LUCIDGLOVES: DIY VR GLOVES YOU CAN FEEL
Cheap open-source VR gloves with finger tracking and haptics — a 20,000-strong Discord and a badge-reel spring trick behind them.
VRWearables
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo STABLE2,352 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · MIT · 2,352 stars · repo STABLE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
If you play VR and like to tinker, this is a joyful build: open-source gloves that track your fingers and buzz with haptics, for pocket money. Lucas VR Tech open-sourced the printable parts and Arduino firmware, and the community around it is enormous — a Discord north of 20,000 members with a proper wiki (parts lists, printing guides, firmware setup, wiring). We love the low-cost cleverness, like using springs pulled from retractable badge reels. Two honest notes: the repo ships finished STL meshes, not source CAD, and the BOM lives in the wiki rather than as a file — so read the wiki first. And you'll need the free OpenGloves SteamVR driver, or VR won't see the gloves at all.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —STL to print (Prototype 3–5) plus Arduino firmware for Nano and ESP32
- —No source CAD (STEP/F3D) — only finished meshes
- —BOM and wiring live in the wiki, not as files
- —Needs the OpenGloves SteamVR driver to work
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Videos
How I Build CHEAP VR Gloves
The creator's Prototype 3 build video, linked from the README.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the wiki (parts, printing, firmware, wiring)
- 2.Watch the build video (Prototype 3)
- 3.Install OpenGloves (required SteamVR driver)
- 4.Print the parts (use the '.1' versions)
- 5.Join the Discord (20,000+ members)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Without the OpenGloves SteamVR driver, VR won't see the gloves — install it first
- The firmware defaults to Nano over serial — you must edit defines for ESP32/Bluetooth
- The repo ships STL meshes only — source CAD isn't included, and the BOM/wiring live in the wiki
- Prefer the '.1' part versions when printing
Do they actually track fingers and give haptics?
Yes — finger flexion tracking plus force-feedback haptics on the later prototypes, all driven into SteamVR via the OpenGloves driver.
Where's the parts list?
In the wiki, not as a file in the repo. Read the Parts Lists and Wiring pages before ordering.
What's the badge-reel trick?
Retractable badge reels are a cheap source of the return springs the fingers need — a classic community hack.
What does it cost?
Band $ per hand — genuinely affordable. The wiki has current parts prices.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The community's finger-return springs come from retractable badge reels. What's the best everyday-object part substitution you've seen in a build?
Lucas VR Tech (LucidVR)
Open-sourced cheap, printable VR gloves with finger tracking and haptics, and grew a 20,000+ member community and a deep wiki around them.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1mo ago
A gotcha we'd want fellow builders to know: the firmware defaults to Arduino Nano over serial, so ESP32 and Bluetooth users have to edit the defines before anything works — and without the OpenGloves SteamVR driver installed, VR never sees the gloves at all. The repo also only ships finished STL meshes, with the parts list living in the wiki. Anyone printed the newer prototype versions — how's the haptic feel?