Smartwool Active Ultralite Headband review: don't sweat it on the trails

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Smartwool Active Ultralite Headband: first impressions 

This running headband is designed to handle sweat and wayward hair on warm runs when you're not planning on wearing a hat to keep the sun off – think early morning and evening. Made using a blend of merino wool and lyocell, it's built to wick sweat away from your brow but will also add a little warmth if you pull it over your ears on a chilly day.

This headband only comes in one size, but it's designed with a stretch band that wraps around the base of your skull that makes it versatile across different head sizes and, because that section is narrower, makes it easy to wear with a ponytail.

We've tested this out on the trails of Scotland and Gran Canaria, and been impressed by how well it stays put, without being tight. You can wear it pulled back a bit to keep your hair out of the way, or pull it down over your forehead for sweat management without worrying about it itching.

The logo doubles as a reflective detail if you're wearing it for road running, and the wool blend means it's excellent at odor control. It's perhaps on the pricey end for a headband, and it is meant to be washed cold so you can't just chuck it in with any old wash, but it does its job well and is an excellent choice for lovers of merino.

Smartwool Active Ultralite Headband: in the field

Over the past three years, I've gradually lost all of my running headbands. I go out for a run wearing one, not so much to handle sweat but to keep my crazy hair from looking too mad, and when I get home it's no longer on my head. This headband arrived just in the nick of time and I've been wearing it on local trails here in Scotland as well as for some running during a recent hiking trip to Gran Canaria.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing and fit

This headband only comes in one size, and I'm not aware of having a particularly large or small head, but it seems to fit me well, as in comfortable and snug but not too tight. I tried it on my boyfriend's head and it seems to fit him well too. I think the stretchy band that goes at the back helps make it pretty versatile. I've mostly been wearing it further back to handle my hair, but I can also pull it over my ears.

Comfort, temperature regulation and breathability

This headband is made using wool, but it's not the itchy kind and I don't end up having to scratch my head once I get sweaty. It's soft against my skin and wool does a nice job of managing sweat. That said, it also has insulating properties, so if I wear it out in the early morning before it's warmed up, I can pull it over my ears for warmth. It's also low profile, so it can add warmth without bulk under a running hat on winter days.

Odor control, durability and care

If you don't know, merino wool doesn't get stinky with sweat and that's obviously great for items like headbands. I haven't washed it yet and it still smells fine. Not minty fresh, but fine. 

The care instructions are to wash it cold with similar colors, and fortunately I tend to do all my clothes at 30 degrees so that's not an issue, but I can see it being a problem for anyone who uses a hot wash. Merino wool doesn't have the lasting power of synthetic materials, so I can see it degrading quicker if you wash it every time on hot, but since it doesn't get stinky easily, there's really no reason to do that.

Smartwool Active Ultralite Headband: the bottom line

This headband is comfortable, soaks up sweat and can even add a little warmth. With a low-profile, stay-put design, it's a handy accessory for anyone looking to keep hair out of the way or sweat out of their eyes. If you like the idea of wool but are seeking a wide band, compare it to the Artilect Darkhorse Headband,

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