The best sports bras for running and gym workouts in 2022, tried and tested
We tested the best sports bras for running, gym workouts and high-impact support
It is no exaggeration to say that finding the best sports bra for you is more important than any other aspect of your workout wardrobe (even your running shoes), whatever the size of your chest. “The breast moves considerably if it’s not supported correctly,” says Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, head of the research group in breast health at the University of Portsmouth, who has been researching the biomechanics of breasts for nearly 20 years. “In our lab, when women are exercising without wearing a bra, we’ve seen up to 21cm of movement.”
Wakefield-Scurr is full of fun facts, such as: “the breast accelerates faster than a Formula One car if you go running without wearing a sports bra.” So wearing the wrong bra to exercise is no laughing matter.
“During physical activity, human skin can stretch up to about 60 per cent and it will recover; but without the right support, if we start to stretch it beyond 60 per cent, it might be causing an injury to the fibres in the skin that can become permanent,” she says.
How should a sports bra fit?
"What you’re looking for is not necessarily something that’s tight, but something that holds you in place and stays in position if you jump up and down. We’ve done some research which has shown that the higher the front section of the bra, the more support it provides – so that’s a good thing to look out for," says Wakefield-Scurr. "‘Encapsulation’ designs also tend to support the breast better than bras that just compress the breast tissue towards the chest wall – so look for something that has separating cups in it."
How to choose a sports bra
If you’re starting from scratch, having a fitting either in person or virtually with a brand such as MAAREE (more on that below) is the first step to finding the most supportive sports bra.
Don’t think you can get away with a flimsy crop top if you’re doing low impact exercise, either; a supportive sports bra is important regardless of what workout you’re doing. “There are sports bras especially designed for low-impact exercise that allow more of a range of movement in your upper body,” which is important for sports like yoga and pilates, says Wakefield-Scurr.
How we tested the best sports bras
A panel of Telegraph testers with bra sizes ranging from a B to an FF cup tested the bras below over a period of three weeks and various workouts – running, gym and strength training, yoga and cycling.
Which is the best sports bra in 2022?
- Best overall sports bra– MAAREE Solidarity High Impact Sports Bra
- Runner up – Nike Dri-FIT Swoosh High Support Sports Bra
- Best sports bra for running – Lululemon Enlite Bra
- Best sports bra for the gym – Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra
- Best budget sports bra – Marks and Spencer GOODMOVE Reversible Seamless Sports Bra
The best sports bras
1. MAAREE Solidarity High Impact Sports Bra
Best overall
- Sizes: 30C-38G
- Colours: black, green, coral
- Suitable for: running and high-impact sports
It was impossible to find a sports bra that would unanimously be voted best in test, as so much depends on personal fit and preference. But this MAAREE bra – my long-time favourite, so I'm biased – was as close as it got. The brand was founded by a former lab-based sports bra tester, Mari Thomas; with many years of research under her belt, MAAREE was designed to be the answer to every woman's common sports bra woes.
The Solidarity bra is fully adjustable with straps that transform it into a racerback bra and a clever 'overband' that minimises upward movement. It has a high-coverage design for optimal support. Our testers said it was "so comfortable and light it felt it had been custom made," and praised its perfect fit. Personally, it's the only one I would wear for running, as the clever design means it limits movement in every direction for optimal support. Neamh Randall, the Telegraph's design assistant and a member of the testing panel, said: "It was the first time I have ever gone for a run without discomfort."
The only downside is that the adjustable straps under the armpit can rub a little if you choose to wear the bra alone without a t-shirt or vest. Other than that, it's a perfect ten.
- Sizes: XS (A-G) to 3X (A-G)
- Colours: black, white, mint green
- Suitable for: running and high-impact gym workouts
I was sceptical of the sizing system on this sports bra, which isn't band and cup sized, but rather runs from XS to 3X with three cup size variants to each band size. It's a bit complicated, but wins points for being very size inclusive – the 3X size is equivalent to a 46 F-G. The sizing system is the only con to a long list of pros – we love the smooth fabric of this sports bra and the zero-distraction fit (there are no zips, clips or toggles to get in the way). It's adjustable via velcro straps at the back, so you can personalise the back width.
For running or high intensity interval training, it wasn't rated as supportive as the MAAREE bra above for larger cup sizes. However, personally I found it far more supportive than expected. The compressive fit keeps everything in place, and the racer-back design offers a great range of movement. Finally, it doesn't hurt that it's a little more affordable than our top choice.
- Sizes: 32-40, A-E cup
- Colours: black, navy and printed options
- Suitable for: running (and anything else that requires high-impact support)
Nearly £90 is a lot to spend on a sports bra – there's no getting round it. But if you're a regular runner requiring high-impact support, the lululemon Enlite bra is a worthy investment. As per Wakefield-Scurr's recommendation in the introduction to this piece, it combines an 'encapsulation' fit (which means it has distinct cups) with a 'compressive' fit for outstanding support. The fabric is super-smooth and laser cut with minimal seams. It can be worn by itself for running and will stay in place with no uncomfortable rubbing or chafing under the arms.
The reason it doesn't win the top spot is that our testers unanimously agreed it was tricky to get on and off – the criss-cross back is very supportive but there's a possibility you might get stuck...
We also tested the lululemon Energy bra (£38, lululemon), which offers medium support for smaller cup sizes. Telegraph newsletter editor Katherine Lovage, a member of the testing panel, said: "I liked the unique strap style of this bra, which spread the pressure across my shoulders, stopping any friction or rubbing. The fabric was nice and breathable, which meant that I wasn’t uncomfortably hot, nor dogged by sweat marks."
Lululemon's gym leggings came out on top in the Telegraph's guide to the best.
4. Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra
Best for the gym
- Sizes: XS-XXXL, equivalent to 30A-42F
- Colours: wide range of options
- Suitable for: strength and resistance training, yoga, pilates and other low-impact exercise
This sleek, seamless sports bra was most popular among our testers for medium-intensity gym workouts, yoga and strength training thanks to its stretchy, sweat-wicking fabric and flattering design. It comes in a huge range of colours (19, to be exact) and has clever bits of waffle fabric for breathability.
"This is an "ordinary" looking sports bra, but in my books that's no bad thing – and on, it looks much nicer than others, with no clasps, and no fuss," said Kirsten Powley, deputy head of newsletters at the Telegraph and another member of the testing panel. "I’d recommend for this for a yoga session or a gentle, short run, but not for long-distance training or HIIT."
5. Marks and Spencer GOODMOVE Reversible Seamless Medium Impact Sports Bra
Best budget sports bra
- Sizes: S-XL – runs slightly small
- Colours: black, white, blue and pink
- Suitable for: medium impact activity – think gym workouts, cycling and strength training
Marks & Spencer is always the most reliable choice when it comes to your underwear drawer, so perhaps it's no surprise that they win the award for the best budget-friendly sports bra. This is in a similar seamless crop-top style to the Sweaty Betty bra above, but it's a lot cheaper. Testers Kirsten and Katherine both commented on the soft fabric and snug fit – the fact that it's such good value tops it off.
"This bra was true to size, fit well and was comfortable when I was cycling – it didn't chafe or rub," said Katherine. "I had to wrestle with it a little to get it on and off but the fabric felt nice on my skin and was breathable. I also thought the colour was fun – it's not the most fashionable sports bra in the word, but it's great value for money."n
If you're interested in other products for improving your fitness, read our guides to the best sport headphones and best exercise bikes
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