The 12 Best Sports Bras for Every Size of Runner (2024)

With so many choices, it can be a stressful experience to find the right sports bra. And, without definitive terminology among brands to describe support, the process feels even more muddled.

“There is no industry standard that exists anywhere in the world for what a low, a medium, or a high impact bra is,” says Julianne Ruckman, senior project line manager for run bras and women’s apparel at Brooks Running. Our sport is both high intensity and high impact, so it’s important to find the right support.

Bra shopping is like running shoe shopping: You need to test a couple of models to find the one that’s best for you. To help you narrow your search, we’ve provided a guide on bra fitting and sizing, and included our recommendations (like the ones below) to help you on your quest for the best—and most comfortable—support just for you.

• Best for Large Breasts: Lululemon Energy Bra
• Best Compression: Knix Catalyst Sports Bra
• Most Breathable: Champion The Spot Comfort Sports Bra
• Fastest Drying: Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra
• Best Support for High Impact: Reebok Running Essentials High-Impact Sports Bra

As you run, your breasts move in multiple directions, not just up and down. “When we think about how we’re trying to control those motions, we’re trying to control it from the bottom-up, the top-down, the side-swing, and then we’re also trying to hold it back,” says Ruckman. “There’s three different vortexes of that movement that any bra should be trying to achieve.”

Essentially, you want a bra to control breast movement from all angles to prevent neck, shoulder, back, and chest pain, as well as underarm chafing.

Sarah Zimmer, PT, DPT—a physical therapist and owner of Boulder Sports Physiotherapy—emphasizes the importance of supportive sports bras particularly for those with large breasts (generally, cup size D and up). “Those with larger, heavier breasts may require even more support. Not having a proper fitting bra may contribute to headaches, back pain, and poor running posture.”

Consequently, Zimmer says, all of these issues could lead to overcompensations in the lower back and hips. In turn, that can lead to compensations in the foot upon heel strike, which is when the breasts have the greatest downward acceleration and pull on the torso. All of this is to say that a poorly fitting bra could potentially lead to other injuries while running, which could be easily avoided with a proper-fitting bra.

And yes, AA and A cups, you should consider wearing a sports bra, as well. “What science has showed us is that no matter what [amount of] breast tissue you have, at some point it will start to sag because it is not rooted to any muscle or bone,” says Ruckman. “The more you can support that unsupported ligament and the fat and fiber within the breast, the less quickly it will change.”

Just as you would go to a running store to get assistance finding the right shoe fit, consider a bra fitting by a professional, says Zimmer. “I typically tell my patients that finding the right sports bra is like finding the right pair of running shoes: You want something that isn’t too tight, isn’t too roomy, provides support to your anatomy but doesn’t limit motion where you need it most, and, above all, feels the most comfortable to you.”

For the best personalized service, head to your local running store or a lingerie shop to have an expert fitter take your measurements. But if you have a tape measure handy, or a long piece of string and a ruler, here’s how to measure yourself at home.

Besides cup and band size, the type of bra you should wear also depends on how fibrous your breast tissue is. Runners with denser tissue will likely prefer encapsulation (think underwire or molded cups) over compression. “If you have fattier and less dense breasts, tissue compression will typically feel better because softer breasts compress more easily against the chest wall,” says Ruckman. You don’t need to determine exactly how dense your boobs are before you buy, though—Ruckman’s team has found that runners naturally gravitate toward the kind of support they find most comfortable.

Some brands offer bras with pockets so you can run without your smartphone bouncing in a jacket or yanking down your shorts. A bra with a back pocket between the shoulder blades provides a secure place for your phone, but is often hard to reach. For easy access, consider a bra with a front pocket.

Some people believe that storing your phone in your bra can raise your breast cancer risk. “There is no conclusive data to suggest that cell phones are linked to cancer,” says Diana Medgyesy, MD, a medical oncologist at UCHealth. However, she adds that “this is an evolving field since cell phone technology and the use of cell phones are changing rapidly,” so use your own discretion on whether or not to run with your phone in your bra.

Our testers wear bras in sizes spanning from 30A to 36F. They’ve put in the sweat, stretching, and mileage to evaluate each bra’s fit, comfort, and support both on and off the run. In our reviews, we also consider durability, technology, style, and the ease putting on and taking off each bra. We periodically update the list below with the top performers from our most recent testing, keeping the bras from previous rounds that continue to impress us with their performance.

The Energy’s foam cups, which go up to size DDD, offer comfortable and secure support while also providing a flattering fit that doesn’t squish the chest down. In the back, wearers will appreciate the criss-cross straps’ fun design as well as their functionality—once adjusted, the straps stay in place for a no-budge run. Some testers report that the Energy runs small, so it may be best to order a size up to ensure the bra is a good fit.

Along with a grippy lining that reduces movement, the Catalyst sports bra features “ladder” straps with adjustable ridges for tightening and loosening the fit without fear of straps slipping mid-run. The two molded cups offer a form-fitting shape over each breast; no need to worry about removable pads that bunch up or fall out. As an added bonus, the Catalyst has breathable, perforated holes—called Tri-Flo ventilation—between the cups to keep this typically heat-trapping area cool and odor-free.

The gel-cushioned straps on this sports bra ensure you won’t get raw markings from all-day wear and intense activities. The Spot Comfort is also extremely breathable and moisture-wicking; mesh on the adjustable straps and front panel promotes ventilation. The bra is lined with molded cups for non-underwire support, and the back hook-and-eye closure makes it easy to take the bra off. One thing to consider: size up. One tester found the fit a little too snug, even on the loosest hook-and-eye setting.

Made with soft “FeatherAir” fabric that dries significantly faster than most other bras out there, the Alta Medium Impact bra proves to be a top choice for those wishing to avoid soggy, chafing material. Writer and tester Paige Triola attests that this Lume Six bra lives up to the hype with its soft-edged, comfortable straps, ease of pulling on and off, and surprisingly good support for larger cup sizes. The slightly plunging V-neck of this bra may not contain larger busts as well as it should, in which case the higher neckline of the Cirra High Impact Sports Bra would be a better fit.

Reebok made this racerback for intense workouts that require breathable, high-impact support. To do it, the bra is made with a fast-drying material called “Speedwick” and open mesh paneling between the shoulders. Our testers said the combo helps dump heat and improve ventilation, while still remaining comfortably compressive during their runs. The high neckline also provides extra coverage and support. However, the armholes share a similar high cut, which may cause some underarm friction for certain breast types. Sizing is 2XS to 2XL: band size 30 to 44, cup size A to D. For a lower-cut option, try Reebok’s Lux Racerback.

A bra that costs less than a box of Franzia? That’s something to toast. The five-star customer-rated Fittin bra is a simple, soft pullover that we kept reaching for pre-run. It has a “butter-soft feel”—yes, we can confirm Amazon’s product description—and is made with a four-way-stretch material that surprised us with its supportiveness. In short, the Fittin won’t have runners holding their boobs in the late stages of a workout, a last-ditch resort when budget-friendly pullover bras don’t hold up after the first couple of miles.

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This cropped singlet makes you feel race official or urban chic. It has reflective elements for evening visibility, and there are pockets large enough for gels under the loose fabric along the bra line. It’s also feathery light, so it won’t distract. If you’re thinking: How can it, though, with its midriff cut? The answer is it’s best for runners who don’t quite want to wear a sports bra or a singlet. But those who need more support may need to wear a high-impact sports bra underneath.

This three-pocket bra has a place for your phone (mid-back), and fuel and keys (either side). It’s an ideal pick for long-distance training when you need to stock up on gels or cash—just in case you pass a coffee shop and need an, ahem, quick espresso boost. To reduce chafing, the Drive 3 has low-friction bonded seams around each of its pockets. One small critique is that it’s a little bit of a struggle to put on and take off. It also has removable padded cups, which could fold over and crease. For a molded-cup option that’s free of removable padding, we recommend Brooks’s Dare Crisscross bra. It has a strappy design and zonal perforations to help evaporate sweat.

Test editor Amanda Furrer finds that the Tangent is the kind of bra she likes to wear shirtless for its flattering fit and easy pullover. For those who wear smaller cup sizes (A to C), expect excellent support during intense exercise. For larger cups, this bra is recommended for cross-training. And while the side pockets aren’t too roomy, they’re still quite convenient. “The pockets come in handy for my apartment key or car key fob when I’m out on a trail run,” says Furrer. “They can fit gels, but I wish they were slightly bigger.” Oiselle has other pocket bras like the Pockito, which has a sizable front mid-pocket for gels, and the Flyout Bra with its easy-to-reach back phone pocket.

In addition to the Allston, we also tested Tracksmith’s Run Bra, a sleek racerback that displays the brand’s signature red racing stripe around the exposed elastic band. It looks sharp at a starting line and supports A to D cups. But, we’re featuring the Allston for its easy-to-reach hidden chest pocket that can stash keys, cards, cash, and your phone. The bra’s band is brushed with Inverno blend lining, an Italian micro-nylon and elastane mix that pulls away moisture and feels silky smooth. Our tester appreciated how easy it was to grab her iPhone midrun, despite the fact that its rectangular outline was quite obvious.

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“This is the bra with the Koala Clip-style pouch in the back for phones, and I loved it,” said test editor Morgan Petruny. “I did some toe-touch hamstring stretches expecting my smaller iPhone 7 to topple out, but it didn’t. And when I took out my phone at the end of my run, it was bone-dry even though I was sweaty.” The storage-friendly Sarah is a lightweight racerback, with a low open-back design to help you stay cool during hot workouts. It’s a moderate-impact sports bra for A to DD cups, and is made of a stretchy-yet-supportive blend of fast-drying polyester and soft, accommodating spandex.

A to C bra-wearers will have enough support to run in Cadenshae’s nursing sports bra. “I absolutely love how this bra fits,” said our A/B cup tester. “Though designed for breastfeeding, it feels just like a normal sports bra.” The drop-down cups are easy to remove and allow some room for growing—or shrinking—breasts. A sling provides some additional coverage, as well. Larger-breasted runners will want to save the Freedom for low-impact and medium-impact activities.