Just like running shoes support and cushion your feet, the best sports bras for running are important to protect your chest from bouncing and chafing. Finding the right sports bra can not only make your run much more comfortable and enjoyable, but proper breast support can even improve your running performance. But make sure that it fits properly, because if doesn’t, you may restrict your breathing. To find the best running sports bras, we asked marathoners, trail runners, trainers, running coaches, and even Olympic athletes for their top picks, whether on daily jogs or long distance races.
The best sports bras for running, at a glance
- Best Overall: Lululemon Energy Long Line Bra, $58
- Best Budget: Puma 4Keeps Sports Bra, $20
- Best Style: Alo Airlift Intrigue, $64
- Best Light Support: Nike One Convertible Bra, $32
- Best Medium Support: Nike Swoosh Medium Support Sports Bra, $40
- Best High Support: Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity Running Bra, $108
How to find the right sports bra for running
Running is a high-intensity and high-impact activity, so your perfect sports bra should offer more support than for other exercises like, say, yoga. Sports bras are usually categorized with a level of support: light, medium, or high. The bigger your chest size, the more support you’ll likely need.
According to Olympic runner Colleen Quigley, you’ll also want to look for the right bra features for your chest size. “For someone with bigger boobs, sports bras with more fabric and a breast shaped molded into the front [molded cups] might be helpful,” she says, compared to bras that are flat without much shaping in the chest area. Molded cups provide both space and structure to keep the boob bounce-age to a minimum. Those with small chests may be comfortable without molded cups, and with just a compressive fabric to keep everything in place.
Another thing to look out for is the design, which contributes to comfort and breathability. For example, do you want a high neckline or not? A high neckline will offer more coverage, but may trap sweat. Length is also important: “Some [longline sports bras] come further over your ribs and look more like a crop top, while some are shorter and definitely give off more of a bra look,” Quigley says.
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Best Overall: Lululemon Energy Long Line Bra
When Quigley wears a sports bra (which is often), chances are it’s the Lululemon Energy Bra. “They have a few versions of this bra—the longline energy bra, the long line highneck energy bra, and the ribbed energy bra,” she says. “Can’t go wrong with any of them but I love the longline one.” It’s also beloved by trainers, like Kellie Kopach, group fitness instructor at Life Time Fitness, for its versatility and support, particularly for small-chested people.
Support: Medium | Material: Nylon, polyester, Lycra, elastane | Features: Removable padding, breathable four-way stretch material
- What We Love: The fun strappy design is balanced with a comfortable, moisture-wicking fabric
- What Could Improve: Runs relatively tight; limited sizing
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Best Budget: Puma 4Keeps Sports Bra
For under 25 dollars, you can’t go wrong with this simple bra that comes with the approval of Lindsey Clayton, chief instructor at Barry’s and NYC run coach. “I love this bra because it’s supportive, doesn’t move around when I run and it’s comfortable,” she says. And for those extra hot days, the entire back panel is mesh to wick away sweat.
Support: Medium | Material: Recycled polyester | Features: Back mesh panel
- What We Love: It has a tried-and-true design that is easy to wear—at a great price point
- What Could Improve: The logo isn’t exactly subtle
