A GAME OF CUPS
It is important to feel comfortable and supported while you are clocking up the miles. But there is a lot to consider when choosing the best sports bra for running, says Zoe Galloway
Whether you’re an A or H-cup, a good sports bra will become your best friend when out on a run. You’ll need to keep your chest secure and reduce any bounce as much as possible, especially if you’re running long distances regularly. This is because continuous breast movement can lead to back pain, soreness and irreversible sagging – your Cooper’s ligaments, which give your breasts their size and shape, can stretch or break, and this can’t be repaired.
There are two main types: compression bras, which look like crop tops and flatten your breasts against your chest, or ones that have in-built cups, looking much like your regular bra but made of more breathable
material. Generally, compression bras are better suited to those with smaller breasts (A to C-cup). For everyone else, a sports bra with in-built cups is favoured. Sizes and measurements vary across brands, though, so always check the size guide if you’re unsure.
When looking specifically for running though, think about the distance you’ll be covering and what’s most important to you – do you want fabric that minimises sweat buildup (sweat-wicking)? Will you be sprinting or maintaining a steady pace? What style of sports bra do you find most comfortable and supportive? It should feel tighter than a regular bra but you shouldn’t experience any rubbing or digging in.
We ran distances up to 15 miles to put sports bras through their paces and here are the ones we think suit runners’ needs the best.
Freya Active Epic Atomic Moulded Crop Top Sports Bra: £42, freyalingerie.com
Catering from a B to H-cup, Freya Active gives the most supportive and comfortable fit out of all the sports bras we tested. It’s the ideal option for running because we found barely any bounce when covering distances up to 15 miles, helped by the underwire and supportive cup shape. The back straps can be worn two ways and the thick band with a clasp fastening keeps everything in place. The fabric allows skin to breathe and the design is flattering – there are matching leggings available, too.
Lululemon Enlite Bra: £78, lululemon.co.uk
Now, this one may be expensive but it was a close contender for our Best Buy. Designed especially for running, this sports bra is super-comfy, stretchy and breathable. The compression style means your chest is kept firmly in place, even with larger cup sizes, while the lycra fabric means it’s easy to slip on and off and moulds to your body shape well. It’s soft against skin too, stopping any rubbing, digging in or riding up – you don’t notice you’re wearing it as you run. But you can’t rival the comfort this design provides while
still giving you the support you need. We ran 15 miles and noticed the lightweight material wicks away sweat, too. It’s the ideal option for anyone serious about running. Available in four colours, and from a B to E-cup.
Sweaty Betty Ultra Run Bra: £45, sweatybetty.com
Luxury sportswear brand Sweaty Betty has created a running bra that is not only supportive and comfortable but also looks good. Available up to an F-cup and in two stylish colours, it fits like a normal bra but the extra shoulder padding and compression style means there’s no movement or rubbing, even with larger chest sizes. It’s also made from sweat-wicking fabric, so you’re kept cool and ventilated on longer runs. We completed 12 miles in this bra and loved how much it reduced bounce.
Asics Zero Distraction Bra: £48, asics.com
From a reliable running brand comes this supportive sports bra. Reducing bounce and coming with adjustable, cushioned straps, you can run for miles without worrying about too much chest movement. The fabric (with Asics MotionDry technology) keeps you cool and dry, while the mesh material on the back allows skin to breathe. The high level of support it gives means you can do high-intensity runs regularly without distraction and it’s easy to get on and off using the standard bra clasp at the back. Comfort levels are good too, although sizing is confusing – we’d recommend using the size guide to find the ideal fit.
Adidas Stronger For It Soft Printed Bra: £42.95, adidas.co.uk
Switch up your style with this sports bra from Adidas. Adjustable straps mean you can create an X-back or U-back depending on what you find most comfortable, while the rounded neckline and cut-out above the hem band adds a stylish touch. The breathable fabric stops sweat from building, although the fit is a little tighter than others we tested, but good support is provided by the moulded cups and compression design (a good mix for those with a bigger chest size). Our tester is training for a marathon and found it a reliable option to clock up the hours in. Make sure you check the size guide before you buy though as it can be confusing, available in blue, too.
Nike Motion Adapt Women’s High Support Sports Bra: £47.95, nike.com
This Nike sports bra is a compression style that will keep sweat to a minimum on longer runs. It feels secure and comfortable, while the fabric keeps you cool and dry. The racerback design allows for freer movement and doesn’t irritate the skin as you run. We think this is the ideal bra for someone trying to build up distance in preparation for a big race. It’s available in six colour combinations and in sizes XS to XL, catering for most people.
New Balance NB Power Bra: £45, newbalance.co.uk
You can always rely on New Balance for high-performance sports gear and we weren’t disappointed with its latest sports bra. Available in four colours and with sizing matching your bra size, up to a D-cup, it’s a supportive and secure fit. It’s designed for high-intensity workouts too, so running poses no problem. You don’t notice you’re wearing it and everything is kept in place with little bounce. The racerback is easy to get on and off and the straps don’t dig in or rub. It’s another great option for those training for a big event or covering larger distances.
Victoria’s Secret Angel Max Sport Bra: £48.74, victoriassecret.com
This sports bra lived up to its name, providing maximum support while being comfortable to wear. Featuring flexible underwiring, full-coverage cups and ultra-lightweight fabric, we didn’t experience any bounce on our run. The material is super-soft too – no painful digging in or irritation against the skin. The straps are adjustable but our tester has wide shoulders and found it quite difficult to get on and off. It’s a pretty sports bra though, available in a range of designs that aren’t overly feminine, so you could easily run in just this on hotter days. It is hand-wash only, but available in nine on-trend colours. Available up to a DDD-cup.
Under Armour Women’s UA Armour Crossback Clutch Bra: £42, underarmour.co.uk
If comfort is your main priority, here’s the one for you. This compression style is built for mid-impact, so those with a larger cup size may want to opt for something different, but otherwise it’s supportive and keeps everything in place. The material is lightweight, keeps you sweat-free and is stretchy, making the bra easy to get on and off. The pocket on the front is a useful addition to keep cards and keys safe. The cross-back straps don’t dig in either, and allow a good range of movement. Available in four colours and sizes from XS to XL.
Panache Sports Moulded Bra: £42, figleaves.com
Panache designs lingerie for D+ cup sizes, so this sports bra, which is available up to a HH-cup, is ideal if you have a larger bust. Coming in six designs, the bra has two separate cups (rather than a compression style) and underwiring to give excellent support. There’s minimal bounce as you run and the straps are easy to adjust if it doesn’t feel quite right. And it’s reasonably breathable, meaning no sweaty buildups. Our only niggle is that it’s hand-wash only, which is quite annoying when you want to use it regularly.
Tribe Sports Burgundy Sports Bra: £45, tribesports.com
Launched in 2011, this brand aims to bring you high performance running gear no matter how much distance you cover. Its racerback sports bra has a compression style and offers medium support. For larger busts, Tribe Sports suggests putting it over a high-impact bra, although our tester found there was enough support for a D-cup. The comfort levels with this design are hard to beat, you barely notice you’re wearing it and the antibacterial, sweat-wicking fabric means you can run greater distances more frequently without building up an unpleasant odour. Sizes are from XS to L, and it’s available in three appealing colours – if you’re brave enough, wearing just the sports bra and matching leggings looks extremely stylish.
Salomon Medium Impact Bra: £24, salomon.com
Best for those with a smaller chest size, this soft and stretchy sports bra is ideal if you’re looking to maintain fitness through running. It’s lightweight and extremely comfortable, with a seamless design eliminating itchiness and irritation. There is slight padding but not enough to get in the way and there’s no rubbing under the arms or movement as you run. The holes on the front allow your skin to breathe. It’s a safe option for those starting their running journey. Available in four colours and sizes from XS to L.
Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra: £43, figleaves.com
This is a well-designed sports bra that provides enough support for larger cup sizes while still being comfortable, and it’s been created with runners in mind. Shock Absorber claims it reduces bounce by up to 78 per cent and we did feel there was little movement as we ran. The full cups feel supportive and the padded straps and back design keep everything in place. It’s machine washable and is a great option to use again and again during training. Available in five colours and from A to G-cup.
Bellum Active Turquoise Diamond Luxe Crop Bra: £30, bellumactive.co.uk
Women’s sportswear brand Bellum has created a colourful running bra that looks good and is extremely comfortable to wear. It provides medium support, so we wouldn’t recommend it for those with a D+ cup size, but the stretchy fabric means it’s easy to get on and off, while also moulding to your body shape well. The compression style reduces the amount of chest movement while running, and the padding is removable if you’d prefer without. Extra benefits include UV protection, while sizes range from 6-12. A good option for anyone doing the odd run either on the road or in the gym.
The verdict
Freya Active is our top choice as its sports bra is comfy, supportive and affordable. Sweaty Betty has produced a reliable option too and we love the on-trend design. But if you can afford Lululemon, you won’t be left disappointed.