13 best sports bras that give support and comfort while you work out

Maaree founder Mari Thomas knows a thing or two about sports bras, having had a career in sports bra testing at Loughborough University before starting her brand. A desire to tackle the upwards motion of breasts during exercise led her to develop Maaree’s unique overband technology. Essentially, it’s a curved panel that runs across the top of the breasts, whereas traditionally, sports bras have just focused on the underband that sits below. We can attest to the supportive and secure feeling of the solidarity bra: simply put, it felt like our breasts were going nowhere. It still manages to feel comfortable, though, and is perfect for high-impact sports such as running and high-intensity gym workouts.

The bra is pretty versatile too, featuring a hybrid style that combines compression and encapsulation. The back straps can be made into a racerback style, and the overband is adjustable, meaning you can customise the tension depending on the activity. This meant we could up the tension for running and loosen it for lower-impact exercise.

The bra isn’t cheap, but the price does reflect the high quality and amount of thought and work that’s gone into it. The fact that the bra has won numerous “best in test” awards also speaks volumes. We liked that the sizing spans 35 different band and cup variations, plus that the sports bra can be worn either under clothing or standalone, like a crop top. Another bonus was the Zoom bra fitting that we had with Mari before being sent a sports bra to test (the free 15-minute sessions are easily available for all to select on an online calendar).

US fitness giant Lululemon boasts a dedicated following behind its energy bra, and you can see why. It’s a great all-rounder: snug and secure yet flattering, and it comes in at a reasonable price. The brand proudly states that the bra has been voted “most likely to be worn multiple times a week”, and we’d say that’s a fair summary. It’s one that can work for several different activities and goes with various tops.

We liked the strappy back and thought the bra sat smoothly and comfortably during home workouts, yoga sessions and hikes. It was also breathable, and the four-way stretch of the sweat-wicking fabric means the bra is flexible yet retains its shape.

The bra is also lightly padded and can be worn as a crop top, although it comes up quite short on the torso. We also found the sizing ran a little tight, so that’s worth keeping in mind. As well as classic navy and black colourways, there are some wonderfully fresh colour options, such as a vibrant pink and a zingy orange shade, which we especially liked.

There’s a lot of room for error when it comes to underwire in sports bras. If the wiring doesn’t sit well, it can be an uncomfortable experience, to say the least. That’s why, when you come across a good underwired sports bra that’s not only supportive but extremely comfortable, it’s worth shouting about it. This Pour Moi version was a pleasure to wear: it felt cushioned thanks to its light padding, the straps are wide and smooth, and it looked better on than we expected.

Pour Moi says when the straps are adjusted to the racerback style, that the sports bra can be converted from medium to high-impact. We enjoyed wearing the bra for cycling, circuits, yoga, pilates and hiking, but personally preferred a higher impact bra for Hiit and running. It fits true to size, and we were glad to see that the sports bra washed well without the cups losing their shape or the pink straps’ colour fading. We tried the grey and pink combo, but there are 17 colour and print options, including some fun and vibrant floral designs.

Stylish, eco-conscious and comfortable, Tala is a brand that ticks a lot of our boxes. The brand, founded by fitness entrepreneur Grace Beverley, produces sustainably designed activewear that has seen it recognised by the likes of Drapers. Dedicated to an ethical supply chain, Tala lists all the locations of the factories it works with, plus the accreditations each holds. And the products each come with a plantable seed tag, which is cute.

We love its range of fashionable sports bras that come in various sophisticated hues, but the buttery soft skinluxe collection is a particular favourite. This bra is made from a lightweight mix of recycled nylon and lycra that hugs the body while still being flattering, thanks to the high-neck design and contour piping. In fact, it’s one of those sports bras that doubles as a crop top. Although created to provide medium to high support, it was a style we’d most likely reach for when it came to pilates, circuits and gym workouts.

This B Corp certified brand loves bamboo, and its racerback sports bra is a super soft delight crafted from 79 per cent viscose made from organically grown bamboo. We absolutely loved using this for low-impact exercises such as yoga and stretching, plus it’s the ideal everyday loungewear staple. We loved the coverage and shape of this sports bra and would happily wear it as a crop top while on the yoga mat or during a hike.

There’s not a tonne of support in the bra, even though its racerback style and padded cups do help. The bra’s wide straps and underbust ribbing are comfortable and don’t dig in or rub, while the delightfully smooth fabric is breathable and moisture-wicking. Also, 1 per cent of all bra sales are donated to Breast Cancer UK.

This nursing sports bra by British brand Natal Active is designed to adapt to your body from pre-pregnancy and through the trimesters to post-birth. It fits B-G cup sizing and a clever bra extender, which comes with each bra, means the under band can be widened as you progress through your pregnancy. It also features easy access, fabric-backed clips to make nursing simple and discreet, while the soft elasticated straps, which can be worn straight or cross backed, are extremely comfortable and don’t dig in.

There’s a really handy explainer on the website on how to choose the correct size, plus the friendly brand welcomes email queries. We think that given the versatility of this product for use in pre-, during and post-pregnancy, the price is pretty great.

This seamless sports bra has been constructed from a single knit and designed with cycling in mind, plus Le Col has incorporated feedback from its women’s pro teams to refine the product. Thanks to the seamless design and high stretch, the bra is super comfortable and easy to get on and off. We liked that the mesh racerback allows for better breathability and airflow, while the front offers full coverage. It also sat smoothly under our cycling jerseys, and the white colourway worked well with lighter coloured tops (it also comes in pale blue and black). The bra does come up a little small, though, so it’s worth sizing up for the best fit.

This sports bra by the outdoor brand Acai uses super-soft bamboo viscose to craft a supremely snug fit for hiking. We liked its longline ribbed form, which means it works well as both a standalone crop top and a bra, and that the straps can be transformed from straight to racerback with a simple clip. It’s also seamless, which is a big plus if you’re worried about rubbing. The removable padding is also really easy to remove and put back in after washing, which is always helpful (if you’ve struggled with adjusting misaligned pads, you know the pain).

As well as using the bra for its intended use of hiking, we also wore it for light-impact activities and day-to-day wear, for which it was great. Anything with a higher impact, though, left our bust feeling not quite supported enough. In essence, it’s a useful and comfortable sports bra for low- to medium-impact activities, camping and everyday wear. We’re confident that this breathable and sweat-wicking bra is one we’ll be reaching for on summer walks and adventures.

As soon as we took this stylish bra out of its packet, we fell in love. The colours, design and luxe feel of the fabric quickly made it one of our favourites. Former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson is one half of the duo behind the Pocket Sport activewear brand, and her stylish ways have clearly been infused into it.

There’s a thickness to the soft fabric, which makes the sports bra feel extra secure and snug. Pocket Sport says this is its most supportive bra yet, and while we did feel a good amount of hold, we’d say it’s more of a medium-support bra, especially for larger busts. The racerback straps are also adjustable. Although our favourite colourway is the fig option, the navy and black designs are equally chic.

Created from Econyl (regenerated nylon), this crop top style sports bra is silky soft and a dream to wear. Despite its supremely soft fabric and lack of padding, we thought the sports bra felt fairly supportive and secure. It was certainly one we reached for again and again for low and medium-impact activities. We’re big fans of the flattering V neckline, racerback, supportive underband and longline shape. As well as looking great on its own, the crop top sits seamlessly underneath other activewear, and we’d say it is one of the most comfortable products we tried for this round-up.

We tested the crop top style sports bra in a rich burgundy shade, but there are 16 other colours to choose from that vary from muted tones to vibrant shades. Another thing we liked was that the top washed well and dried quickly. Contur also has a key focus on sustainability: as well as making its products from recycled materials, it also manufactures its entire range in London to keep its carbon footprint as low as possible. The factory that makes it activewear is a UK social enterprise dedicated to minimising fabric waste, paying fair wages and running academies to equip local people with skills to improve their employability.

There are several great things about this high-support bra from Adidas, but a real positive is that it’s available in plus sizes. We love the pop of cherry red colour and the minimal yet effective design. The tight fit of this bra leaves your bust feeling highly secure and supported, so it was an excellent option for high-impact activities, such as running and Hiit. We also like the bra’s round neck, crop style, which looks equally good worn with leggings or shorts.

The fabric, which features 89 per cent recycled polyester, feels pleasingly smooth and cool. There’s also a power mesh front insert to help with ventilation, while the double straps on the back of this bra make you feel extra supported. The sizing on this item does run quite small, so it’s worth sizing up.

For under £20, this high-support running bra does a pretty good job. The high-coverage moulded cups are supportive and, according to the brand, reduce bounce by 53 per cent. We liked that the material felt soft and comfortable and that there are no troublesome seams inside the cups.

The bra features a mesh insert at the front between the breasts and on the racerback, which aids ventilation, and looks great. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a sports bra but are keen on something that’ll give you much-needed support while out running or hitting up those interval sessions, you can’t go far wrong with this budget-friendly buy.

A few brands out there are well-regarded when it comes to finding sports bras for bigger busts, and Shock Absorber is among them. Its ultimate run bra is an award-winning choice. It uses a mix of compression and encapsulation to keep your bust feeling supported and secure, while seamless inners, non-slip straps and a gel hook and eye clasp fastening are all handy details to keep you comfortable. Our tester rated the bra for running and sports such as tennis and felt it was a brilliant activewear staple to have in their drawer. Okay, the whole look is more technical than pretty, but it’s a great base if you’re into high-impact sport and seeking a sports bra to keep you feeling focused without any worries about bounce.