Boost Your Apple Vision Pro Experience with a $45 Headstrap Upgrade

When it comes to the Vision Pro headset, there’s plenty to admire, but comfort isn’t at the top of that list, especially considering its hefty price tag. Apple, with its keen eye for design, may have created a visually striking headset, but it doesn’t prioritize comfort for the wearer. Fortunately, addressing this issue isn’t too complicated.

Critics have often pointed fingers at the Vision Pro’s weight, attributing it as the main culprit behind its discomfort. “It’s metal, after all,” they say. However, if you take a closer look, Vision Pro is not significantly heavier than its peers. For instance, the Quest 3’s display housing (excluding the headstrap and facepad) tips the scales at 394g, while Vision Pro’s display housing is just slightly heavier at 475g.

Now, while weight is crucial for comfort, how that weight is distributed across the head makes all the difference. Let’s be honest—even Quest 3’s standard soft strap isn’t the epitome of comfort. Acknowledging this, Meta offers an ‘Elite Strap’ as an aftermarket item, which adds 183g, raising the total weight of the Quest 3 (including the facepad) to 642g. Compare that to the Vision Pro, which weighs in at 625g with its standard setup.

Interestingly, with the Elite Strap, the added weight actually enhances the comfort of the Quest 3. Apple has attempted a similar solution with the Vision Pro. The basic ‘Solo Knit Band’ isn’t exactly a comfort champion either.

Recognizing this, Apple includes a ‘Dual Loop Band’ with every Vision Pro. It’s a step up, thanks to an added top strap for better weight balance, but it’s still not perfect. This is a bit of a downer, as the Knit Band actually has some great features: it’s soft, comfortably cradles your head, and comes with an easy-to-use adjustment dial. Yet, you miss out on the top strap advantages offered by the Dual Loop Band, having to choose one over the other.

One would think Apple should have simply blended the benefits of both straps. Fortunately, there are third-party strap solutions that manage to resolve this issue at a fraction of the cost that an official Apple solution might demand.

After testing several third-party straps for the Vision Pro, I stumbled upon one that ticks all the boxes. It blends seamlessly with the Knit Band, lets me skip the facepad to cut down on weight, and brings my eyes closer to the lenses for an enhanced field-of-view.

Enter the ANNAPRO A2 strap for Vision Pro. Really, this is what Apple should have bundled from the start. Priced at $45, it significantly boosts the comfort of Apple’s $3,500 headset, making it a worthwhile investment.

Having used it for several weeks, I can confirm it dramatically improves long sessions with Vision Pro. The upgraded comfort level transforms the experience, especially regarding the new ultrawide virtual monitor for Vision Pro, making it genuinely useful for everyday tasks.

The company behind it was kind enough to send us the strap to review and offered a 10% discount code for our readers. To snag this deal, use the code ROADTOVR at checkout on Amazon.

The Annapro A2 strap slides onto Vision Pro’s arms effortlessly, perfectly complementing the Knit Band. It also works with the Dual Loop Band for extra top-strap support if desired. The package includes four pad sizes (5mm, 12mm, 18mm, and 25mm), ensuring a comfortable fit for various head sizes.

For my personal fit, the 5mm pad suits me best, allowing me to wear the headset without the facepad. This setup not only gives me a broader field of view but also delivers a more authentic AR experience, thanks to the open periphery.

Apple’s pursuit for sleek aesthetics with the Vision Pro has sacrificed comfort. Their aim to create something that resembles oversized ski goggles rather than typical headsets introduced an element of discomfort, a common critique.

Thankfully, affordable third-party add-ons can now remedy this. This approach is so effective that it wouldn’t be surprising if future versions of Vision Pro incorporate a similar strategy right from the start.