Are the Logitech G29 & G920 Pedals Really that Bad?

It's fair to say that the general consensus regarding the Logitech G29 and G920 wheels is that they are a decent entry into the sim racing world with really good value for money. While the wheel itself is capable of producing competitive and consistent lap times, can the same be said about its pedals?

Today we are focusing solely on the Logitech pedals, their positives and negatives, and whether they are really as bad as so many say. So without further adieu, grab a snack, sit back, and let's get into it!

Let's start with its positives. Starting with the obvious, the pedal set includes three pedals, one for the clutch and the two others for the brake and accelerator. This might not seem noteworthy but considering that there are several pedal offerings with no included clutch pedal, it's definitely good to have. From the six months I consistently used these pedals, they were always reliable, and even after substantial use, they still look like they came straight out of the box. However, the fact that I used these only with socks 99% of the time probably contributed to that as well...

For a pedal set made primarily of plastic, I have to admit that they are quite sturdy. Some flex may be felt when applying substantial amounts of pressure on the stiff brake but for the most part, they seemed to remain rigid. The pedal plates are made of metal which is a plus and makes it possible to heel-toe with relative ease. They also feature a carpet grip for those using these on those types of surfaces although I highly recommend still placing something behind them to prevent them from moving when heavy braking. There you also see some rubber grips for added stability. In terms of the driving experience, all three pedals have decent travel, and the clutch and gas pedal feel and act similar to my high-end Thrustmaster TLC-M’s which alone cost almost as much as the entire G29 & G920 package.

Now let's talk about the negatives and why so many people choose to upgrade them first or not even consider them in the first place: the brake pedal. Now I’m gonna be completely honest, I never thought the brake pedal was necessarily terrible or even bad at first until I moved up to higher-end offerings. But looking back now, I can definitely see its flaws. The Logitech pedals and many other lower-end offerings feature what’s known as a potentiometer-based sensor. These sensors register change based on the distance the pedal travels and NOT by the force applied to them like higher-end offerings and real cars do. What this means is that essentially, the brake pedal doesn’t feel accurate to one in a real car, and as a result, it not only takes away from the immersion, but it also makes it difficult to get used to as it is much harder to consistently push the brake pedal a certain optimal distance than it is to consistently put down the same force. I hope that made sense.

Essentially, it's more difficult to become consistent with them and this is something I can attest to. Ever since I upgraded my pedals to one with a load cell sensor, the sensor that measures force instead of travel, I can say with confidence that I have significantly improved both my lap times and more importantly my consistency. Other than the brake pedal, considering the cost of this product, there's not much else to really complain about. Although it's important to know that these pedals are not adjustable so you can’t put the brake closer to the accelerator or any other configuration. Furthermore, unless you take it apart and modify it, you can’t configure the pedal's resistance. And in terms of its default resistance, it's common knowledge that the Logitech brake pedal is very stiff especially when needing to apply max force.

Overall, the Logitech pedals do the job and they suffice for those who are either barely getting into the sim racing world or those who want to play sim-cades and other such games. For users who want to really get into sim racing and compete at high levels, it's definitely possible but it will without a doubt be harder to do so. The lower-end brake pedal will make being consistent difficult without lots of practice and it will also be higher to trail brake when you're really pushing your car to the limits. As a result, many Logitech G29 and G920 owners upgrade the pedals first before anything else, and for good reason too. But at the end of the day, considering you get a pedal set with three pedals, a decent force feedback wheelbase, and a leather wheel, for around $250, it's hard to complain too much.