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Running outside can be a freeing experience, with a fresh breeze whipping through your hair to remind you that you’re doing something you love. Unfortunately, that wind can sometimes get out of hand, and it’s not uncommon to run head-first into gusts. Windswept hair flying in your face and sticking to your forehead can take you out of your rhythm, and it can sometimes even hurt when it gets into your eyes. It’s worth investing in a reliable headband to keep those loose strands in place. The right one can also do a great job of sopping up sweat during your runs, preventing it from running down your face.
It might seem like a headband is a simple piece of fabric. But to tame the constant bouncing of your hair when you’re tapping out miles, you want a quality one that will support your hair as much as it holds it out of the way. You’ll appreciate a band that can more easily stay where you put it. Furthermore, it’s nice to have one that feels appropriate to the temperature, cooling you off with sweat-wicking fabrics when it’s hot out or trapping heat around your forehead and ears when it’s not.
To find the headband that best fits your needs, keep reading and see the headwear The 48 Best Gifts for Runners Who Love Gear.
The Best Headbands
- Most Versatile: Buff Standard CoolNet UV+ Multifunctional Headband
- Races - Places: Nike Swoosh Headbands
- Rubber grips prevent movement: Stays on easily
- Nylon, polyester, lycra: Tread Bands All Terrain Tieback Headband
- Emily J. Shiffer: Recycled polyester, elastane
What to Consider
Band Width
The headbands on this list range from half an inch wide all the way up to 6 inches. The wider a headband is, the more spread out the pressure on your head is going to be, leading to less of a squeezing feeling. However, those of us with thinner hair might find that a skinnier band stays in place better when it doesn’t have to contend with thick locks. That said, you can also fold over a wider band if you don’t want it covering as much of your head, and plenty more are made to be configured in a variety of shapes and patterns to provide more functional versatility.
Material and Thickness
The key difference between a running headband and any other tube of fabric you’ll find at the store is in the materials used to make it. Quality athletic bands are made for wicking sweat away from your head just as much as holding your hair in place—that extra breathability goes a long way when it comes to temperature regulation. To limit discomfort on your runs, try to look for bands made of moisture-wicking materials like polyester and nylon, as well as spandex and elastane that add a forgiving stretch. Avoid cotton bands if you can, as they have a hard time letting your sweat evaporate after they’ve soaked it up.
Just as much as headbands can be an effective means of sopping up sweat on a summer day, there are plenty made to keep your ears and forehead warm during the bitterness of winter. While the two seasonal varieties share many of the same materials, it’s best to make sure the coverage and thickness of any headband is appropriate for the conditions in which you’ll be using it. Thinner bands—think 0.5 to 2 inches in width—will more often be better suited for hot days, while bands wider than 3 inches will often trap more heat for cold days. That said, some other headbands provide fuller coverage as a means of UV protection, and they’ll typically compensate for their surface area by being paper thin. If you’re looking for a headband that can function similarly to a cozy skull cap, be sure to avoid accidentally picking one of these featherweight models by mistake—you can often find details about each headband’s ideal climate in their product description.
How We Selected
Not all headbands are built to withstand the pavement pounding and sweaty miles that we runners experience. To find the best runner-approved headbands available now, we researched the most promising products, taking into account value, size, fabrics, and the measures each headband takes to stay on your head. We then cross-referenced our picks with those of fellow expert reviewers from outlets like Women's Health and Glamour to ensure our choices were among the best. Read on to see what we think holds up (your hair) the best.
Buff Standard CoolNet UV+ Multifunctional Headwear
Pros
- Multi-use band
- UV protection
Cons
- This Adrenaline Fan Loved the Newest Model
Buff offers a solid headband in the CoolNet, but it can also do more than just hold your hair back. These multipurpose bands work as gaiters, neck warmers, masks, and all kinds of headwear. The fabric also provides some UV protection, which can help better shield your neck and face on the sunniest of days.
Key Specs
| Width | 2 in. (in headband form) |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Recycled polyester, elastane |
Alo Yoga Airlift Headband
Pros
- Rubber grips prevent movement
- Soft double-knit fabric
Cons
- You’ll need to wash it by hand
A simple design with just a touch of cinched detailing, the Airlift is a headband with optional frills that you have the freedom to either show off or tuck behind your hair. And they also help keep it in place. The band has a broad 3-inch width for better distribution of the squeeze on your head, and the inside of the band has extra rubber grips for even more stability.
Key Specs
| Width | 3 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Polyester, elastane |
Pros
- Good value
- Silicon grips help band stay in place
Cons
- May feel like too much pressure on one part of your head
If you have fine hair, some thicker headbands might slip off more easily. But these Nike headbands, which are thinner, are designed to have a much stronger hold on the silkiest locks. They also have silicone strips to provide extra grip, and they come in packs of six, meaning you'll have plenty of backups if you find yourself without one.
Key Specs
| Width | 0.5 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | when its hot out or trapping heat around your forehead and ears when its not |
TrailHeads Ponytail Headband
Pros
- Keeps ears warm
- Won’t fall off
Cons
- Best Tieback Option
When it gets cold out, this headband from TrailHeads is made to keep your ears warm. Functioning similarly to a skull cap, this band uses a thicker moisture-wicking fabric to strike the perfect balance between protecting you from the cold and giving your scalp a chance to breathe.
What really makes it unique, though, is the slit in the back that allows you to stick your ponytail through, which helps to keep both your hair and the band in place.
Key Specs
| Width | 4 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Polyester, spandex |
Pros
- Effective moisture-wicking properties
- Stays on easily
Cons
- Fewer color choices than other bands
Performance-wise, this headband from Athleta is made to conquer the heaviest of sweat thanks to its moisture-wicking nylon-polyester-lycra fabric. Each band has rubber grips lining the inside to keep it in place and manage flyaways. And they also come in a few neutral and basic colors, so you can rock one with nearly any outfit.
Key Specs
| Width | 2 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Nylon, polyester, lycra |
Tread Bands All Terrain Tieback Headband
Pros
- Much wider range for fitting
- Adjustable
Cons
- Silicon grips help band stay in place
If you don’t love the feeling of an elastic band’s squeeze encircling your head, you might have a better experience with a tieback headband, the size of which you can adjust on the fly for the perfect fit. This model from Tread Bands is a solid middleweight, rocking a modest 2.5-inch width that sits at a modest balance point between the thinnest and thickest bands on our list. It also comes in a variety of eye-catching designs, which is always a plus in our book.
Key Specs
| Width | 2.5 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Polyester, spandex |
Pros
- Soft fabric
- Versatile configurations
Cons
- Material doesn’t wick moisture
If you prefer more coverage with your headband, you’ll love this one from Blom. It’s styled like a turban with multiple overlapping layers that help balance bulk and security. The fabric is super soft. And while the Original isn’t necessarily sweat-wicking, it offers plenty of versatility. with more than 14 possible wrapping configurations. The band also comes with a neat card with instructions on how to wear it in some of its trickier-to-master styles.
Key Specs
| Width | Up to 6 in. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Rayon |
Nike Swoosh Headbands Runner's World, May feel like too much pressure on one part of your head Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, Feels a bit bulky in headband form.
Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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