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At Runner’s World, we sound off on the activewear we’re testing: “Who actually wants removable bra pads?”; “Why don’t these shorts have more pockets?” But the most popular question?: Why is it so difficult to find a comfortable sports bra? have more pockets?” But the most popular question RW covering gear, I’ve learned there’s no such thing as “one size fits all,” there’s no “best” running shoe (Best Affordable Pocket Bra), and there’s definitely not one bra that can support runners of all shapes and sizes. The hardest thing about finding that one perfect sports bra is doing the legwork.

No clasp in the back for easy removal RW staff tests tons of sports bras throughout the year so we can recommend the most comfy and supportive bras for every kind of runner.

Bra pads aren’t sewn in

• How To Train Calves: Knix Catalyst
• Best Value: Champion Spot Comfort High-Impact Sports Bra
• Best Budget: Fittin Racerback Sports Bra
• Best High Impact Pullover: lululemon Go Further Bra

Why Trust Us

Runner’s World began covering all things running in 1966, but the first sports bra, the Jogbra, wasn’t invented until a decade later. Sports bras are as necessary as a pair of running shoes. Since their invention, they continue to undergo changes in design and tech.

We researched the history of the sports bra and combed through the products available on the market today. We spoke with designers, brand representatives, and experts in the field, including LaJean Lawson, Ph.D.

Known as Dr. Sports Bra in her field, Lawson has two graduate degrees in sports bra science and is the principal at Creative Fitness Solutions in Portland, Oregon.

Additional interviewing and research was done by Senior Features Editor Pavlína Černá, Deputy Health & Fitness Editor Mallory Creveling, and Director of Hype Aly Ellis.

How We Selected

Our testers are runners of all different experience levels, paces, ages, and body types. Testing sizes range from 28 to 40 band size, and A to F cups. Besides running, we wore these bras during other low- to high-intensity activities, including yoga and HIIT, to test their functionality in all scenarios. We evaluated these bras based on comfort (is there friction?); breathability (checking for underboob sweat); mobility (do I feel restricted during my workout?); and of course, support.

We organized these bras into three categories. Adjustable bras are the sports bras with hook-and-eye closures, zip fronts, Velcro, and/or adjustable straps. Pullover bras require no adjusting, except maybe some contorting. And finally, pocket bras have their own category because we rank them on storage space as well as how packing affects mobility and support.

We try to update this roundup regularly, though stock lists can change frequently. We will do our best to ensure the bras at links are available, however, some colors and sizes may have low inventory.

Full Reviews

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Best Adjustable Bras

Along with a grippy lining that reduces movement, the Catalyst sports bra features “ladder” straps with adjustable ridges for tightening and loosening the fit without fear of straps slipping mid-run. The two molded cups offer a form-fitting shape over each breast—no need to worry about removable pads that bunch up or fall out.

As an added bonus, the Catalyst has breathable, perforated holes (called Tri-Flo ventilation) between the cups to keep this typically heat-trapping area cool and odor-free. While this sports bra has great features and a solid size range, we felt that the extra strap length was a little bothersome for smaller-chested folk out there.

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The gel-cushioned straps on this sports bra ensure you won’t get raw markings from all-day wear and intense activities. The Spot Comfort is also extremely breathable and moisture-wicking—mesh on the adjustable straps and front panel promotes ventilation.

The bra is lined with molded cups for non-underwire support, and the back hook-and-eye closure makes it easy to take the bra off. One thing to consider: size up. We found the fit a little too snug, even on the loosest hook-and-eye setting. I also noticed that this is an H-back-only bra, which may not be everyone’s preference when wearing a sports bra.

The Energy’s foam cups, which go up to size DDD, offer comfortable and secure support while also providing a flattering fit that doesn’t squish the chest down. In the back, we appreciate the criss-cross straps’ fun design as well as their functionality—once adjusted, the straps stay in place for a no-budge run.

Some of our testers reported that the Energy runs small, so it may be best to order a size up to ensure the bra is a good fit or try it on in-person. This bra also has three points of adjustment: the chest band as well as both sets of cross straps.

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Deputy Health & Fitness Editor Mallory Creveling lamented she couldn’t find a bra that makes her breasts virtually immovable. Oiselle’s Queen Bra was Creveling’s answer. The Queen provides full coverage with a longline underband to support your chest from the bottom. Thick straps won’t dig into your skin and are adjustable and convertible; you can wear them crisscross or H-back style.

The band has four sets of hook-and-eye closures and three positions to tighten and loosen. You may want to size up your band, however. When I tested the Queen, I felt my usual band size was just a little too snug around my torso.

As an avid hat wearer, I link Ciele Athletics to its easily adjustable GoCaps, but the brand has a running apparel line that’s been gaining even more traction this year for its trimmable running shorts. Another star here is the SPDBra, which one tester described as soft and silky as well as very secure, “but I could still breathe.”

The bra has adjustable straps in a racerback-style design, with a keyhole opening above the hook-and-eye closure. It’s made of Ciele’s Coolmatic | Plus Klosfit interlock fabric that controls odor, and uses compression to support your breasts.

The only peeve our tester had was that she frequently had to readjust the bra pads. “I wish they just sewed them into it better,” she says.

A cross-training supplement to running that can help improve your strength and cardiovascular health is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). But if you’re engaged in these high-intensity, full-body workouts that involve jumping jacks, high knees, and burpees, you’re going to need a bra to support your breasts through all those moves. The 2XU Light Speed has breathable molded foam cups that hold each breast in place through encapsulation. Adjustable neoprene loops in the back further prevent bouncing, along with three sets of hook-and-eyes at three adjustment settings on the underband.

“I like this bra for HIIT and HYROX and speedwork,” said Senior Commerce Editor Cat Bowen. “It’s a high-impact bra with back clasp, that’s super comfortable and supportive. Because of where the adjustable straps fall, and where the clasp hits, I would not choose it for super long distance runs because it might rub.“

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Best Pullover Bras

The bra that underwent 2,000+ miles of ultrarunning is buttery soft and has plenty of lift. Tested during lululemon’s Further campaign, in which 10 women runners ran an ultra over the course of six days, the Go Further Bra is a high-impact pullover that can carry you through thousands of miles—and it doesn’t have to be in one go.

The bra is made of lululemon’s Ultralu fabric, which feels yoga legging smooth. Support Code technology in the cups changes the stiffness of the cups to prevent your breasts from bouncing as you run. You can see the tech when the bra is on a flat surface; instead of the conical domes you see on an encapsulation bra, the cups pucker and look slightly sunken in.

Our tester, who wears a 32B and tested the Go Further in a small, had her doubts when she saw the bra lying flat on her desk. She changed her mind after running in the Go Further. “From the look of her, I was convinced that she would never fit, and that she’s made for much bigger boobs than mine,” she says. “And was I wrong! She fits like a glove and is easy to put on and take off. She doesn’t deprive me of air but is completely supportive on my runs.”

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A bra that costs less than a standard pair of running socks? Yes please. This ultra comfy Fittin bra is a simple, soft pullover that we keep reaching for pre-run and all-day lounging. It has a “butter-soft feel” (yes, we can confirm the product description) and is made with a four-way-stretch material that surprised us with its supportiveness. In short, the Fittin won’t have runners holding their boobs in the late stages of a workout.

Just be aware that you won’t want to hit any high-intensity workouts in a bra with such a low percentage of supportive elastane. But if you want all-day comfort, this bra is definitely worth considering.

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This sweat-and-odor- resistant design is entirely seamless, with supportive encapsulation cups that don’t pinch or create pressure points around the chest band. The lightweight fabric is actually Brooks’s proprietary DriLayer HorsePower fabric, which wicks moisture without retaining crustiness or saturation thanks to the almost satiny feel of the material, and a tighter weave that doesn’t leave enough room to collect grime between the fibers.

The brand updated the latest iteration with body-mapped perforation and narrower straps to encourage airflow without compromising durability. I wore the original version of this bra for a 500-mile backpacking trip, and was blown away that it never became unsupportive or unbearably gross.

This latest version does seem to lose some support after a while, and I found myself wishing I could tighten the straps after extended wear. However, the range of sizes and the stretchy material make this a great bra for smaller cup sizes, and it’s also supportive for larger cup sizes during bouncy workouts.

Like the lululemon Go Further on this list, the Woxer Boss Flex proves you can have a supportive high-impact pullover bra. Using solely compression, the Boss Flex is clasp-, hook-and-eye-, and underwire-free. It’s a simple racerback-style bra with a scoopneck and woven jacquard elastic underband. Because it’s free of hardware, there’s no chance of friction from plastics. The downside of being a simple pullover is the struggle postrun, when you’re contorting your arms, trying shimmy off the bra. Senior Commerce Editor Cat Bowen found the Boos Flex extremely versatile for workouts on the road and at the gym.

“I have a D cup that often overfloweth!” she says. “I love using this bra for weightlifting and long run days. It is airy, but holds the girls where they need to be. It doesn’t pinch my shoulders or chafe around the band. No bra is perfect so I wish this one had a clap in the back, so that it’s easier to take off when you’re sweaty. Other than that, she’s brilliant. She’s beautiful. She is the moment.”

On Running makes some of my favorite running apparel, and their Performance Flex Bra nails it again. With a soft brushed lining and molded cups, this is as comfortable as it gets for a high-impact bra. I can wear this on long runs as well as high-impact workouts, and I love the open back detailing paired with the racerback straps that make it easy to wear under a narrow-strapped tank top.

With 25-percent elastane, this bra has a lot of support in both compression and encapsulation, so be prepared for it to feel less like a daily-wear bra and more like a workout-specific bra. For the level of compression and support this bra provides, the large fit better. This bra is notably expensive, but in my experience, On is worth the money and lasts for multiple seasons of heavy use.

I review a lot of sports bras, but let’s be real. We’d all rather not be wearing a bra at all, right? The Essential Scoop Bralette is my answer to this, making for the perfect day-off bra that I can actually forget I’m wearing without feeling indecent in a tee-shirt. Made with an H-back design from lightweight alpaca fibers, Tencel, cotton, and just a touch of spandex, this bra is perfect for smooth comfort without too much elastane and compression.

I love being able to slip this on and forget it exists. It’s also made with Paka’s emphasis on fair-trade manufacturing and supports small alpaca farmers. While I absolutely adore this bra, it’s really not the best for running, as it really doesn’t provide the same level of support, comfort, etc. as the other options on this list do.

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Best Pocket Bras

This three-pocket bra has a place for your phone (mid-back), fuel, and keys (either side). It’s an ideal pick for long-distance training when you need to stock up on gels or cash—just in case you pass a coffee shop and need a mid-run boost.

To reduce chafing, the Drive 3 has low-friction bonded seams around each of its pockets. One small critique is that it’s a bit of a struggle to put on and take off, and I did notice some underarm chafing during an overnight crewing run with a friend’s ultra. Despite this minor con, I did appreciate the removable padded cups, which easily fold over and crease.

This extremely reasonably priced back-pocket bra is one of my top picks from my Health - Injuries testing. The phone pocket is easy to reach, and unlike other pocket bras, there isn’t an overload of material along the back strap design. That does mean the pocket is shallower than similar models, and I find myself reaching back to make sure my phone is still there (I haven’t lost it yet, but it’s something to keep in mind).

This bra is available in a ridiculous array of fun colors, has an easy-to-wear shape, and features a well-fitted design with good coverage and comfort for most cup sizes. For those of us wearing wired headphones, you can thread the cords through a bonded eyelet above the pocket, and the bra stays quite odor resistant even after sweaty workout sessions.

Rabbit is a new-to-me brand, and I love the combination of comfort and performance across its entire apparel line. This bra has a wide back that fits nicely between my shoulder blades, creating a secure pocket for my iPhone that doesn’t rub or feel bulky. The elastic band isn’t combined and molded like the Brooks Drive Crossback or On Performance Flex, but it still lies flat and feels minimal enough that it doesn’t dig in. The polyester also dries quickly, and the material feels soft next to skin without pilling after a full season of wear.

I’d recommend this sports bra mostly for small-to-medium cup sizes, as it doesn’t have quite the same amount of support as a high-impact bra, though it works well for moderate runs and workouts. It’s also full-coverage enough for wearing to yoga without feeling too revealing, and I love that I can just stash my phone in the back without needing to carry a fanny pack or purse.

A bra that costs less than a standard pair of

Fit

To determine your sports bra size, Lawson uses this system of measuring:

1. Using measuring tape, wrap the tape across your mid back and under your breasts. Round up to the nearest whole number in inches. This is your CHEST measurement.
2. Next, wrap the measuring tape securely across your mid back and across the fullest part of your breasts. Round up to the nearest whole number in inches. This is your BUST measurement.
3. Subtract your CHEST measurement from your BUST measurement. The difference determines your CUP size, beginning with 1 inch as an A cup, 2 inches B cup, and so on.
4. Next, wrap the tape across your upper back, snug under your armpits, and across the upper border of your breasts. If the measurement is odd, round up to an even number. This is your BAND size.

But this equation isn’t doctrine. There is no industry standard for bra sizing; not every brand follows the same conventions of measurement. Some brands, for instance, instruct customers to add 4 or 5 inches to the band measurement to determine band size.

“I’ve been creating, evaluating, revising, critiquing sports bra fit charts for decades for brands large and small,” Lawson says. “Because our bodies and breasts are so diverse, it’s virtually impossible for any brand to create the perfect sizing scheme and fit chart that works for 100 percent of women.” But Lawson calls this “a blessing,” comparing sports bras to jeans. Imagine if every size 10 jean had a standardized fit. That would alienate curvier, thinner, shorter, or taller individuals. “It can take trial and error to find your perfect jeans fit match, but once you do it can be a life-changer.” And the same goes for sports bras.

The Best Running Shoes of 2025.

• If brands use “alpha sizing” (small, medium, large, instead of band/cup), refer to their fit chart for the corresponding size.
• If you have small, “perky” breasts you can get away with measuring braless. If you have bigger breasts, you’ll get more accurate numbers wearing a padless, noncompressive separate cup bra when doing measurements.
• Beware of online bra size calculators, Lawson warned.“They can be accurate or way out of whack!” It’s better to do your own calculations.
• It pays to read product reviews, like this RW guide, to read real runner assessments on fit and comfort.

Compression vs Encapsulation

Adjustability

Pockets

Testing

Sports Bra FAQ

How many times should I wash my sports bra?

How long does a sports bra last?