![A Meta Quest 2 with a battery on the strap](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/771f39a32b1a44f18970c2a87c2f233cf370dd41/hub/2023/04/27/41f9ffdc-84b8-472d-9d04-f7ef1eee400e/geekvr-headset.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
GeekVR hot-swappable battery adjustable headband
Keep playing no matter what
![An oculus quest 2 with padded headband](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/70a7f35d07de4058728c970952adb788369f0006/hub/2022/05/26/0163be2a-e67b-46d9-b440-94357cb749cb/yoges-quest-2-strap.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
Yoges Quest 2 headband
Yo dawg, I heard you like padding
![VR headset with battery on the back and blue light coming out of the lenses](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/927fd4082de9df8ca2665da111f1111cea1f87e2/hub/2022/12/05/0a7cb8cd-46a8-4715-9e28-2ddca596b156/yoges-battery-strap.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
Yoges battery headset
Comfort and power in one
Esimen K3 accessory set (currently not available)
Bundles of Fun (Update: Out of Stock)
Kiwi Design headset strap (Update: Out of stock)
Budget conversion
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Apple has announced its AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro, and VR is once again in the spotlight. The Meta quest 2 is the current leader among the best VR headsets which doesn’t require a PC, but does have issues (not least a price increase). The PSVR 2 has also emerged as competition and the Meta Quest 3 has been revealed.
My biggest issue is the Quest 2’s headband. It’s aggressively average, meaning it can and should be replaced with something that’s more comfortable to use for longer periods of time.
What is the best Meta Quest 2 headband?
Right now I really like the GeekVR Battery Headband. It’s ultra-comfortable, even during long gaming sessions, and it uses hot-swappable batteries so you can keep gaming as long as you want. In fact, it’s so easy to change the batteries that you can do it while the headset is still on.
The best headbands provide adequate support for the back of your head and are securely attached to the front. To test these Quest 2 headbands, I spent a lot of time playing in VR. Playing games for a living isn’t easy, but I’ll put up with it for you. Here is a list of my favorite headbands.
The best Meta Quest 2 headbands
It’s very useful to have a battery on the back of your headband, but most of the bands on this list have a battery integrated into the band so they can only provide a limited amount of extra charge. Once the battery and Quest 2 are empty, you’re done playing.
The GeekVR uses replaceable batteries that can be charged via the headband and replaced as needed. This means that if you had a few extra batteries you could play indefinitely. The batteries are also easy to change, as they use copper contacts to transfer the energy. They just fit in the back. It’s so easy that you can do it while the headset is still on and active.
I love the level of comfort this tire provides me. The weight of the battery helps balance the HUD and the forehead pad keeps the entire headset feeling secure during the most energetic games.
A new version of this headset was recently released with a new ratchet on the back and a more comfortable shape on the front. The extra comfort now makes this my favorite headband.
One of the most important parts of a headband is the padding as it keeps your head safe while maintaining a good level of comfort. This headband from Yoges has taken that importance and done everything it can to ensure your head is padded everywhere. The strap even has extra pads that prevent the back from pulling when the ratchet is tightened.
For long-term use, the Yoges offers one of the most comfortable experiences I’ve had to date. My only gripe is the center band. It’s a little too short for my head, so it doesn’t feel as secure at the top.
The Kiwi Headband is a great budget alternative to the Elite Band, with some nice editions that set it apart from the competition. My son loves using this for long Beat Saber sessions, so it’s a big favorite in our house.
If you wear VR glasses, it can often be difficult to take off the headset. I bumped my glasses a few times and knocked them off. The Kiwi headband can tilt to an extreme angle, allowing you to put the headset on without hitting it in your face. It’s a much more comfortable experience than the Elite band.
I am continually impressed with the comfort of the Yoges straps. The padding all around makes it incredibly safe and the extra weight of the battery helps keep the front screen balanced. The battery is only 5,000 mAh, but that’s enough to fully charge the Quest 2 about one and a half times, so you can still play with it for quite some time.
I bought the Elite band as a bundle with my Quest 2 at launch, and while some people suffered from breakage in that first batch, mine has performed admirably. This latest version of the Elite band has eliminated the bug altogether, so if you want a fully branded headband, this is your best bet.
I’ve used my Elite band for more hours than I can count. From playing sweaty and energetic games like Supernatural to sitting in VR for an eight-hour workday, the only time the Elite band felt uncomfortable was when I tightened it too much. If you can get it dialed in, that’s great.
One of the best things about a wireless VR headset like the Quest 2 is sharing it with others. Having brought my headset to a number of parties, I can say that hearing a disappointed “aww, okay” when you tell someone they can’t play because the battery is dead is a real bummer. I’ve used third-party battery packs in the past that clip to your belt to keep other headsets going, but the Meta-made battery belt for the Quest 2 is something else entirely.
For starters, the extra weight of the battery strap is a good thing: because it’s located on the back of the headset, it creates a balancing effect that takes pressure off your nose and forehead. The battery also adds 2 hours of fun, and you never have to take it off. To charge the headset, simply charge the battery. Power will flow to both with no noticeable performance differences. It’s so much fun to use that I honestly can’t imagine using a Quest 2 without it at this point.
When I wanted to upgrade to an “elite” headband for my virtual reality experience, I didn’t necessarily want to spend the money for the official Elite version (see below). I was looking for a Quest bundle that combined accessories, and I found this one from Esimen.
It comes with a nice carrying case, and that’s what sold me on this. The strap is just as good as others on this list, but the case is a bonus that the others miss.
Useful headband accessories
Having a better headband will improve your VR experience, but there are also ways to improve your new headband that will make it even better. Here are some of our favorite add-ons.
I’ve been using Anker battery banks for my phones for years, so it makes sense that I would prefer them for my Quest as well. you could be just put it in your pocket and attach the cable, but it works much better if it’s attached to your headband in some ways. I even used Velcro.
The bench is not too heavy, but has enough volume to offset the Quest 2 headset and enough power to complement your Quest 2.
While I think it’s a better idea to buy a full headband replacement, this may cost more than you would like. After all, the headset wasn’t cheap. This cool little add-on from Kiwi adds a halo ring to the existing headband to increase your comfort.
Adding a halo to the back of your head will distribute the weight more evenly and be much more comfortable for longer periods.
What should you pay attention to with a headband?
There are some essential things to consider when choosing a headband:
- A good halo that sits comfortably around the back of your head helps keep some of the weight away from your neck, making the Quest 2 feel lighter than it is.
- Padding is essential. Your skull has minimal padding; that filling should come from the headband, not you.
- A ratchet to tighten the Quest 2 is also useful. You don’t always want the headband to be as tight as possible, but you do want it to stay at the right tension despite jumping around.
- Finally, it would be best if you have a belt that can twist but not break. You’ll be putting the headband through the wringer, so the side pieces should support that.
Is the Quest 2 Elite band still breaking?
While there are still isolated reports of breakages, the problem that plagued the Elite belts appears to have subsided. Most of the problems we see now are the result of misuse, as opposed to normal wear and tear. Our last point about what to look for exists because of this problem, so make sure the tire you choose has good reviews and doesn’t break regularly.
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