XR-Cise

There was a lot of buzz recently about a new, award-winning VR fitness device from HTC that, unfortunately, was just a concept.

Short-term disappointment aside, I feel more confident now than ever that XR fitness is not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.”

At the risk of swinging a golden hammer, I think AR and VR hold the potential to create fitness experiences that far surpass what is available today.

My personal experience with fitness started about ten years ago on a dare - a friend and I hired a personal trainer and played a game of chicken until we were both in reasonably good shape. Since then, I’ve tried Crossfit, running, boxing, Starting Strength training, being a CEO, video fitness programs, and dabbles with cycling and HIIT. And, of course, VR.

For me, the constant factor is change. After a while, the initial drive and excitement wear off, and I find myself going through the motions and eventually changing gears. Sometimes this takes a few years (it’s generally longer if I have exercise buddies).

XR holds the potential to constantly refresh this experience.

The Dream

Let’s dream for a minute about what XR-cise could look like if we had a magic, ultra-light headset that we could comfortably wear while sweating, potentially in public.

At a minimum, you’d have a rich heads-up display with information about your workout progress, heart rate, and other helpful bits of information. This device is essentially a floating version of the Peloton display with nicer graphics.

A logical next step would be adding 3D elements, which could range from an instructor’s avatar, coaching you through each step, props for each workout, or even avatars of friends (live or pre-recorded), to create a bit of fun competition and connection.

Depending on how immersive these headsets could be, the exercises themselves could become mini-games (run around the park collecting faeries, dodge PAC-MAN ghosts, etc.) or even full narrative stories that unfold over weeks or months.

These headsets could make their way into gyms, where multiple users share the cost of more expensive equipment. These next-gen gyms would enable experiences like running on omnidirectional treadmills or even exo-skeleton style machines that could provide resistance based on what’s happening in the virtual world. 

Imagine a timed Tetris-style VR game where blocks must be picked up and moved into position. What if each block could have an actual weight scaled based on the difficulty of the workout you chose?

What if you actually had to swing a pickaxe to play Minecraft?

The possibilities for content are almost endless and will make today’s Peloton look like a Tony Little Gazelle comparatively.

Even outside of a pandemic, there are obvious sanitary challenges to overcome with shared machines like these. Still, as far as the headset is concerned, HTC’s prototype demonstrates a smart path forward, where each user could bring their own swappable, washable headband and “facial interface” (the parts that touch your face). 

The Reality

The current state of VR fitness leaves a lot to be desired but still has many promising signs.

The (Sweaty) Hardware

These devices weren’t designed for vigorous exercise, and so the foam that touches your face quickly becomes a sweaty sponge and can even fog the lenses. There are aftermarket attempts to fix this, like silicone covers for the stock face pad or even full replacement facial interface brackets, but these feel a bit more like a bandaid than a true fix (which might require “active cooling,” aka “a fan”).

Aside from headsets, there are some interesting potential add-ons. I’ve experimented with wrist weights, and they increase the burn quite a bit. There have also been some wild setups using resistance bands. It’s still early days here for sure.

A Growing Ecosystem of Software

In terms of software, there are some great offerings from FitXR and Supernatural. Both are similar “hit the stuff flying at you” styles of games, and both are subscription-based, at between $10 and $20 monthly. FitXR also offers “BoxVR” as a one-time purchase for $30. There’s also a new offering from VirZoom (VZFit) that seems promising (especially when paired with a supported bike setup). Still, the current version had a few rough edges in terms of comfort that the developers will likely address soon.

Another exciting option comes from Oculus itself, in the form of a free dashboard feature called “Move,” which tracks your activity across apps. You can play any app you choose and count how many calories you burned overall. Good workout options include Beat Saber, The Climb 2, Echo Arena, GORN, and Thrill of the Fight. While there are understandable privacy concerns, Oculus seems to have taken a very consumer-conscious approach by storing almost all user data locally. All in all, it seems that Oculus sees fitness as a key use case for their hardware.

The Next Steps

We’re still waiting for a headset that works well in a workout. The HTC concept demonstrates a potential path forward. There are other existing approaches (like Mira’s open-air headband) that are also up to the task (Super Nintendo World’s Mario Kart experience uses a similar headset). 

Even the rumors of a VR headset from Apple hinted at a swappable headband (although likely for style rather than sweat).

Connected fitness equipment will continue to evolve. There are already VR-ready Bluetooth-connected bikes and rowing machines supported by Holodia. Even the popular biking app Zwift has flirted with VR support.

On the gym front, Black Box VR is creating some exciting VR-connected workout experiences and has opened six locations to date (CA, AZ, and ID).

There are promising signs everywhere, but in much the same way as XR is still waiting for its “iPhone moment,” XR-Cise is still waiting for its “Peloton Moment.”

Footnote: Working on this piece, I discovered a fantastic resource (VR Fitness Insider) that I highly recommend to anyone looking to stay on top of the latest developments.