Workout headbands are not expensive, but you don’t want to waste time and money getting ones that don’t work.
And that’s easier said than done. Because for not much to them, sports and workout headbands have to do a lot for you:
- have to be comfortable
- have to stay in place
- have to keep sweat out of your eyes
- have to keep hair out of your face
- have to be fashionable
Continue reading to see the best headbands I’ve found for most sports, gym workouts, and running.
Table of Contents
The Best Sports/Workout Headbands
After a rigorous selection process (i.e. years of sweating), I’ve found these headbands to be the best.
Best Overall: Halo II Headband
This is not your ordinary headband. The Halo II headband has a special feature allowing it to do more than just soak up your sweat.
The inside of the Halo headband features a silicone strip that runs across your forehead and directs sweat away from eyes. This way, even if you sweat so much that the headband becomes saturated, the “Sweat Seal” is still going to prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes!
It’s a great all-purpose size that works for men and women. It’s not necessarily the most stylish, but it’s the most effective when it’s really hot and you’re really pushing your limits.
(The fashionability has improved though. It used to only come in black, but more colors are available now, both solid colors and prints.)
With a retail price of $16.95, that’s a few extra dollars compared to typical headbands, but well worth it!
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and REI.com
Best Value: Bondi Band
The Bondi Band is “the original no-slip, no-drip headband.”
This is the headband that set the bar, and it set the bar pretty high! It does everything, and it does it well.
The Bondi Band is versatile and inexpensive. It will keep your hair back, it will keep sweat out of your eyes (it soaks up quite a bit of sweat for how thin it is!), and you’ll hardly know it’s there.
Multiple sizes are available, but I suggest the tapered headband which is 4″ in front and narrower in the back.
It’s available in 20+ colors and many more patterns. At just $11.99 each, you could have one for each season, and/or one that matches every outfit!
And it’s still made in the USA.
The Bondi Band is great for virtually everything other than perhaps running a marathon in July.
Buy online: Browse their full selection at Amazon.com
Best Style: Junk
Despite the name, JUNK Brands headbands are not junk at all!
They actually make a great handband, and they have one suitable for any style.
It’s not just a wide selection of styles and colors, though – some of them have sayings printed on the front to show off your personality or remind you why you’re working out.
Some of the workout headbands with sayings include:
- “Everything Hurts”
- “Marines. The Few. The Proud.”
- “Believe” (Ted Lasso style!)
Most are priced at $16.99 each with some at $18.99 each.
They also do custom headbands.
Buy online: Browse their full selection at Amazon.com
Best for Ponytails: TrailHeads
TrailHeads offers a full line of ponytail headbands. You can get different colors and styles, as well as different materials depending on if you’re doing summer or winter workouts.
In most cases, the TrailHeads Power Ponytail Headband is the best headband when you require excellent ponytail management.
Prices start at $18.
TrailHeads are made in the USA (in Massachusetts).
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and Walmart.com
Best for Heavy Sweat: Sweat Hawg
Are your sweat levels out of control? Do you regularly find yourself wringing out your headbands once they get soaked and start dripping into your eyes?
Then set your sights on the SweatHawg Headband. You’ll be amazed at how much sweat it can soak up!
You may recognize Sweat Hawg – they make the best skull caps and helmet liners to keep sweat out of your eyes when cycling. They also make a headband using the same technology, and it’s wonderful!
It’s a relatively narrow, low-profile headband, but it contains a piece of proprietary material that soaks up every bit of sweat and prevents it from dripping down into your eyes.
This headband offers a Velcro closure for an adjustable fit.
The only drawback is that this one is not meant for holding your hair back. It needs to be positioned closer to your eyes to be most effective. That said, they do have other styles of headwear.
Sporting a $27 price tag, it’s more expensive than other sweatbands, but you get what you pay for.
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and SweatHawg.com
Best Thin Headband: Nike
Just need to keep hair out of your face? Then consider using the Nike Sport Headband to pull your hair back.
It’s a 3/8″ headband, so it’s thin and discreet. Its sole purpose is to hold your hair back, keeping it out of your face.
Priced at $25 for a multi-color six pack.
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and Dick’s
Best for Cold Weather: Smartwool
Smartwool is more than just great socks. They make all sorts of warm, cozy, wool clothing – such as this Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Headband.
This headband is thin and light, but since it’s made from wool, it provides more warmth than the polyester headbands on this list.
The best thing about wool is that it still keeps you warm, even if it’s wet. So even if this headband gets soaked in sweat since you’re working hard, it’s still going to keep your ears warm. It’s perfect for running on cool, windy days, or even for XC skiing.
At $22, it’s still an affordable option.
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and REI.com
Honorable Mentions
Not all workout headbands can be “the best.” But these ones were pretty close. So you still might want to consider them.
lululemon Women’s Cardio Cross Trainer Headband
It’s no secret that lululemon products are top-notch. This headband is no exception, with quality craftsmanship and lots of great features like anti-stink Silverescent™ technology, powered by X-STATIC®, which inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria on the headband.
But this one mainly helps with hair management. It’s on the smaller side and won’t do much to keep forehead sweat out of your eyes.
You might like it though!
At $14, it’s affordable luxury.
Buy online: Check price at lululemon.com
Temple Tape
The Temple Tape yoga headband is a good quality headband, and you can buy one for less than 10 bucks!
At just $7.95, it’s downright cheap. If you’re not sure that headbands are your thing, this is a low-risk way to find out.
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and Walmart.com
Turtle Fur Bang Band
The Turtle Fur Bang Band is made from double-layer fleece, and this Chelonia 150 Fleece is one of the softest and warmest fleeces you’ll ever find.
I prefer the Smart Wool headband for cooler weather workouts, but this one is great for lower-intensity exercise in cold weather. It will keep your ears very cozy in the winter.
(They even make a three-layer fleece headband but that’s almost too warm if you’re exercising.)
The logo is a cute turtle, which I prefer to a giant The North Face logo!
At $13.99, it’s a great value.
Buy online: Compare prices at Amazon.com and Target.com
The not so great headbands
The Eco-Friendly Option: DIY Workout Headbands
To save money, get creative, and reduce your environmental footprint, it’s not super difficult to make your own headbands.
You probably have old t-shirts, maybe even old cycling jerseys or other workout apparel made from sweat-wicking fabric. Maybe something is worn out in one area, but the rest of the fabric is fine. Or a shirt has a tear in it that’s not practical to fix.
You can “upcycle” your old workout gear into some DIY workout headbands.
As long as you have a piece of fabric that’s about 18″ long by 8″ wide – and some sewing supplies – you’re in business.
There are helpful tutorials online from Melly Sews and Sarah Hearts that show you how to make workout headbands. They are slightly different styles so I would suggest comparing both to see which suits you best.
What To Look For
When it’s time to make your final decision, this selection criteria can help you choose the best headband for your needs.
(This is especially useful if you found an interesting headband that I haven’t reviewed, and you want to determine if it’s any good.)
Ability to keep sweat out of your eyes
First and foremost, the headband must keep sweat out of your eyes.
You don’t want sweat stinging your eyes. And you don’t want to have to keep wiping sweat off your forehead. That’s distracting.
A good headband allows you to stay focused on what’s important, whether it’s a yoga pose, your opponent’s serve, a racer on your heels, or just taking in your surroundings in nature.
Hair management
Just as distracting as sweat in your eyes can be hair in your face!
When you’re focused on your sport, you can’t turn your attention to your hair. So you want your headband to take care of that for you.
So the headband’s ability to manage your long hair and keep it out of your face is important.
You may also want a headband that is ponytail compatible.
Has to stay in place
To effectively keep sweat out of your eyes and hair out of your face, the headband has to stay in place.
It can’t loosen up and fall down, or slide back.
This usually depends on:
- the material itself
- if it has a silicone strip
Some headbands have a good amount of stretch that allows them to stay tight on your head and not shift around (without feeling too tight). But depending on your hair type and head shape, you might have trouble with the headband slipping forward or back.
To counter that, some headbands may use a silicone strip on the inside to keep it from slipping.
But even this still depends on the shape of your head and your hairstyle. Some headbands might not work well for your head and hair even if other people swear by them!
Comfort
Ideally, a headband is so comfortable you forget you are wearing it.
Sometimes they are too tight, sometimes too loose. Either one is annoying.
Sometimes they wear out quickly and lose that stretch.
Some could be made from a scratchy material that’s never going to be comfortable.
Style
If you’re riding your bike and need to keep sweat out of your eyes, it doesn’t really matter what your headband looks like, because your helmet will hide it.
But if you’re in the gym or out for a run, maybe you want it to look nice. Nothing wrong with style and good looks!
Some old-school headbands make you look like an 80’s aerobics instructor, but there are plenty that look sleek, modern, and fashionable.
Price
Most headbands are pretty cheap, between $10-20.
If one is more expensive than that, it better be worth it!
These are best sports and workout headbands I’ve found.
As I said, workout headbands are pretty cheap – probably the least expensive workout attire you can buy. But you don’t want to waste your time and money getting ones that don’t work well. Not only is there the initial waste, but you’ll either waste space and clutter your drawers keeping them, or you’ll feel guilty because they’ll contribute to massive landfills.
So buy the best one from the start.
Levi Bloom is an experienced endurance athlete who has been training and competing for over 17 years. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer (professional class on the regional circuit), he is now a cycling coach (USA Cycling Level 3 Certified) and sports nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified).
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