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The best sports bras should be simple yet supportive and well-constructed so that they don’t lose too much stretch over time. There are tons of options out there, some of which are good for lower-intensity movement like yoga and Pilates, while others are better suited to high-intensity workouts like HITT and sprints. To find the best sports bras for a range of activities and intensities, my fellow Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst and I spoke to fitness experts, including runners, yogis, dancers, movement trainers, cyclists, and boot-camp trainers. Then we tested out their recommendations for ourselves. While you’re here, if you’re looking for something to wear with any of these bras, I’ve also written a guide to the best yoga pants for women.
Update on October 18, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Size range
Experts I spoke with advised buying multiple styles in multiple sizes when you’re first trying out any bra from a new brand. “All brands size their products differently, so while that isn’t awesome for consumers, it is a reality that you can compensate for by trying on multiple sizes at home,” says Athena Kasvikis, the founder of Behave Bras. And if your breasts are on the smaller side, Souad Acha, co-founder of fashion-consulting firm Stateless, suggests purchasing a sports bra that’s one size smaller than your everyday bra for a bit more support.
Material
Although fit is the most important aspect of a good sports bra, the right fabrics will also make workouts that much more comfortable. You should look for moisture-wicking materials to help you stay dry and comfortable throughout your workout, advises Rami Adada, co-founder of FittDesign. Mesh panels or cutouts will increase ventilation, giving added airflow so you won’t overheat.
Bra style
Most cup sizes need a bra that will fit snugly against the chest to prevent movement — i.e., pass the no-bounce test. This happens one of two ways: via compression or individual encapsulation of each breast in a separate cup. Kasvikis recommends finding a style that works for your breast shape. “Smaller breasts may do better with compression,” she says, “and those with larger breasts should consider encapsulation sports bras.” If you’re looking for the best of both, try a hybrid sports bra. This style pushes down, securing breasts in molded cups to prevent movement and underboob chafing. Acha says that those with larger breasts might also want to choose zippered rather than pull-on styles for a more secure and comfortable fit.
Best sports bra overall
Size range: XXS–6XL | Material: Recycled polyester and spandex | Bra style: Compression with built-in support band
I regularly wear Girlfriend Collective’s Paloma bra with the (unusually size-inclusive) brand’s matching yoga pants and love how minimal it looks — the cut is similar to many tank tops I own, except the bra is obviously much more compressive and supportive. Denton-Hurst owns no less than five of these and says the compression fabric (made from recycled water bottles) and racer-back design make them suitable for just about any activity. Lauren Roxborough, former head of marketing for hot-yoga studio Y7, is also a fan and says the bra is her favorite for an active, sweaty class. Natalie Holloway, co-founder of Bala (maker of our favorite wrist weights), likewise relies on hers for intense workouts and lifts weights in them, too. “They are not restrictive in your movement and show no-to-little sweat, especially when you wear the black,” she says. If black is too boring for you, there are five colors to choose from. And the bra is so comfortable that you’ll probably end up wearing it all the time. Brodie Lancaster, a longtime remote worker, wears it for WFH, saying it stays put, is structural, and supports her chest without becoming uncomfortable. “If anything,” she says, “it encourages me to sit up straighter, for which my osteopath is grateful.”
Best sports bra for low-intensity workouts
Size range: XXS-4XL | Material: Polyester and elastane | Bra style: Compression with removable pads
“I wear this mostly because it’s sexy,” says writer and model Kendra Austin of the BeyondYoga Lift Your Spirits Bra. For Austin, who has a larger bust, it’s her go-to for lower-intensity exercises like walking, yoga, and Pilates. It also works well for smaller busts (and offers a smidge more support). Although BeyondYoga rates this as having medium support, it’s specifically designed for yoga, and while it might be supportive enough for a medium-intensity flow, it probably isn’t ideal for a bouncier activity like running or trampolining. It’s also a good option for a range of bodies, going up to a size 4X or 30-32. Currently, there are nine shades to choose from — five core neutral shades — and four limited-edition seasonal colorways. One thing to note: Some of the seasonal shades are available in a smaller size range and only go up to an XL (14-16).
Best sports bra for medium-intensity workouts
Size range: XS–XXL | Material: Nylon, Lycra, and polyester | Bra style: Compression with mesh racerback
If your idea of the perfect sports bra is one that you’ll immediately forget you’re wearing, this Brooks racer-back is a solid choice. It’s more supportive than an everyday bra yet lacks the intense compression of the Lululemon style below. It’s one-piece and seamless, so you can just slip it on over your head. Writer and outdoor-gear tester Maggie Slepian was so confident in this bra that she wore it for 23 days straight while hiking the 485-mile Colorado Trail, and it performed admirably. “The racer-back style narrows enough through the back and shoulders for a full range of motion, which was necessary, since I was doing the same repetitive motion for 12 hours per day,” she explains. When she’s not thru-hiking, it’s also her go-to sports bra for cycling and running.
Best sports bra for high-intensity workouts
Size range: Cup sizes B–DDD | Material: Nylon and elastane | Bra style: Hybrid with adjustable cross-back straps
Lululemon is another brand we regularly recommend here at the Strategist. We’ve sorted through dozens of its sports bras (and other stretchy offerings), but this one is ideal for high-impact activities because of its molded foam cups, which add shape and separation to eliminate any jiggle-jiggle. This bra is also liked by Dominique Coleman, another Spiked Spin team member, and Alexa Javens, a fitness manager and coach at the Williamsburg workout studio Session. “It’s great for all activities but especially training and running,” Javens says. As someone who wears a C or D cup, she feels more supported in a bra for high-impact sports and says that even though this one has a hybrid design, it’s still comfortable. It’s made from quick-drying fabric, and “most Lululemon bras are already pretty sweat-wicking,” she adds, though she still sticks to black or navy to avoid showing any sweat stains.
Best sports bra for large busts
Size range: Cup sizes B–J | Material: Polyamide, polyester, and elastane | Bra style: Encapsulation with three-row hook-and-eye closure
Adada told me that Panache’s sports bras offer “exceptional support for larger cup sizes.” Its sports bras come in 28- to 40-inch bands and B-to-J cups. Kasvikis, who is also a fan of the brand, says this sizing is more helpful than mono-size bras when you’re trying to find the right fit. “S, M, and L are sizes that may be too broad and too ambiguous to fit both your cup and band well,” she says. “You’re going to need the cup and the band to fit well to feel comfy in a sports bra.” This Panache bra is designed to encapsulate instead of compress, which means there are individual cups for each breast to fill instead of being squashed down; Kasvikis, who wears size 32GG, says that works well for larger chests. “It’s great because you still have two boobs under a shirt,” she says. The straps are padded, and thanks to the uniquely curved stitching, the bra has enough lift to give a great shape without wires.
Best high-support sports bra for large busts
Size range: XS-6Luxe (cup sizes A-I) | Material: Nylon, spandex, and polyester | Bra style: Encapsulation with removable pads and adjustable straps
Personal trainer Kiana Jones says her large-busted clients are big fans of this bra from SheFit, which has over 70,000 five-star reviews. “Your boobs will literally not move,” she says. “It’s crazy.” Crafted from two-way stretch fabric that reduces bounce, it has seamed cups to keep the breast shape natural-looking under clothes and adjustable straps to customize how high and tight the bra sits. The brand offers a fairly inclusive size range (up to a size 1), with the biggest a 6Luxe (which translates roughly to a size 26/28).
Best sports bra for small busts
Size range: XS-2XL | Material: Polyester and spandex | Bra style: Compression with removable pads
Smaller busts don’t need as much support, so it isn’t necessary to go for something with super-sculpted cups or restrictive straps. This one from Nike offers “light support,” but according to personal trainer Tamara Pridgett, who has a small bust, it’s more than enough. “I can wear this when sprinting, hurdling, jumping, and lifting without any issues,” she says. She also likes that it’s comfortable and easy to take on and off. “And the cups don’t get frumpy,” she notes. It comes in a range of colors (new ones are added occasionally), is made from up to 50 percent recycled polyester, and fits up to a 2X.
Some more sports bras we’ve written about
Our experts
• Souad Acha, co-founder of Stateless NYC
• Kendra Austin, model and fitness enthusiast
• Dominique Coleman, Spiked Spin team member
• Natalie Holloway, co-founder and CEO of Bala
• Rami Ijbara, co-founder of FittDesign
• Alexa Javens, fitness manager and coach at the Williamsburg workout studio Session
• Kiana Jones, certified personal trainer
• Athena Kasvikis, founder of Behave Bras
• Stacy Maharaj, Spiked Spin instructor
• Denajha Phillips, National Academy of Sports Medicine–certified personal trainer
• Tamara Pridgett, certified personal trainer
• Candace Taylor, chief inspiration officer at 305 Fitness
• Hollis Tuttle, fitness and nutrition coach
Additional reporting by Tembe Denton-Hurst, Lori Keong, Dominique Pariso, and Jenna Milliner-Waddell.
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