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15 best sports bras to shop – whatever your body type
All chosen with your melons *and* budget in mind
Whatever your workout of choice, buying a trusty sports bra will banish bouncing or boob pain (which we all know can be super distracting during a high-intensity gym sesh!). It might sound odd, but even for those lower-impact activities like going for a walk, wearing a supportive sports bra suited to your body can be a total game changer – and boost your confidence.
We know how important it is to have our boobs measured in order to find the right bra, so it’s important to show your boobs that same due diligence when it comes to exercise. The only thing is, with hundreds of sports bras claiming to do this and that, in an endless array of designs, fabrics and price ranges, finding the right sports bra can sometimes feel like an overwhelming experience. Like the dreaded jeans shop, it’s all about the fit.
To help you avoid the turmoils of "changing room aerobics" or ordering literally fifty different styles to your door, the Cosmopolitan team have put *a lot* of sports bras on the market to the test – with all budgets in mind, obviously.
Whilst our go-to list of boulder holders does include a few styles created for larger chests, for even more suggestions on that front, do check out our guide to the best sports bras for big boobs. We’ve also covered the best plus-size sports bras and best sports bras for small boobs in more detail, too.
So, give your thumbs their own workout and scroll through our round-up below.
Tried and tested
- Best on the high street: M&S GoodMove Medium Impact Non Wired Sports Bra
- Best for running: Sweaty Betty's Zero Gravity Running Bra
- Best for medium-impact exercise: Alo Yoga Airbrush Heart Throb Bra
- Best everyday sports bra: DryMove Medium Support Sports bra
- Best for bigger boobs: Energy Empower Convertible Sports Bra
- Best for yoga: Nike Medium-Support Dri-FIT Swoosh
- Best for the gym: Gymshark's Reversible White Sports Bra
How do I choose a sports bra?
Before you rush headfirst into shopping, figure out why you need a sports bra. If you do a lot of pavement pounding, you’ll need something heftier than you would for finding zen on your yoga mat. For high-impact exercise, try a compression bra that squishes your boobs down or an encapsulation bra with cups that support each breast individually. A racerback strap can provide extra support, too.
For more chilled out activities, you can afford to wear something less supportive – just make sure the crop top styles don’t have any pesky clasps or adjustable features that will dig in and upset your happy baby pose!
Chloe Bowen is Cosmopolitan UK’s former Features Intern. She holds undergraduate and masters degrees in journalism, and ever since joining the Cosmo team, Chloe writes about everything from sex and dating to mental health, culture, body image and books. In her spare time, she’s likely to be cooking up tasty vegan food, in a yoga class, binge-watching crime documentaries or going on long walks with an over-priced oat milk flat white.
Sophie Leen is the Bookings Editor for Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK. She specialises in creating fashion and shopping content across both digital and print platforms, as well as producing all of our fashion editorial photoshoots, which have included our digital cover with Olly Alexander and our curve influencer’s letter to the high street story. Sophie also looks after our Try Before You Train franchise where our team have tested and reviewed over 100 gymwear items.
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl).
Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
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