Whatever your cup size, it’s important to find a good sports bra that fits and gives you the support you need while running. Not only will it make for more comfortable runs right now, it will also minimize the chances of sagging later on.
When choosing a sports bra for running, there are three main things to consider: It should offer adequate support, it should remain comfortable no matter how far you’ve run, and it should also look good, because sometimes little things like that can make the difference between going out for a run or not.
Different sports bras offer different levels of support. Because running is a high-impact sport, it’s best to opt for a high (or super-high) support level, especially if you have larger breasts. Our interview with a breast health expert about how to choose a well-fitting sports bra explains why it’s so important to have a bra that fits and offers adequate support. No time to head to the shops? A virtual sports bra fitting could be the answer.
Broadly speaking there are two types of sports bras: those that use compression, a tight band which flattens the breasts; and those that use encapsulation, with separate cups for each breast. Compression bras are more commonly found in general sportswear shops and can offer great support and a good fit, especially for women with smaller busts. For larger-breasted runners, compression-style bras tend to give an unflattering “uniboob” and may not offer enough support for running.
The majority of running bras are pulled on and off over your head (easier said than done after a run when you’re all sweaty). However, some bras offer a hook-and-eye clasp, which makes taking them off easier, while others feature a zip at the front which avoids this problem altogether. A racerback or cross-over straps will help the bra stay in place better than normal shoulder straps.
Below you’ll find a guide to checking the fit of your running bra and our pick of the best running-specific over-shoulder-boulder-holders out there.
How I Test Running Bras
You can trust Coach We give honest reviews and recommendations based on in-depth knowledge and real-world experience. Find out more about how we review and recommend products.
I have been testing and reviewing running bras for Coach since 2019, evaluating their comfort, their support level and how well they survive the washing machine. This guide does include some bras that we have not tested, in the interests of including a wide variety of options for all shapes and sizes. Other Coach writers have also contributed their running bra testing experiences to this round-up.
How To Get The Right Fit
It’s important to get regular bra fittings, because your breasts can change in size and shape over the years. However, if you plan on buying a new sports bra online use this six-point guide from Ana Paula Dudillieu, senior designer at sports bra maker Shock Absorber, to check the fit of a sports bra at home yourself.
- Make sure your breasts are fully contained within the cups and that there’s no bagginess.
- Check that the straps are properly adjusted. They should feel secure with no more than 2in (5cm) of give.
- The chest band should feel firm but comfortable. Your chest expands when exercising so take some deep breaths and see how it feels.
- If the band lifts rather than sitting flat at the front, it’s an indication that the cup size is too small.
- If the back of the band rises towards your shoulders, the band may be too large.
- Do the bounce test: jump up and down and from side to side, checking that you feel comfortable, supported and secure.
Best All-Round Running Bras
A bra that feels soft and comfortable, doesn’t restrict your breathing, but keeps the girls supported—Runderwear’s Energize (formerly the Original Bra) is a revelation. This is my top pick for smaller-breasted runners who don’t like bulky, padded bras. It’s unlike any other sports bra, with extremely soft, moisture-wicking and breathable fabric that comes into its own in the summer months.
Molded cups give shape but have no excess padding, the underband is wide and soft to avoid chafing, and the slim, non-slip adjustable straps are comfy over the shoulders. I find it relatively easy to get on and off thanks to the hook-and-eye closure, and once it’s on, the racerback design means there’s no chance of the straps slipping.—Camilla Artault
A firm favorite among runners of all shapes and sizes, but particularly with bigger-busted women, this running bra aims to manage the figure-of-eight movement made by our breasts when we run. It has wide non-slip straps, with a soft lining and band to help keep you comfortable as you run. It’s also breathable and quick-drying, ensuring you don’t get overheated.
The racerback shape with a double back closure system allows you to get in and out relatively easily, while ensuring you feel secure and fully supported. I find it can take a bit of contortion to get the adjustable bit on the straps lying flat but once that’s sorted it’s comfortable, supportive and breathable. Sizing can be a bit odd, so be prepared to try a few sizes before finding the right fit.—CA
If you want coverage from your sports bra, without those annoying removable cups that get squished into weird shapes in the washing machine, look no further. The Lululemon High Support Energy Bra is one of the best I’ve tried from the Canadian brand. It has built-in foam cups for coverage, a traditional hook-and-eye clasp that makes it easy to get the bra on and off even after a sweaty run, and it comes in a wide variety of cup sizes to suit most runners.
The bra is beautifully soft against the skin, even in warm weather, and it does a good job of wicking sweat away from the body. The straps are adjustable, allowing you to get a personalized, locked-in fit, and the bra is machine-washable so you can chuck it in with the rest of your sweaty kit. The only downside I found is that the straps can get tangled if you do throw it in the washing machine.—Jane McGuire
What goes up must come down, as they say, so one-woman company Maaree has developed sports bras that combat upward as well as downward breast movement. The addition of an “overband” helps to minimize the dreaded bounce, and the band is adjustable so you can fine-tune the fit. Mesh side panels help to keep you cool, while the extra-wide underband and fastening at the back ensure the band is secure and comfortable. The adjustable straps are wide and comfy, though in order to get the support required for running you’ll need to hook them together in a racerback shape—and this isn’t the easiest maneuver.
The bra feels fairly rigid because the outsides of the cups have stiffened fabric panels to help the bra hold its structure, which should also delay any loss of shape from repeated visits to the washing machine. If you’re unsure about the fit, you can have a free virtual bra fitting with one of Maaree’s bra fitters over Zoom.—CA
Best Running Bras For Large Breasts
If you’re shopping for a running bra for bigger boobs, it’s worth noting that encapsulation is best because “it helps limit each breast’s movement individually”, according to Dr Nichola Renwick, a senior research associate at the University of Portsmouth’s Breast Health Research Group. She also recommends bras with padded cups and a higher neckline for larger breasts. “We’ve seen that for about every one centimeter that the neckline is raised, you will get around a 1% reduction in breast bounce.”
There are so few truly supportive sports bras available in larger sizes that it can be hard to find a comfortable fit, but this one from Runderwear is designed just for those with larger busts. The Power Running Bra (previously called the Easy-On) runs true to standard bra size and is available in an amazing 70 sizes. Soft, moisture-wicking fabrics, wire-free molded cups with a thin layer of built-in padding, padded straps and an encased band all combine to ensure there’s no rubbing or digging in.
The high neckline encases breasts completely so there’s less bouncing, and the back opens fully and fastens with a double set of hook-and-eye closures to keep the fit secure. This one is not the easiest to get into—you may need to do the clasps up in front of you and swivel the bra around when fastened.
Another winner from Shock Absorber, this is a maximum-support bra designed for D-H cups. You won’t be worried about popping out of this bra, with its high-impact support and fuller coverage on the upper chest area. The shaped straps are padded to avoid any discomfort from digging in, and the band around the ribs is wide, soft and breathable, with a padded hook-and-eye fastener at the back.
A new bra from independent sports bra specialist Maaree, the Battle Bra is an underwired bra that uses encapsulation to support and shape your breasts, and uses the overband idea also seen in the brand’s Solidarity bra to keep upward (as well as downward) movement to a minimum. The material used is soft on the skin and offers firm support, and the bra has a bonded, raw-edged look.
While I didn’t get on with this particular bra—I just couldn’t get the right fit and found the underwire uncomfortable—it’s been very popular with bigger-breasted runners in particular, with reviewers saying they’ve finally been able to forget about their boobs while running. You may need to go down a cup size to get the right fit, but the best thing about Maaree’s sports bras is the excellent free online fitting service. Before buying you can book in for a virtual bra fitting with one of Maaree’s experts who will help you find your perfect size.—CA
If you’re a medium to bigger-busted runner who needs support but doesn’t like to feel too restricted by compression wear, this simple bra with non-moulded cups is a great shout. It’s super-easy to slip into with no fiddly extra straps just like an everyday bra, but still has enough structure to see you comfortably through a high-impact run. And if you struggle with strap slippage, a well-placed clip transforms it into a racerback.
The soft seams keep friction at bay, the padded shoulder straps stay put and it fits true to size. And if you’ve ever struggled with underband chafe on your longer runs, fear not—the flat elastic underband sits comfortably and provides anchorage under the bust. I particularly like the way it felt supportive without being suffocating like some high-impact bras. And best of all, the leopard print detailing on the straps adds a splash of fun to an otherwise plain accessory.—Rhalou Allerhand
Gather round ladies, because functional sportswear and good looks have finally collided. If you feel like all sports bras either flatten your boobs or have uncomfortable underwiring, this innovative new bra for bigger busts could be the answer. The PeBe Impact Sports Bra 3.0, designed for D to GG cup sizes, takes sportswear technology up a notch without squishing you into submission, thanks to clever engineering combined with well-placed fabric scaffolding—so you can wave goodbye to the dreaded monoboob.
If you’re used to sport bras that tuck everything in and suppress your greatest assets, feeling like your breasts are being celebrated and out on display does take some getting used to. But it is miraculous how this bra manages to reduce bounce and still keep your chest up and out there, and I am here for it. It is a little hard to get on at first, but once you’ve nailed it, this bra fulfills its promise to minimize bounce without sacrificing your silhouette. Busty runners around the globe are going to love it.—RA
Offering excellent support and coverage, this bra is very popular with runners looking for cup size D or larger. Its sculpting effect means it doesn’t compress your boobs into your ribcage. The molded inner cups are underwired, however, so there’s a chance the wire might eventually work its way out, especially if you go against the instructions and machine-wash it. Which you will because, frankly, who has time to hand-wash their sports bra?
If you want shape as well as support, but you don’t get on with underwired bras and don’t like the upholstered feeling of bulky padded bras, this one might work for you. It’s available in a selection of muted colours, with cleverly tailored three-section cups to offer full coverage without extra layers of padding. It’s easy to put on, with clasps at the back like an everyday bra, but the straps stay put thanks to the shaped design.
Most Comfortable Running Bras
Swiss sportswear brand On has made its first foray into the sports bra world and among its initial line-up is the high-impact Performance Bra. It’s all minimal, clean lines and high-end technical fabrics with soft, molded cups that provide a comfortable, encased feel and offer support in all directions, helped by the high neckline. The wide elastic straps and extra-wide underband sit comfortably against the skin, and the mesh panel at the back offers excellent ventilation. So far so good.
However, there’s no fastening to this bra, so you’ve got to squirm your way in as best you can. There’s also no way to adjust the fit: Both the underband and the shoulder straps are one set length, and since the bra comes in basic clothing sizes (XS-XL) the chances of finding a good fit are slim. It didn’t quite fit for me, so the required level of support wasn’t there. But for a select few it might well fit like a second skin.—CA
While it doesn’t matter too much what your sports bra looks like as long as it’s doing a good job, the Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity Running Bra ticks the design boxes for its cool contrasting stitching and wide straps. But this bra has substance as well as style: It’s extremely supportive for running, HIIT and other high-impact sports. During testing, I found it did a good job of wicking sweat away from my skin and drying quickly.
The fastening is clever, with a traditional hook-and-eye clasp at the underband, and a quick-release top clasp to help you get the bra off when sweaty. The straps are easy to adjust for a close fit, and the bra comes in a huge range of sizes and colors. The only downside is that it doesn’t come cheap so it won’t be accessible to everyone. It’s also worth using Sweaty Betty’s size converter to ensure you’re getting the best fit.—JMG
The Infinity Bra offers high support without resorting to excess padding or an underwire. A hook-and-eye fastening at the back of the band and the sturdy crossed straps keep it firmly in place. Extra support has been injected into the fabric in a figure of eight (or infinity symbol) because that’s the movement pattern made by your breasts as you run and the idea is to counter that movement. My main quibble is that it’s only available in five generic sizes, from XS to XL, rather than bra sizes.—CA
Adjusting the tightness of a standard bra band behind your back is awkward at best. With a flash of genius, Adidas has redesigned things so you can adjust it at the front on both sides. That doesn’t mean it’s any easier to get on, however, because the bra doesn’t open at the back – you have to wriggle your way in through the cross-over straps. The shoulder straps have four hooks so you can fine-tune the length slightly. Soft, breathable fabric helps keep you cool and comfy. The bra is snug-fitting and supportive without squishing your boobs flat.
This shaped compression bra can be worn one of two ways: With straight straps or using the hook to convert it to a more supportive racerback. This adaptability is a great idea that allows for a more personalized fit, and I found the support was excellent with the bra in racerback mode. The soft fabric feels great on the skin, with an extra layer on the cups so your nipples won’t show through—although this doesn’t make it feel bulky or padded.
The adjustable straps are wide and soft, as is the underband. It’s easy enough to get on and off, with a triple hook-and-eye at the back, although the racerback hook may be hard to reach for some. A mesh panel at the sides allows for more ventilation.—CA
This bra does away with uncomfortable hooks and adjustable plastic bits on the straps, so there will be no more struggling with clasps and getting tangled in racerbacks. Its cross-over straps, molded cups and super-soft material work together to produce a “second skin” fit combining compression and encapsulation. However, there’s no adjustability in the straps or chest band, which means either it fits perfectly or it doesn’t. Try one and see: it might be your new fave… or it might not.
