Everything You Need To Know About Sports Bras

If you own a pair of boobs, you understand the struggle of finding the perfect sports bra. The unsung (often invisible) heroes of any outdoor activity, sports bras can make or break a day. When it’s right, we forget about it. When it’s wrong, it becomes the bane of our existence.

Because every body and purpose is different, no single sports bra that will work for everyone. However, below, we present all the information you need to purchase a sports bra that suits your needs.

How to Choose a Sports Bra

Similar to owning a variety of socks for a range of conditions, footwear, and sports, you might find yourself needing a few different styles of sports bras. Next-to-skin layers are available in a range of materials, which excel in different climates and can provide different fits. The straps and entrances of sports bras can be more accessible to certain body shapes and mobility. Other sports bras offer additional functionality like pockets or removable cups.

Of course, the importance of choosing the correct size for a sports bra cannot be overlooked. Every single brand offers a specific size chart, which we try to break down in each product review for ease.

Read on to learn more about the variables that create unique sports bras for a range of activities and physiques.

Level of Support

Most brands categorize sports bras by levels of support, helping differentiate which bras are best for certain activities. Essentially, the more bouncing involved (think running or horseback riding), the higher support you might want. Features like cups, compression, structure (underwire), and wide bands underneath the breasts allow the bra to be categorized as high support. Of course, this also depends on your own cup size and preference. Smaller-chested folks can often get away with running in a low-support bra.

• Low support: Minimal or no padding, compression, and structure. Ideal for low-impact activities such as yoga, hiking, or everyday wear.
• Medium support: Moderate padding, compressive bands, and structure. Ideal for activities like jogging, mountain biking, or gym training.
• High support: The most structure with features like thicker straps, integrated cups, compressive fabrics, and adjustability. Ideal for activities like HIIT workouts, dancing, horseback riding, or sprinting.

Fabric of Sports Bras

Sports bras are made of many different fabrics. Most synthetic bras utilize polyester or nylon as the primary fabric for softness, moisture-wicking, and breathability. Almost every bra integrates a small percentage of elastane or spandex to deliver stretch and mobility.

Brands like Icebreaker and Branwyn are among the few options for sports bras built with merino wool (used in tandem with nylon and elastane for stretch), known for moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties. Merino is a great low-maintenance material for summer activities, as well as being the top choice for winter base layers for temperature regulation. Your ski jacket will keep you warm from the outside, but merino will keep you warm from the inside.

Breathability & Quick-Drying Material

Breathability is influenced by both fabric and design, allowing for airflow to keep you cool during workouts. The weave of the fabric is important; the looser the weave, the more easily moisture can escape. Typically, breathable panels are integrated into the bra, since breathability can also come at the cost of durability if used across the entire piece. For example, some bras have a small amount of perforation in just the front and back, rather than compromising the strength throughout the entire bra.

Sweat is inevitable if you’re having any fun at all, so fabrics like polyester and nylon wick moisture away from your body (thanks to hydrophobic properties), working to keep you dry throughout the activity. Merino wool feels more absorbent than nylon and polyester; however, it can absorb up to 30% of its weight without feeling wet, so there’s a chance you actually won’t even notice the sweat.

Rib Band

The rib band (which runs around the bottom of the bra) is a structural component, designed to provide support and stability. Generally, the thicker the rib band the more support you’ll find; the rib band width in this test ranged from 0.5 inch to 3 inches.

Some rib bands are integrated into the rest of the bra, as the entire bra is quite supportive overall. There’s still a rib band tucked underneath the cups, but it’s sewn into the rest of the bra, instead of a uniform band that runs consistently around the front and back.

Many low-support bras have a wider, 3-inch rib band to provide extra support to make up for the light duty.

Because it’s typically thicker than the straps and upper fabric, the rib band can also be the spot that absorbs the most sweat and is the slowest to dry. Some rib bands are made from the same material as the body of the bra, so they wick moisture and dry pretty quickly (although they provide minimal support).

Underwire in Sports Bras

You’ll see underwire in some sports bras where extra support and shape are required. It’s usually made with either metal or rubber, the former sacrificing some mobility and comfort in the name of support.

Rubber underwire is a little more flexible, which might serve more active ladies better. That being said, underwire is not only for the larger-chested ladies. Some folks with smaller boobs prefer to wear a bra with underwire since it adds a little more shape and definition. That part is entirely personal preference.

Underwire isn’t as commonplace in sports bras as it is in everyday bras, although some have a rubber underwire that you can still move in.

Breast Cups & Pads

Cups can provide support and shape, while the pads are removable in many bras for a customizable fit and personal preference. Some brands use the terms ‘cups’ and ‘pads’ interchangeably, which can be confusing.

Some bras feature removable pads, while others feature an integrated cup that fits more like a traditional bra.

Removable cups in bras can be taken out to decrease volume. A few low-support bras don’t have cups at all.

Sports Bras Coverage

Coverage, in general, refers to how much fabric covers the breast area of a sports bra, and it often (but not always) aligns with support.

Higher-impact activities like running or horseback riding generally require more coverage than lower-impact activities like hiking and yoga. High-neck bras often feature more support, while v-neck and scoop-neck bras typically have a little less coverage and are less supportive overall. But that also depends on cup size.

For instance, someone with smaller breasts may be able to get away with a low-coverage bra for a long road run, while someone with a larger chest may prefer a higher-coverage option.

Often, coverage directly relates to how much support you want, but in some cases, modesty plays a role too; some folks might feel more comfortable in a high-neck bra versus a low-cut v-neck, so there’s plenty of personal preference.

Sports Bras Straps

Straps differ for many reasons, including style, support, and ease of pulling the sports bra on and off. A lot can depend on the type of top you’re going to wear, too.

Racerbacks aren’t adjustable, but can provide a supportive and secure fit that disappears under racerback tank tops. Straight straps fit more like a traditional everyday bra, and are easier to get on and off, but might take a little more adjusting when you initially try it on to get the fit right since they typically feature more customization.

Some bras have a combo for ultimate customization since they utilize adjustable racerback straps. They adjust with hook-and-loop straps on both the shoulders and around the rib band, which is why it’s been a favorite for so many ladies looking for a more precise fit.

Thin, criss-cross straps are mostly aesthetic and provide a little style if you plan on wearing them on its own during a pilates class. More skinny straps can be a small sacrifice in support since the thick straps tend to hold bras in place a little better, but the difference is pretty minimal, and many testers felt the cute design was worth it.

Closure: Back or Front

Closure is often (but not always) related to the level of support a bra has. High-support bras sometimes offer three levels of clasps for easy on-and-off and support. Bras for higher-impact activities often have a front zipper for extra security and adjustability.

Most of the rest of the low- and medium-impact sports bras pull overhead in a simpler design thanks to stretchy synthetic fabrics that let you wiggle through.

Sports Bras With Pockets

Some sports bras integrate pockets as a creative way to store essentials without having to carry a bag. We’ve seen this trend increase overall in the past few years. Small zippered side pockets and center back pockets just under the neck have emerged, with mixed results.

Ultimately, it can be useful for runners heading out for a quick jog without wanting to carry anything else. It definitely requires the proper fit; otherwise, it can pull the bra in weird directions or dig in if you try to stash your keys or something hard-sided. High-coverage and high-support bras can handle pockets better in general since they tend to have more structure.

Sizing

Sports bra sizing varies by brand. Typically, bralettes and low-impact bras utilize XS-XL size labels, opting for sizing closer to a T-shirt since the cups are a minimal component and the bras mostly rely on consistent stretchy fabric. Other companies, like Brooks, let you select your band size as well as your cup size, while Lululemon uses numerical sizing (2-14) similar to its tights.

SheFit has a “Find My Fit” tool on its site that lets you input your height, weight, and age to help you calculate the right fit. Most brands have some sort of size guide available on the product page, which can help you translate your sizing into the company’s language.

Chafing

Chafing. In a perfect world, we’d avoid it altogether. But even the most seasoned athletes end up experiencing it at some point. Chafing is often caused by excessive rubbing, which can be exacerbated by heat. Once you’ve rubbed your skin raw, it’s hard to go back without just waiting for it to heal. We’re all about getting ahead of the problem.

A chafe injury isn’t necessarily caused by a specific type of textile, but some of our sweatier testers have noticed more chafing with certain synthetic blends versus a synthetic-wool hybrid fabric. Every person’s epidermis, size, shape, climate, and amount of perspiration differs — even day to day or activity to activity.

Anti-chafe products like Body Glide, applied before the activity, can help prevent chafing. Baby powder is another effective option that runners turn to, applied in areas like the rib band or shoulder straps, which are the most common culprits.

Check your fit, too. A bra that’s too big or too small can cause excess rubbing, so that’s another important component to think about.

Tags

In general, most ladies prefer to remove the tags from their sports bras to prevent chafing. A long, scratchy tag (like the one lululemon has attached) can be a quick way to turn a perfectly good sports bra into a scratchy, chafy, jog.

Most sewn-in tags, like the Brooks tags, are easy to remove once you’re ready to wear the bra, but they can also contain useful information about washing instructions.

Almost all of these sports bras had a tag we pulled off inside (typically attached to the seam between the back and front on one side), as well as a hang tag.

How to Care for Sports Bras

Sports bra lifespan

For bras that see regular workouts, sweat, and outdoor use, the estimated lifespan is about one year. With consistent, gentle care, you can extend that to one to three years, which is what many testers report.

Washing sports bras

Wash sports bras in cold water with a mild detergent to protect technical fabrics and preserve stretch. Skip fabric softeners and bleach, as both can degrade fibers and interfere with moisture-wicking performance.

For wool-blend bras, you’ll get the best results with a specialty wool wash, which cleans without stripping natural fibers.

Drying sports bras

Avoid the dryer. High heat can warp cups, break down elastic, and shorten a bra’s life. Most sports bras are made from quick-drying materials, so hang-drying or laying flat is always the safest option.

Sports bra cup care

If your bra has molded or padded cups, occasional machine washing is fine, but hand washing helps them maintain their shape over time.

Post-workout bra handling

Take your bra off right after exercising. Leaving it balled up in a gym bag traps sweat, bacteria, and body products that can damage materials. At a minimum, air it out before packing it. Even better: give it a quick rinse to remove salt and oils that speed up fabric breakdown.