One thing I prefer on my Virtual Reality controllers is knuckle straps, and ProTube VR have this covered with the ProStraps. With Meta’s latest headset now getting the ProStrap treatment.
Release Date: October 10th 2023
Brand: ProTube VR
Price: €25,00 (excluding tax)
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Product Provided For Review *
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside of the box you get 2x Flex 3D Printed Cups for your controllers and 2x cushioned straps that loop through two hooks on the cups.
ATTACHING TO THE CONTROLLERS
Getting the ProStraps on to your controllers takes no time at all. With their cup design, you just push your controllers down into the cups and then adjust the straps to your hand-size and comfort and you are ready to go.
BENEFITS
The main benefit I find of the knuckle strap in general is the extra grip and comfort it gives the controllers, and this is why I prefer this sort of grip. On top of this is also gives the extra immersion of being able to open your hand without the controller dropping and hanging from your wrist. If you have any concerns that the controller will fall when you open your hand, you can also run the wrist strap through the bottom of the cup and have that around your wrist (which I do).
This cup design also makes it easy for replacing the batteries in the controllers and you just slip them out of the cup, replace the batteries and then put them back in.
Another thing that benefits someone like me is the extra little bit of width on the cups, it makes the controllers more comfortable in my big hands. But, it’s not that thick that if you find the controller size OK, it will not make less comfortable for you.
TESTING THE PRODUCT
When testing them out I did this with and without the wrist strap on, and although I am confident the controllers will stay in the cups when playing, I settled on putting the wrist strap on as well just in case I don’t push them in fully at one point by accident. When testing them I wanted to put them through a full stress test, so I played different styles of games with more rapid movements and more relaxed.
For the more active games with more rapid hand-movements I checked out Smash Drums, Stride: Fates and Outta Hand. Even with these more rapid movements the controllers didn’t feel like they were ever going to come out of the cups and stayed in them solidly – which removed the main worry I had with the cup design.
As you would expect with having no issues with the more active games, when checking out games like Assassin’s Creed Nexus, PowerWash Simulator, Sushi Ben and Red Matter 2 they were solid as well.
Over my time testing the comfort really came to the forefront, and having these cups and straps for my larger hands were great, especially in those more active games. Being able to open my hand from around the controllers and them staying on my hands when needed, was also a big relief.
THE VERDICT
ProTube VR’s ProStraps for Meta Quest 3 have nailed giving me the Knuckle Straps I wanted for my Quest 3 controllers. With their tried and tested cup system mixed with very comfortable padded straps makes for the perfect design. Gone is the need to keep your hand constantly closed around the controller when using them, and this is fantastic for immersion as you don’t feel the controllers drop around the wrists when opening your hand, either in game or for a break from gripping them.
