IN A HURRY? CHECK OUT Cybershoes TOP PROS:
- Compatible with more than 50 games
- Simple and quick to set up
- You can track your activity
Producers of virtual reality gadgets have always been trying to make the VR experience more immersive. In recent years, we have been seeing a lot of developments in the VR world. One of the more recent innovations is the making of virtual reality shoes. These shoes allow VR users more freedom while playing a virtual reality game.
Virtual reality technology has improved a lot, virtually every body part that is used in playing video games has a VR accessory. You might start thinking about headsets, VR hand gloves, and virtual reality shoes. These shoes allow you to walk and run through virtual reality. Most times, VR shoes are fastened to your feet to enhance the experience.
The ultimate dream of VR is to give absolute freedom to users to do stuff they can’t imagine doing in real life. But one of the biggest constraints of virtual reality has been player physical space. VR enthusiasts are often confined to limited space in their homes. One of the greatest immersive feelings you can get from VR is if you can use real body movements for gameplay.
One of the benefits of VR shoes is that they allow users to exercise while using them. Since the main purpose of VR shoes is to make you walk or run, it’s a way of exercising the whole body. And we are all aware of the importance of exercise to the body!
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best VR shoes we have available. We will also do a detailed analysis of how VR shoes work. In addition, we will also discuss a few things you should consider before buying virtual reality shoes. We’ll also supply answers to some frequently asked questions.
Before you buy: things you have to consider before buying VR shoes
Some factors are to be considered when buying VR shoes. This set of factors would assist the user to derive maximum benefit from using VR shoes. Some factors we are going to discuss in detail include:
- Purpose
- Budget
- Quality
- Compatibility
Purpose
When you are planning to buy a gadget or an accessory, you should know the reasons you are buying such a device. People buy things for a variety of reasons. It is not unheard of to see people buying VR gadgets just to show off. You may not be too surprised that some people buy equipment just to decorate their rooms.
Virtual reality enthusiasts can broadly be categorized into two; light and heavy users. If you are buying a virtual reality shoe for novelty and light usage, you may not have to buy a VR shoe at the high end of the spectrum. But if you are a heavy VR user or you are buying it for commercial reasons, going for the premium and high-quality virtual reality should be your goal.
There are many various options for VR shoes out there. Ranging in price, quality, functionality, and specs. Regardless of the type of VR shoes you choose, you should make sure it suits your needs.
Budget
Apart from the reasons why you are buying a VR shoe, budget is another factor you should consider. The same way you would think about your budget before buying a laptop or a smartphone, it would also be wise on your part to also consider the money you can afford to spend on a virtual reality shoe. Giving thought to your budget before purchasing VR equipment often brings out the best results.
Virtual reality shoes don’t come cheap. The average VR shoe may cost around $300. Furthermore, these shoes are worth investing in. VR shoes provide a higher level of immersive experience and they offer real value for money. One of the biggest missteps someone could take is to buy a gadget for novelty’s sake. Never buy something all because it’s new. Buy something because you need it.
Quality
Today, many people equate quality with price. To be honest, in most cases, a quality gadget would likely be more expensive than poor-quality gadgets. But this is not always the case. It’s quite possible to get a quality product at a decent price. To be on the safe side, don’t always judge a book by its cover.
There are different virtual reality shoes available for purchase today. One popular brand called Cybershoes is one of the key manufacturers of VR shoes. One easy way to judge a product’s quality is by reading real customers’ reviews. Apart from this, you should also do your research, not believing every word of the manufacturer.
Compatibility
Compatibility is another factor you should consider before buying VR shoes. Ensure the virtual reality shoe you are buying is compatible with your headset. You would agree that buying an accessory that is not compatible with your device can be very frustrating. Some VR shoes are choosy about the headset they work with.
For example, Cybershoes were not compatible within the early part of the year 2020, but the compatible version was rolled out in early January of the year 2021. If you are planning to buy a virtual reality shoe, make sure to read both manufacturer and customers’ reviews to make the right decision.
The interesting thing is that Cybershoes are compatible with almost all popular headsets out there. Headsets such as Valve index, Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest with link cables, and all windows mixed reality headsets.
- Before you buy: things you have to consider before buying VR shoes
- The 4 best VR shoes
- How to set up your Cybershoes for Oculus Quest
- Health and safety warnings when using Cybershoes
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Quick Summary
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Our #1 Choice
Cybershoes |
|
Check on website |
 |
Taclim VR Shoes |
|
Check on website |
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Ekto VR Shoes |
|
Check on website |
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DropLabs EP-01 VR shoes |
|
Check on website |
The 4 best VR shoes
1. Cybershoes
Unique features:
- 360-degree freedom
- Easy to set up
- Z-Scaling
- Activity tracking
The Best VR shoe for:
- Comfort
Overview
Cybershoes are arguably the best VR shoes available for purchase today. Cybershoes give the freedom to run and walk through VR. To use a cyber shoe, you’d be given a cyber chair to sit on as you begin your VR adventure. One thing about Cybershoes is that it is compatible with almost any VR game. and function with SteamVR, the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, the Quest via Oculus Link, Virtual Desktop and Oculus store games, Windows Mixed Reality, and Pimax.
Cybershoes offer a list of more than 50 VR-compatible games. When Cybershoes are strapped to your feet, all your adventurous moments are controlled by your feet movements. With Cybershoes, you could do the unimaginable! You could walk alongside a giant, find your way around the battlefield, and even set alight the dragon fire. Additionally, you can charge into abandoned cities to eradicate the mutant hordes as if you were there.
With activity tracking, users can track the level of their physical activity. Cybershoes can determine the level of distance covered during virtual journeys. Thanks to the new treadmill support software from Valve, Cybershoes now integrates optimally with SteamVR for a more immersive experience.
One stand-out feature of the new Cybershoes is that it connects to the Quest headset using Bluetooth. It tracks a user’s feet to maintain a level of control over the game speed and direction using the user’s movement. To make use of VR Cybershoes, typically you sit on a swivel chair to enable you to change direction in both clockwise and anti-clockwise manner. The rollers on the bottom of the Cybershoes track both the forward and the backward movements.
Cybershoes are designed to maintain physical activity. Cybershoes are also crafted to eliminate or reduce motion sickness associated with virtual reality. The main factor responsible for motion sickness often seen with VR is the imbalance between movements in-game and in the real world in some users.
The concept behind the Cybershoes is similar to that of Omni one; which is a VR treadmill. The major difference is that the rolling tracks of Omni One were converted to be in the form of shoes. The average price of Omni One is about $2000 while Cybershoes is $200. It is acceptable to refer to VR shoes as the budget versions of VR treadmills. In the VR shoe industry, Cybershoes is arguably the most expensive. The average Cybershoes cost is around $200.
One of the biggest downsides of Cybershoes is the act of running while being seated on a swivel chair. To be honest, the immersive experience takes a great hit when users run with Cybershoes while sitting down! Nothing compares to running while standing on both feet. On the plus side, you don’t have to be harnessed while walking or running unlike when running on a VR treadmill.
The immersive experience Cybershoes produce is not top-notch. If you want a VR shoe that provides a premium immersive experience, the Droplabs VR shoe on our list is the best option for you. If you are also a gamer that loves resonant feedback while playing games, you would love Taclim VR shoes.
Serious motion sickness is associated with Cybershoes, especially for beginners. If you prefer a VR shoe that causes little or no motion sickness, then the Taclim VR shoe on our list is the best for you.
The fact Cybershoes require a swivel chair has been a turnoff for some VR enthusiasts. If you need VR shoes that don’t require a swivel chair, Taclim VR shoes might be the best option.
Pro tip
Cybershoes are compatible with a lot of VR games. You may need to slightly tweak the locomotion settings for the Cybershoes to work optimally for some VR games.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Reduces motion sickness
- Burns calories through active walking and running
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Requires a swivel chair
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a VR shoe that you can depend on; Cybershoes is your product! It helps you burn excess calories that are not useful thereby keeping you physically fit. Although running while sitting on a Cybershoes’ swivel chair reduces the immersion, it’s still greatly recommended!
2. Taclim VR Shoes
Unique features:
- The great haptic feedback system
- The instantaneous transmission of foot movement through the built-in 9 axis sensor
- Vibration sample data for developers.
The Best VR shoe for:
- Haptic feedback system
Overview
Taclim is the world’s first virtual reality shoes and gloves, with built-in tactile devices for haptic feedback. It detects user movements as input and then translates them into VR action to real-world haptic output.
It has a haptic feedback device “Taclim Module” with a built-in tactile device. Taclim System creates touch sensations and functions as a controller. Talim virtual reality shoes help you to experience the sensation of walking on the ground desert, grassland, or water on the soles of your feet. This VR shoe creates an awesome feeling!
For a moment, imagine taking an adventurous walk in a virtual reality game and kicking your enemies with your barefoot in the process. The haptic feedback system of this product is simply amazing. When you hit an enemy’s body, it naturally feels soft, but when you hit an enemy’s shield, it feels so hard.
This product gives haptic feedback to the feet using tactile devices and also transmits foot movement instantaneously through the built-in 9 axis sensor. The accuracy of walking has been greatly improved by the use of the built-in axis sensor. By attaching a third-party tracker, HTC’s “VIVE Tracker”, a room-scale VR space can utilize actual movement.
Our team conducted an objective review of Taclim VR shoes, we noticed some awkwardness when wearing the shoes. If you kick too hard on an object, the shoes might fall off. We also observed that some of the simulated surfaces feel strange. The simulated surfaces sent random vibrations to the feet. To be honest, the experience we had feels more annoying than immersive.
One standout feature of Taclim VR shoes is that it is open source and it runs on the Unity plug-in. This plug-in gives developers the freedom to synchronize it into their games. You can also decide to create your tactile data by designing basic haptic feedback as sample data. You can also decide to import files in WAV format.
Pro tip
Taclim Module is designed as a separate tactile motor part and communication part to be integrated into 3rd party VR controllers enabling the controller to be flexible in size and design e.g. a gun controller, a steering wheel controller, and lots more.
For example when you want to create a gun controller, connect a sensor that detects users’ movement mounted at the trigger, bolt action, and magazine release button part of the gun to the GPIO of the Taclim Module.
Pros
- Generates feedback via three tactile motors
- Taclim motor makes it easy to develop a dedicated VR controller
- Built-in 9 axis sensor
Cons
- Awkward random vibration to the feet
- Overly expensive
Bottom line
If you want to kick and punch your way through a horde of virtual monsters, but the experience is not completely pleasant. Although Taclim shoes are quite pricey, they offer great value for money.
3. Ekto VR Shoes
Unique features:
- Wearable Robotic Boots
- Keeps you in the center of the room
- Free roam experience
The Best VR shoe for:
- Fully immersive natural movement
Overview
Ekto One virtual reality boots are a fascinating product that tries to resolve the challenge of simulating walking in virtual reality. These boots offer a fully immersive natural movement. The boots are robotic. Ekto VR boots attempt to solve the challenge of simulating walking in VR comes at a cost. These robotic boots are extraordinarily big and can be very uncomfortable.
The shoes are equipped with rotating pads, wheels, and brakes to keep you still when you want to maintain your position while playing VR games. The shoes are made up of carbon fiber design. According to the information found on their website, these shoes are lightweight, and it uses HTC’s Vive tracker and uses HTC’s Vive Tracker pucks to track movement in VR.
On the bottom of the device are two rotating plates that can twist to the direction the user is walking in. Once they put their foot on the ground, a set of wheels pull your leg back while you walk forwards, supposedly giving the sensation of walking, but keeping you in one spot. Brakes are employed when standing still to make sure you don’t slip over as if on a pair of skates.
One unique feature of this product is that it solves the challenges posed by treadmill virtual reality products such as Omni by virtuix and the more recent one Kat walk C designed primarily for home markets. But both of these devices tie you to a frame in an uncomfortable manner.
They also take up physical space, which can be an issue in urban apartments and small VR labs. Ekto VR shoes were then designed to solve the problem of physical space.
After we reviewed the Ekto VR shoes, we are not convinced of their realistic application in everyday life because of their enormous size. However, the free-roam and the room-scale experience they offer are top-notch. If the developers of these VR shoes can make some further improvements to this product, it has a promising future.
Consider this, the old generation computers took a lot of massive space before they could function optimally.
In times past, the mobile phones we are all familiar with today were once the size of shoe boxes! We believe Ekto VR shoes are still in their early stage with a lot of improvements in the pipeline! A time might come when there will be shoes that will have you virtually walking while remaining in one place.
If you desire VR shoes that are not as enormous as the Ekto VR shoes, Cybershoes might be the best option for you. It’s a kind of VR shoe that is specifically designed for the comfort of VR users. If you also want a VR shoe with great haptic feedback, the Taclim virtual reality shoe is your best bet.
Pro tip
When using the Ekto VR shoes, avoid losing your balance. When your body sways to the left or right while using these shoes, move your head to the opposite direction to maintain balance. Since Ekto VR boots are slightly off the ground, users can easily fall and get injured. Falling can also lead to the damage of VR headsets and controllers.
Pros
- Boots can help prevent accidents around the player’s surroundings
- Boots prevent motion sickness
- Doesn’t require putting away your shoes before use
Cons
- Shoes are less useful for games that require combat actions
- The enormous size of the boots makes VR games less immersive
- The height of the boots makes it difficult for users to judge the real height of the floor
Bottom line
Ekto VR boots is a wonderful innovation to solve the locomotion-based problem in virtual reality. Although a lot of things still need to be fixed, this product offers a promising stepping stone for the future of virtual reality.
4. DropLabs EP-01 VR shoes
Unique features:
- Bass rattling speakers
- Low latency gaming
- Magnetic charging port
The Best VR shoe for:
- VR Immersion
Overview
If you deeply know about virtual reality, you would understand that a good headphone is crucial to the level of immersion experienced. The Droplabs’ VR shoes are designed with bass rattling embedded in their soles. The way the Daplabs’ VR shoes push out sound is simply amazing. The kind of sound this product produces can be compared to that experienced in a concert or cinema.
This product allows users to adjust the intensity of the bass produced through the use of an android or IOS device. You equally need these devices to initialize this product.
This virtual reality shoe is purposely designed to be worn in everyday life. The manufacturers of this product designed this shoe to produce the beat to any kind of music that you’re listening to in your headphones. You must be a good detective to know speakers are embedded within the soles of this shoe.
After we conducted an objective analysis of this shoe, we realized that the EP-01 would be more useful for stationary gaming at home that involves the use of a VR headset. When this shoe is used with a VR headset, they produce music thumps and ambient world sounds. One notable thing we observed is that this product can produce lows and mids frequency zones that will let the EP-01 push blasts of bass up your shins. The Droplabs VR shoes can work for VR games and also for PC games.
The major downside we noticed in this VR shoe is the clumsiness associated with the synchronization with a virtual reality headset. Connecting it to a music-playing device via Bluetooth is a lot easier than connecting it to a VR headset.
Another downside of this product is that a $25 low-latency gaming cable is needed to connect a set of wired headphones and the EP-01 to an audio source. Audio sources such as a computer, console controller, or any device that has a 3.5mm jack.
These VR shoes have magnetic charging ports on the rear. The magnetic charging port is what the low latency cable snaps into.
The cable does its job effortlessly without problems. Furthermore, no drivers are required before you can jump right in. After we reviewed it, we discovered the low-latency cable is too short to be useful for non-stationary VR.
Another significant problem for this VR shoe is that if you decide to get up to take a walk for a room-scale experience, people who are taller than around five feet, five inches will likely accidentally yank off one, or both, of the magnetically attached cables connecting the shoes to your headset at some point.
We believe an improvement will be made to the short cable sometime in the future.
If you are looking for a VR shoe that would improve the level of immersion when playing VR games, this product is the best for you. It offers real quality. But if you are the type of individual that loves vibrating feedback effects while playing VR games, Taclim virtual reality shoes are the best option for you.
On the other hand, If you are also looking for something super comfortable for VR games, Cybershoes are your best option. One major disadvantage of Droplabs EP-01 is the difficulty in synchronizing it with a headset, Cybershoes is the easiest VR shoe on our list to set up.
Furthermore, if you are the sort of person that cares a lot about immersion while playing VR games, Dropslabs is still the VR shoe to beat.
Pro Tip
EP 01 is water-resistant, not waterproof. It will be fine in light rain but do not submerge EP 01 in water or go swimming in them. Treat them like you’d treat your nicest shoes.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Takes a long while to sync with airpod pros
Bottom line
Droplabs is a VR shoe that offers a top-notch immersive experience. The fact you can wear this shoe in daily life makes it extremely useful. Apart from this fact, it is budget-friendly and comfortable to wear. Highly recommended!
How to set up your Cybershoes for Oculus Quest
For several years, Cybershoes was not compatible with the Oculus Quest. In the year 2020, Cybershoes were upgraded to be compatible with the Oculus Quest 1 and Quest 2. We will highlight the necessary steps sequentially to get the best from Cybershoes for Oculus Quest users.
How to Pair:
- Turn on Cybershoes & check that both LEDs on the receiver are blinking.
- For Quest, goto SETTINGS > EXPERIMENTAL FEATURES > PAIR
- Then press for 3 seconds the receiver button to enter pairing mode.
- Wait for Cybershoes to appear (takes up to 70seconds).
- Select and accept PAIR
- Last step: Unplug and replug the receiver. This is only needed the first time.
Troubleshooting (how to pair)
While trying to pair Cybershoes to a headset, some difficulties might arise. We’ll briefly highlight some things that can be done to forestall or troubleshoot these problems.
- Reboot your headset
- When in pair mode, the receiver LEDs are white. When the receiver is blinking again, the pairing has timed out.
- Shoes must be on and connected (video on how to connect)
- After pairing timeout, unplug and replug the receiver (at least after a first failed attempt)
- Close Quest pair menu and initiate pairing again
- Wait for “Cybershoes” to appear
- On Quest1, please quickly reactivate pairing
- Select Cybershoes and accept PAIR
- Last step: Unplug and replug the receiver. This is only needed the first time.
Health and safety warnings when using Cybershoes
Every tech gadget has its side effects. It’s important to adhere to all the health and safety measures when using Cybershoes.
Even when you give others this gadget, it’s vital to tell others about the potential dangers inherent in using this. If you’re also new to VR, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. If you are also lending it out, supervise the user carefully to better protect themselves.
Obvious and less obvious dangers
Besides the obvious danger (very slippery sole of the Cybershoes), there are less obvious dangers present as well, e.g.: It is possible to fall over with the chair, respectively to fall off the chair. The use of VR can heavily impact sensations or strongly stress the brain. This may lead to very dangerous situations – especially conjunct with Cybershoes. Read and follow all further Health and Safety Warnings and instructions as well. Use Cybershoes at your own risk.
Walking, Standing
Don’t walk with the shoes around, don’t stand up. Cybershoes are very slippery and the risk of stumbling or slip or fall is very high. Only wear them while being seated. Make sure there are no dangerous objects around you, meaning when you fall you do not fall onto a sharp edge. Clear all space around you. It is possible to lose balance.
Seated use
Depending on the size of the mobile stand, it is possible to fall over with the chair, especially while being active in VR. It is also possible to fall off the chair. Do not completely forget yourself and your situation while using Cybershoes. Clear all space around you. If you fall, make sure you fall onto a soft surface.
Third-party stools
Our team tested bar stools with a mid-sized stand having a diameter of at least 41cm (16”). They are relatively safe. Out of 4000 users, 3 fell over with the chair. Each time it was a tall and extremely active person.
We recommend using bar stools with a stand having a diameter of at least 55 cm (21½”). Please note that using a bar stool with a stand having a diameter of at least 55 cm (21½”) still imposes risks, but these risks are smaller as compared to using a bar stool with a stand having a diameter of less than 55 cm (21½”).
You may also use bar stools with a smaller diameter as long as you are aware of the risks and adapt your movements to the lowered stability of the bar stool. Some bar stools come with a very small stand, for example, with a diameter of 38cm (15”). Do not use them.
The barstools that we recommend on our website have a mid-sized stand with a diameter in the range of 41-45 cm (16”-17¾”).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear VR shoes if I am pregnant or suffer from epilepsy or suffer from a heart condition?
There are some moments in virtual reality games that might result in high blood pressure or an increase in anxiety levels. Some visual effects are also known to worsen epileptic seizures. We strongly recommend you avoid wearing VR shoes if you suffer from epilepsy, are pregnant, or have a heart problem.
Is there a minimum age to wear VR shoes?
The standard minimum age to use VR or to wear VR shoes is 7+. Many VR headsets manufacturers have chosen to set different age limits. For example, SONY’s PlayStation VR has chosen to set the age limit at 12. While Oculus and Samsung’s Gear VR rate it at 13+. HTC has no specific age limit for their VR headsets.
Can I wear VR shoes while being seated in a wheelchair?
Yes, you can! If both legs are fully functional, you can safely wear VR shoes in a wheelchair if you have no other health-related issues.
Can Cybershoes cure motion sickness?
Cybershoes do not cure motion sickness. But the more you use Cybershoes, the better the motion sickness becomes, unlike other virtual reality headsets.
Conclusion
The recent advancement of technology is showing a lot of virtual reality shoes that are very exciting to use. Although VR shoes are limited. More Improvements need to be made to make it more comfortable and widely available. With the current state of things, the future looks promising.
Have you tried using VR shoes? What have been your experiences so far? We would like to hear your thoughts about them.
Until next time.
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