Ultimate HTC Vive Cleaning Tutorial
Transcript:
“Begin by removing the stock padding from the face plate, if youre using the deluxe audio strap, take the foam
off this as well.
The outer headset can be wiped down with antibacterial wipes. VR Cover sell an alcohol-free, skin-friendly
version that won’t do any dmage to the headset
For problem areas such as the Velcro strip you can use tape to remove any dirt that can’t be wiped clean
Gently rub the lenses with a clean microfiber cloth. If you use glasses and are worried about scratches
you can buy lens protectors from VR Lens Lab.
Again back to the wipes/ The PU leather foam replacements for the Deluxe Audio Strap and face foam can be
easily wiped clean. Alligning and attaching the Deluxe Audio Strap foam is simple if you need to change it often,
the face foam even easier.
Lastly, You can keep the deluxe audio strap headphones clean with cotton covers, these are machine washable and
don’t negatively impact sound quality.
Now your Vive is good to go.”
Product Links:
Universal Disposable Hygiene Cover Starter Kit
VR Cover 100% Merino Wool Retro Sweatshirts
Up your VR fashion game with the new limited edition VR Cover 100% merino wool sweatshirt. Not only will you look super cool at Christmas but the high quality merino used to produce these sweaters mean that you’ll stay comfortable, warm and can even continue with your VR workout without worrying about smelling bad due to the antibacterial and anti-odor properties of merino wool.
Merino is legendary for its super fine fibers and incredibly soft feel and our sweatshirts are no different, they are double-knit and heavyweight so will easily get you through the coldest winters. The timeless retro VR print will last you for years to come, wear your sweater with pride and laugh in the face of those who declare VR is dead.
Order now and get your VR Sweater in time for X-mas 2017!
VR Cover Production Process
Ever thought about the steps it takes to manufacture certain items? Take a behind-the-scenes look into the manufacturing process of the latest VR Cover products. In this day and age, almost everything that is created is done so by autonomous machinery and while it is efficient, we appreciate the human-touch involved in every step from raw material to finished product.
Introducing the VR Cover Windows Mixed Reality range
Introducing the VR Cover Windows Mixed Reality range. Our PU leather foam replacements are currently available for the Acer, HP and Lenovo headsets with support for the Dell Visor coming soon. As always, they can wiped clean with antibacterial wipes between uses which is essential if you plan on demoing at events or to friends and family.
Due to the similar dimensions between the three devices our foam replacements are cross-compatible so if you’re a developer who owns more than one, you are in luck.
We should also mention the issue of light leak on some of the Windows MR headsets. The Acer and Lenovo headsets come with stock face foam that pushes in between the lenses and up again your nose which helps to prevent light leak. However, this is not a perfect solution and for many users can cause discomfort and pressure on the nose. For this reason we have decided to go ‘nose-free’ with our foam replacements.
Depending on your face shape and size this may mean more light leak through the nose, something that can be resolved by wearing the headband higher on the back of your head enabling you to create an angle that reduces light leak and improves immersion. If you prefer to see a little of the real world, try wearing the headband lower on the back of your head.
Foam Replacements for the Acer, HP and Lenovo Windows MR headsets are now available in sets containing two pads for $29.00.
Acer Windows Mixed Reality Foam Replacement 12mm
HP Windows Mixed Reality Foam Replacement 12mm
Lenovo Explorer Foam Replacement 12mm
HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap Foam Replacement 20mm
The deluxe audio strap for the HTC Vive improves the ergonomics of the headset and makes long gaming sessions much more bearable. We have created a thicker foam replacement for the strap that offers more comfort for those with smaller heads. One of the biggest complaints of the deluxe audio strap was from women and children who could not tighten the headset enough and found it moved around easily. Our thicker 20mm foam replacement seeks to solve this issue and hopefully make the VR experience a little more accessible and enjoyable to a large percentage of the population.
The HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap Foam Replacement 20mm is now available for $25.00
New T-Shirts & Skin Friendly Antibacterial Wipes
Express your love of VR to the world with the new VR Cover t-shirt range. Made with 100% cotton and printed in-house for a limited time only. Get your t-shirt while stocks last and be the envy of your local VR meetup group.
VR Cover T-Shirts are available to order online now for $19.00
We’re also happy to introduce our own antibacterial wipes designed especially for use with your VR headset. These wipes will keep things clean without damaging your VR headset or irritating your skin. Alcohol-free, hypoallergenic and unscented the wipes combine perfectly with our PU leather foam replacements to ensure everyone stays fresh and clean.
Skin Friendly VR HMD Cleaning Wipes are available now starting at $5.00 for a pack of 20.
VR Cover Foam Replacement for the HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap
New VR Cover Deluxe Audio Strap Foam Replacement now available to order!
Everyone agrees that the Deluxe Audio Strap is a great addition to the Vive and massively improves comfort for extended gaming sessions. The ergonomics mean the weight of the Vive is shifted from your face to the top of your head so there is less pressure, and less need for constant adjustments. This combined with built-in headphones makes it a must-have for Vive users.
We have developed a cleanable foam replacement so that now you can share the headset with friends without having to worry about the stock foam absorbing sweat and dirt. Our foam replacement is made from artificial PU leather meaning it doesn’t absorb any sweat and is super easy to clean between sessions. We recommend wiping down the foam with antibacterial wipes for the most hygienic practice.
The HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap Foam Replacement is available to order now for $19.00
Which VR Cover accessory is right for your HTC Vive?
After using your Vive for too many hours, having showed it off to too many friends and experienced a few of the less than pleasant scenarios that come with sharing a headset, it’s time to do something about it. Great, you’ve just found out we exist! We’ve been quietly adding to our HTC Vive product range for over a year and now offer eight different solutions, but which one is right for you? Here we take a look at benefits of the different products so you can make a more informed choice.
Combat Sweat
VR is great for working out. Whether you’re intentionally trying to shift some pounds or you just get a little carried away playing Holopoint, sweat is a real problem and one of the big reasons people begin looking for alternative accessories. Whereas you might assume our popular PU leather foam replacements would be best for this, we actually recommend otherwise. These three products will help to control sweating and allow you to enjoy the HTC Vive harder, and for longer than ever before.
HTC Vive Disposable Hygiene Cover Starter Kit – $15.00 – Top Pick
The disposable hygiene covers are made with a special moisture absorbing material making them perfect for sweaty VR sessions. The starter kit includes a ‘base foam’ that attaches to your Vive in place of the stock foam, the covers are then attached with a light adhesive for a secure fit. Don’t bother with the distracting, paper-thin ninja-masks.
Our first ever accessory for the HTC Vive is still much loved by the VR community. It’s a simple cotton cover that attaches with Velcro straps over the stock foam adding an extra layer of protection. The covers absorb sweat well and are machine washable. Available in grey, red & blue.
More Immersion
Believe it or not, you can make your HTC Vive experiences more immersive by using thinner foam. The stock foam is attached with Velcro and can easily be pulled off, give it a try and see what it’s like to use the Vive with no foam at all – pretty uncomfortable and blurry probably but you’ll get an idea of the difference in FOV (field of view) compared with using the stock foam. These two foam replacements will improve FOV without compromising comfort too much.
HTC Vive Foam Replacement 6mm – $29.00 – Top Pick
Our highly reviewed 6mm Foam Replacement brings your eyes closer to the lenses and pushes immersion to the max. It’s made from PU leather for easy cleaning and better suited for less active experiences where you aren’t likely to sweat too much. Share your Vive with friends and family often? This is the foam for you.
Improve Hygiene
If you regularly share your HTC Vive, whether it’s with friends and family at home, or you plan on using it at a demo with hundreds of people – hygiene has to be a major consideration. The stock foam on the HTC Vive can absorb sweat, dirt and germs that you don’t want to be sharing. Our PU leather foam replacements and covers have been scientifically tested to ensure no moisture is absorbed and the surface drys quickly using commercial antibacterial wipes.
HTC Vive Memory Foam Replacements 14mm – $29.00 – Top Pick
The 14mm Foam Replacement attaches to the headset with Velcro in place of the stock foam so is simple to attach and remove. The PU leather doesn’t absorb any moisture and can be easily cleaned with antibacterial wipes between uses. The memory foam offers similar comfort to the stock foam making it perfect for demoing the Vive.
New HTC Vive Foam Replacements + VR Cover T-Shirts and Universal Headset Covers
With the new 10mm Velour Foam Replacements we find a balance between comfort and field of view. The super soft ‘Velour’ fabric and memory foam ensures maximum comfort for long gaming sessions but is thin enough to result in an improved field of view, meaning more immersion. The foam is easy to clean, just throw in the washing machine after a particularly sweaty session and air dry. The HTC Vive Memory Foam Replacement Velour 10mm is now available through our store in black or gray and costs $29.00 for a set of two.
We also add to our store the Universal Headset Cover. The cover is designed to protect lenses from sunlight damage as well as keeping out dirt and dust. It’s compatible with all major VR headsets, just remember to switch the headset off first before you attach the cover otherwise you might trip a proximity sensor. The Universal Headset Cover is available in black or navy, add a cover to your order for just $5.00.
Lastly, we introduce the new VR Cover T-shirt range. We start with two designs, each has limited availability so be fast. Shirts are made with a high quality cotton/ poly blend and printed in house, available now for $19.00 each.
From Ninja Masks to Disposable Hygiene Covers - VR Cover's story and your VR hygiene options
In 2014 we first began producing hand-sewn cotton covers for the Oculus Rift Developers Kit. We’ve come a long way in the past three years, here we take a look back at the path we’ve taken from the first hand-made products to foam replacements and finally disposable covers.
Not long after the release of the HTC Vive in 2016 we began to offer cotton covers which were an instant, overwhelming success. Anybody who used their Vive for more than a few hours every day soon began to realize the stock foam could easily become unhygienic by absorbing sweat, oil and dirt. For personal use, cotton covers that attached over the headsets foam padding were the perfect answer due to the comfort and sweat absorption they offered.
After the success of cotton covers we went on to design foam replacements for the Vive and later the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift. The main benefit of using foam replacements is the ease of use and customization allowed. We created foam padding with PU leather for easy cleaning, with cotton fabric for comfort and with thinner foam for improved field of view. In the case of the Oculus Rift we had to first design a custom facial interface that allowed foam replacements to be attached, it’s now a must-have accessory for Rift users.
At about this time, others began looking for their own solutions, an example being the infamous VR Ninja Masks that originated in Japan. Disposable masks create a simple barrier between the face and headset, the main benefit of them is that they’re cheap to produce. Unfortunately the paper thin material doesn’t stay in place well and can easily become distracting, it is also not good at absorbing sweat. Creating a solution for high volume environments such as VR arcades was our next aim and after testing hundreds of prototypes we decided on our new disposable hygiene covers.
What makes our disposable covers special is the sweat absorbing properties of the materials used along with a stick-on design that means no distractions while playing. This makes disposable covers the perfect choice for VR arcades who have thousands of people using the same headset each year, there’s no clean-up required by the owners and the customers can be confident they are not sharing germs. PU leather foam replacements offer some benefits, in that they’re easy to clean, however, imagine you’re just getting into a game of Holopoint on a hot summers day and begin to feel the sweat dripping down your face, this is where our disposable hygiene covers come in and allow you to keep playing harder and for longer without distractions.
VR fitness is the other main industry that has started to adopt the disposable hygiene covers. One of the main problems with current VR work-out experiences is sweat. If using PU leather foam replacements you are covered with regards to hygiene, but again, they don’t help with sweat dripping down the face or even worse, into the headset. Early results have shown that our disposable hygiene covers offer huge benefits to virtual reality exercise and will be a necessity for any gym looking to experiment with VR.
This Disposable Hygiene Covers are available now from just $29.00 for a starter kit.
