The first thing everyone wants to do when they step into virtual reality is, well, take a step. It’s such a strange and exciting experience that just being able to turn your head isn’t always enough to fully satisfy your curiosity about your surroundings; You need to be able to move.

One of the emerging ways to get around in virtual reality is the treadmill–generally a small, slippery platform that allows you to “walk” while actually staying in place.

The Cyberith Virtualizer. Photo by Signe Brewster.

I tried my first treadmill Thursday night. The Cyberith Virtualizer, which is nearing $300,000 in funding with a week left in its Kickstarter campaign, is a sensor-studded platform that sits between three posts.

After taking off my shoes and pulling on a pair of thick ski socks, I stepped through the metal ring in the Virtualizer’s center and strapped my waist and legs into a harness.

The ring…