Giving your boobs the right protection is important: shop the best workout bras on the market now
Making sure you’re wearing one of the best sports bras is important. Protecting your boobs during your workouts is as essential—heck, maybe even more essential—as wearing the right running trainers. That is, if you’re exercising regularly, you really should be doing both.
Search for the best sports bras rose 58% when gyms have reopened.
So, why is wearing the right sports bra so important? Research has found that your boobs can move up to a whopping 12cm when you exercise. And, unsurprisingly, a study by sportswear brand 2XU found that working out in the wrong sports bra, in the long term, can cause damage to your breasts. Think chronic breast pain, ligament damage and, ultimately, side effects like drooping, sagging and stretch marks.
You wouldn’t go on a 5km run in a pair of Converse (we pray), so we’d like to assume you also wouldn’t whip out your home gym equipment for your next HIIT session, Pilates class or Joe Wicks workout without proper protection for your boobs.
Keep scrolling to shop the best sports bras for 2022, and don’t miss our guides to the best workout leggings, sustainable activewear and home gym equipment, while you’re here. Not sure which sweat session to wear your new bra for? These PT-approved celebrity workouts are seriously fun.
16 best sports bras for 2022: shop now
Best low support workout bras
1. Best sports bra for small breasts: Gettie Star Sports Bra, £45 | Hush
Key details: We mean, just look at it. It’s not the highest of impact support – worth noting if you’re a HIIT fan or someone who needs support – but the designs are gorgeous and built for yoga, pilates and slow, mindful flows. Fun fact: it’s part-made from recycled materials.
Best for: Gorgeous designs that actually support you through your workout, too.
£45, BUY NOW
2. Best adjustable sports bra: Energy Adjustable Bra, £48 | Lululemon
Key details: Lululemon’s Energy sports bra has a hook-and-eye closure for a customisable underband fit and removable cups if you don’t fancy any padding. It also has added Lycra® fibre for stretch and shape retention. Designed for cup sizes B-D, this sports bra is ideal for more low-impact workouts such as yoga.
Best for: A comfortable and versatile fit.
£48, BUY NOW
3. Best sustainable sports bra: TALA Racer Back Sports Bra, £32 | ASOS
Key details: If you’re keen to invest in more sustainable activewear, TALA’s your best bet. They call it ‘fashion sportswear’, as although it may not offer the most support, the designs are made with your day-to-day in mind, too. Buy for lightweight, breathable support with an eco-conscious edge, too.
Best for: Supporting a sustainable business.
£32, BUY NOW
Best medium support workout bras
4. Best statement sports bra: Stamina Longline Workout Bra, £40 | Sweaty Betty
Key details: This lime green sports bra is perfect for standing out from the crowd. It features a long-line fit, a seamless design to prevent chafing and a racer back for freedom of movement. It is also made from sweat-wicking fabric with compression technology.
Best for: Making a statement during your workout.
£40, BUY NOW
5. Best high neck sports bra: Relentless Crop Top, £25 | New Balance
Key details: Comfy, supportive and stylish—what more could you want? Plus, it’s made from fast-drying fabric that wicks moisture away from your body to make sure you stay cool. Neat.
Best for: Medium support and a long-lasting design.
£25, BUY NOW
6. Best long-line sports bra: Morisot Bra, £48 | Pocket Sport
Key details: Unlike their lower support Claude design, the Morisot bra from Pocket Sport is seriously stylish but also offers medium support, too. Ideal for longer runs, HIIT sessions or high-energy yoga flows, it’s also sweat wicking and long line to offer extra coverage around your midsection. Hard not to love.
Best for: An Insta-worthy bra that offers impressive support, too.
£48, BUY NOW
7. Best sweat-wicking sports bra: UA Infinity Mid Covered Sports Bra, £36 | Under Armour
Key details: If you’re into cycling, strength training or boxing and want to invest in a bra that offers soft, breathable structure, you’ll like this design from UA. It’s supportive but also smooth, and the material wicks sweat away from the skin and dries really fast with mesh panels for added breathability.
Best for: Medium impact.
£36, BUY NOW
8. Best sports bra for breastfeeding: Padded Sports Bra (Maternity), £44.95 | Nike
Key details: Introducing the Nike (M) maternity range, the first of its kind from the brand. For expecting Mums or those who’ve just given birth, the Swoosh bra looks set to be a godsend. It’s cleverly designed to offer discrete layers for easy access feeding and is made from a moisture-managing fabric to catch any stray milk.
Best for: New mamas or Mums-to-be.
£44.95, BUY NOW
Best high support sports bras
9. Best Gymshark sports bra: Open Back Training Sports Bra, £35 | Gymshark
Key details: When Gymshark say no jump-rope, burpee or jumping jack is too much, they mean it. This high support sports bra has a hook-and-eye fastening on the back for maximum support – an essential for bigger boobs – and adjustable straps, too. It’s simple but supportive – winner, winner.
Best for: No-nonsense support.
£35, BUY NOW
10. Best high impact sports bra: Dare Crossback Run Bra, £55 | Brooks
Key details: Brooks spent months designing their ‘best running bra ever’, and they’ve delivered on this one. Super supportive and next level comfy, we’d say it’s a must-buy.
Best for: High impact.
£55, BUY NOW
11. Best cheap sports bra: Shock Absorber Active Shaped Push-up Support Sports Bra, £14.99 | Sports Shoes
Key stats: Padded? Check. Breathable? Check. Moisture-wicking? Check. You could wear this bra for anything—HIIT, tennis, pilates, yoga… you name it.
Best for: Non-wired high support.
£14.99, BUY NOW
12. Best sports bra for large breasts: Freya Active Sonic Wired Sports Bra, £40 | JD Williams
Key details: Freya have long been hailed for the sheer range of sports bra sizes they stock, from support for smaller boobs at 28F all the way up to 38JJ. This sports bra is no exception, with breathable support and a hook-and-eye panel for extra comfort. Trust us: it’s genius.
Best for: A wide range of sizes.
£40, BUY NOW
13. Best designer sports bra: True Purpose Bra, £55 | Adidas x Stella McCartney
Key details: This collaboration, created by fashion and athleisurewear designer Stella McCartney, is not only aesthetically gorgeous but also eco-friendly, too. Take this bra, made with 64% recycled content, sweat-wicking and long line, for maximum support. Not bad.
Best for: A designer buy and an eco-win.
£55, BUY NOW
14. Best all-rounder sports bra: Empower Sports Bra, £49 | Maaree
Key details: Fun fact: MAAREE are the only bras in the world that have an overband, aka a curved panel that runs over the top of the boobs to reduce upward motion. Designed for medium impact exercises, this one’s for you if you’re after extra hold.
Best for: Ultimate support.
£49, BUY NOW
15. Best sports bra for running: Easy-On Running Bra, £55 | Runderwear
Key details: In a size C to H, this is a bit of a game changer in high impact bras. It promises zero bounce and it’s easy to take off with a fully opening back. Plus, it’s high neck for extra coverage. Fun fact: the full Runderwear collection caters for 70+ sizes. Not bad.
Best for: Runners who cover lots of mileage.
£55, BUY NOW
16. Best breathable sports bra: TLRD Move Training High Support Bra, £38 | Adidas
Key details: This Adidas sports bra is crafted from their AEROREADY fabric, that manages your body’s moisture to keep you dry. The mesh insert works to also keep you cool and is ideal for high impact sports. The best news? This sports bra comes in standard and plus sizes.
Best for: Standard and plus size options.
£38, BUY NOW
What to look for in a good sports bra
In short, it kind of depends on how big your boobs are and what exercise you’ll be doing. If you’ve got bigger boobs, opt for a more supportive design: if you’re lesser endowed, you can get away with something less functional.
We’ve indicated next to each of our best sports bras who they’d best suit — we know there’s nothing more infuriating than a bra that just really isn’t cutting the mustard for you.
The post Best sports bras: 16 to wear for supportive, stress-free workouts, from £14.99 appeared first on Marie Claire.