Comfortable headset?

[black_heart]

So I'm planning on getting back into flight sims and working on spec'ing a new PC build (had to switch to OSX a few years ago for work and don't have a modern PC) and considering building in VR, or at least whether I should spec to support VR.

 

My problem is, I have a quest 2 and the PSVR2, and I can only stand to wear either for about an hour. Maybe a bit less. It tends to give me a headache. I don't think it's the visual "feeling" so much as eye strain and pressure on my head/face. They're both fairly heavy (relatively speaking) and put pressure on the bridge of my nose, and forehead.

 

I always used eye tracking w/ IL2 (I've been out of the game for a while tbh), but I do enjoy VR.  I think I'd really enjoy VR for flight sim, but I'm just not sure if I want to go down the rabbit hole or spend the money, to be honest.

 

What would the VR experts say is the most comfortable headset, and does anyone else suffer from migraines from VR?

[Customizer171]

I have a Reverb g2 that has been very comfortable to ME, but it is very individual what will fit your face.

It's not a good choice now because it will soon stop working.

But if comfort is the most important thing I believe it will be hard to find something better than BSB, Bigscreen beyond.

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

Get some anti-glare, blue light blocking lens inserts for the PSVR2 and that'll be a big upgrade for eye strain. I can play for hours with my quest 3 with those + kiwi headstrap and custom face gasket.

Or go Big Screen Beyond 😉. Also, OS X is the best...wish IL-2 and VR were workable.

[black_heart]

The BSB look incredible. Maybe one day.

 

Bit of an update. Finally got things up and running on a PC I bought my daughter last year. She's been playing on the PS5, so I took over her room.

 

I was able to get the quest 2 working w/ IL2. My only issue at the moment is the HOTAS I used years ago (Saitek X52) is no bueno on Windows 11 apparently. I was able to get IL2 to work in the quest with M+KB (yuk) to a degree that the fps was totally acceptable. I played war thunder and just a bit of free flight in IL2 for over an hour last night and it didn't bother me too bad. My eyes dried out a bit.

 

What an experience it is in VR. Holy hell. No nausea. At one point I did get some butterflies (vertical stall and rolled over), but overall just awesome. 

 

Just ordered a stick for now. I think I'm going to get a VKB, but I got a turtle beach velocity one because it will be here tomorrow. Hopefully I can get it configured. I read some threads about that stick. I just needed something quick and it was available nearby. Can't wait to play it properly w/ HOTAS in VR. Maybe I'll just stick w/ VR and forego the IR/head tracking thing.

[[CPT]Crunch]

If your using software to run the X52 can't you set it to run in win 10 compatibility mode or something earlier?  That will usually fix any compatibility issues.

 

Right click on your X52 .exe, select properties, set compatibility mode.

[chiliwili69]

On 2/5/2025 at 4:28 PM, black_heart said:

I have a quest 2 and the PSVR2, and I can only stand to wear either for about an hour. Maybe a bit less. It tends to give me a headache. I don't think it's the visual "feeling" so much as eye strain and pressure on my head/face. They're both fairly heavy (relatively speaking) and put pressure on the bridge of my nose, and forehead.

I am glad you enjoy VR, it is really worth.

 

Regarding comfort, which is perhaps the most important factor since we usually play for several hours, I also found the PSVR2 putting too much pressure on the forehead.

Definetely, the PSVR2 will need a mod in order to be usable.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/83406-psvr2-in-pc-just-as-a-monitor-for-now-new2024-steamvr-support-and-official-pc-adapter/

 

And regarding Quest2 (like Quest3), they have the battery in the front, so in order to have it well fixed in your face you normally have to put an extra pressure on the strap (whatever aftermarket strap solution). One trick is to put some extra weight in the back side to compesante the weight of the battery. I do that with the Quest3, I am using the DESKTEQ QH3 and I pasted some weights (iron pieces with velcro), see pictures:

 

Edited February 13 by chiliwili69

[black_heart]

23 hours ago, [CPT]Crunch said:

If your using software to run the X52 can't you set it to run in win 10 compatibility mode or something earlier?  That will usually fix any compatibility issues.

 

Right click on your X52 .exe, select properties, set compatibility mode.

I spent far more time than I would like to admit trying to get it to work. Based on a ton of reddit posts and I think some posts here, it's a known thing. I'm not sure there was ever a fix for it. I got the drivers to install but it would not initialize no matter what. I uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers about a dozen times. The "solution" on the Saitek/Logitech website is to unpack the driver exe and manually chose the drivers in device manager. I did that, but it simply would not recognize the stick. Lights up, but not recognized as an input device. Somewhere in a house move a button got broken off the x52 and it was pretty well used, so in the bin it went.

10 hours ago, chiliwili69 said:

I am glad you enjoy VR, it is really worth.

 

Regarding comfort, which is perhaps the most important factor since we usually play for several hours, I also found the PSVR2 putting too much pressure on the forehead.

Definetely, the PSVR2 will need a mod in order to be usable.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/83406-psvr2-in-pc-just-as-a-monitor-for-now-new2024-steamvr-support-and-official-pc-adapter/

 

And regarding Quest2 (like Quest3), they have the battery in the front, so in order to have it well fixed in your face you normally have to put an extra pressure on the strap (whatever aftermarket strap solution). One trick is to put some extra weight in the back side to compesante the weight of the battery. I do that with the Quest3, I am using the DESKTEQ QH3 and I pasted some weights (iron pieces with velcro), see pictures:

 

This is a great idea! Thanks!