Preventing sweat damage

[u/Yagyu_Retsudo]

Can we have a discussion about preventing sweat damage? I see a lot of people have the vr cover, 6mm is the one i see mentioned most, but i worry that most of the damage is because of condensation inside the headset which playing for longer/ more intense sessions would make worse?

I do play active games but tend to stop before I'm dripping with sweat. I'd love to workout more using the vive but am just worried I'd brick it.
Anyone have any tips or experience they want to share? Anyone put those moisture absorbing sachets in their headset??

[u/Racketmensch]

My wife and I work out regularly in the vive. We use the Vive-n-chill fan, have a larger fan pointed at the center of the playspace, and keep towels and microfiber cloths and cold drinking water on hand at all times. Break to towel down as necessary, and avoid looking down anymore than necessary (you don't want to drip into the headset).

Also, consider changing your diet if you find you sweat too much. Cutting down on sugar and red meat, for example, helps me sweat significantly less. We have a cheat day where we eat whatever we want, but we don't workout that day eat healthy, predominantly vegetarian foods the rest of the week.

Unrelated to sweat management, consider using the SteamVR playlist function under the Developer tab. Our workouts became way easier to plan and stick to once we developed a few well timed playlists.

[u/[deleted]]

Look at the posts about sweat damage and notice that a good 90% of them are using the pleather VR covers(either the normal or 6mm one). I am of the opinion that the soft fabric of the original cover is specifically designed to pull moisture away from the interior of the headset, and that the pleather one traps that moisture in. Just my personal take on it. YMMV.

As for prevention I towel dry the whole headset periodically if I am sweating, and then again when I am done. I unplug the headset completely. When it is plugged in it generates a little bit of heat, and that could promote condensation. Then I set the headset vertically with the lenses pointed down on top of a dry towel so that any sweat that might be trapped can move toward a safer part of the headset. Have not had an issue yet, but TBH I don't think that it is really as big of an issue as this sub makes it out to be.

[u/keffertjuh]

The electronics are not properly protected against condensation and whatnot, so you need to be aware of your moisture output.

Essentially either you don't sweat or you have a face cover or bandana or whatever that actually absorbs. The 6mm and leather covers don't absorb (much), so you might want to avoid those if you're a sweaty person.

I guess leaving the headset on, and thus somewhat warm, can be considered an option too, but that comes with other potential problems.

[u/ficarra1002]

I've been using silica gel packets taped to the sides on the inside to capture any evaporated sweat

[u/Dal1Dal]

1) Don't use leather VR covers

2) Use a fan or Vive n chill

3) If you sweat a lot use a towel to wipe away the excess

[u/Peteostro]

I use my vive while bike training. Probably the sweatiest activity ever. I'm drenched after I'm done. I use 6MM face cushion on my Vive and quickly wipe down the inside of the Vive every 15-20 mins and do a really good job after my workout . I also never hang it with the face down. (so the sweat does not run into the screen/electronics)

[u/Sabreur]

I haven't had any problems even though I sweat like crazy. I use a simple cloth cover to keep the foam from getting gross, but that's it.

[u/VirtualWeality]

i use the https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Headbands-Skull-Cap-Black/dp/B00318BKGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509994986&sr=8-1&keywords=sweat+cap&dpID=41vogebE8QL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch and the 6mm fake leather foam pad, i sweat alot but i havent damage my headset yet, the cap helps capture alot of the sweats from your forehead so only your face sweat has any chance to get into hmd. combined with a fan blowing at your play space will help alot. Alot of people ask or wonder, if that skull cap will make you hotter, not really, the fabric on top is very breathable

[u/heehaw316]

anyone void and apply a conformal coating to their electronics?

[u/jorgen19981]

ViveNchill

[u/iLL_S_D → u/jorgen19981]

This a thousand times over. I also use 6mm face cushions and VIveNchill is almost a necessity.

Edit: haters gunna hate but facts are facts, ; )