10 Best Sports Bras for Athletic Women: Hands

Because it's not easy to find a sports bra that's comfortable, supportive, and fits well (especially when you have muscles)

Author

Leah Balagopal

Image courtesy Alo Yoga

If you're an athletic woman, you've probably experienced the frustration of sports bras not fitting. It's hard to believe, but it's rare to find a comfortable sports bra that provides enough support and can actually accommodate lat muscles—for example—without being baggy and ill-fitting in other areas. Even athletic brands often miss the mark on how diverse women's bodies are. This is frustrating for the wearer with broad shoulders and back muscles, and often results in real issues like chafing, unflattering fits, and weird rib compression. (Swimsuits often experience the same issues—check out our top picks for best swimwear for surfing here.)

The sweet spot is a bra that offers enough compression but isn't so bulky that it feels like wearing two shirts—unless it can work as a standalone top. Full spandex bras can often not offer enough support whereas an underwire sports bra can just be flat out uncomfortable. Our bodies are all different, and it's not always easy to figure out where you fit when sizes range from XXS to XXL without much specificity in between.

We're here to help.

If you're looking for a good sports bra with an adequate level of support for activities like running, rock climbing, barre classes, cycling, backcountry skiing or any other active pursuit, you'll want to find one that has enough support for you, but that's also lightweight. Quick-drying, sweat-wicking materials are also a plus. And of course, it has to be comfortable.

To find the best, we tested the top sports bras of the day at rock climbing gyms and while running around NYC, and our testers found the best sports bras for athletic women no matter your bra size, from As to C cups to DDDs. After all, your boobs shouldn't be a burden when working out, no matter what type of exercise you're doing.

Prana's Everyday Bra proved to be one of our tester's personal favorites and, like its name suggests, proved perfect for everyday activities. It's a flattering v-neck shape and the unique crisscross back makes it a great medium-support sports bra that doesn't squeeze your rib cage. It fits true to size and there's removable padding depending on how you like to wear it. The Everyday Bra also offers support for a variety of chest sizes from small to large breasts.

Support Style: Medium impactStrap Type: Racerback Price: $34

SHOP NOW

Although our tester had to size up to accommodate muscles, this sports bra still provided comfy support without resulting in weird gaps. The adjustable crossback straps help to fit your unique size and it comes in an array of colors (many of which match Alo's excellent leggings). It never felt constricting, making this the perfect minimal sports bra to rock on its own or under a tee or tank. The bra comes in a wide size range and the added padding offers additional support and would work from lounging around to HIIT workouts.

Support Style: Light to medium impact Strap Type: Racerback Price: $58

SHOP NOW

One of the more robust sports bras on the list, the Dare Scoopback from shoe company Brooks is a good go-to for the runners amongst us as well as those with large breasts, and anyone trying to do anything high-intensity. It is a bit thicker than some of the others, so despite its bra fit, it sometimes feels better as a standalone top than under a t-shirt (and works great as one, too). The Dare's wide, adjustable straps are easy to move with a hook-and-ladder design, and it has a classic hook-and-eye closure for solid band fit. The mesh paneling in the back offers an extra layer of breathability and molded cups make it feel more similar to a regular bra. For that reason, it might be best to reserve this bra for working out and not everyday wear.

Support Style: High impact Strap Type: Scoopback Price: $70

SHOP NOW

The Patagonia Cross Beta has a unique crossover front combined with a low scoop racerback design that provides support and also lets you show off those guns. It's flattering without squeezing, and the soft polyester almost has a cotton feel to it while still providing you with the moisture-wicking quick-drying of synthetic material. Combined with a small amount of spandex jersey fabric, this bra provides medium support without the risk of chafing.

Support Style: Medium impact Strap Type: Racerback Price: $49

SHOP NOW

Whether you wear it as a sports bra or as a standalone crop top, the Soria Long Line is a highly functional and versatile sports bra. It's breathable and moisture-wicking thanks to synthetic fabrics that are designed for the outdoors. Whether you are climbing in the mountains or in a gym or going for a run or hike, the supportive Soria is fully capable and comfy beneath layers. It's perfect for high-impact workouts with wide bands that don't dig into your muscles that, with adequate compression, gives you extra support without squeezing your rib cage.

Support Style: Medium to high impact Strap Type: Wide strap Price: $70

SHOP NOW

The ARQ Wide strap bra is a simple full coverage organic cotton go-to, and something of an opposite to the Brooks Dare Run Bra. Although it doesn't provide much support for high-intensity workouts, it will fit you like a glove and the wide shoulder straps ensure nothing is digging in. It's a great got-to pullover bra for peak comfort for anything low-impact. The colors and patterns are on point, too.

Support Style: Low impact Strap Type: Scoopback Price: $34

SHOP NOW

With its cotton-soft material and a double scoop neckline, Aritzia's TnaLIFE Mini Bra Top is a perfect closet staple and solid compression bra to keep on hand for a range of activities and daily wear. Although it doesn't provide as much support as some others on this list, it still does the trick for keeping sweat at bay and is good for either smaller-chested individuals or less intense workouts. Comfortable, affordable, and cute—it's hard to not want to buy it in every color.

Support Style: Medium impact Strap Type: Scoopback Price: $38

SHOP NOW

Tera Kaia is a women-owned outdoor sports company that was founded out of frustration with the abundance of ill-fitting bras that aren't made to last. Created by women with muscles and different body shapes in mind, this bra is comfortable and offers high-support no matter your shape or size. The Toura 2 is seamless and reversible, plus has a modest cut to it that makes it slightly more universal, and it's also swim-friendly if you need to jump into a body of water after a long day outdoors. Made from recycled fabric, it's also an eco-friendly go-to.

Support Style: Medium to high impact Strap Type: Racerback Price: $68

SHOP NOW

Founded by an avid mountain biker, Lume Six is a women-run company that makes sports bras supportive and comfortable for all, and established big brands like Lululemon and Athleta should take note of what this award-winning upstart is doing for sports bra sizing. The company offers extended sizing so you aren't boxed into a small, medium, or large category, and you can customize your chest and band size which is perfect for muscular women and accommodates whatever your unique rib cage and cup size is. It's great if you’re looking for a high-impact sports bra. In addition to using recycled materials in its production, Lume Six donates 1% of all sales to environmental non-profits.

Support Style: Medium impact Strap Type: Racerback Price: $100

SHOP NOW

Vuori's Mindset Bra's most noticeable features are that it's super soft and comfortable. Designed for performance, the Mindset is a lightweight, strappy bra that works for anything from pilates to climbing to jogging and anything requiring light support for medium-impact workouts. Although bras with removable pads are hit or miss, the Mindset doesn't slip and slide around like a lot of others, and it has the perfect amount of compression.

Support Style: Low to medium impactStrap Type: Racerback Price: $58

SHOP NOW

For more women specific gear check out our guide to hiking pants for women, according to women.

Published 10-31-2022