bHaptics TactSuit Air Review – A Wireless Step Into Sim Racing
bHaptics is a known player already in a lot of different niches but decided to have a go at the sim-racing market with a tactile vest to immerse players to the fullest in their driving experience. The TactSuit Air is the company’s first attempt to enter the sim racing market.
🧥 Design and Build Quality
The TactSuit Air comes in two versions:
- Pro – 32 haptic reactors
- Air – 16 haptic reactors (the one I tested)
You can choose between two color schemes:
- White & black
- Red & black with gray accents
At first glance, I thought it was a rigid, armor-like vest — but it’s actually lightweight and flexible, built from breathable fabric.
The Velcro badge on the chest can be customized with your own patch, a fun personal touch.
🧠 Layout of Haptic Reactors
- 8 actuators on the front
- 8 actuators on the back (closer together toward the center)
- Adjustable side straps for a snug fit
Even with my larger waist, the vest fit comfortably. The battery, Bluetooth module, and control electronics sit neatly in a rear module at the top of the back.
🔌 Connectivity – Clean and Cable-Free
One of my favorite aspects: no messy cables.
Traditional systems like the NLR HF8 often require:
- A USB connection
- Separate audio cables
- A control box
With the TactSuit Air, everything runs via Bluetooth.
- It includes a small Bluetooth dongle, or you can use your PC’s built-in Bluetooth.
- You can also connect with a 3.5 mm audio jack via a VR headset, but I recommend Bluetooth — it works flawlessly.
This makes setup so much simpler and keeps your rig clean.
💻 Software – bHaptics Player and SimHub Integration
The first step after unboxing is installing the bHaptics Player software.
It allows you to:
- Pair the vest and optional sleeves
- Test the actuators
- Manage integrations with supported games
However, most of those games are not mainstream racing titles — but that’s where SimHub comes in.
bHaptics provides a SimHub plugin, allowing you to map game telemetry (RPM, gear shifts, traction control, etc.) to haptic effects.
The interface is simple — even a bit inconsistent at times — but functional. You can toggle effects and adjust intensity for the front, back, and sleeves individually.
Pro tip: Start with fewer effects active. Too much vibration at once can feel chaotic.
🏁 Testing the TactSuit Air in Sim Racing
Although it’s advertised as “VR-exclusive,” I tested it without VR to see how it performs for sim racing.
Right away, the actuators feel surprisingly powerful — even if they’re weaker than those in the NLR HF8 Pro.
Because the vest fits tightly against the body, every pulse feels sharp and precise.
🦾 About the Sleeves
I also tested the TactSleeves, but honestly, I’m not convinced they add much value for racing. They add weight to the arms, and the wheel’s force feedback already provides plenty of physical sensation.
I found a creative workaround — putting the sleeves under my legs. It’s not officially supported, but it adds some lower-body feedback and makes the experience more immersive.
🪑 Comfort
The reactors on the back sit fairly high, just above the neck, and you can feel them if you lean back. On a soft seat, this is fine; on a hard bucket seat, it might become uncomfortable.
I also disabled the center actuators on the belly, since their strong vibration made me a bit nauseous during long sessions. Keeping only the side actuators active works better.
🎮 Performance and Feel
Compared to seat-based haptics like the HF8:
- The upper-body feedback is better (thanks to the side actuators)
- But there’s no feedback under the seat or legs — a key part of the immersion is missing
Still, the wireless design and clean setup make it a joy to use.
And since it’s not fixed to your rig, you can take it anywhere — play FPS games, flight sims, or even VR shooters. It’s truly multi-purpose.
🌐 Bluetooth Telemetry Trick
Here’s something brilliant:
If you use SimHub on your PC, you can capture telemetry from your console (like PS5) and send haptic data wirelessly to your vest — even if your PC and console are in different rooms.
This flexibility is a big advantage over wired systems.
💰 Price and Value
| Product | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| TactSuit Air | $269 |
| TactSleeves | $199 |
| Starter Pack (Air + Sleeves) | $418 |
That’s about the same range as Next Level Racing HF8 or Trak Racer BST, making it a fairly priced entry into sim haptics.
⚖️ Verdict – Great Potential, Not Yet Perfect
The bHaptics TactSuit Air makes a strong first impression for a first-generation sim racing product.
✅ Pros:
- Excellent wireless design (no cable mess)
- Solid build and comfort
- Easy setup and SimHub integration
- Multi-purpose (works beyond sim racing)
❌ Cons:
- Missing lower-body feedback
- Some discomfort from back actuators
- Software feels unfinished
- Sleeves add limited value for racing
For now, it’s a good option for casual racers or hybrid gamers (VR, FPS, sim), but for pure sim racing immersion, it still feels incomplete.
With future accessories for the lower body — or even some extra padding on the back — this could evolve into a top-tier product.
The TactSuit Air represents an exciting first step from bHaptics into the racing world. It’s functional, flexible, and fun — even if it doesn’t fully replace seat-mounted haptics yet.
I’ll be keeping an eye on where bHaptics goes next with this tech.
If they add proper leg or seat modules, it could easily become a must-have in any sim rig.
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