mated to custom electronics that Meca has designed in-house. You can set your own output curves and dead zones using their MECA CONTROL PANEL software, much like you can with the new Heusinkveld handbrake on the Smartcontrol platform.

The platform offers adjustable stiffness by swapping out the polyurethane rollers – there are 3 in total supplied with the handbrake.

It’s customisable, too. The Handbrake’s “lever head” is mounted on an M10 thread and so, if you’re reasonably handly with a lathe (or have a friend with one) you can have some fun by producing your self-made head.

Finally, the elastomers are replaceable polyurethane-based items. You can adjust the shift length of the brake and its stiffness to your liking. There’s in-built elastomer protection, too – so there should be no concerns about longevity!

Simagic TB-1 Handbrake

The TB-1 Handbrake from Simagic is the perfect addition to the cockpit of any sim racer who loves racing rally and touring cars or drivers who are into drifting. Thanks to Simagic’s patented two-stage mechanism found inside the TB-1, it accurately replicates the feeling of a real handbrake and delivers tremendous resistance and longevity with its CNC-machined aluminium body.

You can adjust the resistance of the TB-1 by simply swapping the different grades of high-durability elastomers provided, which offer varying levels of stiffness that allow you to fine-tune the device to your preference.

Plus, with a 100 kg load cell, this sim racing handbrake can replicate forces applied when braking with incredible precision. Overall, the handbrake weighs 1.3 kg, stands 350 mm tall, 180 mm wide, and has a depth of 66 mm.

The TB-1 is also 100 % plug-and-play ready from the box and is supplied with all the necessary equipment to mount and connect the unit to your rig.

Thrustmaster TSS Sparco Mod+

The Thrustmaster TSS Sparco Mod+, like the TH8A, is a multi-purpose device. However, this model offers an alternative setup, capable of being a sequential shifter or an analogue handbrake. The build quality and overall feeling of this piece of equipment are in a much higher class. Working with Sparco, Thrustmaster released the TSS; a close replica of actual Sparco gear you might find in a real race car.

Just like its little brother, this handbrake works with most sim racing titles on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. On a PC it can be used as a standalone product with the correct cable which is included in the box. A switch on the side of the case activates the shifter.

Akina Handbrake

Akina’s 3Drap series handbrake is one of the “must-haves” currently touted in the sim racing community. With some enthusiastic backers, it’d be a shame not to include this one:

The unit, made in Italy, and designed by 3Drap is manufactured in laser-cut brushed steel. It has an “Alcantara-like” stitched seam handle.

There’s a proprietary “DMF system” which allows the user to adjust the feeling of the handbrake, from “hydraulic-like” behaviour to “conventional-like” which they feel makes this handbrake the better choice for drifting in the sim.

VNM Handbrake V1

One of the newer entrants to the sim racing handbrake space is this very tidy offering from VNM:

In terms of a high-end build, the V1 from VNMK is definitely up there. With a generous aluminium CNC machined chassis, this handbrake features an adjustable, pre-load sprung elastomer cell and a MAVIN 100kg load cell. These units are designed to feel “like the real thing” and with an STM32 16-bit ADC board to interpret the load cell inputs, you can really finesse your handbrake inputs on the rally stage.

Handbrake by Sim-Lab (coming soon)

While I’m not the biggest fan of lengthy pre-launch announcements, I must admit that this handbrake from Sim-Lab does look the part:

The handbrake has been set at a good price compared to Heusinkvelds ‘s 293EUR price point, with this offering being priced at 169EUR. We know it’s load cell-based and has elastomers and adjustability. That’s more or less all you need! One for the Christmas shopping list!

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