We are now in the era of VR fitness gadgets! Oh yes, and VR treadmills are getting better by the day. Bulky units? Yeah, but that’s how it should be—at least for now. The KAT Walk C2+ is a practical VR treadmill with cutting-edge VR technology that makes it a viable option for VR enthusiasts looking to simplify home workouts.
The overall design is sleek and sturdy, and the setup guide is available on the website. In fact, there’s a detailed guide for every action you’d want to take with this gadget on the product’s webpage; you can also download the manual there. Oh, I forgot to mention that part of the accessories included with this VR treadmill is a pair of special shoes designed to be worn while using the machine.
Kat Walk C2+ Overview
At first, after complete setup, you may begin to wonder if you’d fall over with the treadmill if you fell forward a little more than you should, but surprisingly, you won’t. The main unit, which can be called the backrest is pretty heavy and can hold up literally anyone using the gadget. Okay, that’s that – the KAT Walk C2+ is an upgrade from the former; it is sent with about 4 deliveries (all packaged in four different cartons), and it works with different VR headsets, including the Meta Quest 2.
Of course, you need to set this up in an environment that’s quite far from the walls, so you don’t flail your hand into the wall while using the treadmill for some particular gameplays – also, it shouldn’t be placed close to your TV. The gadget works with three sensors, which you have to charge up and pair; not difficult to do anyway, and the sensors are charged up upon delivery. Everything to get the gadget started is readily available, you just have to set them up properly.
The harness, special shoes, and the sitting module are all pretty comfortable; for an ardent VR gamer, the C2+ is an awesome gadget for the price, and it makes VR games more immersive and relative than usual. Oh, there’s a haptic feedback module in the area where the LED underlights are installed. All these add to make the KAT Walk C2+ a really interesting VR gadget for lovers.
Spending $1,399 for a virtual reality treadmill, does it worth it? Well, the KAT Walk C2+ delivers just good for the price tag, and since VR treadmills are still relatively new, the few ones in the market may seem pricey at the moment. When the competition kicks in, we might be seeing much affordable options.
Specifications
- Weight Recommendation: For people who weigh below 286lbs./130kg
- Height Recommendation: 5.1” – 6.7”
- Gadget Weight: 57kg
- Dimensions: 49.2 x 49.2 x 62 inches
- Footprint: 6.5 square feet
- Shoe Sensor Battery Life: 7 hours
- Voltage: 110 – 220V
- Compatible VR Headsets: HTC VIVE/VIVE Pro/Vive Pro 2/Vive Focus, Valve Index, Oculus Rift/Rift S/Oculus Quest (via Oculus Link, Virtual Desktop, Airlink), Meta Quest 2 (via Nexus), Meta Quest Pro, Pimax, Mixed Reality VR headsets, PSVR (via PiSystem), Varjo Aero, Varjo XR-3, and HP Reverb Gen 2.
How Does the C2+ Compare with the Previous-Gen C2?
If this is your first time hearing about VR treadmills and the C2+, there has been a previous model, the Kat Walk C2. The KAT Walk C2 VR treadmill set the pace at which the C2+ improved on. While both generations deliver exceptional virtual reality experiences, there are noticeable improvements with the new-gen C2+.
Starting with the LED underlights to the haptic feedback system and a smart sitting posture module, the C2+ is designed to offer more immersiveness and intensity needed for today’s demanding VR games where improved interactivity is crucial. The specs and design on both are pretty much the same, aside from the aforementioned “new” features on the C2+.
KAT Walk C2+ VR Treadmill Features
For a sophisticated VR gadget like the C2+, you should expect it to come with quite many features and accessories.
1. Specialized Footwear
The C2+ comes with a specialized pair of footwear that adapts to your VR gaming preferences. This pair of shoes aids movement and gliding on the treadmill with a high-safety, anti-slip protection lock installed at the bottom end. There are sensors installed on the shoes and you can customize the friction levels.
2. Sitting Posture Module
For games that require you to sit down and play, the C2+ comes with a comfy sitting module. So, you can enjoy car racing games with more immersion and realism. Combined with the haptic feedback, the C2+ delivers a fully integrated VR vehicle hub that simulates multiple driving interactions to appear more realistic than ever.
3. Specialized Shoes
One of the splendid features of the KAT WALK C2+ is the inclusion of “sensorized,” specialized shoes for running, gliding, or walking on the treadmill. These specialized shoes are highly customized and feel pretty much comfortable for you to wear them over a long time. However, the shoe sensors have a rated battery life of 7 hours –still long enough?
4. Cross-Platform VR Headset Compatibility
The KAT Walk C2+ works with many VR headsets, including “not-so-popular” models from Pimax and Varjo, so there are chances your VR headset can connect and work with this treadmill. You may need to connect your headset using a special platform. For example, the PSVR connects via PiSystem while the Meta Quest 2 goes with Nexus. You can quickly look up the specs sheet on the website to see if your device is supported.
5. Haptic Feedback and LED Underlights
The LED underlights light up to make the treadmill appear more appealing, but far from that, they combine with the haptic feedback to deliver a more immersive experience. With the feedback, every gameplay feels more real.
KAT Walk C2+ Review
How the KAT Walk C2+ works depends on the VR game you’re playing and your customizations. The shoes are available in different sizes, but you’re only getting one size, if you’d be two or more using the treadmill, then you will have to invest in more shoes at an additional cost. Yes, the harness is soft-padded and comfortable, while it holds you back firmly as you use the treadmill for all gaming actions.
Generally, using the treadmill is not really hard, but a first-timer would find the whole thing weird and complex, for the start. You flip down the sitting module and there you have a super-comfy setup for games that take you through driving scenes or piloting an aircraft. There are a couple of cons and pros, but the pros seem to prevail over the cons.
Pros:
- Easy to set up, intuitive software
- Built-in charging cables for convenience
- Built-in turn signals and haptic feedback
- Sitting module
- One-size fits all
Cons:
- The mapping isn’t perfect at the moment, you could take one step on the treadmill and find one you walked twice in-game.
- You can’t jump, the strap harness won’t let you do that.
- Bulky size, you need a lot of free space to set it up
How To Use The KAT Walk C2+ VR Treadmill
Once you have the treadmill set up, you’re good to go. The setup procedure is available in the user manual, which is also accessible online via the product’s web page. You will need to install the gadget’s software, which is what to use in mapping the accessories, connecting your VR headsets, and configuring several other features of the treadmill.
The whole setup is software-based, and it’s quite intuitive. You get into each section and set up the available settings to match your preferences, and of course, the type of games you play will affect your configurations. However, once the hardware components are installed, the software initializing isn’t a big deal.
Verdict
KAT Walk C2+ VR treadmill is a revolutionary VR gadget that makes VR gaming more immersive and engaging. It is compatible with many VR headsets and can be used to play a plethora of VR games. As for the price, at $1,399, you can’t particularly say whether it is expensive or not –that would be subjective. But overall, this looks like a good investment, and many others who have used it gave approvals to it being a really handy VR gadget.
