Revolutionary VR shoes: Naturally running in virtual reality!

Revolutionary VR shoes: Naturally running in virtual reality!

Vereinigtes Königreich - The British start-up FREAIM has caused a sensation for motorized VR shoes with its Kickstarter campaign. The shoes that promise a more realistic running experience in the fascinating world of Virtual Reality were presented on the consumer market on July 15, 2025. Thanks to its omnidirectional drives and integrated sensors, the movement in the VR is perceived in a similar way to a treadmill. This ensures that users can move safely and at the same time in a virtual environment without being dependent on joysticks or teleportation. According to Heise, the VR Shoes, which were presented a few weeks ago, enable a significant reduction in motion Sickness and improved immersion in virtual Worlds.

FREAIM offers two variants of the VR Shoes: the “VR Shoes Advanced” model with automatic cycling modules for side movements and the “VR Shoes Light”, which does not require these modules. The Advanced version requires a free floor area of at least 1.5 × 1.5 meters, while the Light version optionally requires a support frame. Both models are compatible with common PC-VR games and SteamVR headsets, and the first tests with titles such as "VRChat" and "The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2" are already underway. Support for standalone games on the Meta Quest will also be in the works, which increases the flexibility of the possible uses.

The pricing and delivery

The entry prices are around $ 1,100 for the Light version and $ 1,400 for the Advanced variant. It is also important to take into account the offer of the Omni One treadmill from Virtuix, which costs $ 2,600 and also includes a VR headset. Free shipping is offered to many countries, including the USA, Canada and European countries. The first delivery of the shoes is planned for the beginning of 2026, and all backers of the Kickstarter campaign can look forward to reduced offers in the first 48 hours, which state that the Light version for GBP £ 799 (approx. USD 1,079) and the Advanced version for GBP £ 1,049 (approx. USD $ 1,399) are available become.

technology and user friendliness

In order to further optimize the immersion and user experience, FreeAim has also developed new optional support framework: the Swivel Frame, which sees the traditional treadmill setup, and the hex frame, which is supposed to ensure more freedom of movement. The technology behind these shoes was tested with hundreds of users to meet challenges in the locomotion in physical rooms and user comfort. In addition to the hardware-side innovation, Freiaim also provides software development kit (SDK) for developers who want to work on improving the VR experience.

Progress in VR technology are remarkable and offer a feeling of reality that goes beyond purely visual representations. According to [pisto] (https://pisto-magazin.de/virtual-realitaet-trends- und- forward-progress-in-der-VR-Technology/), VR-hardware and displays have developed enormously: high-resolution displays such as OLED and micro-Led minimize the so-called "screen-door effect", while new Motion tracking systems increase the mobility of the users. These developments contribute to the fact that VR applications are increasingly becoming more important not only in entertainment, but also in areas such as education and training.