Winter is the season of giving. Why not give your techie, PC gamer, and console friends and family members the gift of VR. With a treasure trove of games and experiences on Viveport, the Oculus Store, and Steam to choose from, there’s a VR game for everyone. If your family and friends already have a headset, unwrapping an accessory that will make gaming more immersive or fun to workout in will bring warmth to their heart and help them stay healthy for the new year.
Here’s our list of gift-worthy VR headsets and accessories that will take your VR fitness goals to greater heights!
Headsets
Have you been naughty or nice this year? If you or someone special made their way onto the nice list put a VR headset on that gift list and wishlist.
HTC Vive
The HTC Vive is a top shelf VR headset that is PC compatible. It comes with two controllers to interact with virtual worlds and two base stations for room scale tracking. The Vive can be played in a room with up to 15 square feet of space, so maybe don’t put it in the same room as all the gifts.
This headset has an advantage of being wireless with a Wireless Adapter and TPCast so you can walk around your living room without tugging at extra wires. It also has Vive Trackers that can you can wear on hands and feet for body tracking and placed on tools so they appear in VR.
Vive Pro
The Vive Pro is the newest and bluest PC headset to be released by Vive. The dark blue peripheral works with Steam VR 1.0 and 2.0 tracking for base stations and handheld controllers. If you’ve got the older model its smart to keep the original stations, but if you’re green with cash, got a bonus, or want all new gear go for the 2.0 base stations. The Vive Pro can be worn in areas of up to 10 square meters.
Feelin’ fancy? Give the gift of wireless VR with Vive’s Wireless Adapter. Get full body or object tracking with 2018 Vive Trackers for the hardworking developer in your life who’s making the next greatest VR app or game.
Oculus Rift
Step into the Rift, the Oculus Rift, with this PC VR headset. Wrap it up in something shiny for that special gamer who’s been eyeing a move from 2D to 3D! It comes with two controllers and two sensors. If you want to play front facing platform games go for the two standard sensors. But if you want to game in 360-degrees and move around in a play space of up to 8 square feet splurge on that third sensor. Trust us, it makes a massive difference.
The Oculus Rift also works with TPCast, which makes it a fired up wireless headset that will help you clock in hours of active game time. This system doesn’t have wearable trackers like the Vive, but it does have hand and semi-finger tracking for gestural support.
Windows Mixed Reality
The Windows Mixed Reality headsets are for VR only and not for Mixed Reality. There are different models, but we recommend the Dell Visor and the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality headsets for their ease in putting them on your head. They come with two standard controllers and both have inside out tracking. This type of tracking doesn’t require base stations; so you can get to gaming much quicker!
PlayStation VR
The PSVR headset is a console VR system that comes with two controllers and a camera that will track your movement. This system requires a PS4 to play it and has 6.2 feet by 9.8 feet of maximum play space. The PSVR can’t be turned into a wireless headset, so you’re stuck with wires until they come up with a newer model.
If you look down below in the gaming accessories section you’ll notice there are no stock rails for PSVR. This is because its users can order a PlayStation VR specific Aim Controller to set up their weaponry like the real thing.
Sweat Protection
Whether you or that special someone are sitting and watching a casual but awe-inspiring experience like Spheres or are shaving off that winter weight with BOXVR — you’re going to want sweat protection for your new VR headset. We’ve got you covered.
VR Cover
Order a VR Cover now and you’ll save yourself the awful feeling of regret later. Trust us, it’s an accessory that you’ll want to buy two of. Having a spare cover helps keep you gaming, streaming, and exercising without having to wait for the cover to dry off or when you switch one out to be washed. Most importantly, getting a VR Cover for an Oculus, Vive, or Mixed Reality Headset is going to keep its internal hardware from being destroyed by any moisture and sweat!
VR Gaming Accessories
Controllers act as tools to doodle, design, fight in combat, and takes the place of your actual hands in VR. These gaming accessories will help you keep a grip on your controllers, make your FPS games more realistic, and will keep you from overheating in the wintertime.
Mamut VR
When you’re playing VR games like Creed: Rise to Glory or Beat Saber, really any game, your hands are going to sweat. If you have no sweat glands in your hands then lucky you. For the rest of us, go all in and get the Mamut Touch Grip covers for Oculus controllers so you can keep a solid hold on them and so they won’t go flying into your TV or computer screen when you forget to wear the wrist strap.
This company also has stock rails that you can attach to your Oculus and Vive controllers so they can be positioned like a weapon. They also have Vive controller helmets that protect its parts from dropping or accidentally punching or slicing into a wall. This company is based in the European Union but do deliver to the United States.
Reality Hopper
If you’ve got a Vive or Oculus headset you’re going to want to get Reality Hopper silicone covers for the controllers. Having covers or armor for your virtual sword, saber, fists, paintbrush, or any tool really, are going to keep your hands on the controller instead of them slipping and losing accuracy. Or better yet, if you really want to get high scores, get these controller grips so you can finally make it out of Expert to Expert+ in Beat Saber or climb up the PvP leaderboards in Creed: Rise to Glory.
Hotel Transylvania Popstic
The rhythm and dance game Hotel Transylvania Popstic is a physically active game that has its players stepping through obstacles and aiming for spheres. Vive players can now order a Hotel Transylvania Popstic, or a controller attachment that turns it into a fitness and gaming accessory that you can twist and turn horizontally and vertically or more accuracy and fun.
VIVE N CHILL
The VIVE N CHILL is a Vive and Vive Pro headset mini fan attachment that goes on top of the headset to keep players cooled off. Headsets are electronics and throw off some heat. This accessory is going to keep you from overheating after a VR workout with a PvP punch ‘em up game like Virtual Fighting Championship or in an archery combat game like Bardo. We know what you’re thinking, overheating in the wintertime? It happens. Have you ever had a heater going while you were in VR? Try it and then you’ll see why VIVE N CHILL is a great and giftable gadget.
Weights
Wanna tone up and roast off those extra calories you’ve been consuming at holiday parties? Adding weights to VR workouts is a fitness game changer. Before you add weights to your exercise routine always consult a physician. We want you to be healthy, not hurt for the new year.
RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest
Use the RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest to add weight to your workout. Added drag or resistance will make your body work harder but not for long periods of time. So be careful how long you wear it for and how much weight you add to it. The weight range of this vest goes from 12 pounds up to 140 pounds.
REEHUT Durable Ankle/Wrist Weights
VR Fitness Insider’s VR Fitness Beginner’s Guide e-book (located on our home page, sign up!) suggests that if you’re going to wear ankle and wrist weights that they be no more than 3 pounds. The REEHUT Durable Ankle/Wrist Weights start at 0.5 pounds or 1 pound total if worn on both ankles or wrists and go on up in weight.
Wearable Fitness Trackers
Fitness watches and heart rate monitors are a necessity if you want to take your fitness journey seriously. These two wearables are going to give you the information you need to keep your heart rate up and stay motivated exercising inside VR and outside in actual reality.
Fitbit Charge 2
The Fitbit Charge 2 is a great fitness tracker that has mobile connectivity, so you can monitor the peaks and valleys of your heart rate and workout. Get sleep tracking so you can make sure you’re sleeping enough to exercise and live to your fullest potential. Count steps, calorie burn and sync it to the smartphone app to track your daily, weekly, and long-term progress.
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor
The Polar H10 isn’t worn around your wrist, its secured around your ribcage or chest to get an accurate heart rate reading. Heart rate data is sent to the monitor and has enough room to collect one exercise session but has the advantage of being used in the water. Use their app to add and see valuable heart rate data so you’re seeing how hard you’ve been pushing yourself or if you need to work harder towards your goals.
Have you been naughty or nice this year? What’s on your VR gift wishlist? Tell us about it down in the comments or tag us on social media!
