We considered all those styles when looking for bras to test. Compression bras prevent movement by flattening the breasts and pulling them close to the body. Most have wide straps and large back panels to distribute the weight of the breasts; often they are tube-shaped and known for creating a uniboob look, wherein the breasts are mushed together to look like one continuous shape. The flattening effect of compression bras can be uncomfortable PDF , especially for people with a larger cup size, because it disfigures and constrains the breasts.
At the same time, the effect can be desirable for those who want to minimize the protrusion of their breasts. Encapsulation bras separate the breasts into cups using a piece of fabric called a gore PDF and provide support through seaming, molding, or underwire instead of flattening; they look like typical bras.
Typically, encapsulation bras offer more, better-fitting options than compression bras. Separating the breasts can also prevent them from rubbing together and chafing during exercise. Combination bras blend the other two styles, using some cup definition to separate the breasts and fabric to pull them close to the body. In addition to the level and style of support, when choosing a sports bra you might consider the following:.
Great bras have separate layers of fabric for the inner lining and outer shell to help with moisture transportation. You should not be spilling out of the cups. Adjustable straps and bands: Most of our favorite sports bras have adjustable straps and bands, made with either Velcro, sliders, or hook-and-eye clasps, to let you tweak your fit and make sure your bra is snug.
As sports bras age, they also stretch; hooking the band tighter or shortening the straps can help combat this effect. Wider straps feel more comfortable and distribute pressure over a larger area, and some straps also have padding to reduce pressure. You can find several strap styles:.
Especially for larger cup and band sizes, we found more structured and supportive bras to be more expensive. We have some budget options in our Competition section, but our experts and testers, as well as online reviewers, all preferred specialty bra brands.
Every round, we choose bras to call in after reading all of the most recent editorial articles and reviews of sports bras we can find. Our testers have not been immune to the common bra-fitting issues outlined above. Several people have ended up ordering incorrect sizes. Two of our panelists received a professional fitting by the staff at The Pencil Test in Portland, Oregon, a shop that specializes in D-cup and larger bras.
Despite our asking testers to measure themselves using a commonly referenced resource—or ordering with confidence in the typical size or sizes that work for them—some have still encountered discrepancies between their calculations and which sizes actually fit them. For example, one of our testers thought they should wear a 40H, when in fact the professional fitting revealed that a 34JJ bra fit much better. Once they have the correct sizes, our testers try on or contemplate three to nine bras and then choose two to five of them to try in earnest.
They give detailed feedback on our criteria. And they wear each of the finalist bras for at least two runs and one cross-training session or an equivalent number of high-impact activities. In several cases, they continue wearing the bras for months to years after their initial testing and continue to provide long-term testing feedback.
We think the Elomi Energise offers the best blend of size options and support for people who wear larger band and cup sizes. The underwire-and-gore design of the Energise lifts and separates the breasts for support instead of pressing them together.
Seams on the cups provide structure to pull the breasts close to the chest to prevent bounce and movement. The Energise offers the most coverage compared with other encapsulation bras we looked at, coming higher on the chest and sides than the Panache Sports Wired Bra. Our size JJ tester said that they were able to bend over while exercising without spilling out of the top, unlike with the Panache Sports Wired and Anita Extreme Control bras.
Adjustable straps and a back hook-and-eye clasp make the Energise easier to get on and off. As with many of the models we tested, you need to slide the clasp of this bra to the front to adjust it. Compared with the super-supportive, even-fuller-coverage Enell Sport , which our tester had previously tried, the Energise was easier to wrangle, especially after a steamy workout.
The straps on this bra are wide enough to distribute weight but still allow for a good range of motion. Our tester used the Energise when rock climbing and running obstacle courses as well as when running.
It does look a bit shiny, more like the material of traditional lingerie than the matte fabric found on most sports bras. The bra comes in a few bright colors, as well as in white, beige, and black. In our testing, the Energise offered more support than the similar Goddess Sport bra, which is also made by Wacoal but designed for lower-impact activities.
Powell advised us that wearing a shirt over the bra minimizes this effect. For larger band sizes, consider the Enell Sport. For larger cup sizes, consider the Royce Impact Free , which goes to a UK size K US size O and is stretchier with unstructured cups so it may have more size flexibility.
For people who wear larger cup and smaller band sizes, we recommend the Panache Sports Wired Bra. It has sturdy, constructed cups for bounce control, it adjusts easily, and it comes in 70 total size combinations so you can find the correct fit. The cups of the Sports Wired have several seams to create definition and a gore to lift and separate the breasts.
With adjustable sliding straps and a hook-and-eye clasp, the Sports Wired can also convert into a J-hook for added support. We love that the Panache Sports Wired comes in a size 28 band, which can be difficult to find for those who also wear larger cup sizes, but we wish it extended beyond a size Some reviewers say that over time, the wire on this bra pokes out.
We asked a Panache representative about this issue. In the past, some testers with larger cup sizes have reported fit issues with the Sports Wired, comparing its cups to those on a demi-bra. The Elomi Energise , on the other hand, offers more fabric on the cups for fuller coverage.
The front-zip SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra impressed us with its effective support during high-impact exercise, a light and comfortable feel despite its complex construction, and multiple avenues of adjustment, including in the straps, band, and front closure.
The SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra is a combination bra using encapsulation and compression and can be worn as a crossback or a U-back. You adjust the inch-wide, non-stretchy straps by pulling them up to the desired tension and securing them with Velcro at the shoulders. The 2-inch-wide band is also adjustable, as you can cinch it at the back of the bra and secure it with Velcro.
Our testers, particularly those with smaller frames, appreciated the ability to adjust the bra on the body for a secure fit.
One tester, who wore the SheFit in a size small for everything from HIIT workouts to kickboxing to weight training, has owned the bra for about a year. This is how men must feel when they work out! The bra has a zippered front closure that is reinforced with a pair of internal hook-and-eye clasps. The zipper has covered ends to help prevent catching or irritation. To put on the bra, you slip it over your head with the front zipper open.
This YouTube video demonstrates. The comfortable, wireless cups have removable pads, and while one tester thought they gave her a flattering shape, another characterized the silhouette as a uniboob.
Pinning down the right fit may take some trial and error. She did observe that the printed writing inside the bra fades over time, so make a note of your size for subsequent orders if you think you might forget. One tester noticed that a roughly 4-inch section of stitching on the band came undone. With vertical U-back straps and a back clasp, the bra is relatively easy to put on and to take off after sweaty runs, and the adjustable straps allow wearers to dial in the fit.
The thicker fabric prevented nipples from showing without added padding. And after two years of long-term testing, this bra has held up well and accompanied us on many runs and even a marathon. Compared with flimsier racerback compression bras, the Spot Comfort restricts breast movement more effectively while still achieving the same second-skin feeling—we forgot about it while running.
In comparison, some of the other combination bras we looked at, such as the New Balance Shockingly Unshocking , had wide straps that ran through larger metal loops and sliders, limiting arm movement. The sliders are in the back, so you may have to swing this bra around to your front or take it off to adjust it to your liking, but the same is true of most U-back bras.
This bra had the best coverage of any combination bra we tried—it goes high on the chest and has larger side panels to prevent cleavage and breasts from spilling out, which is better for people with larger cup sizes.
Higher necklines PDF on bras help prevent the breasts from moving upward, but this cut can sometimes feel restrictive. The vertical straps on the Spot Comfort help balance that out by creating a more open neckline compared with racerback straps, which can cut into the shoulders.
The Absolute Workout is thoughtfully constructed but still affordable. The Absolute Workout has a sturdier design than similar compression bras we tested; one tester said the separate band stayed put and offered a lot of support without chafing. The fabric on the Absolute Workout is soft without being slick, with just enough stretch to make it easy to pull on and off without sacrificing any bounce control. Some bras are too stretchy to be supportive. For example, we stretched the Champion Freedom Seamless Racerback to three times its original size.
This bra has seams, but the front panel is lined so nothing will rub against your chest. Coverage-wise, the Absolute Workout has side panels to keep the breasts from spilling out, and the straps and back panel are wide for extra support and coverage.
Some testers just wanted a simple bra. The Absolute Workout is it, offering a pared-down design and a second-skin feel. Like most compression bras, the Absolute Workout is not adjustable. She also reported some headlighting and recommended wearing a shirt over the bra. Amazon is an option if you enroll in Prime for free shipping and returns. Some but not all of our picks are Prime eligible, so check before purchasing—if a bra is Prime eligible, you should be able to return it for free within 30 days.
Specialty online retailers might have more fit options. Brooks , which sells one of the other bras we like , offers a day return policy even if you wear a bra, with free shipping. Champion , which sells two of our picks, offers a day return policy for unworn bras; return shipping is free.
SheFit , which sells another one of our picks, has a day return policy for bras that have been washed and worn, with free shipping and returns. The wiki site Busty Resources , in addition to providing a plethora of other bra-fitting advice, lists international online bra retailers. Wash sports bras in between wearings—yes, that means after every workout—to prolong their life and to keep bacteria at bay.
Heat and chlorine shorten the life of the spandex the stretch of the bra, as well as any foam padding, said sports bra scientist and consultant LaJean Lawson. The average lifespan of a bra depends on wearings and washings.
The more structured Maia has extra-defined cups with underwires and vertical U-back straps, and it comes in sizes 32C to 44DD. Those who tried it for a recent update to this guide appreciated its simplicity, as well as its substantial though comfortable fabric, which seemed to help prevent the straps from slipping unlike our experience with the Brooks Dare Racerback Run Bra. She also appreciated the slightly higher cut across the chest. If you have a larger cup size and want a wire-free sports bra that is supportive and lightweight: You might like the Anita Extreme Control Sports Bra , which Iris Clarke of Iris Lingerie told us was the best-selling sports bra in her store in The Extreme Control is a U-back, adjustable bra that has a mesh back panel but no wires or excess padding.
If you have a larger band and larger cup size and want a sports bra with a front closure and maximum coverage and support: The Enell Sport bra is a great option the company says it fits a rib-cage measurement up to 53 inches and a bust measurement of up to 60 inches. In addition, our experts noted that this is a good post-surgery sports bra because it fastens in the front.
If you have a larger cup size and are looking for a soft, stretchy sports bra suited for lower-impact activities: The Royce Impact Free bra was a favorite of our size JJ tester, who loved that it came high up to prevent spilling and bounce. Our size G tester liked this bra but found its fit smaller than expected. Some Amazon customer reviewers seem to agree. It comes in sizes 2XS to XL. During testing, we had a hard time getting the Anita Dynamix Star on and off due to its racerback design.
The band tops out at 40, and it comes in fewer sizes than our picks. One tester, who wore a 34D, noticed after a 4-mile run that the clasps on the straps had loosened by about 3 inches.
Another tester, who wore a 36DD, said the fit was off—too tight in some places and too loose in others. The new Maia offers a unique 2-in-1 support system, combining an inner underwire bra for separation and an outer compressive shell. It offers superior support and compression while delivering moisture-wicking comfort. The back-adjustable straps now feature gel padding for supreme comfort, while the redesigned style lines offer a sleek silhouette with under-bust shaping.
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