Winter
headbands
that actually stay put
A winter headband has one job: cover your ears, keep the wind out, and not creep up your forehead by the second mile. Here is what to look for in a cold weather headband, how fleece compares to knit, and how to dress for the number on the thermometer.
What to look for in a cold weather headband
Most winter headbands fail in one of four predictable ways. Knowing them makes the choice quick.
Ear coverage
A band that sits above the ears is a sweatband, not an ear warmer. If you want warmth, the band has to fully cover the ear, which means a taller cut, around three and a half inches through the front.
Wind resistance
Open knits look warm and let wind straight through. A dense fleece or a double layer blocks moving air, which is what actually makes cold hurt.
Grip without pressure
Tight enough to stay put, loose enough to wear for two hours. Anything that leaves a mark after twenty minutes ends up in a drawer.
Moisture handling
You still sweat in the cold, and a band that soaks and stays wet gets colder than no band at all. Brushed fleece holds warmth while moving moisture out. For warm weather, the same fit logic applies to a moisture-wicking sweatband, just in a thinner, faster-drying weave.
Fleece or knit
The two common constructions behave very differently once the temperature drops below freezing or the wind picks up.
Brushed fleece
what our ear warmer is made of- High warmth for the weight, traps air in the nap
- Blocks wind instead of letting it through
- Sheds wet snow and dries fast
- Low profile under a hood or helmet
- Best for running, commuting, walking the dog, snow
Knit
fine for standing around looking good- Warmth varies wildly with stitch density
- Open knits let wind straight through
- Absorbs wet snow and stays damp
- Bulky under a hood or helmet
The Winter
Ear Warmer
Double-layer brushed fleece, full ear coverage, low enough profile to wear under a hood or a helmet. Ticks every box on the checklist above, and it is covered for as long as you own it.
One in the wash, one in the bag, one on your head. 30-day returns, lifetime warranty.
Dress for the number
One band and one gaiter cover the whole season. Roughly:
Ear warmer alone. Vent the crown, cover the ears, and let your effort do the rest.
Shop the ear warmer →Add the gaiter around your neck. Pull it over your chin the moment the wind bites.
Add the gaiter →Gaiter up as a balaclava, band over the top to seal the seam. Only your eyes get a say.
Get the pair →Running and snow
Cover the ears, leave the crown open
A full hat overheats within a mile for most runners. An ear warmer headband vents the top of your head while protecting the part that actually gets painful, which is why so many runners switch to a band by November.
Layer with a gaiter rather than sizing up
When it gets properly cold, a band plus a neck gaiter covers more than any single piece, and you can pull the gaiter down the moment you warm up. It also works as a beanie, a balaclava, or a face cover in wind.
Expect to wash it often
Machine wash cold, hang dry. Fleece loses loft in a hot dryer, and loft is the warmth.
Fit and sizing for men, women and kids
Good Bands ear warmers are one size, cut to stretch across a range rather than sized S, M and L. In practice that covers most adult heads and older kids.
- Adults. The band relaxes to roughly 21 to 24 inches around, which fits the large majority of adult men and women. There is no separate mens winter headband. The same band works.
- Kids. Boys and girls from around nine or ten typically fit fine. Younger than that and the band tends to ride up.
- Long hair. Pull the band on from the front and let it sit flat against the hairline rather than dragging it back over a ponytail.
- Glasses and helmets. The low profile means it sits under a bike or ski helmet without pressure points.
Questions
What is the difference between a winter headband and an ear warmer?
Are fleece headbands warm enough for snow?
Will a winter headband stay put while running?
Do you make a mens cold weather headband?
How do I wash a fleece ear warmer?
What size winter headband do I need?
Good bands,
good days.
Free US shipping on every pack · 30-day returns · lifetime warranty
