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SLIMEVR: DIY FULL-BODY VR TRACKING

Strap on a handful of tiny Wi-Fi motion trackers and get full-body VR — no cameras, no base stations, and a community of around 80,000 on Discord.

by SlimeVR

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

VRWearables

Built withESP32ESP82663D printing

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend
license
Apache-2.0 / MIT
repo
repo ACTIVE1,085 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

SlimeVR cracked a problem that used to cost a fortune: full-body VR tracking without cameras or lighthouses. You wear a handful of small Wi-Fi motion trackers and a PC-side server feeds your legs, hips and chest into SteamVR. It's one of the most accessible builds we've catalogued — the firmware is open, the docs site has a proper DIY guide and BOM, and there's a genuinely huge community (a Discord of around 80,000 members) plus official kits if you'd rather buy modules than solder. Just know the repo you land on is the firmware; the CAD, parts list and step-by-step are on docs.slimevr.dev, and the SteamVR server is a separate repo. For affordable full-body VR, this is the one.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —This repo is the firmware (ESP8266/ESP32 + IMU); the CAD, BOM and build guide live on docs.slimevr.dev
  • —The SteamVR-side server is a separate repo
  • —Dual-licensed Apache-2.0 + MIT
  • —Official DIY kits and pre-made trackers are sold, so you can build or buy

Parts to buy

3 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

BUILDS OF THE WEEK

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Can I build this?

Printthe tracker cases (files on the docs site)
BuyESP8266/ESP32 boards, IMU sensors, LiPo batteries — or a SlimeVR DIY kit
Toolssoldering iron, 3D printer (or buy printed cases)
Skillsbeginner-friendly electronics; the docs walk every step
Timea weekend for a set
Costband $$ — much cheaper than commercial systems; current prices: SlimeVR shop
Safetylow-voltage; standard LiPo care

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

SlimeVR Butterfly Trackers Launch Trailer

The official launch trailer.

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Gallery

A set of SlimeVR trackersSlimeVR
An example DIY buildSlimeVR
Contents of the official DIY kitSlimeVR
Where the trackers go on your bodySlimeVR

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the docs (DIY guide, BOM, firmware flashing)
  2. 2.Watch a review (see it in VR)
  3. 3.Get parts or a kit (modules to solder, or a full kit)
  4. 4.Flash the firmware (ESP8266/ESP32 + IMU)
  5. 5.Join the Discord (~80,000 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

  • This repo is the firmware — the CAD, BOM and build guide are on docs.slimevr.dev, and the SteamVR server is a separate repo
  • You need at least five trackers for full-body — plan the set
  • Standard LiPo handling care when charging multiple trackers

Do I need cameras or base stations?

No — that's the point. The trackers use IMU sensors over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so there's nothing to mount on your walls.

How many trackers do I need?

The docs say a minimum of five trackers for proper full-body tracking (legs, hips, chest); more adds fidelity. You can also start with a single chest tracker to test partial tracking. Battery life depends on the battery you fit.

Build or buy?

Either — the firmware and docs are open, and SlimeVR sells modules and complete kits, so you can solder your own or buy ready-made.

What does it cost?

Band $$ — far cheaper than commercial full-body systems. The shop has current prices.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

SlimeVR trades cameras and base stations for IMUs that slowly drift. For full-body VR, which annoyance would you rather live with — occlusion or drift resets?

CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited

Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

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Two Teens Couldn't Afford a VR Headset — So They Built One

●●●●○ · build the headset too

SlimeVR

Open-sourced affordable IMU-based full-body VR trackers and the SteamVR server, then grew a ~80,000-member community and a shop selling modules and kits.

GitHub Web

Star the project on GitHub

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.
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