How to Make the Oculus Quest 2 More Comfortable
I’m a huge fan of the Oculus (Meta) Quest 2, but I’m not gonna lie… It’s very uncomfortable. When I first bought the headset, I wasn’t able to use it for more than 15 minutes due to the discomfort on my cheeks and forehead.
The good news is, after doing some modifications, I can wear it for as long as I want!
So NO – You did NOT buy the wrong headset. The Quest is amazing! You just need to learn how to make the Oculus Quest 2 more comfortable!
Here’s a picture of my modded Quest 2:
It’s so comfortable I could wear this all day (not exaggerating)!
The Two Mods You Need:
In short, get these 2 mods:
VR Cover Face Padding Mod
Elite Strap/Kiwi Strap
Most the pressure from your face will be alleviated with just these two mods.
The detailed explanation:
Best Oculus Quest 2 Comfort Mods
I recommend combining 2 comfort mods together for best comfort. Some people can get away with just one comfort mod, but people like myself need 2-3.
Which ones to choose?
The three main comfort mods you need are:
- Softer face padding & facial interface. The original face padding is a rough and felt too narrow for my head, causing my temples to hurt. If you get softer padding, the difference is night and day! This is a MUST.
- A new strap: The original strap is very flimsy and distributes the weight badly. The straps also can be irritating to your ears. A new strap will solve all of this.
- A counterweight + headstrap. This is best for the original Quest 1, but can work with the Quest 2 as well. The Quest is so front-heavy that by adding weight at the back, you can alleviate the pressure at the front.
A new strap + better face padding can make the quest comfortable to the point where you can wear it all day. A counterweight is optional.
A Better Headstrap
There are several options for straps, but I found the best ones are:
- The official Elite Strap (from Oculus)
- The Kiwi Strap (my personal recommendation)
I’ve tried several straps including Halo straps, but these two are the BEST straps in terms of comfort.
These straps do 3 things:
- They distribute the weight of the headset more evenly around your head so it doesn’t feel as front-heavy.
- It doesn’t irritate your ears like the original Quest 2 strap. It also doesn’t feel like a rubber band squeezing your head.
- It feels more comfortable on the back of your head and allows you to adjust it easily with the knob at the back.
Out of these two straps, I prefer the Kiwi Strap. It’s easily the most comfortable headstrap I’ve ever tried!
The Elite Strap is very close, but it has durability issues. The only advantage of getting the Elite Strap is one of the versions comes with an in-built battery pack. This extends the battery life of your Quest 2, at an additional cost.
If you don’t care about the battery pack, then just get the KIWI strap.
Make sure to pair this with a face padding mod for ultimate comfort:
Face Padding Mod
This mod is a must-have for everyone and I recommend pairing it with the KIWI headstrap for best comfort.
VRCover Facial Interface & Foam Replacement
This VR Cover padding literally feels like a cushion on your face – it’s sooo soft! I get no more red marks on my face.
The product comes with two versions: a thicker cushion and a thinner one.
The thinner one allows your face to get closer to the lens (even closer than the original foam) and increases your ‘field of view’ by a few degrees. The thicker one greatly enhances comfort.
To me, I like the thicker one better because the extra comfort is worth the small decrease in field of view, but both are more comfortable than the stock foam.
In my opinion, this is a must-have mod for everyone. Not only does it improve comfort, but it also offers:
- Better hygiene & easier cleaning
- Reduces light leak into the headset with the nose flaps (as shown above)
- Prevents skin irritation in people with more sensitive skin
Combine this with a counterweight, and it should be comfortable enough to wear for hours.
Best Oculus Quest Counterweight Mod: VR Balance Mod
The above picture was from my Quest 1, but they released a new version for the Quest 2. I’m still using the old version, because it actually fits on the Quest 2 as well, but I recommend you order the new version.
This is the slickest design I’ve ever seen for a counterweight mod. It is like a cushion on the back of your head, except it weighs ~539 grams which is the perfect weight for a counterweight in my opinion.
I love this counterweight mod, because it allows you lie down comfortably. Other counterweights such as the battery pack mod makes it difficult to lie down.
It also fits in the Oculus Quest travel case and looks quite nice compared to other counterweight mods.
I reached out to VR Balance and they were nice enough to give us a small discount code:
You can order here and checkout using the code ‘WINSTON’ for a small discount. NOTE: This mod does NOT work with the ‘Elite Strap’ if you have that.
Recommended Comfort Mod Combos:
Without any mods, the original Quest 2’s comfort rating is a 3/10 for me – very uncomfortable. However, with comfort mods, we can bump that to a 7-9/10.
Let me show you the 3 combinations you can use:
Option #1: VR Cover Face Padding Mod + Elite Strap/Kiwi Strap
Comfort Rating: 8.5/10
This is sooo comfortable! I was able to wear the Quest all day with these mods! By far the best option for most people.
Option #2: VR Cover Face Padding Mod + Cheaper Halo Strap
Comfort Rating: 7/10
There was minor discomfort after 30 minutes of use, but I could still wear it for 2-3 hours at a time. I’m personally not a fan of the Halo straps, but it’s a bit cheaper.
Other Tips to Improve Comfort:
There are a few other ways to improve the comfort of your Oculus Quest:
VR Balance Head Strap
This mod distributes the weight towards the top of your head so it’s less front heavy. I quite like it on the Quest 2 actually, because it stops the straps from coming in contact with your ears.
And no you don’t need the batteries on the side for this mod (those are just optional – they hardly have any effect).
Wear a Beanie
Want a cheap solution to your problems? Just wear a beanie! It’ll slight improve the comfort and also absorb your sweat so it won’t make it onto the headset.
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