What are the best accessories for the Oculus Rift?
Update 6 March 2017: We've refreshed this list with some new items, including everything you need for room-scale Rifting, to ensure you're still getting the absolute best accessories for your Rift.
You've finally got your hands on an Oculus Rift and you want to maximize your VR experience. We're here to help with these accessories that range from basic things you ought to have on hand, to the absolute coolest accessories in development to take VR to futuristic heights.
Rift Sensor
Now that Oculus Touch is out and making Rift great again, you might be tempted to see what room-scale VR is all about. Since the Rift originally came with one sensor and Oculus Touch came with a second sensor, you need at least one more for perfectly tracked room-scale Rifting.
For more info on exactly what you might need and how to set it all up, be sure to have a look at our guide to room-scale Oculus Rift.
Microfibre cloths
There's nothing worse than foggy or dirty Rift lenses. It obstructs your ability to properly focus on the action in the headset and frankly, it's just gross. The consumer version of the Rift does ship with a cleaning cloth, but you'll probably want to buy more quality cloths as backups.
Quality cannot be understated here. A common complaint about the Oculus Rift DK2 was how susceptible the lenses are to scratches while cleaning. To prevent that, you'll want to use high-quality cloths that are specifically designed to clean sensitive glass surfaces. These cloths from SecurOMax come with a money-back guarantee not to scratch your devices.
Granted, if they do end up scratching them, getting your $6 back is hardly going to mitigate the frustration from the damage. That's why you should always be sure to clean your lenses the proper way, by softly wiping in a circular motion starting in the center and working outwards. For more information, check out our guide on how to clean your Rift.
Leap Motion controller
Leap Motion is an awesome product that lets you see your hands in VR. We're not just talking virtual hands that are tracked by motion control — e.g. Vive Wands or the upcoming Touch controllers — that don't give individual finger control, but actual precise movement tracking. If you hold up a finger in real life, you'll also hold one up in virtual reality.
You mount a receiver on the front of your Rift, which then picks up your hand's movement in front of you. Once you've seen Leap Motion in action, it's hard to get it out of your head — you want to be able to use your hands just like that! Ready for next level hand movements in VR? Leap Motion VR bundle starts at about $90.
Smartwatch
One of the greatest parts of using the Oculus Rift is how immersive the experience can be. The flipside of that coin is missing out on important notifications and messages from friends, family, and social media while you're plugged into the VR matrix, so to speak.
A good smartwatch with vibrating notifications is a must if you want to balance your immersive VR experience with your real-world responsibilities and whatnot. It's also the quickest way for you to flip up the VR headset and check the notification to see if it requires your immediate attention or can wait until you've finished up your current session.
We're not going to make a specific recommendation here, as it really doesn't matter which make and model of smartwatch you prefer as long as it will notify you of incoming calls, text messages, and/or priority emails. Whether you prefer an Apple Watch, Samsung Gear, Android Wear, or even a Fitbit Blaze, you'll be able to dive into your VR world without missing out on anything important going on in the real world
Lanshowed Rift carrying case
You're dealing with some very expensive equipment here, so why not protect it with a nice, soft case? The inside is lined with velveteen to keep your Rift from getting scratched or scuffed, and the outside is made of hard EVA that protects against shocks if you happen to drop the case while in transit. The surface of the outside is PU leather, which is waterproof and can be easily cleaned.
There is a mesh pocket on the inside to keep the small stuff in, and it all zips up with a dual zipper. The case, nice as it is, starts at only about $24.
Oculus Rift earphones
The headphones that come built right into your Oculus Rift work pretty well for what they are, but their design allows for a lot of ambient sound around you to get in. This isn't a terrible thing — many people still want to hear a little bit of what's going on around them — but others prefer to be cut off entirely while playing.
The earphones that Oculus offers are super easy to install; you just unscrew the headphones and screw the earphones into their place. The whole process takes about three minutes, and after you'll have earbuds that actually stay in your ear, even when you're in the middle of an intense game. They're designed to fit into your ear from the top down, so there's no awkward cable management.
If you like the idea of using built-in sound with your Rift but prefer earbuds, this is the accessory for you.
Bose QC35 headphones
The nature of the built-in Rift headphones means you can remove them entirely and use your own solution. Instead of adding extra cables to contend with, Bluetooth headphones are a serious option. It's no secret how great Bose headphones are, and their QC35 model is no exception. iMore's Serenity Caldwell, in her review called them "the best pair of wireless headphones" she's ever used.
The battery in wireless mode lasts upwards of 20 hours, they will cancel all noise around you, and the sound is classic Bose. These over-ear headphones are super comfortable for extended Rift sessions — you'll hardly notice they're there.
Oculus Rift VR Cover
You know the foam padding around the Rift's display? It can get uncomfortable over extended periods of play, especially when it absorbs sweat. The company VR Cover likens their product to a pillow case. It's 100% cotton, it fits over the foam padding on your Rift, and it will keep oils and dirt from seeping into the foam where it will stay forever. You can remove the cover, wash it, and replace it, all very easily.
Your field of view won't take a hit at all thanks to the cover's design, so all you'll notice is how comfortable this thing feels. The package only costs about $20, and you actually get two covers and a carrying pouch.
Subpac M2
The Subpac M2 attempts to give you a full-body experience when listening to music or playing action games by essentially giving you the sensation of strapping a subwoofer to your back. Wearing it while listening to music should give you the sensation of being at a live show, and wearing it while playing in VR should add another level of immersion and give you the sensation of actually being on the battlefield or on the racetrack or what have you.
You will feel every gunshot, every explosion, and every cinematic swell in the music as you play through your favourite games, letting you experience them in ways you've only dreamt possible. On top of providing a unique new dimension to your gaming, it also looks pretty badass as far as gaming accessories go. If you're the type of person who prefers to sit while playing games, even in VR, there's the Subpac S2, which is designed to slip over your chair.
In summation, no one needs the Subpac to have a great time gaming with their Oculus Rift, but damned if it isn't one of the coolest gaming accessories available.
Oculus Touch controllers
The Oculus Rift originally shipped with an Xbox One controller and a small clicker remote for navigating and controlling your VR experience. Now that Oculus Touch controllers have been released, you have an entirely new way to play.
These controllers are comfortable to hold, they're lightweight, and they track really well. Being able to throw up a thumb or point out an objective to your buddies in the game is such a neat feeling, and with so many great games that take advantage of them, they're well worth the money — a recent price drop puts these controllers at the $100 mark.
Virtuix VR Boom
Virtuix, creators of the commercially-available VR treadmill, have also created a boom that will free you from cable-entanglement, which is even more pressing when using a room-scale Rift setup.
The boom has the necessary cables to connect your head-mounted display, and a retractable mechanism keeps the cables at just the right length. It all folds down into a small footprint for easier storage and even has a hook on it from which you can hang your Rift. If what the Rift's cables look like after a bout of regular Robo Recall is any indication of what room-scale is like, this boom will be a sound investment.
What would you include in your dream Oculus Rift setup?
Are there any must-have accessories for your Oculus Rift that didn't make our list? Let us know in the comments below!
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