10 Best VR Treadmills & VR Running Pad Review: Welcome to the VR category of TechHunterds.com.
We now have the opportunity to explore unreal worlds we have never seen, thanks to the advent of virtual reality. The combination of hardware with high-quality graphics and audio allows us to experience a virtual reality almost identical to the real one.
Modern VR headsets and controllers have become the eyes and hands of VR users. VR users can play games all day long without a break. But remember, Virtual reality games can also harm your body if you don’t get enough exercise.
To solve these problems, technology companies developed VR treadmills. Using these new technologies, you will be able to walk, run, hop, and even fly in the Virtual World.
The VR standing platform has the potential to take virtual reality to a whole new level of immersion. You will have an extraordinary experience when you combine the VR omnidirectional treadmill with a VR headset.
As an example, you can now fight battles in space, travel high in the sky, or engage in a car chase in your living room while feeling as if you are in the real world. Such experiences can never get old, and even if they do, you can quickly switch strategies and begin a new adventure.
So, let’s take a look at some omnidirectional VR treadmills that are built to take your VR experience to the next level.
What Is Virtual Reality (VR) Treadmill
The VR omnidirectional treadmill (VR ODT) is one of the best VR walking accessories to get a fully immersive VR experience with 360° moving.
These special 360° VR treadmills enable users to physically move in various directions to explore the virtual world such as forward and backward, to the left and right, and diagonally.
These walking platforms are restricted by fencing or a waist brace attached to the treadmill with hard bars. Some VR movement pad, such as the Infinadeck and Cyberith Virtualizer, allows for complete freedom of movement.
These VR running systems use built-in inertial sensors to monitor user movements during a stride and then send the data to a computer. After the data has been processed, it is transformed into gestures within a computer-generated environment.
When compared to controller-based movement, such a natural approach ensures deep integration into a virtual environment and offers a more realistic experience. As a result, users can walk and run in a simulated environment as if they were doing so in the real world.
- Related: KAT Walk Mini vs Cyberith Virtualizer Elite 2 vs Virtuix Omni
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1. Virtuix Omni VR Treadmill
Suddenly VR treadmills will become a part of the living rooms of virtual reality game lovers. Virtuix Omni One is one of the VR Treadmills for Metaverse VR shooting games.
The multi-directional treadmill in the Virtual World allows full freedom of movement in 360°, including walking, running, crouching, kneeling, jumping, strafing, and backtracking.
It will feel like you are actually on the battlefield. The Omni One, like every other omnidirectional VR running treadmill designed for gaming, aims to offer players the ultimate sense of freedom in VR.
The Omni One VR moving platform is smaller than its predecessors, with users attached to a single vertical bar rather than a ring around the entire VR walking rig.
You can fold it up and store it as well. It will be able to play games from a dedicated store, which is expected to launch with 30 titles.
Virtuix hasn’t released a complete list yet, but it expects to include third-party games alongside its own creations, with the latter group containing games like Fortnite and Call of Duty.
Virtuix Omni One VR Treadmill Price: Omni One will be available for $1,995 in Q2 of 2021, according to Virtuix. The development kit will cost $995, according to The Verge, but it will not include access to the Omni game store or a VR headset.
In its most recent round of fundraising, Virtuix raised over $19 million from over 6,500 investors for their Omni One virtual reality treadmill according to VentureBeat.
The website also mentioned that Virtuix has delivered commercial Omni systems worth over $10 million to entertainment venues in 45 countries, including Dave & Buster’s.
This VR treadmill comes with a pair of special shoes that are custom-made for your foot size and help to reduce friction between you and the floor you’re standing on.
These shoes will also keep your foot stabilized to avoid lateral slipping. So, when ordering this item, don’t forget to specify your shoe size.
The Omni VR standing platform works with both the Oculus/Meta Quest headset and the HTC Vive to provide a great VR experience. Omni One is also known as the oculus quest 2 walking platform.
Pros and Cons of Virtuix Omni VR Treadmill
Virtuix Omni VR Treadmill Pros
- Easy to use
- It can be folded and safely kept after use
- No speed limit
- Allow fast-moving
- The game’s movements are synchronized with the user’s speed and position
- Users can move in 360 directions.
- No special tutorial is needed
Virtuix Omni VR Treadmill Cons
- Not well suited for very tall people: they have to squat or bend
- Related: Top 5 Best VR Games of All Time Ever
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2. Cyberith Virtualizer ELITE 2
Cyberith Virtualizer ELITE 2 is a second-generation omnidirectional VR treadmill that allows users to walk in 360-degree directions around virtual environments.
VR players can walk, jump, crouch, jump, and even sit with it. The fully integrated optical sensor system ensures low latency and a wide range of movement.
You can walk in one direction and look in another while practically shooting in the opposite direction with this VR walking pad. Cyberith provides special software that allows developers to use Virtualizer for non-immersive VR games by simulating a keyboard and mouse.
Furthermore, the company makes its software development kit (SDK) available to third-party developers to customize the VR treadmill for their own VR applications.
There are already software packages for the Unreal and Unity engines. In terms of how it works, Cyberith Virtualizer works the same way as Virtuix Omni. Users slide their feet over the rounded platform while wearing a special covering on their shoes.
Conversely, the treadmill tilts automatically in the direction the gamer walks, making it easier for the gamer to explore computer-generated worlds physically. Additionally, the VR platform will adjust its incline according to the virtual relief and direction you walk in.
This package includes a rounded sensor platform, a moving body limiter, an arch for attaching a VR headset, and three base pillars. These pillars use sensors to track the user’s foot movements and their location.
Cyberith Virtualizer supports all common head-mounted displays (HMDs), such as HTC Vive Pro. The company also allows third-party motion trackers.
Cyberith Virtualizer Elite 2 Price: A powerful VR device and HTC Vive are included in Cyberith’s Virtualizer Elite 2 package for about 10,000 EUR/11365 USD.
This Cyberith Virtualizer VR slide mill doesn’t require special shoes since it monitors your steps. Cyberith’s working method is focused on gliding. You can climb stairs in the Virtual World while walking on a VR moving platform in the real world.
This Omni directional treadmill has a ring around it that supports the waist and prevents accidents. All you need to do is lean on the ring to act like you’re bowing. Cyberith Virtualizer is compatible with the Oculus Rift headset and the HTC Vive.
The Cyberith Virtualizer is smaller than the Omni in size. The whole rig is more moveable than most other VR-running platforms due to the smaller podium.
For this reason, some people prefer Cyberith over Virtuix Omni. Since there is no bulk shipping, there is currently no official price.
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3. Kat Walk Mini
Kat Walk Mini is the lightest, smallest, cheapest, and most practical Omnidirectional VR slide mill available on the market. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to play realistic shooting games.
With its 158 cm height and 1.76 m base area, it fits perfectly in an ordinary living room. Using the seat and waist harness, the user can safely perform different activities. As a result, it can support and stabilize the user in any position, even bending to grasp some unreal objects inside a virtual environment.
Kat Walk Mini is designed for people who are 140 to 195 cm tall and weigh up to 130 kg. Since the VR treadmill was designed as an independent universal controller, it is compatible with popular VR head-mounted displays (HMDs) such as HTC Vive, Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality.
Kat Walk Mini uses contactless sensor technology instead of a pair of sensors on the gamer’s feet. The advanced motion mapping algorithm calculates the exact position and speed of each foot based on sensor input and HMD tracking data. The whole procedure takes less than 20 milliseconds.
Compared to Cyberith, this Consumer treadmill has a completely opposite walking motion. Since it does not use the gliding effect, you can have a more realistic and immersive experience in the Virtual World. Similar to the Omni, this treadmill comes with special shoes that allow users to interact with the rig.
There is no waist ring on the Kat Walk, unlike the Omni and Cyberith. This virtual reality hiking treadmill has been designed without a ring based on user feedback. Since the ring restricts your movement in the game, you are more likely to strike your hand on it if you attempt to draw your sword.
A slim-fit belt will keep you in place since this commercial VR gaming system does not have a cage. This belt provides an almost lifelike experience since you will have to move as you would in real life.
Kat Walk Mini uses a shock-absorbing base plate to shield the user’s knees. Currently, the vendor is in the process of developing a special retractable seat that will allow for longer VR driving experiences.
Also, the company offers a publicly accessible software development kit (SDK) that allows game developers to easily incorporate their games and virtual reality applications into Kat Walk Mini.
Kat Walk Mini is one of the cheapest VR treadmills for Metaverse consumers available for sale on various online shopping platforms.
Check Kat VR treadmill price on Amazon.
- Review: Kat Walk C VR Running Pad Review
4. Spacewalker VR Treadmill
SpaceWalkerVR is an omnidirectional VR treadmill developed by a Turkish company. The computer allows gamers to explore digital 3D worlds physically, walking and running.
SpaceWalkerVR is equipped with a rounded platform that can turn 360° (360 VR Treadmill) as well as a sensor-controlled treadmill belt that allows users to walk in either direction in a virtual environment.
It is powered by four electric motors and turns based on a gyroscope or joystick, producing 4x12V for rotation and 2x24V for walking.
The VR treadmill also has a built-in joystick, which gives virtual reality game developers a lot of options. They can develop immersive gaming environments that can be used for corporate training, sports, or virtual tourism.
When it comes to virtual reality games, this joystick allows for a variety of acts, such as shooting, interacting with virtual objects, selecting pieces, and so on.
Furthermore, the device features pressure sensors that detect footsteps and adjust belt speed according to what is happening in the computer-generated environment.
Moreover, SpaceWalkerVR allows gamers to use a control button to control the speed of the VR treadmill belt. There is a 3-point seat belt and a hard secure safety ring to keep them safe. However, crouching is difficult, limiting their mobility.
SpaceWalkerVR works with a variety of VR headsets, including the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, and Google Cardboard. SpaceWalkerVR weighs 120 kg and measures 133 x 114 x 114 cm.
Pros and Cons of Spacewalker VR Treadmill
Spacewalker VR Treadmill Pros
- Enhanced safety features
- Safety sensors control the device’s speed automatically
- Compatible with different types of headsets
- It allows users to do additional activities such as shooting and picking up objects
Spacewalker VR Treadmill Cons
- There are only two directions of movement: forward and backward
- The Treadmill doesn’t permit crouching
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5. Infinadeck
The Infinadeck is one of the best omnidirectional treadmills that allows the user to step in any direction. It’s enhancing virtual reality to new heights.
It allows users to walk around and connect with a computer-generated world. With this unit, you can handle jumping and running actions in any VR scenario.
You can walk through it in any direction, turn around, and look around to see what’s going on. This is close to how we get around in real life, where we walk from one location to another.
As soon as you walk onto the stage, you will find yourself in a completely different environment, where you will have to learn how to walk again quickly.
It may take a few minutes for you to get used to this process. Additionally, Infinadeck can be used with a portable VR headset such as the HTC Vive Pro. Infinadeck, thankfully, has hard body limiters that you can catch if you feel sick or panicked.
Also, these bars prevent you from falling off the platform when you’re exploring a virtual world. The HTC Vive trackers are used to assess the user’s location on the treadmill.
The treadmill’s tracking device helps it to differentiate between crouching, dropping, walking, and heading in a particular direction.
When you go faster or slower on the Infinadeck VR treadmill, it automatically adjusts the pace. The machine detects your intention to run versus a walk in less than a second.
This augmented reality treadmill has a top speed of 8 mph, which is sufficient for gaming but insufficient for morning running. The VR ODT’s belt speed can also be adjusted to match the virtual landscape you’re walking through.
For example, when you’re walking up a mountain, the device forces the belt to slow down, causing you to walk more slowly in the virtual environment than you would in the real world. Thus, when going up the mountain, you feel like you need more affordance, and vice versa while coming down.
As a result, Infinadeck is one of the best treadmills for VR available. Third-party virtual reality developers will use Infinadeck’s SDK to easily adapt their experiences to the treadmill.
The Infinadeck running simulator functions similarly to the Kat VR treadmill, with the exception that no special footwear is needed.
It’s suitable for any form of virtual reality experience, whether it’s a shooting game or a sports simulator. Infinadeck’s biggest unforeseen weakness is its protection system.
If you pick up virtual objects by bowing too close to the hard restricting circle, you risk hitting your head on the counter, resulting in serious injury.
The downside of this system is that it is bigger than any of the other VR treadmills we’ve discussed.
Infinadeck VR Treadmill Price: Depending on the setup, the treadmills cost between $40,000 and $60,000
Infinadeck Treadmill Pros and Cons
Infinadeck Treadmill Pros
- Easy to use
- Allow fast-moving
- 360 directions
- 8 mph top speed
- No special footwear is needed
- Effective sensors
Infinadeck Treadmill Cons
- Heavy
- You may hit your head with the hard bar
6. Aperium K-01 Pod
Aperium K-01 pod is the world’s largest virtual reality treadmill for niche gaming for home use. Using V-Orient technology gives users the illusion of walking rightwards and leftwards while physically walking only forwards.
Like all of the best treadmills for virtual reality listed above, the Aperium K-01 changes speed based on what’s happening in the virtual world.
Unlike other software tools, this VR ODT includes a full-ATX device that produces a video signal and sends it to a VR headset, such as the HTC Vive.
This all-directional treadmill has high stop panels with a height of more than 3 feet instead of safety rings or body limiters.
With the Aperium K-01’s operator interface and touchscreen display, operators can configure and activate VR apps.
Besides, the company offers its own SDK, which enables third-party developers to migrate their Unity-based VR apps to the Aperium K-01 pod.
It uses two base stations on opposite panels to track user movement and location and a sensor mounted on a special belt a gamer wears.
Since Aperium K-01 measures 10.5 x 8 ft, it’s not exactly the most suitable match for your living room, which is why it’s considered a commercial VR gaming system.
Pros and Cons of Aperium K-01 pod
Aperium K-01 pod Pros
- Low maintenance cost
- Compatible with most headsets
- Allow the third-party developers to configure
Aperium K-01 pod Cons
- It takes a lot of effort to carry this treadmill from one location to another.
7. Strider VR
The Strider VR immersion rig is very different from other forms of virtual reality. It is an omnidirectional VR treadmill. Unlike the typical VR products on the market, this product was engineered differently.
On this VR walking machine, a rotating ball is strategically situated above it. A pair of Microsoft Kinect sensors track the user’s movement and strides.
There are a good number of multi-directional treadmills available that offer 360° movement. The treadmill operates differently. Using a Microsoft Kinect-based system to ensure your body keeps facing the sensors, creates the illusion that you can move in any direction.
Users of this product can also rotate and move linearly due to DC motors. This allows users to remain within the treadmill platform.
The manufacturer claims that this VR ODT (Omnidirectional Treadmill) creates a near-perfect illusion of walking in a virtual world. We noticed that the Strider combines full-body tracking with walking on a treadmill platform.
This VR equipment has a major problem with the understanding of virtual movement. It should provide more responsiveness to virtual movement.
This walking platform for VR is not suitable for fast-paced games or movements that require quick turns. The stride VR can walk at speeds of up to 6 km/hr. Running and jogging, it is not recommended.
Strider has the advantage of being supported by nearly any type of virtual reality application. In addition, this does not require special clothing or footwear.
- Related: 10 Best VR Headsets for PC Gaming
8. OmniPad
Introducing OmniPad, a portable, lightweight, and affordable omnidirectional treadmill offering 360° movement. This VR walking station will allow people to walk, jog, or run naturally in an immersive virtual environment that is 360°.
Unlike conventional treadmills, the OmniPad uses a tread to allow you to safely walk, run, or jog in ANY direction.
The VR circle treadmill lets users navigate 3D terrains, military training scenarios, rehabilitative virtual environments, and video games through virtual reality display glasses.
OmniPad users will be able to travel endlessly inside 3D virtual environments. Video games, terrain simulators, therapeutic environments, architecture walk-throughs, and much more can be incorporated into 3D environments.
A single OmniPad can connect multiple users to a shared virtual environment in real-time, allowing video game players, military trainees, and other consumers to interact with each other simultaneously.
9. Owatch VR Walker
Owatch VR manufactures virtual reality simulators. VR Chairs, VR Flights, VR Walkers, VR Machine Guns, VR Racing, and VR Space are part of the product line.
A VR Walker simulates walking, running, and standing in an immersive environment by attaching an LCD screen to the treadmill. In addition to the simulators, the company offers 360-degree VR content.
10. Omnifinity
Google’s Idea for VR Treadmill Technology
Google has proposed an innovative concept – Motorised VR Shoes – to address all of the problems with existing VR technology.
The motorized VR shoes from Google are essentially roller skates that allow the user to walk normally.
As you walk in Google VR shoes, you’ll feel as if you’re walking in a virtual world indefinitely, while the motors and wheels counteract your natural locomotion and keep you safe.
Google plans to use the shoes to monitor the user’s feet. As a result, if the user gets too close to the virtual walls of the VR area, the tracking device detects it and wheels them back to safety.
At the moment, Motorised Shoes are just a patent since they are trying to figure out how to do it without the consumer falling over.
There is also the issue that some people might find it strange to walk outside in the real world while looking at a virtual one. It can sound a little creepy at first, but we’ll all get used to it eventually.
- Related: Top 7 Best VR Racing Simulator Cockpits
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VR Running Pad Cheap Alternatives
- ProxiMat VR
- IncStores Jumbo Soft VR Mat
- VR Ninjas
- XPack VR Floor Mat
- Skywin VR Mat
- Asterion VR Mat
- Neoprene Rubber Mat
Check Review: Best VR Mats for VR Gaming
What is the Best Oculus Quest 2 VR Treadmill?
Here is the best VR stationary treadmill for oculus quest 2:
- Virtuix Omni One
- Infinadeck VR
- Kat Walk Mini
- Cyberith Virtualizer
- Spacewalker VR
- Aperium Reality K-01 Pod
- Strider VR
- OmniPad
- Owatch VR Walker
- Computerphile
VR Treadmills Alternatives
You don’t have enough room or money to do any of these things? Then take a look at some of these cheap VR treadmill alternatives:
VR Omnidirectional Treadmill Prices
VR treadmills are prohibitively costly for the average user. As a result, the majority of these items are aimed at arcades or large corporations.
The world of virtual reality is expanding day by day. Although the price of an omnidirectional virtual treadmill is a little costly people are accepting these ideas goodly.
In the very future, we will see some cheapest VR treadmills and we can gift them to our loving persons.
VR Running Rig Final Thoughts
We rarely use VR gaming and running platform at home because they are quite expensive, huge, and heavy. Most VR treadmills are used for business purposes, gaming, or as displays in malls. If you’re interested, you can visit a virtual reality attraction in your city and get a feel for what it feels like.
FAQ
How Do VR Treadmills Work?
A virtual reality treadmill is a mechanical system that allows you to walk in any direction while still providing 360-degree movement.
The VR treadmill is designed to function as a game controller, with the added benefit of allowing you to move around in the VR gaming world.
To use the VR treadmill, you must strap yourself onto a large plastic platform, put on a special shoe that reduces friction, and wear a waist belt that keeps you in place.
The VR treadmills use inertial sensors to monitor your location, stride length, and speed, and then send the data to a computer, which converts the data into game movements.
Why Do We Need VR Treadmills?
VR Treadmills have a moving seat and a special waist belt, allowing the user to safely and comfortably perform various tasks. As a result, a VR treadmill will support and stabilize the user in any place, including bending to grab some unreal things in a virtual world.
What Is the Main Purpose of Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality is being used to develop immersive environments that can both inform and entertain customers.
Virtual reality is used in many fields, including science, engineering, the military, and others, in addition to gaming.
What Are the Side Effects of Virtual Reality?
Some researchers have looked into the consequences of only using VR headsets for a limited period of time.
However, there was no evidence of loss in vision in these tests. Some people, however, experience temporary symptoms including nausea, dry, irritable eyes, headaches, and eyestrain.
Related: How to Prevent Motion Sickness in VR? – 14 Best Tips
Is VR Bad for Your Brain?
Virtual Reality does not cause permanent brain damage in adults or children, according to scientific evidence.
Just a few symptoms occur during the VR experience, such as dizziness, depression, and collapse.
The technology is still in its infancy, and it necessitates further investigation and testing.
Related: How VR Tricks Your Brain
Can You Get Exercise on an Omni Treadmill
Yes!
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