For this guide, we’ve divided categories loosely based on cup sizes and styles: the best sports bras for people with DD+ cups and larger band sizes, DD+ cups and smaller band sizes, D/DD cups, C/D cups, and A/B cups. (In a separate blog post, you can read more on how to find the right bra for you.) Your choice will come down to personal preference: Someone who wears a B cup may want the support and enhancement of an underwire bra that we recommend for larger cups, and someone with DD cups may feel more comfortable in a compression bra. Below we also outline the pros and cons of some other good sports bras to help guide your search, and we offer advice on how to care for your sports bra to help it last as long as possible.
Our pick
Elomi Energise
This encapsulation bra with underwire offers full coverage and extra lift, as well as deeper cups and wide and comfortable straps.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $66.
If you’re looking for a lot of coverage and lift or need a deeper cup, the Elomi Energise is an encapsulation bra that comes in 61 sizes, including cup sizes up to K (UK sizing; Elomi is based in the UK) and band sizes up to 46—but the smallest band offered is a size 32. This bra has deeper cups and comes up higher on the chest and sides than the Panache (below), making it a full-coverage bra that when correctly fitted should help prevent any spillage during a vigorous workout. Its wide straps and soft, satiny fabric are comfortable, too. “The material was nice and breathable,” one 34JJ tester said, adding that the “bounce support was amazing for running and burpees.” The tester continued, “I was able to jump around, climb over ropes, and carry a medicine ball without my boobs getting in the way! Win!”
Band size range: 32 to 46
Cup size range: D to O (converted from UK sizing D to K)
Strap style: U-back with J-hook
Our pick
For support and bounce control that comes in smaller band sizes, we like the Panache Sports Wired Bra. This encapsulation bra is available in 70 sizes, including cup sizes up to J (UK sizing; Panache is based in the UK) and band sizes 28 to 40. (In contrast, the smallest band offered for the Elomi Energise is a size 32.) This Panache sports bra is well lined and comfortable, and you can easily adjust the wide straps and band (and even convert the bra into a racerback with a J-hook). A 30G tester said, “This was the most comfortable to wear for the longest amount of time.” But that same tester noted that it could do a better job wicking away sweat. When properly fitted, the Panache should encapsulate the breasts, but it doesn’t offer quite as much coverage as the Elomi.
Band size range: 28 to 40
Cup size range: B to M (converted from UK sizing B to J)
Strap style: U-back with J-hook
Our pick
SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra
The SheFit is a high-support bra with a zippered front closure whose straps and band adjust with Velcro. It delivers a comfortable, movement-friendly wearing experience that doesn’t feel constricting.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $70.
The SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra is not subtle—one tester called it a “contraption masquerading as a sports bra”—but it wowed those who tried it with its ability to keep breast movement at bay. The SheFit is a combination bra (it uses both encapsulation and compression to reduce breast movement), and customizable adjustability is the name of its game: The inch-wide shoulder straps adjust at the front with Velcro, the band adjusts at the back with Velcro, and two internal hook-and-eye clasps bolster the front-zipper closure. Despite its complex construction, the bra moves with the body and feels lighter than its initial look lets on. The lined, wireless cups are comfortable and supportive, though the external contoured support seams don’t provide quite as smooth of a line under shirts as those some of the other bras we tried. The bra comes in 10 sizes (XSmall to 6Luxe); although SheFit’s proprietary sizing might result in more trial and error when it comes to finding the right fit, our testers all got it right on their first try.
Band size range: 22 to 49½ (circumferences, which don’t necessarily align with traditional band sizes; be sure to consult the size chart and fit tips)
Cup size range: A to I
Strap style: convertible crossback (front-zipper closure)
Our pick
Champion Spot Comfort
This high-support bra provides cup definition while still keeping breasts snug to prevent movement. Its U-back design makes it easy to adjust and to get on and off.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $24.
For an option that’s easier to change out of than a pull-on racerback style and has slightly more coverage, we recommend the Champion Spot Comfort U-back bra. A combination bra (it utilizes both encapsulation and compression to reduce breast movement), the Spot Comfort has seams that separate the breasts to prevent the uniboob look, and its ample side and front coverage still keeps everything secure while you’re running. With padded, adjustable, vertical straps and a back clasp, the Spot Comfort is easy to get on and off compared with a traditional pull-on racerback. Although you can’t adjust the straps on this bra as easily during exercise, some people might prefer the Spot Comfort’s U-back cut for quick changes. One 34DD tester reported still being able to “adjust the straps without taking the bra all the way off.” It comes in 18 sizes (34C to 42DDD).
Band size range: 34 to 42
Cup size range: C to DDD
Strap style: U-back
Our pick
Champion The Absolute Workout
This medium-support compression bra for smaller cup and band sizes is comfortable and supportive, and it has a sturdy band that is unlikely to ride up.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $17.
Champion’s The Absolute Workout sports bra is a great option for people who prefer a pull-on racerback style and don’t want or need encapsulation-style support or padding. This bra has stretchy fabric that still bounces back to control breast movement while you’re running and offers a firm band for extra support. It’s a pared-down, basic bra that’s easier to get on and off than similarly styled bras, and it’s currently available in two colors and four sizes (XS through L). It’s one of the most affordable compression bras we considered, too. One tester, who tried this bra in a size large, called it a Goldilocks fit. She said, “The band was not so tight that it was uncomfortable, nor too loose that it didn’t stay in place.”
Band size range: 30 to 40 (XS to L)
Cup size range: A to DD
Strap style: racerback