Ditch that cloth strap and check out the best Quest 2 head straps instead

Best
Oculus Quest 2 head strap & Elite Strap alternatives
Android Central
2021

Best overall: Frankenquest Deluxe Audio Strap

The Frankenquest, as the name might imply, is an amalgam of two different and unrelated products combined into one magnificent outcome. Taking the HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap — arguably one of the best VR accessories ever thanks to its all-in-one design — and a 3D printed accessory that helps it snap to the Quest 2, the Frankenquest head strap is the single best solution you’ll find anywhere. Just make sure you get both the Deluxe Audio Strap and the Frankenquest adapter below, as you’ll need both to complete the package.

The modded Quest 2 Frankenquest will make you question why every other VR headset isn’t so darn comfortable. Like the Elite Strap, the Vive Deluxe is much more balanced than the standard Quest 2, tightening with an adjustment knob to fit your head size without forcing you to press the headset too tightly against your skin or leave a large nose gap. Unlike the Elite Strap, it sports built-in headphones that sit just on the outside of your ears, which are easily adjustable to fit different ear heights and sizes; you’ll no longer have to attach headphones to your strap or the headset itself or worry about dangling cables.

Unfortunately, the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap and Quest 2 adapter combine to be very expensive, about the same as the Elite Strap with Battery and Carrying Case bundle but without the benefit of extra battery life. Also, while the adapter comes in a dozen colors, the Vive strap is black only, which may not “go” with the white Quest 2. If either of those are deal-breakers for you, don’t worry: the other best Quest 2 straps are cheaper, have better color options, and don’t require as much modding to work.

The Eyglo Elite Strap is an affordable alternative to the Quest 2 Elite Strap with a unique design that caters to folks with large heads. Anyone who frequently gets headaches from the Quest 2 foam pushing into your forehead will appreciate a strap that treats big skulls as the default. Eyglo even sells the headset in small, medium, and large sizes, so folks with regular-sized heads can still enjoy a discounted “elite” experience.

Like the Elite Strap, the Eyglo Elite Strap adds far more support to the back of your head, cradling it with soft PU-leather foam. However, because it uses foam instead of the Elite Strap’s leather, it’s more likely to absorb sweat and get dirty; thankfully, the foam attaches to the plastic back via velcro, so you can easily remove and clean it. Also, like the Elite Strap, it has an adjustable knob on the back that opens wider than any human head in existence, so you can easily slip in and tighten it to match your size.

Like most Elite Strap replacements, it requires you to take your Quest 2 apart to install it, but it should be worth the improvement. We’ll note that unless you angle the strap to sit higher on your head, the sides sit very close to your ear, so you may have difficulty wearing your favorite over-the-ear headphones. Anyone with earbuds should be fine, of course.

Anyone looking for a replacement strap will likely turn away from VR Cover’s canvas strap, which looks similar to the stock Oculus strap (pictured above). But it’s not a one-to-one replacement: it has two back straps cradling the top and bottom of the head, giving you a much more balanced and supported fit. You’ll connect a T-strap with either a short or long strap, giving folks with large heads a better option that won’t feel so tight. Overall, it’s much better thought out than what Oculus provided out of the box.

Selling at a slightly lower price than most Elite Strap replacements, the VR Cover model provides some benefits that a larger, more rigid Elite Strap offers. One, it’ll actually fit inside most of the best Oculus Quest 2 cases, whereas Elite Straps take up much more room and need a special case. Two, it lets you slide on or remove your Quest 2 much more quickly once you’ve found your proper setting; with the Elite Strap and its imitators, you’ll have to carefully loosen and tighten the knob every time. And three, it doesn’t add weight to the headset.

Of course, a soft canvas Quest 2 strap won’t provide the same firm structure as an Elite; and while it can be wiped down, it’ll still collect sweat rather than repelling it. But these small downsides shouldn’t stop you from investing in this upgrade. But don’t stop there: the best Quest 2 VR Cover accessories are all high-quality and will upgrade more than just your strap.

The Elite Strap doesn’t sell out as often as it used to, nor do they break as often as they did right after the Quest 2 launch. But if it does run out of stock again and you want to try a third-party alternative with similar perks at a slight discount, consider the VOKOO head strap.

Like the Elite Strap, it has a sturdy plastic back with an adjustable knob that’ll better distribute the headset’s weight and gives you a sturdier fit, plus an improved overhead strap over the stock strap. It has PU leather pads instead of rubber along the back of the strap, but these can be removed and washed. You’ll find it comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Not every Quest 2 owner wants to bother installing a new strap and may want to improve on their current strap rather than bother with something more drastic. Enter AMVR, which made an oval-shaped soft TPU pad that acts as a weight distribution tool for the original cloth strap. The AMVR Head Pressure Balance Pad cups your skull, spreading the headset’s pressure away from a single line to across the entire back of your head.

Available in black and white, this AMVR pad clips onto the stock strap in three locations (top and sides). It should stay on securely but can be easily removed if you need to wash or wipe it. Weighing just over two ounces, it won’t necessarily change the weight balance of your headset like an Elite Strap would. Of course, you’ll need to spend more on a new strap to actually make it less front-heavy. But this is a great budget option that won’t rock the boat.

Okay, this isn’t technically a “strap” either, but just roll with it. We know many people buy the Elite Strap with Battery to double or triple the headset’s notoriously short battery life, rather than caring as much about the change in comfort. But if you want an alternative to the Elite Strap that costs less while offering more battery life, then consider Rebuff Reality’s VR Power 2 accessory.

Weighing 0.62 pounds, the VR Power 2 acts as a counterweight that naturally balances the front-heavy weight of the headset. With 10,000mAh of juice, it offers more than double the 4,676mAh Elite Strap with Battery capacity. That should add up to give you true all-day battery capacity if you have the time and VR legs to handle it. Even if you don’t typically play that long, you’ll no longer have to charge your headset obsessively after every session; the battery displays its current power capacity on the outside, so you know when to recharge it.

VR Power 2 straps onto the back of your standard Quest 2 strap, but Rebuff Reality designed its straps to have extra give to fit onto larger straps like the Elite Strap or (in theory) most of the best Quest 2 straps. It sits on the back of your head above the strap, resting comfortably thanks to the padding on the inside of the battery. If you’re moving quickly for exercise apps, you may not appreciate the extra weight; but for more slow-paced apps, it could be just what you’re looking for.

Bottom line

While the cloth strap that ships with the Quest 2 might be considered good enough to start with, gamers who play a lot in VR will find that it leaves a bit to be desired. Particularly if you’re a power user that plays the best Quest 2 games for hours at a time or wants to use a mouse and keyboard in VR. The headset is just too front-heavy to be comfortable for long.

If you want a truly premium Quest 2 headset that feels fully comfortable and immersive, you’ll have to mod it to accept the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap, aka the Frankenquest 2. It’s incredibly well balanced, feels soft on your skin, and bundles in headphones with great audio performance for good measure. Then, once you’ve made it feel secure and fitted on the back of your head, check out the best Quest 2 face covers, which will improve on the headset’s uncomfortable default foam interface.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Nick Sutrich started with DOS and NES and uses those fond memories of floppy disks and cartridges to fuel his opinions on modern tech. Whether it’s VR, smart home gadgets, or something else that beeps and boops, he’s been writing about it since 2011. Reach him on Twitter or Instagram @Gwanatu

Michael Hicks has dealt with motion sickness since he starting trying out VR in 2016, but likes it too much to stop. When he’s not rocking his Quest 2, Michael covers everything from laptops to soundbars, home security to fitness watches.

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