Every woman is built differently and has a different idea of what makes the perfect sports bra. But every woman wants (and deserves) a sports bra that is comfortable and supportive, and lets her do activities with zero distraction. In light of that, we had a team of testers—all different sizes—try more than 30 of the best sports bras while hiking, climbing, practicing yoga, running, weightlifting, and more to find the models that delivered the best performance and comfort for a variety of different types of bodies, conditions, and activities.

Update April 2025: We’ve replaced the sports bras in four categories, added three new categories (best for summer, best for wearing a pack, and best simple running bra) and changed the categories of two we carried over from the fall round-up.

Best Sports Bras: At A Glance

Be sure to also check out our picks for the best women’s running shirts and tank tops.

The Best Sports Bras

(Photo: Courtesy Nike)

Best Value

Nike Swoosh Medium Support

$40 at REI  $40 at Backcountry

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Fixed cups mean no pads to lose
⊕ Durable, long-lasting comfort
⊗ Pads, if you’re not a fan of them

One tester has been wearing an earlier version of this sports bra for close to 20 years. “It’s been all over the world while keeping me comfortable running, cycling, hiking, Nordic skiing, etc.,” she says. The simple, pull-on style bra wicks sweat and remains comfortable for hours. The newest version of this do-anything, durable bra comes with light padding built in (no slipping, no losing the padding in the wash), and is made with sustainable, recycled polyester materials. Its $40 price point makes it among the least expensive sports bras out there, and while it’s classified as “medium support,” it can function as high support across a range of activities for smaller chest sizes. It also lasts for-e-ver.

Best for Large Chests

Brooks Crossback 2.0

$65 at REI $65 at Brooks

Sizes: 30–40 band, AB–DDE cup

Pros and Cons
⊕ Extremely comfortable
⊕ Molded cups stay put
⊗ Only medium impact for the largest of chests

The Brooks Crossback 2.0 bra is not the absolute most supportive sports bra for large chests during the highest impact activities, but for virtually everything else, we loved its ability to support us comfortably. While most sports bras intended for bigger chests achieve support by either compressing tightly or encapsulating with stiff materials, zippers, and/or burly fasteners, the Crossback 2.0 utilizes strategic engineering—reinforced materials in the shoulder straps and chest band—and a wide range of size options for an almost custom fit. Testers loved how this bra’s smooth, flat crossback straps didn’t dig into shoulders and worked great under a backpack, as well as the lack of irritating seams and the soft but effective encapsulation.

“This works nicely for medium-impact activities without smashing you to death,” said a tester. “Love the snug fit of the material, but not snug as in too tight,” said another. “I can’t say enough,” gushed yet another. “I’m obsessed with this bra and how this bra performs and that it never chafes me at all.”

Our team wore this sports bra skiing, hiking, weightlifting, cycling, and running, and only one tester craved more support while running. It also dries quickly from sweat or after washing and is comfortable during prolonged wear.

(Photo: Courtesy Patagonia)

Best for Hot Weather

Patagonia Live Simply Bra

$55 at REI $55 at Backcountry

Sizes: XXS–XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Minimal and comfortable
⊕ Dries extremely quickly
⊗ Can fit a little loose under the arms

We’ve worn this bra hiking in 106-degree heat, sweaty weight-lifting sessions, running in all sorts of weather, and jumping in and out of lakes. This great sports bra remained comfortable throughout all of those athletic activities and even while working at a desk for hours.

Its bonded seam construction lies flat and smooth with zero irritation, and the extremely lightweight, soft, 100-percent polyester tricot fabric dries ridiculously quickly. We appreciated that, along with the anti-microbial treatment (HeiQ Mint) that combated odors when we kept the bra on after workouts. Because it doesn’t contain Spandex, the comfortable sports bra isn’t as supportive as some others, but it also doesn’t stretch out as much. It’s best for low-impact, or any activity for A to C cups.

Best for High Impact

Rabbit UtiliBRA-vo

$50 at REI $50 at Rabbit

Sizes: XS–XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Über-secure phone pocket
⊕ Classic racerback fit
⊗ Not the most breathable

If you love classic racerback bras, add a few of these to your underwear drawer. Chances are good they’ll fit and support you well, as one of our testers raved: “The fabric hits a sweet spot of compression that I think will please 85 percent of runners—not too much, not too little.” This sports bra also has the most secure back phone pocket we’ve ever used, without being over-designed. “Most phone pocket bras try to be all fancy and featured and space-agey,” another tester said. “This is the first one I’ve tried that’s basically just a regular old racerback, both in terms of fit and looks.” The polyester-spandex fabric is slightly thicker than the other favorites, making it a great sports bra for high-impact activities year-round.

(Photo: Courtesy Janji)

Best for Wearing on Its Own

Janji Pace Sports Bra

$58 at Janji

Sizes: XXS–XXXL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Best range of sizes among pull-over bras
⊕ Unique, flattering and supportive straps
⊗ Removable pads come out in wash

This seemingly simple sports bra has design details we fell in love with—a flattering neckline with double straps, positioned narrower than most, that weave between each other when they cross mid back. This great sports bra proved supportive enough even for C- to D-cup testers doing high-impact activities like running and jumping. “Nice encapsulation and I love the cross back with support!” said one. “You don’t usually get ‘cute’ with ‘supportive.’” We wore this skate skiing, running, cycling, and, when a tester couldn’t find her bikini, at swim lessons with her son. This bra proved comfortable and up to the task for all activities.

Best Adjustable Fit

Tracksmith Allston Adjustable Bra

$85 at Tracksmith

Sizes: XS–L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Adjustable shoulder straps and chest strap
⊕ Convertible to racerback
⊗ Clip can be felt in racerback mode

This sports bra is adjustable three ways: the chest band has three clips for dialing size around the ribcage, the shoulder straps are length-adjustable, and the bra can convert to racerback via a clip in the middle of the back, which puts it in high-impact-support mode. The racerback clip can be switched back and forth during one workout. “I love the adjustability and the smooth fabric,” said a tester who wore the comfortable sports bra while hiking, biking, and running. “It’s a great bra for someone who might end up wearing a sports bra all day because of logistics, but who wants to ease off the intensity for aprés workout.” The Allston Adjustable is made of Tracksmith’s luxuriously smooth nylon-elastane blend, with interior cups lined with nylon-elastane blend powermesh, which enhances compressive support.

(Photo: Courtesy Under Armour)

Best for Low Impact

Under Armour UA Infinity 2.0 Low  

$35 at Under Armour $35 at Al’s 

Sizes: XS–XL, Cups A–C and D–DDD

Pros and Cons
⊕ Built-in padding doesn’t come loose
⊕ Soft, comfortable, breathable
⊗ Can be hard to find a perfect fit

This good-looking, lightly padded sports bra is offered at a steal of a price. We loved how there aren’t any irritating seams and that the injection-molded padding’s strategic patterning gave the bra a lightweight, breathable feel. We found the bra dried quickly even after working up a big sweat, which we loved for keeping us from feeling gross underneath our clothes when running errands on the way home from a workout.

The pullover design and lack of a clasp on the backside makes this a great choice for workouts that include mat work, like belly-up core work, Pilates, and yoga moves. And the mesh panel on the back “adds breathability without any distractions,” said a tester.

Not only does the built-in padding eliminate the problems of losing a pad in the washing machine or having to uncrumple removable pads every time we put on the bra (truly, the worst), but we found the shape flattering and not excessive. Note that some testers found that the material buckled on the sides—although with so many size options, they thought they could likely find an ideal fit with a different size/cup combination.

Best for Wearing With a Pack

Oiselle Flyout Bra

$68 at REI $68 at Backcountry

Sizes: 2–14

Pros and Cons
⊕ Wide, flat seams remain comfortable under a vest or pack
⊕ Full coverage provides modesty
⊗ Thicker material can feel warm

The Oiselle Flyout Bra has been a favorite among testers for its ability to carry a phone comfortably and securely in the mesh pocket midback. But we also love this sports bra for its wide, flat shoulder straps that stay comfortable under fully loaded hydration vests and backpacks. We’ve worn this bra for long days on the trail with a hydration vest and have never experienced chafing. The wide chest band and shoulder straps provide ample coverage and combine with compressive fabric for support, even for our large-chested testers. We love that this bra comes in a wide range of sizes, like women’s dress clothes, so you can find a perfect fit (use the size guide on the Oiselle website to help).

Best for Carrying a Phone on the Run

Rabbit Strappy Pocket Bra

$55 at Rabbit $55 at Running Warehouse

Sizes: XS–XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Carries a phone midback
⊕ Cute enough to wear on its own
⊗ Thin shoulder straps can dig in under a pack

The Rabbit Strappy Pocket Bra has become our lead tester’s go-to for travel. It’s a simple, good-looking sports bra that carries a phone or hotel key card easily and comfortably, and it packs down small, especially with the pads removed. The bra also stays put while diving into bodies of water (ocean, lake) post-run and dries fairly quickly afterward, ready for the next outing. The thin shoulder straps and lower neckline give the bra a stylish, flattering appeal while still providing support and coverage. The next-to-skin liner, made from a material that uses recycled coffee grounds, feels cool, helps control odor (another travel bonus), and helps the bra dry quickly.

Best Simple Running Bra

Janji Infinity Sports Bra

$48 at Janji

Sizes: XXS–XXXL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Reversible
⊕ No clasps on backside
⊗ Doesn’t dry as quickly as some others

There is something to be said for a simple, no frills sports bra—no pads, no clasps, just a traditional pullover racerback. The Janji Infiniti Bra is just that, and testers appreciated its “no fuss” functionality. The lack of clasps on the back make this a good bra for doing mat work: stretching and exercising on your back after a run, or for activities like yoga and Pilates. One tester said she’s looking forward to wearing this while on an SUP or even swimming, while another said the full-coverage cut (it effectively covers side-boob, for most) “is appropriate for stripping down in front of strangers.”

We love that this bra is reversible. The triple-layer construction of nylon/spandex with a polyester mesh sandwiched between the two color options provided enough compressive support for all but our largest-chested runners. Those three layers also make the bra take a bit longer than other bras to dry from sweat or while air-drying after washing. But for two bras in one, we’ll take it.

How We Tested Sports Bras

• Number of testers: 11
• Number of sports bras tested: 22
• Hours working out in test bras: 500
• Toughest testing conditions: Two-plus hours whitewater paddling and then hiking from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim while carrying a full backpack full of gear. Close second: Downhill skiing with a toddler.

We wore these sports bras for running, cycling, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, yoga, hiking, dog walking, camping, and working at a desk. Every tester wears a different size sports bra, ranging from A to DDD cups. If at least two testers agreed that a bra was comfortable and functional, it made our short list. Then we narrowed down the contenders based on functionality for various sports, style, and price.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Lisa Jhung lives and works in Boulder, Colorado, where she writes, edits, and tests gear by doing a variety of outdoor winter sports: running (road, trail, and full-on mountain), Nordic skiing, snowboarding, dog-walking, etc. She also does yoga and lifts weights, sometimes by carrying flagstones around her yard and doing overhead squats and chest presses with a digging bar. She likes to get sh** done while strength training.

How to Choose the Best Sports Bras

When shopping for the best sports bras for you, you need to consider four factors: intended usage, comfort, support, and breathability.

Usage

Are you looking for a good sports bra to wear on its own or under your clothes? Will you be wearing it with a running hydration pack or hiking backpack? Do you want to be able to do yoga, Pilates, or other exercises on your back (and so, don’t want clasps or hooks back there)? Do you need your sports bra to carry your phone (or do you always wear a pack or pockets elsewhere)?

Comfort

Comfort is personal. Nothing can replace trying on the sports bra to ensure it fits your body and the fabric feels good against your skin. Each brand sizes their sports bras differently, so be sure to try on a range of sizes.

Support

When it comes to support, different categories like “low impact” and “medium support” can be confusing because different brands define them in different ways, and the amount of support needed for various activities completely varies by the individual. In general, bras marketed for low-impact activities like yoga, hiking, or cycling will offer less support and technical features than those for high-impact activities, like running or HIIT classes. On the flip side, sports bras designed to offer higher support may be less breathable and more constricting.

If you have a small cup size, you may find that low- and medium-support sports bras work perfectly well for high-impact activities, but women with larger cup sizes often need those “high support” bras even for some low-impact activities. Whatever you choose, know that the sports bra’s underband—the most important part for support—should fit securely but not so tightly that you can’t breathe. (Studies have shown that tight sports bras can restrict breathing and affect running performance.) The straps should not dig into your skin or leave red marks when you take the sports bra off.

Breathability

Too much sweat accumulation on a sports bra is not only uncomfortable but unhygienic, trapping bacteria on your skin and back. Sport-specific fabric blends—often made with polyester, nylon, or merino wool—should have strong moisture-wicking properties, and sports bras made of thinner fabric will allow more heat and perspiration to pass through.