Did you know that the first sports bra was just two jockstraps sewn together? Thankfully, bra-shopping, although no one’s favorite task, has come much further along in the past decade, with more bespoke services and user-friendly options now available. The downside? An estimated 70-100% of women are still wearing the wrong bra size — many of whom feel that finding the right one for their workout routine is even more stressful. One study found that 17% of women surveyed have skipped out on training simply because they couldn’t find a sports bra that supported them during high-impact exercises.
Even when you’re training, the wrong sports bra can also have major effects on your performance. Another study has shown that poorly controlled breast movement while running causes women to lose up to 4 centimeters of stride length — which, over the length of a marathon, adds up to running an extra mile. An extra mile from boob bounce!
Activities and workouts such as a long run, intense HIIT session, or boot camp class require more support to keep breasts from moving not just up and down but sideways, too. Choosing the right supportive, high-impact sports bra means there’s no need to ever miss a workout — or suffer unnecessarily through one — ever again.
High-impact workouts are workouts that involve movements that put a lot of impact on your joints, such as jumping, sprinting, jolting, or having both of your feet coming off the ground simultaneously. The higher the impact, the more breast movement there is, thus the more chest support you need. Look out for the three Cs when shopping:
Compression: Something that merely “lifts and separates” won’t pass muster with sports bras, as you need something that also compacts and encapsulates your breasts comfortably yet snugly within a cup to minimize movement — particularly for those with larger cup sizes. The fit should feel supportive but never constrictive or restrict breathing. If you find yourself struggling or wheezing when putting it on, that may be a sign that your bra is too tight.
Comfort: Wider straps, mesh paneling, and even moisture-wicking fabric all work for a better, drier, more solid fit and an easier wear experience.
Customizability: A sports bra that allows you to adjust the straps and even add or remove padding as needed will feel less restrictive and more comfortable as you wear it.
Never be afraid to take a HIIT class again and find the right high-impact sports bra for you below.
This bra is equipped with mesh paneling in the front to cut down on dreaded boob sweat. Its adjustable, gel-filled straps are meant to cushion your shoulders and not dig into them, which is ideal for women with larger chests.
The super-smooth interior and exterior feel comfortable and are inconspicuous under your workout clothes, too. And for less than $35, it’s one of the best deals you’ll get on a quality high-impact sports bra.
This heavy-duty bra can handle your most intense workouts without adding any bulk to your outfit. Nike’s FE/NOM bra is 30% lighter than any other bra the brand has designed.
It uses the same Flyknit technology you’ll find in its shoes; in bra form, that flexible, supportive knit allows for minimal bounce and the utmost security.
This is one of our top picks for women with larger bust sizes — the sizes go up to 40H, and in the G and H sizes, there’s an additional sling inside for more support.
No matter what size you go with, there are six different slots for adjusting the no-chafe shoulder strap, so this high-impact sports bra will feel comfy and move along with you.
If you want to feel like you’re wearing a bandeau while you’re actually wearing a super supportive sports bra, this one is your best option.
The zippered front contours to your body to keep your breasts in place and to prevent uncomfortable bouncing during high-intensity training. This high-impact sports bra also has Under Armour’s signature SpeedForm mesh lining, so your skin can breathe the whole time you’re at the gym.
Athleta's Empower line, co-developed and refined for breast cancer survivors by breast cancer survivors, can be used with their Empower Pad Insert for more confidence and comfort during workouts.
The Empower II Train Bra offers lightweight, breathable, yet substantive support for medium to high-impact sessions. It also has an internal zipper guard, so you don't chafe while doing your thing.
Calling all runners! This high-impact sports bra will hold you in place, and it’s ventilated to the max, so sweat doesn’t soak through. It also has padded straps, so your shoulders don’t feel extra pressure as you jog.
It's also versatile: You can choose to wear it with a racerback top by clipping the straps together.
If you need more support in a workout bra but don't want to deal with padding and wires, this model from Wingslove is the one for you. Instead of padding, there are wireless cups to keep the bra thin and lightweight. Also, this style offers sizing up to a 48G cup to fit a wide range of body types.
Brooks always provides a solid selection of gear for long-distance runners, and this sports bra is no exception. Women with larger chests will feel way more comfortable in a bra like this, which uses a design technique called encapsulation to separate each breast into its own cup, so it moves more naturally. The front zip makes shedding your sweaty clothes easy breezy.
The Panache brand offers a wide range of sizes — from 28A up to 40H — but this sports bra’s wide straps will support and lift you no matter what size you wear. There’s also breathable mesh through the front panel and shoulders for comfort even during your sweatiest gym sessions.
You can pick out one in almost every color to match any spandex outfit — there are 30 different colors and patterns to choose from.
This high-impact sports bra is able to support larger-chested ladies from all angles without making you feel crushed. The wide band and racerback design keep pressure off your neck and shoulders, and the supportive Ultralu fabric not only has four-way stretch technology in it, but it also has added Lycra for even more stretch and shape retention.
Free People’s bra is super customizable: You can switch the cushioned straps from a normal position to a racerback style, the wide underbust band is adjustable to reduce pressure on your neck and shoulders, and the padding within the molded cups is removable. Those with smaller chests will love the scuba-inspired compression during high-intensity workouts, too.
The newest iteration of Reebok's innovative design adds a back closure for easy fit adjustments and thick crisscross straps for extra support.
It also features Motion Sense technology — a gel inside the bra that stiffens with sudden movement— to keep bouncing at a minimum, and with its free-cut edges, you’ll never have to worry about chafing again.
Here's a versatile sports bra you can use for anything from running to Crossfit. The back straps are adjustable to keep you locked in with a more custom-like fit, while the clean armhole and neckline help you avoid irritation. Most importantly, the breathable cup construction keeps you supported and encapsulated without sacrificing airflow. It's a classic style and fit you can wear for years.
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Most Secure
Full-Figure Plus-Size High-Impact Wonderwire Sports Bra
Underwire — just like in a standard bra — stops any bounce, but the threat of being poked mid-workout is less than ideal. Glamorise’s Wonderwire technology puts an extra layer of cushion between you and the wire, and seamless, nonstretch double-layer cups help keep everything in place.
The front zipper is just the icing on the cake! With convertible straps that are adjustable up to 15 extra inches and a hook closure on the bust band that can be expanded up to an extra 8 inches, this rock-solid sports bra can be customized to all shapes and sizes from cups A through I.
This adidas by Stella McCartney sports bra is as breathable and supportive as it is stylish — and those are big words. Not only is it constructed of 64% recycled materials, but it's also designed with AEROREADY technology wicks sweat as well as being strategically perforated at the back for maximum comfort and dryness.
Featuring a mesh-blend overlay on top of the cups, the Nike Dri-FIT ADV Alpha certainly stands out from many cookie-cutter sports bras on the market.
It's not just trendy, though (although major points in that department): The fast-drying overlay is designed to minimize bounce and prevent spillage while adding an extra layer of support — and looking fly AF while doing so.
Eunice Lucero-LeeSenior EditorEunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others.
Mara SantilliMara is a freelance writer and editor specializing in culture, politics, wellness, and the intersection between them, whose print and digital work has appeared in Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Airbnb Mag, Prevention, and more.
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