Today, thanks to virtual reality headsets, video games and applications have conquered the virtual world. Certain accessories enhance the comfort and reality of the user experience in these virtual games, as well as providing safety and protection for both the VR headset and the user. It’s important to know how to choose these accessories. To help you, in this article we identify the best accessories for virtual reality.
The headset
Some VR headset models integrate their own audio systems, but others do not. In the case of the latter, you need your own headset. The principle behind the VR headset-headset combination is to cut the user off from the real world and fully integrate him or her into the virtual experience.
The sound system must therefore be designed in such a way that the user can no longer hear surrounding noise, for total and effective immersion. Noise-canceling headphones and certain gaming headsets are perfectly suited to this situation.
The best noise-canceling headphones on the market are the SONY WH-1000XM5 and the Bose Headphones 700.
The Sony WH-1000XM5
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Very comfortable Good finish optimised noise and sound reduction long battery life (30 h with ANC and 40 h without ANC) excellent voice quality | Not foldable High price |
Bose Headphones 700
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Good sound quality Effective noise reduction Comfortable Good value for money | No change in technology No automatic mute when headphones are removed |
We also recommend our article on the Top 10 best gaming headsets.
Protective foam for VR headsets
Some believe that VR helmet foam is the most comfortable VR accessory. It protects your face from prolonged immersion in sweat, dust, fingerprints, hair and more. It does this by fully absorbing facial perspiration while you’re wearing your headset.
All you have to do is install it over the foam already built into the helmet. You can even use it to replace the built-in foam if the latter is already defective. Protective foams also let you personalize your helmets, giving them a different look depending on their materials, colors and shapes.
Whether for Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, manufacturers generally offer three types of protective foam: classic foam (fabric), replacement foam (synthetic leather) and waterproof foam (soft imitation leather). Some professionals even use disposable masks after use.
Classic foam (fabric)
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Soft, comfortable texture Absorbs perspiration well Easy to machine wash | difficult to fit over helmet foam Eventually softening over time |
Synthetic leather replacement foam
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Easy to put on comfortable Sweatproof Easy to clean Improves field of vision | Not suitable for spectacle wearers Feels damp when sweating |
Waterproof foam (soft leatherette)
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean Soft and comfortable, difficult to put on Sweatproof Long-lasting | produces moisture when perspiring difficult to put on |
Haptic gloves
Haptic gloves introduce the sensation of touch into the virtual reality experience. This technology tracks the user’s hand movements, clicks, pressure and temperature. More specifically, the user can feel balls, rain, wind, etc.
Thanks to the tactile sensation, haptic gangs make the virtual experience even more real. For consumers, there are some models on the market, such as the TactGlove from bhaptics, and the AMVR Boxing Gloves for Quest 2 controllers, but the vast majority are generally reserved for the corporate market.
There are many developers producing different models of gloves. But the two haptic gloves with the most notoriety on the market are the SenseGlove Nova and the Manus VR.
the SenseGlove Nova
Thanks to their robustness and highly realistic reproduction of virtual sensations, these gloves from the Dutch manufacturer are used by leaders such as Volkswagen for VR training.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Robustness Enhances virtual immersion Compatible with a wide range of VR headsets Easy to put on | Only for companies |
The Manus VR
Manus VR is specifically designed for virtual reality training.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Haptic module on each finger for individual control Compatible with most industry standard software Easy to slip on Replaceable battery | For professional use only Trackers not included as standard |
VR Lens Protection Kit
It’s thanks to the lenses that the user can see clearly through the screen built into the VR headset. But scratches and fingerprints can damage vision. The solution is to buy a lens protection kit to protect the headset.
Several models of lens protection kit are available on the market. There’s one for every shape of helmet. You just need to choose the model that goes with the shape of your helmet. These kits are used either for simple protection or for anti-blue-light treatment. There are even models suitable for spectacle wearers.
For your lens protection kits, we particularly recommend the Anti Scratch Lens Rings and the SUPERUS Silicone protector for Oculus/Meta Quest 2.
Anti Scratch Lens Rings
If you wear glasses, the Anti Scratch Lens Rings are perfect for you. They are also compatible with the Oculus Quest 2, Oculus Go, Oculus Quest 1 and Oculus Rift S.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| No need for separate sheets to protect lenses Easy to install Suitable for spectacle wearers Compatible with several Oculus models | Offers no protection against sun damage |
SUPERUS Silicone
Also suitable for spectacle wearers, the SUPERUS Silicone will help protect your Oculus/Meta Quest 2 from scratches on your glasses.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| creates a protective space between your glasses and the lenses of your helmet Flexible and durable Suitable for spectacle wearers Easy to install | Only works on the Oculus Quest 2 |
Motion controllers
Motion joysticks or VR controllers allow you to establish a link between your arms and the headset so that you can reproduce a visible preview of their movements on the headset. Thanks to these accessories, users can navigate applications while wearing their VR headset.
A good controller should enhance the comfort of the virtual reality experience. To achieve this, it needs to be lightweight, easy to hold, elegantly designed and have buttons that do what they’re supposed to do. In addition to the buttons, the controller also has a sensor and a grip.
One of the best-known controllers is the Oculus Touch Original controller. But there are also the Sony PlayStation Move motion controllers for PS4 VR.
Oculus Touch Original controllers
These are top-of-the-range VR controllers. They are particularly suited to the Oculus Quest 2 headset.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Excellent grip Robust and solid Offer ease of movement Second camera for greater mobility | Can only work with one battery |
Sony PlayStation Move
These controllers offer a satisfying experience, particularly with PlayStation games.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Easy to use Precise movements Good grip Wireless | Works only with PlayStation |
Straps for VR controllers
A wrist strap is an accessory used to protect motion controllers against falls. It’s a kind of belt that holds the controller handle firmly on the back of your hand to prevent it from falling off if you accidentally drop it.
Wrist straps are very important because they can save you the extra expense of replacement controllers that aren’t always readily available. Fortunately, the wrist straps currently on the market are almost all compatible with all models of VR controller. If you’re looking for the best wrist straps on the market, we recommend the Kiwi Design controller grip, or the NexiGo controller strap.
An alternative to the wrist strap is to use a protective silicone cover. By covering the controller with this cover, it will be protected against knocks and scratches while keeping the buttons and controls accessible.
Kiwi Design controller strap
This safety strap holds the handle of your Quest 2 controller in your hands.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Very comfortable easy battery replacement Flexible and sweat-resistant | On finishes : Visible joints |
NexiGo controller strap
For Oculus Quest 2, the user attaches it to their wrist or to the top ring of the controller.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Can be adjusted to fit any hand size Easy battery replacement Soft and sweat-resistant |
Microfibre cloth
Microfibre cloths are used to clean VR headset lenses. They are used to remove any dust or dirt that may accumulate and damage the lenses. To do this:
- Take a rubber blower and spray it onto the lenses from a distance of 2 to 3 inches.
- Take the cloth and start wiping the lenses, moving it gently, in a circular motion and without pressure.
It is not advisable to clean your lenses with a liquid solution. The cleaning operation can be repeated 2 or 3 times a week. After using the microfibre cloth, you can wash it and use it again.
A lens cleaning kit for Oculus Quest 2, Rift S, HTC Vive, Cosmos, Valve Index, PS4 VR Headset, and other Virtual Reality Accessories is available. It contains a cleaning pen, a lens cover and a microfibre cloth. A VR lens cleaning kit is also available.
The play mat
The gaming mat establishes a link between the movements of the feet and the VR headset, so that a visible preview can be reproduced on the headset. Users can walk, run, crouch and even jump. The mat captures all these movements and sends a preview of them, via an avatar, to the VR headset to which it is linked. The user sees the movements of their feet in the virtual world via the headset they are wearing.
Like motion controllers, gaming mats are simulators that enhance immersion by increasing the reality of the virtual experience. The best models are the Virtuix Omni VR mat and the Cyberith Virtualizer.
The Virtuix Omni
This VR mat is compatible with the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Encourages the use of accessories such as a VR gun Easy to move around Good virtual reality gaming experience | Training is required before use Requires credit to play Requires special shoes to play |
The Cyberith Virtualizer
With the Cyberith Vitualizer, players can move around in the virtual world without the need for additional accessories such as joysticks.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Easy to use Allows you to play without additional accessories Good virtual reality gaming experience Can move vertically | Cannot visualise the user’s body in space |
The Vive Tracker
The Vive Tracker allows you to reproduce your body movements in virtual reality. This accessory is only available for the HTC Vive, HTC’s very first virtual reality headset.
To operate, the Vive Tracker needs to be synchronised with the HTC and the motion sensors. All you have to do is attach it to your feet or hands, depending on the type of game you’re playing in virtual reality, such as football or basketball.
To date HTC is up to date with the latest update, the Vive Tracker 3.0.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Smaller, lighter battery than previous versions Easy to use Much more realistic virtual experience Makes any object visible in virtual reality | Not compatible with all other VR games |
The VR helmet carrying case
The carrying case, as its name suggests, is an accessory used for moving VR helmets. It is practical for transporting a VR helmet with its many accessories, which considerably increase its weight.
It features pre-cut foam to hold the headset, cables and sensors. What’s more, these storage bags are designed to absorb shocks thanks to their reinforced protective features.
Before buying a carrying case, make sure it matches the model of your helmet. For example, to store an HTC Vive Focus Plus headset, the HissKong case is compatible. You can also opt for a universal carrying case, compatible with all helmets, such as the GOVARK case. But in general, the VR helmet cases we recommend most are: the Yinke Hard Case and the Procase Hard Travel Case.
Yinke Hard Case
This value-for-money case is packed with good features.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Quite compact Lightweight Comfortable grip waterproof | Very tight for the strap Safety can be further enhanced. |
Procase Hard Travel Case
The eye-catching features of this case are its rectangular shape and shoulder strap.
| highlights | weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Comes with shoulder strap Velvet interior Good security | voluminous Quite heavy |
See also:
- Meta Quest 2 vs Pico 4: Which virtual reality headset is better?
- The 12 best VR headsets under £700