Following the recent reports Facebook received of skin irritation from its foam face surface for Oculus Quest 2, you may have opted for some kind of cover to help. VR Cover is one of the most famous third party manufacturers of this type of accessories VRFocus tested its latest Oculus Quest 2 lineup to see if it was worth buying.
The VR coverage solution
The company has been making VR headset covers since 2014 and developing products for most major headsets such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality.
VR Cover originally consisted of simple fabric covers to provide a washable, hygienic solution to the sponge-like foam found in most headsets. It has been expanded to include a number of solutions that VRFocus came across in the past.
Can the new Oculus Quest 2 versions continue this trend and offer relatively cheap, affordable products with decent build quality?
VR cotton covers
So let’s start with VRFocus’ The least popular part of the Oculus Quest 2 range of accessories from VR Cover, the original cotton cover that has been made for almost all major VR headsets in recent years.
Earlier versions – like that VRFocus tested for Oculus Quest – were great, not too difficult to attach and protected the foam of the facial interface from gross and sweaty behavior; They were also washable from 100% cotton.
This new version, which retails for € 19 / $ 19, retains these excellent features with one caveat, a new fastening system next to the nose. Instead of the old elastic tape wrapped around the interface, the ends now contain a flexible metal strip – look carefully at the picture and you will see the seams – which can be bent around the foam padding.
Unfortunately, this new method is not that safe or convenient. Often times, when using the cotton cover with an active title like Beat Saber, FitXR, Synth Riders, etc. the ends would loosen and start rubbing in the process (causing cheeks). This invariably meant pausing gameplay and removing the cover, which is not ideal.
Not jumping around in your living room means you need to worry less as the adjustable ends are far less likely to come loose. Retention of cotton comfort.
Verdict: Not recommended
Lens cover
Now let’s take a quick look at the one item that is completely unique to the range, the Oculus Quest 2 lens cover. At just $ 9 / $ 9, the cheapest item on the list depends entirely on how you use it (or plan to use) your headset.
In reality, if you are very careful with your new toy and are out of the reach of pets or small investigative hands, you shouldn’t have to worry about special covers for the lenses. But when it doesn’t, like when the whole family is using the headset, it is left here and everywhere, or you toss it in a bag for travel. then yes, the lens cover makes perfect sense.
The lens cover is designed to keep dust out of the lenses and prevent scratches. She does an excellent job. Made from a dense foam that is shaped to fit snugly over the Oculus Quest 2 lenses. As long as you make sure nothing is on the inside of the cover before attaching it, you don’t have to worry. VRFocus The material was durable enough that blunt objects weren’t a problem – ideal if you don’t have a special suitcase for transportation. Put the headset / cover near sharp objects, it is your own fault.
Installation was super easy too. While VR cover sheets are noted in the documentation, the lens cap slides directly in. VRFocus I found it much easier to take the face surface off, put the lens cover on, and reattach the surface. This process meant less repositioning and less effort.
When you purchase the Facial Interface & Foam Replacement Set for Oculus Quest 2, you may receive free lens cover (supply is limited).
Verdict: Ok
VR cover – lens cover
Head strap foam pad
To make the Oculus Quest 2 lighter, Facebook ditched the original’s rigid strap and used a soft adjustable strap instead – and also helped sell the Elite Strap accessories. For early Elite Straps that suffer from ruptures, VR Cover’s € 19 / $ 19 Head Strap Foam Pad is a cheaper solution.
Far less elegant, but nonetheless functional, this T-shaped design strap wraps around the soft strap, adding padding as well as some much-needed stiffness. While the normal strap is not exactly uncomfortable, the foam pad for the head strap hugs the back of the head and works well in conjunction with the VR Cover face interface replacement kit. It’s also beautifully sewn with a good feeling of durability, so general wear and tear shouldn’t be a concern.
So it’s easy to install and comfortable, but there is a catch. All of the vegan leather, padding, and fastening completely block the plastic handles to accommodate the soft strap. Having the headset all to yourself makes it less annoying, change the headset as needed and then leave it alone. Switching between players and their different head sizes becomes a far more difficult endeavor. If you have a family of VR fans this is something you should consider.
Verdict: Ok
VR cover – headband foam pad
Silicone cover
For those looking for a super hygienic solution to energetic VR games on Oculus Quest 2, you can’t go wrong with the silicone covers.
Available in a range of funky colors including dark blue, magenta, red, and dull gray, the affordable case for € 14 / $ 14 is made of medical grade silicone that wraps the Quest 2’s standard face surface. VR Cover explains in its blurb: “Since oiled silicone can cause unwanted skin reactions, we used an unoiled version so that it is hypoallergenic.”
In practice, VRFocus had no problems with the material, soft and flexible, it is easy to attach and hugs the face gently while providing useful support for the lively video games. In contrast to the set below for facial interfaces and foam replacement, the silicone does not crease and can therefore be cleaned quickly and easily with an antibacterial cloth.
Because it is so good at repelling sweat, if you sweat a lot and then make sure there is some type of fabric around, you will soon feel a buildup in any fitness app as it almost seals your face. The cover also has a built-in nose guard that prevents light leaks without getting in your sight.
Verdict: Recommended
VR cover – blue silicone cover
Facial interface & foam replacement kit
Time for the flagship accessories from VR Cover for the Oculus Quest 2, the Facial Interface & Foam Replacement Set, comfort and cleanliness in one package.
As the name suggests, this kit swaps out the original Oculus interface for a custom design that you can attach one of the two foam spares to. These are attached with Velcro, a slightly thinner “Standard” or the “Comfort” – also good if you wear glasses. Both made of PU leather, the ‘Comfort’ padding cushions the face nicely, as if you were laying your head on such a soft pillow. They’re also wipeable, which makes them much cleaner and more hygienic than the standard Oculus foam surface.
Not only does it sit well on the face, but thanks to the silicone nasal protection it also blocks light around the bridge of the nose. Unlike the silicone case above, this nose protector is removable, great for a range of faces and noses while being easy to clean.
One feature VR Cover likes to talk about is the passive vents built into the face interface. Honest, VRFocus Not much of a difference was seen during the testing process. The lenses still occasionally fog up. So don’t rely on it too much.
When comparing the standard Oculus foam interface with the range of VR Cover with the comfort padding and the silicone nose protection, there is no competition. VR Cover is now an integral part VRFocus’ Oculus Quest 2.
Verdict: Recommended
Replacement set for face interface and foam for Oculus Quest 2 – Winter Edition
The VR cover for Oculus Quest 2 verdict
They all have their own merits, but when they do VRFocus put his own money on the table, it had to be either the silicone cover or the Facial Interface & Foam Replacement Set.
The silicone cover is the perfect choice for pure cleanliness at home or during an event. Quick to clean with an antibacterial cloth. The fact that it comes in different colors gives it an added visual appeal.
Or for sheer convenience, you can’t go wrong with the Facial Interface & Foam Replacement Set. VR Cover’s product is cheaper than Oculus’ dual-fit package. It is possibly the most expensive product in their range. For the price, making a long VR session bearable is a great job – an important factor when connecting your Oculus Quest 2 to a PC to play this free copy of Asgard’s Wrath.
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