Table of Contents
Searching For The Best Sports Bras For Running
Wearing a sports bra during exercise can be a way to show off your unique personality, especially with all the stylish and bold options out there today. But proper breast support while doing repetitive high intensity training is also crucial in avoiding pain and longterm damage to your posture and ligaments!
If that made you sit up straight or gave you the urge to throw on a sports bra before hitting the treadmill, you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best sports bras for running so you can find one that fits your needs.
10 Best Sports Bras For Running
Without further ado, here are 10 best sports bras for running across top athletic wear brands on the market in 2023.
#1 Athleta
Athleta is a popular women’s activewear brand that offers a range of comfortable and stylish clothing. They have multiple types of sports bras, such as the Ultimate Bra, Hyper Focused Bra, Stealth Bra, and Stronger Bra.
They all range from high impact to low impact support, but essentially all deliver proper support and compression to minimize bounce. Some of them offer the option to take out the cups so you can customize your comfort according to activity.
They’re also available in various styles such as racerback, scoop neck, and high neck. Moisture wicking fabrics will keep you cool and dry.
Lastly, a lot of Athleta’s sports feature pockets that you can use for storing your phone, keys, and other small workout essentials. This is convenient for those that prefer running outdoors, hands-free.
Highlights
- Variety of different styles
- Available in classic colors as well as bold shades and prints
- Range of compression and support offered according to activity
- Sustainable brand
- Size inclusive
#2 NEIWAI
NEIWAI is a fashion brand that specializes in comfortable and sustainable women’s lingerie, loungewear, and swimwear.
NEIWAI’s mission is to empower women to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. The brand uses sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as bamboo fiber, Tencel, and organic cotton in its products. Their products are also designed to be size-inclusive, with a range of sizes from XS to 5XL.
The Core High-Support X-Back Sports Bra offers a high degree support for days when you want to amp up the intensity. It has adjustable straps and a safety-first reflective stripe for when you’re running in low-light environments.
It’s constructed from a heavy-duty nylon-Spandex blend with Motion Support™ lining, which minimizes unwanted movement and avoids chafing. Available in three different colors, the brand recommends sizing up if you’re unsure. It costs $79.
Highlights
- Sustainable brand focusing on body positivity
- The Core High-Support X-Back Sports Bra offers moisture-wicking Turbo Dry® technology
- Adjustable straps enable maximum movement
- Made from durable but comfortable materials
- Free shipping on orders over $50
#3 Lululemon
Lululemon is a household name in the world of athletic wear. The brand has over 400 locations across 12 countries, not counting US and Canada. So, they have both accessibility and reputation under their belt.
The brand offers a wide range of sizes in their sports bra collections and they have hundreds of options when it comes to style preferences. Some of the features include bras that are lightweight, pocketed, seamless, and/or reversible. Designed with the wearer’s comfort in mind, they are made from patented fabrics such as Nulu, Luxtreme, Ultralu, and more.
Offering high-medium support, some of their bestsellers include the Run Times Bra, the Lululemon Energy Bra, and the Enlite Front-Zip Bra, though there are countless other ones in their running collection.
Highlights
- Impressive variety of design or print options
- Made from specialized fabrics
- Offer high-medium support for running
- Inclusive size range
- The brand’s We Made Too Much outlet often offers sports bras on sale
#4 Gymshark
If aesthetics are as important to you as support, Gymshark might be the one for you. Offering sports bras that you can go jogging in but also relax in at the end of the day, the brand’s collection is worth browsing.
Some of their top sellers include the Longline Sports Bra, the Elevate Sports Bra, and the Cut Out Back High Support Sports Bra—all available in a great range of appealing shades and varying supports from light to high.
Highlights
- Sports bras made for cardio activities as well as rest days
- Attractive styles, colors, and prints
- More than 50 options available
- Reputable brand
- Members receive exclusive sales
#5 Knix
Knix is a brand best known for its compression wear. It also makes sports bras that fit like a second skin. Their bestseller is The Catalyst, receiving praise from customers for its range of gorgeous colors, easy on-and-off, and breathability.
It is made for high impact sports (such as running), featuring ventilated cups, adjustable back straps, and a combination of nylon and spandex. If that’s not the one for you, check out the Catalyst Front Zip Sports Bra or the other options offered by Knix.
Highlights
- Range of soft sports bras in various styles
- Easy on and off
- Designed for breathability and ventilation
- Customers can put together matching workout sets
- Virtual fitting option on their site
#6 Sweaty Betty
Sweaty Betty is a brand that knows people needs sports bras for many different activities. While you can definitely the Ultra Running Bra specially designed for running, all of them are also versatile enough to be worn in other closely related activities.
You can shop by color, cup size, support level, and of course activity. The bestselling running sports bra comes in 9 different colors so you can express yourself in and out of the gym (why not buy multiples of them for different days of the week?).
Highlights
- Breathable fabrics
- Positive customer reviews on fit and versatility
- Inclusive sizing
- Many color options offered for the Ultimate Running Bra
- 15% off the first purchase
#7 Wacoal
Wacoal offers sports bras for a range of impact sports. When it comes to their running bras, users admire features such as moisture wicking, stretchiness, and adjustability.
For high impact cardio, their bras are designed with underwire, an additional detail that keeps everything in place and reduces bounce. You can find them in greys and blacks, as well as vibrant blues and pinks, from 30 to 44 band size and A to H cup sizes.
Highlights
- Sports bras with underwire available in many sizes
- Carries both bold and neutral shades
- Reputable brand with a long history
- Offers tools to help you find the right size
- Free US shipping with order minimum
#8 Nike
Complete with the signature ‘swoosh’, Nike offers a range of sports bras made for running. The website organizes them by various categories such as impact, sizes, and advanced features such as Comfort Dry, Wide Straps, Convertible Straps, and more.
The brand offers XS to 3XL and A to F cup sizes. They’re designed for adjustability, breathability, and keeping the chest area dry during sweaty workouts with Dri-Fit technology. Once you find your dream match, all you need to focus on is your running goals. Conveniently, the brand also sells other products to help complete your ensemble.
Highlights
- Sports bras organized by high to low support in various designs
- Made from sustainable materials
- Offered in unconventional colors and shades
- Household name in sportswear
- Available through many retailers worldwide
#9 Adidas
Another familiar name in the industry is Adidas. This no-nonsense brand keeps it classy and focuses on performance.
There are many styles you can find online when it comes to their sports bras for running, along bestsellers such as the CoreFlow Medium-Support Sports Bra or the TLRD Impact Luxe Training High-Support Zip Bra.
Though most of their sports bras are black/ white, some of them are also available in earthy tones. The brand offers sizes from XS to 2XL and A to E cup sizes.
Highlights
- High performance sports bras that offer proper support
- Classic designs
- Moisture-wicking fabrics perfect for running
- Accessible internationally through many retailers
- Affordable price range
#10 Brooks
You might’ve heard of this brand for their award-winning women’s running shoes, but Brooks also makes great sports bras. You can use the brand’s Bra Finder online, or browse their collection.
The Dare Crossback Run 2.0, for example, is a streamlined bra with molded cups and high impact support. It’s designed to feel smooth against your skin and provide ventilation. Available in several colors (some of which are currently on sale), it comes in 30-40 band widths with AB/CD/ DE cup sizes.
Highlights
- Award winning brand with many positive reviews on sports bras
- Designed for comfort and breathability
- Good high-impact support
- Several styles and colors offered
- Bra Finder can assist in finding the right fit
#11 Shefit
Last but not least, we’ve arrived at Shefit. This company creates sports bras for running with many important features, such as wire-free seamed cups, two-way stretch fabric, removable pads, patented Zip. Cinch. Lift. adjustability, and more.
The high-impact Ultimate Sports Bra can be your go-to running companion on long jogs around the block, offered in sizes from XS to 6Luxe and A to I cup sizes.
Highlights
- Range of color options offered
- Key performance features to support your body
- Thousands of positive customer reviews
- Brand helps you find the perfect fit
- Versatile for a range of activities
How To Wear The Best Running Bras For Running
Depending on what’s appropriate for your environment and the weather, you can wear a sports on its own or throw on a shirt over top. It should fit tighter than your regular bra, but not be so restricting that you’re gasping for air before you’ve even hit the gym!
Remember, fit and comfort are key. Always choose a bra that fits your style, but also your cup size and need for support depending on the activity.
Why Is A Sports Bra Important For Running?
When running or engaging in high impact sports, your breasts will naturally bounce. As they are mostly made of tissues and supported by skin and fragile ligaments, repetitive movement can be quite damaging. Sports bras add the proper support so you won’t have back pain, your breasts won’t prematurely start sagging, and your posture can remain strong.
FAQ
Can you run a marathon in a sports bra?
Provided that you choose a sports bra that offers the maximum amount of comfort and support for your body, you can (and should!) absolutely throw on a sports bra before running a marathon.
What are the disadvantages of a sports bra?
One of the main disadvantages of a sports bra would be that it can be restricting to wear for prolonged periods of time. It can start to cut into the undersides of your breasts or around your armpits after a while.
Depending on the style, the material can sometimes be tight and cause the area to become sweaty after a high intensity workout. It’s important to practice proper hygiene after removing your sports bra at the end of the day.
Can you put your phone in your sports bra while running?
It’s better to put your phone in an arm band or waist band designed specifically for this purpose, than to store it in your sports bra while running. It might be distracting to have your phone moving around against your skin while you run, or to have it covered in sweat at the end of your workout.
You might have wondered if storing a phone in your bra while running can increase the chance of breast cancer. While there are not enough studies to prove that theory, it is true that cell phones emit EMF radiation.
There are certain bras on the market now, some of which are even featured in this article, that have built-in pockets for this convenience specifically. So, ultimately, the choice is up to you. If it feels comfortable and safe enough to do so, go for it.
Final Thoughts
To wrap things up, we’ve learned that sports bras are a crucial piece of clothing when it comes to running, or really any cardio. They can offer proper support to avoid any longterm health issues to your back and breasts, while helping you look stylish in and out of the gym.
Next, check out other top brands from our curated lists:
Ask the community or leave a comment
WRITE A REVIEWCustomer Reviews
Leave a review