VR Cover
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| VR Cover | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | VR Accessories |
| Founded | October, 2014 |
| Founder | Salinya Uhdinger, Jay Uhdinger |
| Notable Personnel | Matthias Hoffrichter (managing director, 2019) |
| Products | Washable headset covers, facial interfaces, foam replacements, silicone covers and other VR headset accessories |
| Website | http://vrcover.com/ |
VR Cover is a Virtual Reality accessories company that produces customizable "covers" that line the area of an HMD that is in contact with the user's skin. Its machine washable covers protect HMDs from dirt and oil and make VR use more comfortable and hygienic, particularly when a headset is shared.[1][2]
The company was started in 2014 by Salinya and Jay Uhdinger.[1] Its first covers were made for the Oculus Rift DK1/DK2 development kits and the Samsung Gear VR.[2][3] It later added replacement facial interfaces, PU leather foam pads and silicone covers, and by 2025 sold accessories for headsets including the HTC Vive, Valve Index, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.[4][5] Meta sells a VR Cover facial interface set for the Quest 2 through its own online store.[6]
History
Founding and first covers (2014-2015)
According to the company's original "About" page, VR Cover was a project of Salinya and Jay Uhdinger, who had previously worked on their own brands, Fabric & Handle and Uhdinger.com. Jay Uhdinger was building a VR experience for the expected consumer launch of the Oculus Rift. Living in a hot country with many friends curious to try the headset, they needed a way to deal with sweat, and set out to make a cover that would be quick to put on and take off, easy to wash and comfortable over long sessions. After several prototype iterations the cover was ready for mass production at the beginning of October 2014.[1]
By February 2015 the company sold a Gear VR Cover for 15 US dollars: a set of two covers made from two layers of 100% cotton chambray fabric plus a small carrying pouch, designed to fit both versions of the Gear VR foam (with and without a nose section). The product page noted that the first batch had sold out.[2] Later in 2015 the range included Rift DK1/DK2 covers in standard and velour versions for 19 US dollars each, a waterproof version "for exhibitions / sport" for 29 US dollars, a leather cover for the DK2 or Gear VR, and a 19 US dollar two-layer cotton cover for the HTC Vive developer kit, which the page stated was not intended for the consumer Vive.[7]
Facial interfaces and expansion (2016)
By mid-2016 VR Cover had added replacement foam cushions for the Vive with a water-resistant PU leather surface, sold in different thicknesses so owners could adjust the fit.[8] In July 2016 it launched a Kickstarter campaign for replacement facial interfaces for the retail Rift. The kit came in a standard version and an elongated version for people who wear glasses, with a thin foam pad (for a wider field of view) or a standard memory foam pad, both attached with Velcro and covered in PU leather. The entry pledge was 29 euros (about 32 US dollars) for one interface and one foam pad, with shipping expected in September 2016. Road to VR reported that the team had reverse-engineered the stock interface; Uhdinger said the parts were not an officially sanctioned replacement but would "work flawlessly and will enable you to use a variety of face foam paddings on your Oculus Rift".[9]
UploadVR reported at the same time that the team had grown from 5 to 12 employees, and that the company planned a fitness-related VR experience for early access release within about three months, along with further hygiene products later in 2016.[4] Whether that fitness experience was released is not documented in the sources consulted. By the end of 2016 Tom's Hardware described the lineup as cotton and leather covers, replacement face cushions and other accessories for VR headsets.[10]
VR Lens Lab
In January 2016 Jay Uhdinger and Peter "Pit" Marx, an optometrist who owns several eyewear stores and runs his own lens laboratory, Gauss Eyewear, launched VR Lens Lab, a Germany-based venture making prescription lens holders for the Gear VR.[11] The semi-flexible rubber adapters protruded 3.5 mm into the headset and held lenses correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.[11][12] That first Kickstarter campaign ended on 3 February 2016 with about 2,300 euros against a 5,000 euro goal. A second campaign for the Rift and Vive opened on 7 April 2016, reached its goal within hours, and had passed 11,000 US dollars from 315 backers at the time of UploadVR's report.[13] Road to VR identified Uhdinger in that campaign as VR Cover's director of business development and listed pledges of 19 euros for the adapter alone, 39 euros with plano (non-prescription) protective lenses and 49 euros with prescription lenses.[14] UploadVR described VR Lens Lab as a VR Cover subsidiary.[4]
Standalone headsets (2019-2021)
On 16 May 2019, in a release datelined Bangkok, VR Cover announced accessories for the Oculus Quest timed to the headset's launch: a set with a facial interface and two PU leather foam replacements (standard and comfort thickness), and a pack of two machine-washable cotton covers. "Customers are playing longer in these increasingly immersive headsets," said managing director Matthias Hoffrichter. "So our products must handle the heavy usage without compromising on hygiene and comfort." The release claimed that VR Cover had been "the market leader in the VR accessory field" since 2014 and had sold to more than 100,000 customers.[3]
In December 2019 the company released an interface and foam replacement set for the Valve Index, listed at 49 US dollars. It contained a facial interface, two PU leather memory foam replacements and two "side wedges" for extra cushioning at the sides of the interface.[15] In June 2020 it added silicone covers for the Quest and Oculus Rift S that slide over the original face pad as a wipeable barrier; UploadVR reported that they were made from medical-grade, hypoallergenic silicone and cost less than foam replacements.[16]
Range in 2025
An archived copy of the company's website from January 2025 lists product categories for headsets including the Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Quest 2, original Quest, Rift S, Rift, PlayStation VR2, Apple Vision Pro, Valve Index, Pico 4, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality headsets and DJI FPV goggles. The site directed buyers of newer headsets to regional stores for North America, Europe ("ships from Thailand") and Asia, and stated that more than 75,000 people had used its products since its 2014 launch.[5] The Meta Store listing for the Quest 2 facial interface set is priced at 29 US dollars and includes a facial interface frame and two PU leather foam replacements (standard and comfort); Meta describes the interface as having "anti-fog airflow channels" and a removable nose guard.[6]
Products
The table lists products documented in the sources cited. Prices are as reported at the date given and are in US dollars unless noted.
| Product | Headset | Date documented | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gear VR Cover | Samsung Gear VR | February 2015 | Two covers of two-layer 100% cotton chambray plus pouch; 15 dollars[2] |
| Rift DK1/DK2 VR Cover | Oculus Rift DK1, Oculus Rift DK2 | 2015 | Standard and velour versions 19 dollars; waterproof exhibition/sport version 29 dollars; leather version also listed[7] |
| HTC Vive VR Cover | HTC Vive developer kit | September 2015 | Two-layer cotton, two covers plus pouch; 19 dollars; not for the consumer Vive[7] |
| Foam replacements | HTC Vive | 2016 | Water-resistant PU leather in several thicknesses[8] |
| Facial interface and foam replacements | Oculus Rift CV1 | July 2016 (Kickstarter) | Standard and glasses-friendly elongated interfaces; thin or memory foam pads; from 29 euros[9] |
| Foam and interface set; cotton covers | Oculus Quest | May 2019 | Interface with standard and comfort PU leather foams; two machine-washable cotton covers[3] |
| Interface and foam replacement set | Valve Index | December 2019 | Interface, two PU leather memory foams, two side wedges; 49 dollars[15] |
| Silicone covers | Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S | June 2020 | Slide over the stock face pad; medical-grade silicone[16] |
| Facial interface and foam replacement set | Meta Quest 2 | Current (Meta Store) | Interface frame, standard and comfort PU leather foams; 29 dollars[6] |
| VR Cover (fabric cover) | Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Apple Vision Pro, Pico 4 | February 2025 | Each listed at 34 dollars on the company shop[17] |
| Head strap cover set | PlayStation VR2 | February 2025 | 34 dollars[17] |
The same February 2025 shop listing also included Quest 2 variants such as a Fitness Facial Interface and Foam Set, a Cool XG foam set, a Minimal foam set, a "ThrillSeeker Edition" interface set, controller grips, a carrying case, lens protectors and lens covers, plus covers for the HP Reverb G2 and DJI FPV goggles.[17]
Reception
In a March 2020 review of the Valve Index interface set and head strap cover for The Ghost Howls, Rob Cole, whom the site introduced as a VR ergonomics expert and who received a test sample from the company, wrote: "choice is always good so VR Cover needs to be congratulated for bringing this to market," while adding that further development could give Index owners more fitting and comfort options.[18] UploadVR's David Jagneaux wrote in 2020 that he used VR Cover's Foam Replacement Slim on his own Quest and that the company's products regularly appeared on the site's best-accessories lists; he tied the need for such covers to sweat in active games like Beat Saber, Pistol Whip and Supernatural.[16]
VR Fitness Insider measured how VR Cover's Quest 2 face pads change the field of view in a June 2021 test using the ROV Test FOV app, with samples supplied by the company:[19]
| Configuration (Quest 2) | Vertical FOV | Horizontal FOV |
|---|---|---|
| Stock interface with Silicone Cover | 90 degrees | 92 degrees |
| Standard (slim) foam pad | 92 degrees | 94 degrees |
| Cool XG gel foam pad | 98 degrees | 98 degrees |
| Minimal foam pad | 99 degrees | 99 degrees |
The reviewer concluded that the Minimal pad gave the largest gain, which he described as "halfway to a Valve Index", and switched to it permanently.[19]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About VR Cover". VR Cover. 2014-10-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20141005200622/http://vrcover.com/about/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Gear VR Cover". VR Cover. 2015-02-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150211080343/http://vrcover.com/product/gear-vr-cover/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "New Oculus Quest Accessories From VR Cover". PR Newswire. VR Cover. 2019-05-16. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-oculus-quest-accessories-from-vr-cover-300850976.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Joe Durbin (2016-07-08). "VR Cover's Next Project Is Going To Be A VR Fitness Experience". UploadVR. https://uploadvr.com/vr-covers-next-project-to-be-vr-fitness-experience/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "VR Cover for Meta Quest 3, Oculus Quest 2, Valve Index and More". VR Cover. 2025-01-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20250119023128/https://vrcover.com/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Meta Quest 2 VR Cover Facial Interface & Foam Replacement Set". Meta Store. Meta. https://www.meta.com/quest/accessories/quest-2-vr-cover-facial-interface-foam-replacement-set/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "HTC Vive VR Cover". VR Cover. 2015-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925214744/http://vrcover.com/product/htc-vive-vr-cover/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "VR Cover Offers Rift Owners Aftermarket Facial Interfaces With Room For Glasses, Replaceable Foam". Tom's Hardware. 2016-07-06. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/vrcover-rift-facial-interface-replacement,32208.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Scott Hayden (2016-07-07). "You Can Now Buy Unofficial Oculus Rift Facial Interfaces, Kickstarter Now Live". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/can-now-buy-un-official-oculus-rift-facial-interface-kickstarter-now-live/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Kevin Carbotte (2016-12-29). "VR Cover Accessories: A Close Look At The Whole Product Stack". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/vrcover-product-lineup-hands-on,33264.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Scott Hayden (2016-01-20). "'VR Lens Lab' Puts Your Prescription into Gear VR, Kickstarter Now Live". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/vr-lens-lab-prescription-samsung-gear-vr/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Joe Durbin (2016-01-20). "Crowdfunding Project Aims To Bring Corrective Lenses To Gear VR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/corrective-lenses-gearvr-glasses/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Joe Durbin (2016-04-07). "VR Lens Lab Unveils Prescription Solution For Rift And Vive". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vr-lens-lab-unveils-perscription-solutions-for-rift-vive-kickstarter-fulfilled-in-hours/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2016-04-07). "VR Lens Lab Brings Prescription Lenses to Rift and Vive, Kickstarter Now Live". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/vr-lens-lab-brings-prescription-lenses-rift-vive-kickstarter-now-live/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Harry Baker (2019-12-02). "VR Cover Release New Interface And Foam Replacement For Valve Index". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vr-cover-index/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 David Jagneaux (2020-06-06). "Silicone Covers For Oculus Quest And Rift S Now Available From VR Cover". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vr-cover-silicone-oculus-quest-rift-s/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Shop VR Headset Comfort & Hygiene Upgrades". VR Cover. 2025-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20250215042937/https://vrcover.com/shop/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Rob Cole (2020-03-21). "VR Cover for Valve Index thorough review!". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2020/03/21/valve-index-vr-cover-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Kevin Brook (2021-06-17). "I Boosted My Quest 2's Field Of View Halfway To A Valve Index! VRCover Foam Pad's FOV Rated.". VR Fitness Insider. https://www.vrfitnessinsider.com/i-boosted-my-quest-2s-field-of-view-halfway-to-a-valve-index-vrcover-foam-pads-fov-rated/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.