Best sports bras 2024 for running, HIIT, the gym, yoga and more

Finding the right sports bra can feel just as hard as trying to find the perfect pair of jeans. Every woman’s body is unique and with the variety of exercise intensities, from yoga to high-impact running, each of us has different needs when it comes to support, coverage, and comfort.

That’s why we’ve rigorously tested a wide range of sports bras to bring you the best options available. Whether you’re into HIIT workouts, logging miles on the track, or building strength in yoga and Pilates, we have a recommendation tailored to your needs. Explore our top picks below.

The quick list

Best high-impact sports bras

When it comes to high support, it doesn’t get better than the Lululemon High Support Energy Bra. We found this bra to be extremely supportive for everything from a HIIT class to a marathon. It’s available in a large range of sizes, and unlike other bras on this list, you can order your actual everyday bra size, rather than trying to convert your size to S, M, or L. 

The Energy bra is sweat-wicking and quick-drying, which comes in handy for most intense workouts. We didn’t have any problem with rubbing or chafing using the bra and appreciated the adjustable straps for a more personalized fit. It’s machine washable (on a gentle cycle) and the hook-and-eye fastening and wide back closure make the bra easy to get on and off, even after a particularly difficult run. 

The downside with the Energy bra is that the straps can get a little muddled in the washing machine, but don't let this put you off. It's not the cheapest sports bra on the list, but you get what you pay for, and we found the support to be unparalleled. 

The Under Armour Infinity High Sports Bra is a high-impact bra, perfect for running. The support is in-built, so you won't have to worry about padding falling out in the washing machine, and the bra comes in four different colors — black, white, green and pink. During testing, we were a fan of how easy it was to get the bra on and off, even when sweaty thanks to the hook-and-eye-fastening.

The bra has a cross-back design, with adjustable straps, that can be tightened for a personalized fit. There are mesh panels for breathability, and the bra wicks sweat and dries fast, even on seriously sweaty gym sessions. We did experience some light chafing under the armpit during a very hot summer half marathon, but aside from this, we had no issues with the fit of the bra. 

The downside here is that the bra requires you to convert your normal cup size into XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL, although this isn't too difficult, and there is a handy size converter on the website. Our tester was a 32C and wore a size S.

Best medium-impact sports bra

The Sweaty Betty Stamina Workout Bra looks and feels great on the move. We’ve tried it for hikes, spin classes, and HIIT sessions that don’t involve too much jumping. The pull-over design is easy to get on and off (it has more give than the Nike bra mentioned above) and we loved the non-padded design. If you’re someone who doesn’t remove the padding from your sports bras though, you might miss the extra coverage. 

The bra is pretty simple in design, with a wide chest band and racerback design for extra support. The bra also has a higher neckline for extra coverage during Pilates and yoga classes, which we liked. It’s compressive but not as compressive as the bras mentioned above. It’s also available in a wide variety of colorways to suit every style. The bra comes in sizes XS to XXXL, so you’ll need to use the size guide to work out how your regular bra size converts. 

The downside with this bra is that even though it’s only medium-impact, it might not offer enough support for women with a bra size larger than a C cup. If you are an A-C cup, this is a comfortable bra to have in your wardrobe. 

Best sports bra for running

In 2022, Brooks revealed a new line of bras that had been developed with research partners at the University of Portsmouth Institute for Breast Health in the UK. The biomechanical testing ensured the bras fully supported the breasts during exercise. The Dare Crossback was one of the bras released, and it’s fast become one of the brand’s most popular bras. 

The cross-back design is suited to women who prefer to pull a bra over their head than worry about straps and fastenings that can chafe on the move. The molded cup supports offer a good amount of nipple coverage if you’re a runner who prefers to wear just a bra in the summer months, and the seamless design minimizes chafing. The sizing is a little unusual —  the bra is available in AB, CD, and DDE cup sizes, so if you’re between two cup sizes, it can be tricky to work out which fits right, but once you get the right fit, the bra is extremely comfortable on the move. 

As well as struggles working out the correct size, the straps on the Brooks bra are not adjustable, which at first glance caused concern. However, we found the bra to fit well and stay put on the move. 

Like most of the best sports bras on the market, Sweaty Betty’s Zero Gravity Running Bra doesn’t come cheap — it’s $88/£75, but according to bra designer Sarah Platts, it’ll last longer than your average sports bra. It’s available now, and comes in seven different colors: black, navy blue, wave green, mist blue, amaranth pink, hour blue, and veil pink. 

The bra comes in cup sizes A to F, so you can buy your normal bra size, rather than having to convert to a small, medium, or large. Similar to the brand’s Zero Gravity running leggings, the bra is buttery-soft against the skin. We tested this bra on long marathon training runs in all weathers, and didn't have any issues with chafing.

The bra also looks great, with wide, adjustable straps and contrast stitching. There are two different fastenings — one at the top of the bra, and one hook and eye fastening at the back of the chest band.

Overall, we found this bra extremely comfortable and supportive. It's not the cheapest on the market, but if you can afford to invest, it's a great option.

Best sports bra for the gym

The Adidas Techfit Control Medium Support Sports Bra successfully offers great support, medium-impact workouts. In fact, we found it to make our breasts feel so secure during testing that we'd say the Techfit Medium Support Sports Bra is verging on being a high impact supportive sports bra. 

Featuring a tight, compression fit and scoop neck design the bra looks great on and provides a very supportive feel. Utilizing Adidas' AEROREADY technology and ventilation in the back panel, it effectively manages moisture, keeping you dry throughout your exercise. The bra integrates RHEON reactive TPE strands, which are designed to support the breasts during high-intensity movements, enhancing performance by minimizing energy loss.

One thing buyers should note is that we found during our testing that the bra runs small, so we suggest sizing up for ease of getting the bra on and off and to prevent discomfort. 

Best for light support

The Nike Dri-FIT Indy low-impact bra has been one of the most popular yoga bras on the market for years and it’s easy to see why. It’s designed to be comfortable — it has adjustable straps that can be tightened from the front of the bra, rather than having to awkwardly wiggle to fix them on the back. 

Nike has added plenty of ventilation panels to keep you from overheating during a workout, and the flat seams are designed to prevent uncomfortable pinching or chafing. The fit is tighter than your everyday bra, despite it only offering low-impact support. Nike describes this fit as ‘body hugging’, but this does feel reassuring when wearing the bra for a more intense yoga or Pilates workout. 

The downside with this bra is the inserts. For women who prefer to keep the inserts in the bra for extra coverage, trying to wiggle them back into place after washing the bra can be frustrating. However, for those who always pull this padding out of the bra the second you cut the tags off, this is a comfortable, affordable low-impact bra worth investing in. 

Best for sweat-wicking

The Performance Bra is the first high-impact running bra from On Running, a brand famous for its slightly unusual ‘cloud’ shoes, which have distinctive pillows on the outsole of the shoe. We were seriously impressed with this bra during testing — it's comfortable and soft against the skin, even when wet, it's seamless to minimize chafing, and it's stylish enough to wear on its own. 

The bra is an encapsulation bra in design — encapsulation bras support each breast as you run, separating them and holding them in place for high support. The cups are slightly padded, so you're able to wear this on its own, and you don't have to worry about removable cups bunching in the wash. 

We found the bra fit well, and wasn't uncomfortably tight across the chest. It fit well, and felt incredibly lightweight, even when wet. The downside is the price point, which won't be affordable enough for all runners, but if you can add this to your running wardrobe, you're unlikely to be disappointed. 

What is the difference between a high, medium, and low-impact bra?

The clue is in the title, but the amount of support you need from your sports bra will depend on a couple of things. First, your bra size and second, the type of activity you’re planning on doing. Women with smaller bust sizes can often get away with wearing medium and low impact bras more often than women with a larger bra size, who will often need more support when exercising. 

High-impact bras are recommended for activities like running, HIIT training, and playing football. A high-impact bra can fall into two different categories — encapsulation and compression. An encapsulation sports bra will look like an everyday bra, with two separate cups for targeted support that minimizes the movement of each breast. A compression bra will often look more like a crop top, and work by pressing the breasts against the chest to prevent movement. Compression bras are often comfortable for smaller-breasted women. 

Medium-impact bras are not quite as supportive as high-impact bras and are best suited for activities like hiking, spinning, and cross-training. Typically, you wouldn’t go for a run in a medium-impact bra, as the compression and support wouldn’t be enough to fully support the breasts. 

A low-impact bra offers a light amount of support — a little more than your everyday bra, but not all that much. Low-impact bras are usually best suited for more gentle forms of exercise, such as yoga, Pilates, or barre classes. 

How to choose the best sports bra for you

When it comes to choosing the best sports bra for you, you’ll need to think about the type of activity you plan on using the bra for. If you’re a runner, you’ll definitely need to add a high-impact bra to your wardrobe, if you’re more of a yogi, you won’t need the same amount of support. 

Next up, you’ll want to consider fit. Some of the bras on this list will require you to convert your everyday bra size into a generic small, medium or large. The best way to do this is to grab a tape measure and look at the brand size guides to ensure you’re getting the right size. A bra that is too large won’t offer the right amount of support and one that is too tight will pinch and chafe. 

Finally, you’ll want to consider how you want the bra to fit. If you’re someone who struggles to pull a sweaty bra over your head in the gym changing room, look for a bra with a traditional hook-and-eye clasp that will be easier to get into and out of. What’s more, if you prefer to run or work out in just a sports bra, you might want one with padding in the cups for extra coverage.

How we test sports bras

We test sports bras by putting them through their paces on the run, in HIIT and spin classes, and for yoga sessions. When testing the best sports bras, we’ll look for how the bra feels during the activity — whether it wicks sweat away from the body, or feels overly damp after a sweaty workout. We’ll look at how easy the bra is to get into and out of, and whether the straps can be adjusted for a more personal fit. 

Finally, we’ll consider how comfortable the bra is — a bra that pinches or chafes isn’t one that’ll motivate you to push harder during a workout.