The Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap is a complete gamechanger
I am a fair-weather VR fan. I leap in, take pleasure in my transient time throwing shapes in my lounge, after which I get out earlier than I actually should commit—that’s not an analogy for my private relationships, thanks very a lot. Whereas I really feel there’s part of me keen to stay round in VR for longer, it is normally the dearth of something near consolation with my selection of VR headset, the Oculus Quest 2, that sees me retire early.
I discover myself adjusting the material strap included with the Quest 2 typically, a serious immersion breaker if ever there was one. For transient stints and stationary gaming the usual strap is first rate sufficient, but it surely is not fairly as much as the duty of leaping round in Beat Saber or spending over any appreciable size of time in VR. I discover it places a variety of weight on the entrance of my face—unsurprising actually, contemplating its material design—and which means once I discover simply that good spot over my eyes and pull it taught round my head, after roughly half an hour the masks strain begins to get the higher of me.
Talking to the broader PC Gamer crew, it seems as if the mileage with the pre-packaged strap varies from individual to individual. Personally, an improved strap is as near a necessity as I can assume for my Quest expertise, a minimum of if I hope to take pleasure in any prolonged VR video games. These I am presently concerned with are something however quick and snappy: Half-Life: Alyx, The Strolling Useless: Saints and Sinners, and Medal of Honor: Above and Past, to call a number of.
With that in thoughts, I believed I higher do it proper with my subsequent try. I’ve had beforehand first rate, if not wonderful, experiences with different VR headsets—the Valve Index, Vive, and Rift—however I’ve by no means owned them personally to actually sink appreciable hours right into a prolonged recreation. So with an improve in thoughts, I ventured on to the Oculus web site, scrolled by the equipment, and determined to spend a bit money to make VR extra accommodating.
I ended up buying the Oculus Elite Strap and the Oculus Hyperlink Cable, hoping that mixed I’d have sufficient fodder for a assorted expertise, and sufficient consolation for a long-lasting one.
I will admit the cable felt a frivolous buy, however I am a sucker for a flowery fibre optic cable that guarantees an additional two metres in size over most dependable alternate options. Maybe that would be the least of my worries, what with Digital Desktop and now Oculus’ personal wi-fi beaming tech coming into play, but it surely feels good to have the wired choice for a bit further battery juice.
The Elite Strap felt vital to my re-energised leap into digital actuality, nevertheless. It is easy sufficient to suit, adjustable on the rear, and comes with a single material adjustment strap to maintain it comfortable and the lenses lined up accurately with my eyeballs. As soon as I had it on, I’ve discovered it straightforward to regulate on-the-fly, make micro-adjustments that stick, and preserve the burden from wholly resting on my face or cheekbones.
The Valve Index nonetheless sticks in my thoughts as the last word in VR consolation, however for a $49 add-on for the Quest, I am not complaining in regards to the Elite Strap.
Proper from the get-go, I’ve fortunately remained in VR for stints pushing over an hour. That is new for me. Not solely has this completely modified how I see video games that require extra of my time flailing in VR, it is cranked the immersion up, largely by stopping these reality-shattering moments of readjusting the strap, for probably the most half. I nonetheless really feel the necessity now and again however with a lot much less regularity than previously.
Maybe there’s one thing to be stated about whether or not the premium strap ought to’ve come included within the base Quest 2 bundle. But when the partially constructive response to it from employees says something about its opinion globally, I think about the cheaper Quest 2 price ticket is the beneficial choice over a pricier bundle with the Elite Strap included.
And let’s not neglect that some Elite Straps within the first batch had been vulnerable to breakages. An issue Fb admitted to having, citing “processing inconsistency”, and since mounted. Admittedly not an incredible begin for a strap that I am somewhat eager on now, however to this point so good right here.
There’s one thing to be stated for the extra ergonomic and comfy headband designs with trendy VR headsets, and like I say it is not a difficulty I bear in mind operating into on pricier models. The Quest 2 I discovered to be much less thoughtful within the strap division than some, however I am keen to present it some leeway on account of its cracking worth for cash.
What I actually needed to get on the market with this text was that this premium accent has made an enormous distinction to how I take pleasure in VR with the Quest 2. The earlier strap simply wasn’t chopping it, and was protecting me from investing all that a lot time in digital actuality over longer intervals, however I am joyful to report the Elite Strap negates most of my complaints in that division.
