Is the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap Worth Buying?
Short answer: No – save yourself some money if you can wait a bit until third party straps are out. But if you can’t wait and want the extra comfort immediately, then that’s fine too, the Elite Strap is really comfortable.
Although the new Elite Strap is a much bigger improvement in terms of durability than the first one, there are quite pricey and there are going to be cheaper third party straps out there of the same quality.
Reasons to Buy the Elite Strap
- You like the looks/design of it
- You want fast shipping times (3rd party straps have longer wait times)
Reasons to NOT Buy the Elite Strap:
- You want to save money (third party straps will be cheaper whilst offering the same level of comfort)
(Picture of my Quest 2 strap that broke after 8 months).
I’m sure they’ve learnt from their mistakes and made the Quest 3 Elite Strap more durable, but only time will tell…
Do they improve comfort?
The comfort they offer is a huge improvement over the original strap. The weight is evenly distributed around your head instead of being front-heavy, and unlike the original strap, it doesn’t feel like a rubber band is placed around your head.
It’s one of the most comfortable straps on the market.
So is the Elite Strap Worth It?
Even though the strap is really good, I still do NOT recommend getting one, because there will be straps out there which are cheaper, more durable and even more comfortable.
The only reason you should buy the Elite Strap is because you want a battery pack as well. The Elite Strap can come in-built with a battery pack, so it’s very convenient in that regard.
Oculus also offers free replacements for Elite Straps that break so you don’t have to worry about wasting money – only the time for sending it back.
But if you don’t want a battery pack, then there are better alternatives:
A Better Alternative: KIWI Strap
The KIWI Strap is basically an ‘upgraded’ Elite Strap for a cheaper price.
Make sure to use the discount code at the top of the website. If there isn’t one available, you can use my referral code: WINSTONNGUYEN
The comfort is nearly identical to the elite strap, but the price is much cheaper.
On top of that, the straps are made from upgraded Polymer materials which are much more durable, flexible and can withstand more bending.
If you can wait until this strap gets released, it’ll save you some money.
How Much of a Difference Does it Make?
The good news – both straps are a huge upgrade to the original strap that comes with the Quest 2 :)
The original Quest 2 straps are so horribly uncomfortable that I couldn’t even wear them for longer than 15 minutes without my head hurting. Having the strap allowed me to play much longer, but for the ULTIMATE comfort, I recommend this combo:
KIWI strap + AMVR leather face padding
With these 2 mods, it’s super comfortable to the point where I could wear the headset all day and have no discomfort! I’d say the Quest 2 becomes most comfortable headset on the market due to how light it is compared to other headsets.
For more info, read my guide on Meta Quest 3 comfort mods.
Hope you find this useful!
Tl;dr – Should you buy the Elite Strap? No, they break too easily – get the KIWI strap instead UNLESS you want a battery pack as well. The KIWI strap is just as comfortable, but cheaper and more durable.
Feel free to ask me any questions and I’ll reply in 24 hours: hello@vrheaven.io
Which version should I buy? Oculus Quest 3: 128 GB or 512 GB?
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