Roam FAQ
What is Virtual Active ROAM?
Virtual Active is a first-person, forward-motion video experience designed to enhance your cardio workout. The programs are designed to be played in front of your treadmill, bike, elliptical, or stepper to give you the feeling you are running, hiking, or cycling through iconic destinations, such as the Grand Canyon and the streets of Venice.
ROAM streaming service provides high quality videos with a great user experience. Enjoy full 1080 HD Virtual Active on PC, mobile, tablet, or television, with native apps or on your browser, on iOS, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV apps.
Using the App
Can I play my own music with Virtual Active?
The app provides music or ambience only options for most workouts. At this time it is not possible to play alternative music channels on the same device while using the Virtual Active videos.
Can I download files for offline access?
For the iOS apps you do have the option to download a number of videos onto your device. When on a video click on the download icon on the top right to start a sync to your device. In your profile settings you can set the "Download settings". Go to your Library to see the "Offline" videos.
I want to purchase individual files or DVDs.
Virtual Active workouts will be available for download or DVD for only a short time, but we will be discontinuing these options. If you have purchased downlaods in the past your purchases are still available. Please contact support@vafitness.com if you have any questions.
Can these be used in a studio setting?
The Virtual Active workouts are designed to be licensed to a single user. Use by a commercial fitness facility without written consent is a violation of federal copyright law. If you manage or work at a fitness facility and would like to use our videos, please contact support@vafitness.com for information regarding a commercial license.
How do I manage my account?
On the website once you log in you can "Manage Subscription" to edit your account info, billing information, email subscriptions, and purchases.
If you subscribed via an app, you can use the settings in the app.
Workout Questions
What’s the difference between Guided and Basic workouts?
Virtual Active Guided workouts include helpful instructions from a professional trainer, while the Basic workouts allow you to set your own pace and enjoy the scenery. Watch this video to learn more about how Virtual Active workouts are structured.
What is the difference between the Run series and the Hike series?
The Run series is optimized for exercisers running on a treadmill or elliptical, while the Hike series is optimized for exercisers walking on a treadmill, elliptical, or stepper. The differences are found in the perceived speed of movement through the environments and in the instructions given in the guided workouts. Runs are photographed at eight to twelve miles an hour, and include instructions that suggest rates of perceived exertion between five and nine. Hikes are photographed at three to six miles per hour, and include instructions that suggest rates of perceived exertion between four and eight.
Although many Hike and Run segments share destinations, such as Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, they generally take different routes or explore different sections of the location. In other words, you will see different parts of Bryce Canyon on the Hike than you will on the Run.
What is RPE?
RPE stands for “rate of perceived exertion.” It is a one to ten measurement of how hard you are exercising, with one being an easily sustainable effort and ten being the edge of your physical limitation. The Guided workouts in the Virtual Active Run and Hike series use RPE as a way to monitor your effort. Watch this video for more about RPE.
Will the motion make me sick?
Not likely. Virtual Active is produced using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques, including custom hardware and software designed explicitly to create the smoothest forward-motion video in the world. Those who are highly susceptible to motion sickness while watching other video content or playing video games may experience similar effects with Virtual Active. However, we have spent years on research and development and settled on an approach that will be comfortable for the vast majority of users.
Are the virtual trails produced with real photography or computer generated?
Everything you see is real. The virtual trails are captured on location using state-of-the-art HD digital cinema techniques pioneered by Virtual Active. The footage is not sped up or slowed down. While computer generated imagery is improving, nothing beats the fidelity of real cinematography, the beauty of real natural landscapes, or the serendipity of a real American buffalo crossing your path. See how we film in our Production Blog.