Best Running Bras for Large Breasts

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Banish back pain and bounce with these 10 sports bras that provide support for larger-breasted runners without suffocating compression

Large-breasted runners face potential back pain, bouncing, and chafing with an ill-fitted sports bra. The goal is to find a supportive bra that moves with you, but minimally enough that it doesn't rub and create friction… all without the suffocation of a tight band or pinch points.

Dr. Owen Legaspi is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist based in New Jersey. When it comes to the importance of a supportive bra, Legaspi says: "Large-breasted women are predisposed to having rounded shoulders and an increase in kyphosis, a forward-leaning posture." He explains that this affects the lumbar curvature, which can be a cause of low back pain, especially for runners.

This makes a supportive, well-fitted sports bra even more important. We recommend looking for a model with comfortable, durable fabric, wide straps to avoid digging into skin, a cross-back design for added support, molded cups, and wicking properties.

Lifestyle and fitness writer Stacey Freeman contributed to research and sourcing for this article.

There's no universal sizing for sports bras, so check the manufacturer sizing charts and measure yourself to start your search, but know that it's not an exact science, and the bra that feels right is the best option regardless of what the tag says.

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Sports bras made for larger-chested people tend to be high-impact, which can feel uncomfortably constrictive. The best sports bras for larger breasts will balance wide shoulder straps, chest band, and molded cups to provide support without pinch points.

Yanking a sports bra over your head can be difficult after sweating, and most larger-sized sports bra models offer a front zipper or a hook-and-eye clasp in the back. The hook-and-eye makes the bra easier to take on and off and also allows for a customized fit. Both of these features help prevent the sports bra from getting stretched out during dressing and undressing as well.

Even though we love sports bras for daily wear, they also serve a key purpose for workouts, which means breathability and ventilation is critical. Look for a wicking, odor-resistant fabric, sweat-resistant bands, and ventilation in the form of mesh cutouts or strategically placed ventilation areas.

Compression and encapsulation are the two ways to keep breasts from moving around during a workout. Compression bras function as a band that flattens the breasts to keep them immobile. The challenge is finding a bra with a band that isn't too tight. Encapsulation creates stability by keeping the breasts separate and stable in individual cups.

Compression bras are the more common of the two designs and work well for women with smaller breast sizes. As cup size increases, compression bras can create a uni-boob or result in less support as the breasts sag over the band.

Some sports bras come with underwire cups, others with molded cups. It's personal preference, but molded-cup bras have become more supportive in recent years, and can feel more comfortable with less material and a welded design that offers support without increased tightness.

A sports bra should be form-fitting, but not too tight. Fit your sports bra by moving your breasts so they are sitting squarely in the cups and aren't pushing out the sides. There shouldn't be too much excess space where the top of the cup meets your chest. Next, adjust the straps to leave enough room for one finger to fit under the strap. If bra straps hug the shoulders too tightly they can cause maceration, a breakdown of the skin caused by sweat and other moisture. The underband should sit level at the front and back without riding up and shouldn't feel constricting around the chest—an easy way to gauge this is if it leaves an indentation after your workout.

For this selection of sports bras, we visited retail shops, spoke to experts and bra fitters, and took our own experience and accumulated experience of runners in our communities. Bra choice and fit is personal, and not all of these bras will work for everyone. But there's enough variety in style and fit that we’re certain there's something in here that will work for you and your running and training.

Created specifically for runners, the Brooks Dare Crossback Bra is an encapsulation-style bra built with a seamless design and feather-weight compression band below the bustline. It's made with a sweat-wicking DriLayer HorsePower fabric and strategically-placed perforation for ventilation, and it's one of the most comfortable bras I’ve ever worn. I wore this bra every day for 23 days during my 486-mile Colorado Trail thru-hike, and it never lost its shape or felt constricting. And it barely smelled bad at all, I swear.

Designed for cardio, this high-impact sports bra is ideal for running, training, and HIIT workouts. Athleta recommends this bra for cup sizes up to 40 DD, though it comes in larger sizes too. Made with moisture-wicking technology, it pulls sweat away from the body to keep you dry even during the most strenuous workouts. With a high-cut neck and wide compression band, this bra feels comfortable and supportive without cutting off circulation. The only ding against it are the narrow straps, which can hit your back in unflattering places.

This is one of the most supportive, high-impact sports bras from Under Armour. It might look like a lot of material, but if you’re looking for a high level of compression and customization, this is a great option. It has customized fit options thanks to the adjustable cross-back straps and three hook-and-eye closures in the back. Molded one-piece padding provides additional support, and mesh panels offer breathability. The main body of this bra is made with UA's HeatGear technology to keep you cool and dry during sweaty sessions. Since this bra uses compression for its support, it does feel tight and can be a bit much for all-day wear.

This high-support sports bra is made to withstand even the hardest-hitting workouts, from track intervals to a HIIT class. Made of recycled polyester and elastane, it has a scoop neck and four hook-and-eye closures in the back for a high level of security and adjustability. The adjustable shoulder straps can be converted to a racerback style for added support, and Adidas's Aeroready technology keeps you cool and dry.

This high-impact compression bra comes with adjustable straps in the back that can convert to a cross-back style for added support and more freedom of movement, and it has three hook-and-eye closures for a secure fit. With support provided by its shock-absorbing technology, this lightweight, durable sports bra offers full coverage and minimal contouring without the use of built-in cups.

Perfect for gym workouts, yoga classes, and bike rides, this sporty compression bra is designed to keep you comfortable while offering moderate support and lift. Moisture-wicking fabric, along with a soft underband, helps to protect against chafing. The mesh racerback design with a keyhole cutout for ventilation is both stylish and functional. This isn't our top pick for running, but keeping a comfortable, lower-impact bra in your rotation is perfect for those days when you don't need as much bounce-prevention.

This bra is one of the most breathable, sweat-wicking options we’ve tried, keeping us impossibly cool and dry even on the hottest, sweatiest runs. It has moderate compression with molded cups for a style that provides lift and support without adding too much material. The cutouts and ventilation options prevent the dreaded between-boob sweat, and the padded, adjustable straps are comfortable for extended wear.

Equipped with an underwire and molded cups for encapsulation support, the Brooks Dare Underwire Bra supports each breast individually for no-bounce fit without suffocating compression. We love the adjustable straps in the back, which, along with three hook-and-eye closures, provide plenty of adjustability for a custom-fitted feel. This bra is made with Brooks’ lightweight, sweat-wicking DriLayer HorsePower fabric, and has strategically-placed ventilation holes that lower the material weight while providing air flow during workouts.

Though designed for high-impact sports and built with plenty of support, this bra from Reebok is surprisingly soft and comfortable thanks to the lower elastane content. This bra has extra material across the entire model, with a wider racer-back style to account for the reduced elastane content, which makes it less stiff without losing support. The Speedwick moisture-wicking technology works to keep you cool and dry, and it has removable padding for added versatility. Plus, it's made with an environmentally friendly dyeing process that uses fewer chemicals and conserves water.

Despite the odd-looking back design of this bra, it's technically a racerback and offers plenty of support without a lot of around-the-back material. The dedicated encapsulation cups have fitted support and light compression without feeling too binding, allowing this bra to hold up to high-impact workouts without feeling like too much for medium-impact days. The shoulder straps are cushioned and adjustable, and it has dual clasps at the back to open and close in two places, which some people admittedly might find to be a hassle.

RW: What do people with large breasts need to look for that other sports-bra wearers might not?

MS: Large-breasted athletes and runners need to consider extra support to minimize bounce and pain associated with extra movement during exercise. But this comes with the challenge of finding a supportive sports bra that doesn't rely on suffocating compression. My go-to is the Brooks Dare Crossback bra, which has wide, welded straps that don't deteriorate, stretch, or pinch. I look for encapsulation models that hold each breast separately without crushing them. People with larger cup sizes than me also might want adjustable straps and a hook-and-eye closure for a more custom fit.

RW: How should I care for my sports bras, and how long should they last?

MS: Hand washing your sports bra after every wear using a gentle soap or laundry detergent designed for delicates can help prolong its life. If you don't have time for this, many antimicrobial fabrics allow for more than one wear between washes. Fabric softeners can damage certain fabrics, especially lycra / Spandex, so avoid using those in your wash cycle. Lastly, let your sports bra air dry rather than running it through the dryer unless care instructions specify otherwise.

If you’re wearing your sports bra a few times a week, count on replacing it every six to 12 months. Once they lose their stretch and shape they won't be beneficial for high-impact workouts, and can become uncomfortable. Look for signs of deterioration, including the bra not regaining its shape after washing, the fabric showing signs of wear, or the band itself stretching out.

RW: How many sports bras should I have in my rotation?

MS: I have a lot of sports bras in my rotation. Most of my use is medium-impact, so I have several that work for medium-impact workouts, a few lighter styles for regular wear and yoga classes, and several high-impact sports bras that I wear for running. If this seems excessive, I recommend having at least three, one low-impact, one medium-impact, and one high-impact. That way you can keep the rotation fresh and use each sports bra for its intended use and type of workout.

Maggie Slepian is a full-time freelance writer in the outdoor industry and has tested gear professionally for almost ten years—she is an avid backpacker, trail runner, bikepacker, and horseback rider and has thru-hiked thousands of miles on the Appalachian, Colorado, and Ouachita trails, along with backcountry travel on terrain including coastal trails, the desert, and high alpine peaks. Maggie has written for New York Magazine, Huffington Post, REI, and Outside. She is a columnist with Backpacker Magazine and is the co-founder of BackpackingRoutes.com. Contact her at MaggieSlepian.com.

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