The Omius cooling headband, sported by many top athletes at this summer’s Olympics (including Dutch marathon champion Sifan Hassan) claims to cool athletes down, reducing athletes’ perception of heat and potentially improving performance. A new study investigated how well they deliver on that promise, and the results are mixed.
The study, conducted by researchers out of Sherbrooke, Que., published in the Journal of Thermal Biology, explored how well the technology in these cooling headbands impact performance.
The science behind the headband
The Omius headbands, originally used by triathletes, feature 20 squares of graphite that provide cooling by absorbing sweat; their irregular surfaces greatly increase the amount of surface area subject to sweat evaporation, which speeds cooling. The graphite pieces contact the skin directly and are held in place by a silicon grid. The headbands are said to provide cooling as long as needed, as long as they stay moist and are subject to airflow (either outdoors, or from a fan, if being used indoors).
The study
Researchers had 10 male athletes perform two trials—one while wearing the Omius headband and another with a sham headband (i.e., placebo)—under sweltering conditions (35 C, 56 per cent humidity). The protocol included a 70-minute sub-maximal run (at less than 80 per cent of max heart rate), followed by a 5K time trial (max effort). Researchers tracked several measures, including heart rate, body temperature and how hot the athletes reported feeling.
Here’s the kicker: the Omius headband did lower athletes’ forehead temperature and made the runners feel more comfortable, but wearing it did not lead to significant improvements in key performance metrics like heart rate, core body temperature and 5K time.
i get this ad all the time, apparently this is a cooling headband (??) but i want it to be a set of nutrition blocks that you wear around and eat when you need to and they provide all your nutrients for the week. this is the future i want pic.twitter.com/Fk4HHYllVh
— Lindsay B (@theonlylindsayb) August 25, 2024
The real takeaway
While the Omius headband improved forehead thermal comfort, it didn’t lower the more critical rectal temperature, which is a solid measure of core body heat. Rectal temperature was actually slightly higher with the Omius headband at the start of the sub-maximal run. This suggests that while cooling your forehead may make you feel better, it doesn’t necessarily translate into physiological improvements that boost endurance or performance.
Perceived exertion and heart rate didn’t differ significantly between the Omius headband and the placebo headband. So, while you might feel slightly cooler and more comfortable with the Omius headband, don’t expect it will let you shave minutes off your race time.
Worth it?
If you’re looking for something that helps you feel cooler while running in the heat, a cooling headband can do the trick. (We tried it on, and it does feel cool against the skin; for athletes who struggle in the heat, it could be worth it for the reduced discomfort.) But if you’re hoping it’ll improve your running performance or make a major difference in your overall heat regulation, the science doesn’t seem to back that up. Researchers suggest broader cooling strategies, like cooling vests, as a better bet for athletes looking to stay cool and improve performance in hot conditions.
