25 Best Sports Bras for Running: Amateur and Pros Share Their Favorites

When Lynsey Stock ran her first half marathon in Vancouver during a downpour in 2018, this Lululemon Enlite helped push her to the finish line, thanks to its “great support and comfortable fit,” the run concierge at The Westin Bayshore Vancouver says. Now she runs at least three times a week around the city’s Stanley Park Seawall and this high-support bra with extra Lycra fiber to help retain its shape has helped her “go the distance.”

With 13 marathons under her belt, Jenna Busch-Henderson, a travel writer working on an upcoming running book, is all about the “incredibly adjustable” SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra. Not only can the chest band and shoulder straps sizes be customized, but its front-zip makes it simple to navigate. “It’s like having a bespoke sports bra—everything is strapped down,” she says. Busch-Henderson saw the product on Facebook during the pandemic and ran her first two marathons in it, pleasantly surprised to find no chafing, like she had with other sports bras. “I’m a small-chested woman, but I have friends with a double D bra size who love this as well,” she adds.

Olympic steeplechase runner Emma Coburn is currently training to qualify for the Paris Games, so the stakes are high for her runs, especially in the high altitudes where she lives in Colorado. Flexibility is key, which is why she landed on this New Balance sports bra. “I feel like my ribcage and lungs have room to expand and take deep breaths,” the three-time Olympian, who won a bronze medal in 2016, tells Condé Nast Traveler. In fact, she says it’s so comfortable that “I forget I’m wearing it” since “it just molds to my body,” yet is still quite supportive. On top of it, she loves the colors, which include an olive green and dusty rose. “The fabric and flexibility of this bra has made it my go-to for hard days.”

For 13-time marathoner Tam Turse, the Fabletics On-to-Go bra lives up to its name, as it’s pretty much the only one she wears. As a C/D cup, she feels very supported, and has had “minimal-to-no chafing, even after very sweaty training sessions and marathons.” Available in a range of solid and patterns, the nylon-elastane bra even has UPF 50+ to fight off the sun. The Road Runners Club of America run certified coach, who is training for the Atlantic City Half, says that it’s also been very durable to washing and she also likes the convenience of the phone pocket. “I can put it on and not be worried about how my body will look or feel while running—or afterwards,” she says.

Gabrielle Obermeier, a children’s book author and illustrator and a regular runner, recently completed her first half marathon wearing this Nike sports bra. “It was great as my base layer—warm, not sweaty, and very supported,” she says. With a comfortable and natural fit, the pullover style, which comes in six sizes and four colors, has also gone the distance itself. “It has maintained its structure and supportive qualities through probably hundreds of washings,” Obermeier says.

Bermuda-based Natalie Price, who has run 20 marathons, including completing the Abbott World Marathon Majors in Tokyo in 2023—depends on Nike Dri-Fit as her “durable race horses” during her long runs, but turns to these fun prints from Boa for shorter runs, saying they are “very well-made” and of “high quality.” With the racerback straps and scoop neck front, “I feel like I don’t have to worry about bouncing or popping out,” Price says. “If I’m wearing a BOA bra, I won’t cover it up because the prints are super cute, fun to show off, and just make me happy.”

Half marathoner Kate Schwab of Brooklyn is a fan of this Athleta pick. “It’s sturdy, but comfortable,” she says of the racerback bra, made of recycled nylon with supportive compression. On her runs, she feels “confident and supported.” The style comes in two varieties—one for A to C cups and another for D to DD+, each with at least five colorways.

Boston-based Natalie Fiorello, who is the run concierge at The Westin Copley Place, has been running for years, and admits it’s a constant challenge to find a bra that works for her. But while marathon training last summer she landed on what she calls the “holy grail of sports bras”—the Brooks Crossback 2.0. Underarm chafing had long been an issue and this medium support bra with built-in cups and simple x-straps “virtually eliminates” the issue. More than that, “this sports bra makes me feel hugged when I am wearing it,” she says. “It fits me like a glove and moves with me, not against me, even in high impact situations.”

When New York City–based certified functional strength coach Justina Ercole heads out for her runs, she goes for the aptly-named Run Times bra. “It has sweat-wicking fabric to help keep you dry, but it’s also the perfect blend of support and comfort,” she says, adding that the band or straps never dig into her skin, like some others do. “I feel more focused on my breath and stride since I’m not worried about what’s going on up top.” Kim Cole, a public relations professional for Four Seasons Scottsdale and Four Seasons Jackson Hole, agrees, having just completed a half marathon in it. “It wicked away sweat, stayed put, and was comfortable throughout all 13.1 miles,” she says, noting she took care to always wash it on delicate and line dry. Plus she loved the high-quality material and pleasing aesthetic.

For Brooke Rinehart, this Panache sports bra gives her all the support she needs while still being extra comfortable. The three-hook back clasp also makes it “super easy to put on and take off.” That’s not the only feature that makes it similar to a regular bra—this also has an underwire for those who prefer it for the stronger fit. With high-impact support that the brand says reduces bounce by 83 percent, “there’s no chafing or movement when I run,” the San Diego Marathon finisher says, as she trains for Denver’s Colfax Half Marathon.

Louisa Tatum, who runs with Bronx-based Mile Style, used to wear two bras during her runs to prevent bouncing—until she found this Lululemon sports bra. “It’s high support, which I need to strap my girls down so they don’t bounce when I run,” Tatum, a six-time marathoner, having run Berlin, Chicago, and London, plus NYC three times, says. “It’s also comfortable, the fabric is soft, and prevents chafing.” She suggests sizing down for a snug fit, admitting it can be a “challenge to put on,” but is well worth it for the extra support and reduction in breast movement. “I feel confident and secure in this bra,” she says. “I can focus on my race or run without the pain of my boobies moving.”

Her fellow New Yorker, Manhattan-based Laurianne Murphy, has had a different journey—running her first LA Marathon 26 years ago and pausing for two decades before taking on the same run again this month. She tells Traveler that she initially chose this bra for the look, but was impressed to find that there’s “absolutely no chafing.” Most importantly, it “holds me in all safe and sound—even if nobody else sees it, I know that I have on a cute little number under my layers and that just feels good.”

Associate commerce editor Meaghan Kenny admits, “as a gal with a slightly bigger chest, sports bras have been a longtime enemy of mine.” She’s found her perfect match in Vuori’s performance wear, not just for its “comfort level,” but also its “effortlessly cool look.” For lighter runs, she slips on the brand’s Yosemite Longline Bra since “the air-brushed material is buttery smooth, never digging in anywhere or leaving any unwanted red marks on my shoulders or sides.” Yet its “compressive material offers solid support without any uncomfortable wires,” making her forget she even has it on, “something that used to feel impossible when it came to sports bras.” Most impressively, this polyester-elastane bra, which has removable cups and is available in four muted shades, hides any elements of effort since “it never shows any sweat after a jog.”

“Most high support bras tend to feel like wearing a heavy straight jacket because the padding is thick and coverage is very high,” says Cindy Chen of New York City, who is a 32E/34DD. But with this Brooks pick, she feels like “my ladies are secure”—though she admits that it does “flatten them more than other bras, but that’s a benefit when I’m running.” Another perk is that the straps can convert into a racerback style. “When I’m running, I hook on the racerback hooks to add more support, but when I’m just going about my day, I can be more comfortable with a more relaxed fit in the straight strap option.”

When Los Angeles–based Kinya Claiborne is running in this Wacoal bra, she feels “incredibly supported and comfortable—allowing me to focus on my run with confidence and ease.” Having run three races to date, the style influencer and editor-in-chief of Style & Society Magazine calls out its “unique non-compression design and moisture-wicking fabric to keep me feeling secure and cool throughout my workouts.” Claiborne especially loves the Stormy Haze print, which “adds a fun touch to my activewear, making me look and feel fabulous every time I run.”

Living—and running—in Houston, Starla Garcia has had to find ways to survive the Texas heat. And the Nike Indy has helped the 10-time marathoner and two-time ultra marathoner, who ran in the 2020 Olympics trial, keep cool. “In the summers, some sports bras can be very itchy,” she says, adding that materials and straps often exacerbate the issues. “Since I’ve started running in this bra, I can finish runs without worrying how itchy I will be or if I will have scars from rashes by the end of the training block.” Among the registered dietician’s favorite features are the breathability, chest band fit, and adjustable straps in the front. “I feel free and not weighted down by material or sweat accumulating in the bra, like others I have run in.”

Brooks Beasts athlete Nia Akins is a fan of the brand’s Drive 3 bra for the pockets. Not only does it come with a back phone slot, there are also two mesh side pockets. “When I raced in Europe, I wore this on every run; I wanted to take my phone with me in case I got lost, but didn’t want to hold it in my hand,” the two-time NCAA Championship 800-meter runner-up says. “I like starting a run or a walk from home and finishing somewhere else, and there are plenty of pockets for my keys, ID, and credit card.” Storage isn’t the only appeal: “I really like the high-neck look—it’s a flattering and classic style,” she says. “I get so many compliments.”

New York Road Runners’ Christine Burke, who is the senior vice president of strategic partnerships and runner products, grabs the pocket-version of the New Balance Sleek bra for longer runs to keep her phone and nutrition handy. Currently training for her 30th marathon, Cincinnati’s Flying Pig race, she says that it “provides support in the right areas, without being constricting,” with a good balance of support and breathability. The smooth fabric also cuts down on chafing, which she experienced with so many other bras in the past, but is also “lightweight, so it wicks sweat well.”

California-based marketing executive and runner Charizma Otterson says she feels “comfortable and confident” in this Montiel high-impact support bra with removable cups. “It’s a quality product that doesn’t cost a king’s ransom,” she says. “The design is great as it doesn’t have any hard seams or edges, so chafing is less likely when doing long runs. The look is simple but flattering and the bra’s high neckline helps keep sun exposure at bay for the delicate skin on my chest when doing outdoor runs.”

Travel publicist Katherine Han of Westminster, Colorado, had to search for the right fit after her bilateral mastectomy surgery. “This is a great running bra because it has that soft-wicking material that keeps you dry for those longer runs,” she says. Available in seven colors, the light support design has pockets for optional, removable cups. “I also love this sports bra because the straps conform to your body and move with you when you’re in motion,” Han adds. Another perk: The material is extremely quick-drying. “If you’re traveling, it’s easy to wash and dry on the go,” she says.

Professional runner Kayley Delay of the Brooks Beasts Track Club adores the simple, sleek design of the Plunge 2.0 Sports so much she has one in almost every color, calling it comfortable and flattering. “I appreciate that the padded inserts that come with the bra are very easy to take in and out,” the steeplechase athlete says. Now that she’s been wearing a heart rate monitor during most of her workouts, she also appreciates how the base of the bra makes it easy to put one on, making her feel “fast and secure.”

The secret is in the simplicity for Nassima Goumeziane, lead run concierge and director of operations at The Westin Michigan Avenue, who has run 10 marathons and will earn her sixth star for the Abbott World Marathon Majors in Boston next month. “There’s zero hardware to cause chafing and no pads to get lost in the wash,” she says of the Tracksmith Allston. “It’s a great material and, with no distractions, it allows me to focus on what’s most important—the run.” The racerback bra uses a performance Italian fabric that’s both compressive and super soft, and has a secret stashaway pocket. New Yorker Devin Tomb, who is gearing up for her third NYC marathon this year, depends on the Allston for race days because of its “wide strap, full coverage across the chest, and length that hits right underneath my boobs.” But above all else, she loves that it’s “smooth and uncomplicated, which creates a nice base underneath a singlet.”

New Jersey–based content creator Alyssa Smolen is a long-distance runner currently training for the Boston Marathon. Her choice pick is this simple Champion racerback pullover that is free of any uncomfortable padding. “It’s not too fancy looking but it is neutral and goes with everything I own,” she says. “It looks fashionable but also is practical.” The simple design provides a very secure fit, yet the band isn’t so tight that it can’t be taken off easily. “It’s soft, comfortable, and stylish.”

“I have had a long term relationship with my Spalding Active Shine sports bra,” says Randi Powell, chef de cuisine at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The mix of affordability and quality appealed to her: “I have had this one for years and it has still retained its shape and support. I have always loved this bra for long races, marathon and above distance. I have never experienced chafing with this bra which, in longer distances, can make or break the last portion of the race.”

“I bought all the expensive, fancy bras and didn’t love them—the band was too tight or they chafed, there was always something,” says photographer Kate T. Parker, who has run several marathons, including the Chicago Marathon. “I was looking for a better solution and decided to try the cheap ones on Amazon and scored.” Living in Atlanta, she often runs in just a bra, and loves this one’s “full coverage in the back and extra below, almost like a half-shirt situation.” She tucks her water bottle into the back of her bra, a trick she says works very well.

New Yorker Elaheh Nozari, a marathoner who publishes the running newsletter Run the Shoes, loves the mix of stretchiness and security that these simple Champion racerbacks provide, especially as a breastfeeding mom. “My bra size has been all over the place over the last 1.5 years from being pregnant and postpartum, and this bra has been the most reliable for running,” she tells Traveler . Plus, affordability means that she can stock up—and even wear two when she needs extra support. Ultimately, it’s the seamless design that makes the biggest impact, preventing chafing, but also providing ample support.