Truthfully, it all depends on what you're looking for: If you're want something more fashion-forward, decorated with logos and some on-trend details, you'll likely have to splurge a bit; if you're fine with the bare minimum (a simple, no bells-and-whistles type of piece), you can save yourself a good amount of money (just don't expect it to last more than a few wear-and-washes). To break it all down, price-by-price, we've rounded up six sports bras and put them to the test. Click on to weigh your options, and don't forget to make it to the end for our verdict.
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The best sports should be supportive, compressive but not too tight, breathable and extremely comfortable for any type of workout. I spent 3 months testing sports bras so you don&#;t have to. I looked at more than 40 bras and tested 10 while running, practicing yoga and Pilates, carting my young children around and being active. Then I enlisted a panel of women of various sizes to test out the best seven options.
The best sports bras provide the right mix of support, comfort and breathability.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERSIn the end, we decided that the Nike Swoosh Non-Padded Sports Bra, a classic in the sports bra space, was the best overall sports bra we tried. But sports bras are a very subjective purchase, so we also included options for high-impact activities, yoga and athletes with larger busts. The following is a list of all the winners from our extensive testing process. At the bottom, we also included fitness expert picks as well.
Nike.com
Style: Compression |&#; Support: Medium |&#; Size range: XS to 2XL |&#; Materials: Polyester and spandex
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The Nike Swoosh Non-Padded Sports Bra is a classic sports bra&#;and for good reason. The fabric is thick, with a polyester-spandex blend that has enough give to not be uncomfortable but that still holds your breasts in place. The nylon-spandex hem is soft against the skin, preventing chafing. (And at least 50% of the fibers are recycled, according to Nike.) These materials also wick sweat well; after a sweaty workout, I found that the bra was dry within about 30 minutes.
At just $35, this bra is a workhorse. &#;I really appreciated how simple yet effective the Nike was,&#; said one of our testers. &#;At first, it seems just like a band of fabric across your chest; the design is so simple. But then I realized there&#;s a lot of genius in what looks simple. The exact proportions of this bra are amazing: the length of the straps, the perfect snugness of the fit, the comfort of the band. Now I understand why everyone is obsessed with this bra!&#; Although Nike does offer the Swoosh in a 2XL size, which they say will fit anyone with a 40D to 42C cup size, we think this bra is best suited for people with smaller breasts who like a compression-style fit.
The Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.
Amazon
Style: Hybrid encapsulation and compression |&#; Support: Low to medium |&#; Size range: S to 3XL |&#; Materials: Nylon, polyester and spandex
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Fittin Racer Back Sport Bras come in a four-pack for under $40, rendering them the most affordable sports bras we tested. More than 57,000 reviewers have given them an average of 4.4 stars on Amazon, and after testing them, I can see why. The Fittin bra has a hybrid construction, with a compression-style material and fit and padded encapsulation stitched around each breast. This bra stayed in place during pretty much any kind of workout I tried, and offered enough support for my B-cup breasts on shorter runs. But several others cautioned their fellow large-chested compatriots against running in the Fittin&#;they didn&#;t find it to be supportive enough.
This bra was the most loved by our testers who had medium breast sizes, usually in the C to D range. The Fittin bra runs small, so most of us ordered a size up; those who didn&#;t, experienced chafing under their arms. Also, as with most cheaper bras, the pads come out of the Fittin bra when you dry them, and you&#;ll start to notice some material fuzziness over time. This is more annoying than anything else, as you can just stick the pads back in. Fittin bras are from Amazon, so you can also enjoy the mega-retailer&#;s fairly decent return policies.
SHEFIT
Style: Hybrid compression and encapsulation |&#; Support: High |&#; Size range: XS to 6Luxe |&#; Materials: Nylon, polyester and spandex
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The testers who loved the SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra loved it more than any other bra they tested. It&#;s an encapsulation-style bra with compression, and has adjustable shoulder straps, incredibly thick nylon-blend fabric and a zipper down the front. Compared with most of the sports bras we tested, this one is definitively more stylish. It also comes in a wide range of sizes, from XS to 6Luxe (which fits cup sizes up to I).
The testers who raved about the SheFit all had D or larger cup sizes, and noted how it kept them held in without feeling suffocating. This is due to the stretch panels along the sides and seamed cups, which feel less restrictive than you&#;d expect. But those who didn&#;t love it felt like the SheFit was too supportive. Everyone agreed that sizing up was the right move for the SheFit, usually just by one cup size.
Nordstrom
Style: Encapsulation |&#; Support: High |&#; Size range: 32C to 42I |&#; Materials: Nylon and spandex
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Wacoal has been making women&#;s bras since , and the Simone Sport Underwire Bra has long been a favorite for women with larger breasts. Most of our testers obsessed over how comfortable the Simone bra was, even if it wasn&#;t the most stylish option in the lineup. Still, if performance matters most, the Simone Sport hit that sweet spot between supportive and comfortable, and it kept everything in place even during high-intensity workouts. This isn&#;t a bra for everyone, but if you struggle to find enough support during jumping or running workouts, this one is definitely worth considering. In addition to its own site and Amazon, Wacoal bras are sold online through Nordstrom, where you can return it at any time.
Girlfriend Collective
Style: Compression |&#; Support: Low |&#; Size range: XXS to 6XL |&#; Materials: Recycled plastic bottles and spandex
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Our middle-sized testers, in the B and C ranges, loved the Girlfriend Collective Paloma Racerback Bra. It was my favorite bra&#;so great, in fact, that I quickly ordered two more to add into my exercise rotation. The Paloma is made with spandex and the brand&#;s classic recycled plastic bottle material. (Paloma&#;s reputation for sustainability is nearly unparalleled in the yoga gear space.) The material is so soft that I didn&#;t want to take the bra off, and it wicked moisture well even during hot yoga classes, at temperatures above 100 degrees.
Our smaller-breasted testers found the Paloma to be a bit boxy; this caused gapping in the sides. Our larger-breasted testers thought this compression-only option didn&#;t provide enough coverage. But if you&#;re in the middle of the size chart, like me, you&#;ll likely find the Paloma to be both supportive enough for a workout class and comfortable enough to wear around the house. &#;It&#;s so comfy it feels like I&#;m not even wearing anything,&#; one tester said. &#;I wear this often as a regular bra even when I&#;m not working out.&#; Girlfriend Collective offers 30-day returns. When you&#;re finished with any Girlfriend Collective product, you can recycle it through the brand&#;s ReGirlfriend program.
There is no one perfect sports bra for everyone. With that in mind, here are other highly-rated options you might want to consider. Although we didn&#;t test these bras ourselves, they came highly recommended by fitness experts we spoke to.
Alo Yoga
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Alo Yoga&#;s sports bra collection is a favorite among fitness (and fashion) buffs. &#;These bras are beautiful and fun,&#; says Mar Soraparu, co-founder and chief wellness officer at Biân. &#;They have great styles and cuts,&#; she says, adding that the ribbed performance jersey fabric is soft to the touch but strong enough for medium-impact support. (Alo&#;s in-house team tests every piece for durability). Take note: Reviewers recommend sizing down for flexible compression.
On
Style: Hybrid encapsulation and compression |&#; Support: Medium to high |&#; Size range: XS to XL |&#; Materials: Polyamide and elastane
On&#;s Performance Bra Lumos is designed to keep you supported, cool and visible during high-impact exercise such as sprints or HIIT. The light built-in padding reduces bounce while a single-piece, wireless construction allows you to move freely without having to adjust during your workout. The premium elastic fabric and ventilated mesh back panel are engineered to wick sweat, and the reflective cloud print will help make sure you stand out in low light at any time of day.
Lululemon
With inclusive sizing up to a DDD cup, Lululemon&#;s sports bras are designed for activities like aerobics and running. &#;They have the greatest supportive bras for larger chests that are also beautiful,&#; says Soraparu. The bestselling Energy bra has a bonded under-band that won&#;t budge and breathable cups that soften bounce. Also great: the hook and eye closure is engineered to lie flat to create an easy experience when pulling this bra on and off.
Patagonia
Nearly all of Patagonia&#;s line uses recycled materials, and the full molded-foam panel on the Wild Trails sports bra makes it an excellent choice for high impact activities. &#;This is a great supportive sports bra,&#; says boxer and fitness trainer Jessica Evans, noting that women often have to double-up on sports bras to find the right amount of support for ultra-active sports, &#;but not with this one.&#;
Beyond Yoga
Beyond Yoga&#;s bestselling design provides a balanced mix of support and seamless coverage. &#;Before children, I wore these for any workout as a smaller-chested woman,&#; Soraparu shares. &#;These built-in bra crop tanks are so comfortable, perfect for any class and can be worn for errands, walking or even out socializing if paired with fun casual pieces.&#;
Target
Target&#;s in-house line has attracted pros for its cost-effective designs. &#;These sports bras range from $13-$16 and really are great,&#; says Evans. &#;They have basic colors to match anything you need, have a nice cut that is flattering and they are comfortable.&#; Part of the appeal is a seamless fit, which reviews mention creates a smooth look under clothes.
We tested other sports bras that were contenders for this story but didn&#;t make the final cut among our panel of testers yet remain popular with reviewers.
On Performance Bra: If you have an A or B cup size, you might find the On Performance Bra to be an appealing option. My editor, who wears a size A, raved about the seamless, compression-style construction (with slight padding built into each cup) and regularly wears the On Performance Bra for her weekly 4-mile runs. &#;It&#;s supportive, comfortable and feels invisible when I&#;m wearing it,&#; she says. But I found the compression to be too intense for my size B cup, plus the straps chafed, which just proves how your sports bra choice really is very personal to your body type. (I also tried the Active Bra from On and found it to be equally gappy in the cups but tight under the arms and around my rib cage.)
Brooks Dare Crossback Run Bra 2.0: Butter-soft and seamless, I wanted to love this compression-style bra (with a slight nod to encapsulation via minimalist stitching). And I did find myself reaching for it on occasion after I finished up my testing, mostly for runs around the block. But the bra wasn&#;t a good option for exercise classes, as it gapped under the armpits and across the chest. If you try to bend or twist during a yoga class, you risk exposure. The fabric also felt a bit thin for a longer run, and every single tester messaged me to ask if they&#;d gotten the wrong size because of the prominent gapping.
Panache Non-Wired Sports Bra: This compression-style bra offered a nod to encapsulation, with formed cups, but it fit tight and small. It was very hard to make adjustments to the thinner straps&#;the buckles kept getting stuck&#;and the seams pressed uncomfortably against my skin. Even though this was supposed to be a great option for people with larger cup sizes, even our smaller-breasted testers found it to be just subpar.
Champion Spot Comfort Full Support Bra: Don&#;t discount this budget, encapsulation-compression hybrid bra. It didn&#;t make our favorites list, but a few larger-breasted testers gave it high marks because it &#;simply did its job.&#; The Spot has more points of adjustment than almost any other bra I tried, but the straps are more effective than those on the Lululemon bra. However, because of all these points of adjustment, there&#;s also more potential for chafing. The cut of the bra is also interesting, with a neckline that some people preferred and some found annoying under a shirt. It&#;s not the most flattering, but if you have larger breasts and you&#;re looking for what one tester called &#;the utility choice,&#; the Spot is worth a look. Fair warning: Everyone who tested this recommended sizing up by at least two sizes on the band, which is tight. Band sizing also only goes up to a 42.
For this guide, I spent several hours researching the best sports bras. I read online reviews, digested many different sports bra guides and read about bra fit and style. Sports bras come in many different constructions&#;compression bras and encapsulation bras being the most common, in addition to hybrid bras that combine both features&#;and I learned that different bra styles will work better for different body types. The best sports bra for you will also vary based on the kinds of movement you prefer.
We also consulted with several experts: Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, a professor of biomechanics at the University of Portsmouth, taught us about what features to look for in a good bra. Dr. LaJean Lawson, an apparel expert who serves as an advisory board member for the Outdoor Product Design and Development program at Utah State University, spoke to us about how to find bras for larger-breasted women. Finally, Kim Mock, a plus-size athlete, photographer and adventurer, gave us real-life feedback on the types of bras she prefers for her active lifestyle.
These conversations helped me narrow down our test list to 10 sports bras with solid reviews. Each had the features most people will need to keep their breasts from moving around during exercise. I ordered these bras using the fit guides on each brand&#;s website, and then tested them in three different environments:
Each woman on the panel tested the bras in the same way I did; they wore them for low-intensity and ... [+] high-intensity workouts, washed them and submitted feedback.
Jenni Gritters For ForbesOnce this round of testing was complete, I recruited six women from the Forbes Vetted team to try out the bras. They ranged in size from 32A to 42DDD. Each woman on the panel tested the bras again in the same way I did; they wore them for low-intensity and high-intensity workouts, washed them and submitted feedback. I compiled all this data into a spreadsheet that showed me the best sports bra options for people who want to pursue different activities with their unique bodies and needs.
In short, a sports bra is a garment you wear to keep your breasts from moving during active pursuits. Bouncing breasts can hurt your back via tension on the Cooper&#;s ligaments. Sports bras were created to combat this bouncing by offering support through a band around your rib cage, shoulder straps and either compression across your breasts, encapsulation of your breasts or a combination of both.
Compression bras flatten your breasts with tight material. They usually can&#;t be adjusted, and they tend to come in smaller sizes, usually just in small to large variations versus a cup and band size. Compression bras are known to cause &#;uniboob,&#; where your breasts are smashed together into a blob-like shape. This is especially problematic for women who have larger breasts, as it can be uncomfortable and damaging over time. But women with smaller breasts may prefer compression bras for comfort and simplicity.
Compression bras usually can&#;t be adjusted, and they tend to come in smaller sizes, like the Nike ... [+] Swoosh.
Jenni GrittersEncapsulation bras separate your breasts into two cups. Most encapsulation bras have cups, although some have seaming, underwire or molding to divide out the two compartments. Encapsulation bras come in those familiar sizing metrics (a cup size and band size), which means it can be easier to find a more supportive fit for your unique body. You&#;ll also want to try an encapsulation bra on at a store, though, or opt for a bra that you can return for free; sometimes it takes a few tries to get the sizing right.
Encapsulation bras, like the Wacoal Simone Sport Underwire Bra, come in a cup size and band size, ... [+] which means it can be easier to find a more supportive fit for your unique body
Jeni Gritters&#;A lot of people and a lot of sports have a preference more toward crop top designs that compress and flatten the breasts,&#; Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, a professor of biomechanics at the University of Portsmouth, told us. &#;But that is not often the best way to support the breasts.
I would definitely suggest looking at more encapsulation designs. The challenge is that they are harder to fit because there&#;s less stretch in them; an encapsulation bra will not adapt as much to shape and size. You may have to shop around a bit more to find an encapsulation bra that works for you.&#;
&#;If the bra is just generic sizes of S to 4X, it&#;s probably not going to fit too well,&#; athlete Kim Mock agreed. &#;Buying a sports bra should be more like buying a regular bra.&#;
Combination bras are becoming more and more popular; they combine compression and encapsulation to give you both support and structure. Runners will find this style to be the most comfortable because compression assists with up-and-down movement, while encapsulation keeps your breasts from moving side to side.
No bra can totally stop breast movement, especially if you&#;re attending a HIIT class or running. But your breasts should at least stay in the bra&#;no spilling out the top or gapping along the sides.
The band at the bottom of the bra needs to be comfortable, and it&#;s the key to preventing slippage. Ideally, the band should be on the wider side, which allows it to lie flat. Some bands are adjustable, which is helpful because you can make sure they don&#;t dig into your rib cage or move around. Riding up or down is a no-no.
&#;For larger-breasted women, you&#;ll want to make sure to find a sports bra that has a firmly fitted underband that doesn&#;t ride up in the back,&#; says Wakefield-Scurr.
Adjustable straps tend to be useful for getting a good bra fit that&#;s both comfortable and supportive, too. While I loved some of the adjustment situations more than others in our testing pool, I did generally appreciate a Velcro or slider-style strap that helped me get a snug fit. Most of the bras I tested had racerback straps or U-back straps.
&#;The strap can really put strain on the shoulder and cause irritation,&#; says Dr. LaJean Lawson, sports bra innovator and expert. &#;The larger the breasts, look for a cushier strap. If the shoulder strap is double the width, it can cut the pressure on the shoulder almost in half.&#;
A good sports bra should have some spandex in it, so it&#;s not completely rigid. But if it&#;s all spandex, there won&#;t be enough support for your breasts while you move, either. That&#;s where the other fabric&#;usually nylon or polyester&#;comes in. Ideally, a sports bra should also wick moisture so your sweat moves away from your body as you exercise. The quicker the material dries, the better. Cotton is generally a no-go for active apparel because it doesn&#;t dry quickly; merino wool sports bras are becoming increasingly popular for long-distance outdoor adventures.
Because it can be tough to get the right fit on the first go, especially when you&#;re ordering online, look for brands that allow you to easily send a product back, or trade it in for a new size.
I&#;m a freelance journalist who&#;s been writing product reviews, health content and more for over a decade. Before I started freelancing, I worked as a full-time editor at Wirecutter, where I reviewed and wrote about outdoor and travel products. Since then, I&#;ve worked on product-focused content for Reviewed, Slate, Wirecutter, Gear Patrol, REI and others. Most of my reviews these days are focused on health, the outdoors and baby and kid gear.
In addition to being a writer, I&#;m also a mom to two tiny humans&#;a 3-year-old and a 9-month-old&#;and I&#;m a certified yoga instructor and amateur runner. I live in a mountain town and try to exercise at least 4 days per week, usually Pilates or yoga. I also walk or run outside, often with my kids, nearly every day.
Typically, you&#;ll want to buy a sports bra in the same size as your regular bras. Sports bras might be more compressive than your everyday bra, but that doesn&#;t change their sizing. If you&#;ve never measured yourself before, I love this Reddit guide to bra sizing. Check it out and measure your breasts before ordering a sports bra.
Ideally, a sports bra should fit securely. The straps should lie flat on your shoulders, and the band should be tight but not painful; it should not roll up or sag down. Gapping along the sides is a sign of poor fit.
Yes! Many of the bras listed in this guide are supportive and comfortable enough to wear every day. If you don&#;t like the compression of a sports bra, you may opt for a more lightweight option&#;or a bra with underwire&#;when you&#;re not exercising. But there&#;s no reason to relegate sports bras to workouts alone if you like how they feel.
&#;Larger-breasted women have been underserved for so long,&#; Dr. Lawson says, noting that breast sizes have gotten larger over the past four decades or so, but the sports bra industry has been, in general, slow to respond and understand the forces present for someone with larger breasts.
&#;There&#;s more diversity now in women&#;s bodies, but manufacturers have been lazy. Bras need to be larger and stronger so we can all look good in our gear,&#; she says. &#;Women are entitled to products that allow them to be active but that are also attractive.&#;
For women with larger breasts, a bra with more volume inside the cups can be helpful. Bras also need to be more structured, as the movement of larger breasts exert more force on the body. And you&#;ll want to make sure you have a supportive band and straps; the thicker, the better. Depending on your body type, some women with larger breasts will also prefer a bra with a higher cut, meaning that your breasts can&#;t pop out the top when you lean over.
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