What to Look for When Buying Sports Bras

Sports bras are arguably the most important piece of workout apparel. If you’re wearing a bra that doesn’t fit right or support your breasts, you’ll be in for an uncomfortable workout. When it comes to shopping for sports bras, Sarah Taylor, certified personal trainer, plus-size model, and owner of virtual fitness studio Fitness by Sarah Taylor, suggests finding what feels comfortable, keeps you supported, and fits your body. “If a bra doesn’t fall in line with these guidelines, avoid it,” she says. Other things, like the material’s ability to dry quickly and how easy it is to take on and off, can make or break a workout, says Bianca Vesco, certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and fitness model.

Of course, the best way to test a bra is to put it on. Not only does this let you feel the material and figure out if it’s comfortable against your skin, but it also lets you find the right fit. “There’s nothing more uncomfortable than working out in a bra that’s too small,” says Alison Staples, RRCA-certified run coach and physical therapist assistant. Like many other types of apparel, a sports bra’s fit and sizing will likely vary by brand, so you may find that you wear different sizes depending on the brand and style of the bra.

Before deciding if a sports bra is right for you, you also need to think about the activity you’ll be wearing it for, says Taylor. The bra you’ll need for a run is likely going to require more support than what you’d wear in a yoga class. One sports bra may be perfect for one workout but not great for the next.

The easiest way to know if a bra will be supportive? “When trying on a bra in the fitting room, I jump around to see if my breasts move around in it,” says Janeil Mason, M.A., personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and creator of Fit and Lit. If you can’t try it on in person first, do your best to read up on the material online, and then once you get it wear it around your house for a day to try and get a feel for it.

According to our experts, there are a handful of features worth considering when shopping for a sports bra. For our SELF Certified Sports Bra, Leggings, and Shorts Awards, where we rigorously test and evaluate sports bras and leggings and then award the best of the best in order to help you decide what’s worth buying, we wanted to know exactly what those criteria are. Here, Taylor, Staples, Vesco, and Mason share the most important things to look for in a sports bra.

Sports Bras Evaluation and Testing Criteria

Support

Arguably the most important thing to focus on when testing a sports bra is whether it provides the support you need for any given activity. The simplest way to test? “Make the fitting room your playground,” says Staples. “Jump up and down, do a few jumping jacks, twist side to side, run in place.” Take note of whether the bra moves up and down or stays in place and if it’s too constrictive or not supportive enough, Staples says. When determining if a bra is good for a certain level of impact, we consider:

  • Low-impact support: Low-impact bras are usually stretchy and comfortable but probably not very supportive, so the breasts will move freely as you do. “Low-impact bras are good for things like yoga class or lounging around,” says Taylor. “I wear these kinds of bras in my day-to-day life, but very rarely to teach a class or do a workout unless it’s yoga.” For some people with larger breasts, bras with low-impact support may not be sufficient for even yoga.

  • Medium-impact support: “If the bra has at least medium support, the [breast] movement will be minimal,” says Mason. These types of bras are usually good for a strength class that may have a little bit of cardio in it, says Taylor, but not a lot of constant jumping or other quick movements. Vesco notes that medium-support bras can be great for yoga and lifting weights—they are supportive enough that you don’t fall out during Down Dog, but comfortable enough that you can still move around a bit.

  • High-impact support: “If a bra has high-impact support, there is typically no [breast] movement and full coverage of cleavage,” Mason says. Many people need high-impact bras for HIIT class, dance cardio class, and running—all activities that involve jumping motions for a significant period of time. High-support sports bras usually have a very tight fit, says Vesco.

Fit 

A good sports bra should always fit you well and be comfortable during your workouts. “See how the bra feels when you put it on, while you sweat, and what it feels like an hour or two after your workout if you still have it on,” Vesco suggests. Take note of where it sits on your rib cage, and if your breathing changes at all when you have it on, Staples says. All brands aren’t cut the same way, and some come in cup and strap sizes like a regular bra, while others come in small, medium, large, etc. “You may need to try a few different sizes to find the right fit,” Staples adds.

Cut and Style

Some sports bra styles may fit some people well, while they don’t work great for others. And some styles may work for you for one type of workout but not another. For example, Staples says she finds crop top bras with a longer hemline to be a little too constrictive on her diaphragm when running, in particular. But depending on your body shape, this style may feel fine. It’s important to test a specific cut and style for the workout you’d like to use it for to make sure it’s comfortable considering the motions you’ll be doing.

Strap Style

You may find that some strap styles fit your body better and feel more comfortable during a workout. For example, Taylor says she avoids racerback bras because they tend to bother her neck and shoulders. In addition to style, the thickness of a bra’s straps can help make it more supportive. “Wider, thicker straps will tend to provide more support in higher intensity activities,” says Staples. Also, adjustable straps tend to up the support factor.

Ease to Put On and Take Off 

“Being able to get a supportive bra on and off is also important to me because after the workout is done, I do not want to have to struggle to get a sweaty bra off. That is misery,” says Vesco. Bras with zippers in the front, or a clasp in the back, are usually easier to take on and off. If the bra needs to be pulled on and off over the head, it’s important to be able to do so without struggling too much.

Moisture Management

Sports bras that are made of quick-dry material can make a huge difference in comfort during a workout, says Vesco. To test this, we considered how wet the bra felt during a sweaty workout and how long it took to dry after the workout was over. Did the fabric get wet and stay wet? Did it cling to the skin? Did it cause chafing once wet? Or did the fabric stay somewhat dry and feel breathable despite an intense workout?

Fabric

The feel of the material is also important, says Taylor. Is it soft and comfortable or scratchy and stiff? If a a bra is supportive but has rough seams or otherwise just doesn’t feel comfortable against your skin, you’re not going to feel good wearing it.

How You Feel 

The most subjective item here is feel. But it’s important! A sports bra should feel comfortable, fit well, and perform during a workout, but it’s also important that you feel good wearing it, says Staples. When we put on a sports bra, we take note of how it makes us feel. Do we like the style? Does it make us feel confident and ready to crush a workout?

How SELF Tests Sports Bras

  • Do at least one workout for the type of intensity the sports bra is indicated for (high impact: HIIT, running, boxing, etc.; medium impact: strength training, weight lifting, cycling; low impact: yoga, stretching, walking)

  • Jump up and down, do a few jumping jacks, twist side to side, run in place

  • Keep wearing the sports bra for an hour or two after a workout (to note comfort and wetness)

Experts Consulted for These Guidelines

Product Reviews Using These Guidelines

This leggings buying guide was developed for our SELF Certified Sports Bra, Leggings, and Shorts Awards. See all our 2020 winners here

Originally Appeared on SELF