Best answer: Yes, the Quest 2 Elite Strap is worth buying, though there are issues to note. It's more ergonomic than the strap that ships with the Oculus Quest 2, and it has a wheel for easy adjusting. There's also an option for a version with a battery built-in. There have been some quality issues, but they seem to have been addressed by Facebook.
Improving the fit of the Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 comes with a cloth strap that's better than the strap that shipped with the original Oculus Quest. The default strap is more comfortable than its predecessor and keeps its size well, but it isn't the best strap available for the Oculus Quest 2. Facebook has an official Quest 2 Elite Strap that delivers the best VR experience for the headset.
The Quest 2 Elite Strap is more ergonomic than the cloth strap that ships with the Oculus Quest 2. The Quest 2 Elite Strap cradles around the back of your head, which helps spread the weight of the headset while also improving comfort. The back of the strap has a wheel that allows you to easily and quickly adjust the fit of the strap.
The Quest 2 Elite Strap takes some design queues from the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap with its ratchet wheel, and that's a good thing. The Vive Deluxe Audio Strap is one of the best VR head straps on the market, so any step towards it is a step in the right direction.
Adding comfort and battery life to the Oculus Quest 2
The Quest 2 Elite Strap isn't the only official head strap for the Oculus Quest 2. Facebook also has a version of the Quest 2 Elite Strap with a built-in battery. The battery life on the Oculus Quest 2 is okay, but nothing to write home about. Facebook states that the Oculus Quest 2 gets between 2-3 hours of battery life. Having some extra battery power built into a headset will help you play all day. Facebook states that the strap's battery "doubles your playtime," so you should get between 4-6 hours.
The extra battery adds a bit of bulk to the Oculus Quest 2, though the weight is spread around the back of the band. That added weight might even help counterbalance the front of the headset, but it will be noticeable. The Quest 2 Elite Strap without a battery weighs 176.9g, while the Quest 2 Elite Stap with a battery weighs 311.1g.
The biggest downside of the Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery is that right now it's only available in a bundle. That bundle gets you a nice case from Facebook, but you can't buy the strap on its own. Though bundles don't usually cost the sum of their parts the Quest 2 case that's included is $49 on its own. Some people would probably prefer to be able to buy the Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery on its own for between $70-$80.
Quality control issues
Several reports emerged showing quality issues in the Quest 2 Elite Strap. The issues led to cracked straps and other issues, such as loose screws. Facebook reached out to many affected people and replaced several straps. The issue was so bad that Facebook paused shipments of the Elite Strap due to quality issues.
These issues sound terrible, and are for those affected, but Facebook appears to have addressed the issue. The issues seemed to come from a bad batch of Elite Straps. Those we've spoken with that have received newer Elite Straps report a marked improvement.
The quality issues should give some people pause, but Facebook does seem to have addressed the issue quickly by pausing production, reaching out to those affected, and beginning to ship better Elite Straps. That being said, you may want to take a wait-and-see approach to make sure that the quality control issues are gone for good.
Is it worth buying a Quest 2 Elite Strap?
The Quest 2 Elite Strap improves the comfort of the Oculus Quest 2. It spreads the weight of the headset around your head more evenly than the default strap and cradles the back of your head for added comfort. It also has a wheel on the back that makes it easy to adjust the fit of the strap. The Quest 2 Elite Strap is one of the best accessories for the Oculus Quest 2.
If you plan on playing on your Oculus Quest 2 for extended periods of time, the Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery and Carrying Case is worth grabbing. It adds an extra built-in battery to the Oculus Quest 2 and has the same ergonomic fit of the Quest 2 Elite Strap without a battery.
The Quest 2 Elite Strap replaces the standard strap that ships with the headset. The Elite Strap is more ergonomic and has a fit wheel that lets you twist the headset to a nice, snug fit.
This combo pack is the only way to get an Elite Strap that has a battery pack built right in. It also comes with a case to keep your headset and Touch Controllers protected.
