These High-Impact Sports Bras Will Support You Through Any Tough Workout

When it comes to high-intensity workouts, you’ll need a high-impact sports bra that can match your movement with superior support and comfort.

As you exercise, your breasts don’t just go up and down—they actually have a three-dimensional movement, according to Brogan Horler, senior research associate and head of product testing at the University of Portsmouth’s Research Group in Breast Health. With excessive breast movement, you can experience strain, pain, and potentially even damage to the Cooper’s ligaments, which help to keep the structure of breasts intact.

If you’ve ever felt extra tired from jogging while wearing an unsupportive bra, you’re not imagining it. “Research has shown that if you are not wearing adequate breast support, your level of perceived exertion during exercise may be greater, which means you feel you are working harder,” Horler says. “We have also seen an increase in upper body muscle activity when the breasts are unsupported, which may lead to increased fatigue.”

It starts with the right fit. Nearly 80% of women wear the wrong bra size, and that mostly comes down to a lack of options, says certified bra fitter Laura Burke at Fit by Burke. Thankfully, leading brands like Champion, Reebok, and Glamorise now offer a wide range of cup sizes for proper support.

How to choose the best high-impact sports bra

Bras with compression comfortably hold your breasts close to the chest, reducing that bounciness you'd normally experience.

Bras with encapsulation support your breasts individually, separating and holding them in the cups to prevent excessive movement.

As for other features, experts say to keep these three factors in mind:

• Comfort: How the bra feels is just as important as its support, Horler says, who recommends padded shoulder straps and seamless fabrics that won’t dig into your skin as you train.

• Fit: The wrong bra size can significantly alter the way the bra is designed to work and feel. Adjustability here is key, so opt for options with a modifiable strap and underband. Bra fitter and owner of The Bra Fit Expert Christina Faraj Savarese emphasizes that sizing is everything. “Somebody that’s a C is going to have a whole different experience than somebody that’s a G cup,” she says. So, when in doubt, go into your favorite undergarment shop to get your size from a professional.

Now that you know what to look for, you can get to shopping. Ahead, check out the best high-impact sports bras that look and feel great.