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The best sports bras for running, gym workouts and yoga in 2024, tested
Consider this your one-stop support shop
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We updated this article in July to reflect the latest prices
There's no doubt that a good sports bra is *the* most important piece of fit kit in your wardrobe. Don't believe us? Not only can your boobs move up to 20cm during exercise if left unsupported (cup size dependent, but yikes!), research has found wearing a well-fitting and supportive sports bra can help women run 7% quicker.
The best sports bras for 2024
Finding the best sports bra shouldn't feel as difficult as working up the motivation for a 7am workout (instead of hitting the snooze button another twelve times). So our Women's Health Lab experts have done the hard work for you and tested the best sports bras for all styles, whether you're an ardent runner, a keen lifter or more of a yoga girlie.
What are the benefits of sports bras?
The best sports bras support the skin and ligaments in the breast, preventing damage to the areas that can cause sagging. But it’s not just about comfort – the right purchase can also improve your performance by reducing the activity of the pectoral muscles by up to 55%. This means less fatigue and more energy.
Chloe Kelly was wearing her made-to-measure Nike sports bra when she scored the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final. And while we might not be able to match that level of success, even if we had the perfect sports bra, we wouldn't complain about shaving a few precious minutes off our PB.
According to Dr Douglas Powell, lead author of the aforementioned study into the benefits of the right sports bra, a lack of support ‘not only influences movement of the breasts but...compensations occur across the entire body.' With over 70% of women having experienced 'exercise-induced breast pain' as a result of running or working out, we're saying enough is enough.
How to choose the best sports bra
So what should you be looking for before you buy? Sports bras are definitely not as simple as one-style-fits-all – your needs will differ massively based on your chest size and what activity you're doing.
High-impact sports such as running or HIIT require a firm level of support, but for yoga, barre and other lower-impact activities, you can opt for something lighter. If you’re bigger busted, extra hold in the form of underwired cups, thicker straps to take pressure off your shoulders and adjustable fastenings for a tailored fit can be handy.
How we test
Our Women’s Health Lab experts conducted their biggest-ever sports bra test. They spent hours researching the best styles on the market before creating a final shortlist. They then asked a panel of fitness fanatics and activewear obsessives to put the sports bras through a range of workouts, from CrossFit to running, to see how they coped when things got sweaty. Each tester worked out at least three times in their bras, and each product was tested by seven different people.
They then provided feedback on how the bras felt during exercise, how easy they were to get on and off, how secure they felt and how good they looked – because, functionality aside, the clothes we work out in should make us feel good, too.
Back in the lab, wash tests were conducted to look for any shrinkage and discolouration. Each bra was given an overall score that considered design, fit, comfort and performance.
Over 100 hours later, and after analysing all the feedback and scores, our winners were decided. You can find them below stamped with the esteemed Women’s Health Lab Approved logo.
Our editors have also picked their favourite sports bras – marked with an Editor's Choice logo – so get scrolling to find your perfect piece of kit.
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Abigail is WH’s former fashion assistant who joined the team after graduating with a MA in Journalism at City, University of London. She’s a journalist and activewear enthusiast who takes the quest to find the perfect pair of high-waisted gym leggings very seriously. While she's not working, she can usually be found attempting over-ambitious recipes on a weeknight and planning how she could become the next Nigella (in her dreams).
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Saskia Quirke is the Fashion Director at Cosmopolitan & Women’s Health UK. Her career styling and producing editorial fashion spans over 17 years in the industry, working on countless photoshoots both in the UK and internationally. Her celebrity work has seen her dress Karlie Kloss, Emma Watson, Florence Welch and Dina Asher-Smith - to name but a few. Follow Saskia on Instagram.
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Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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