The Best Sports Bras for When You’re Working Out, or Just Thinking About It

This is the lightest sports bra I’ve ever worn. This is the running bra that I wear in Mississippi or Virginia when the humidity goes over 93 percent during the day and it feels like there’s a chemical reaction between my skin and sunlight that instantly covers me in sweat. This is also the bra I will take this summer on a family trip to the Philippines, where any heavier sports bra will take forever to line-dry outside.

Lume Six has two proprietary fabrics. DreamSupport makes up the front panel, and FeatherAir makes the straps on the back. Both are made from a proprietary blend of recycled polyester and elastane, with a thin cotton lining in the interior of the front so you don’t have to deal with soaked, sweaty boob pads. Both fabrics feel paper-thin, without being stiff or uncomfortable. Although it’s billed as a medium-impact bra, I use the Alta for high-sweat, high-impact activities like running and in humid climates. I would also suggest sizing up, as Lume Six suggests; I sized into an XS, which fits, but tightly. A larger size would be more comfortable for longer extended wear. —Adrienne So

Materials: Front—76 percent recycled polyester, 24 percent elastane; Back—74 percent recycled polyester, 26 percent elastane; Lining—61 percent polyester, 35 percent cotton, 4 percent spandex.

Size Range: XXS through 3X.

There’s something about this Gymshark bra that makes me feel like I trained harder than I probably did. They look great on basically everyone and don’t skimp on function. I adore the crossover back for upper body days when I want to see my back and shoulder pump in real time. It’s medium support, but the compressive fabric holds everything in place like a high-support bra. I don’t get any bounce or jiggle, even during HIIT exercises. Despite the ruched front and V neckline, I’ve never (knock on wood) had a nip slip incident. The straps are adjustable, the pads are removable, and the seasonal color drops mean you’ll probably end up with more than one. Don’t fight it. In fact, the Ruched Strappy Sports Bra, the Strap Feature Sports Bra, and the Blur Seamless Bralette have all muscled their way into my drawer.

Materials: 78 percent polyester, 22 percent elastane.

Size Range: XXS through XXL.

The Solace Sports Bra, crafted from Powervita fabric (75 percent nylon, 25 percent lycra) is soft, supportive, and airy. The bonded chest band remains flat and secure, even during deep stretches and inversions. This is a great bra for low-impact activities (yoga, barre, and pilates), but I especially reach for this during heated workouts, because it wicks moisture away and dries fast. Not to be overlooked, the crossover straps are so cute. I do wish they were adjustable, though.

Materials: 75 percent nylon, 25 percent lycra.

Size Range: XXS through XL.

Merino wool has many fantastic qualities, but being stretchy and compressive is not necessarily one of them. That’s why this racerback sports bra is a remarkable feat—I have many merino wool bras, but none of them retain their shape and offer as much support as this one, although I should note here that I’m a 34A, so in my case, the claims of good support are not being tested as thoroughly as they might with other people.

Branwyn’s sports bra is made from a blend of 76 percent merino, 14 percent nylon, and 10 percent elastane. The fabric itself is knit in a seamless, compressive, 4-way knit structure, so there are no seams to rub or chafe. I wear it mostly rock climbing, without a shirt, and it’s long enough on my short torso for it to not be totally obvious that I’m only wearing a bra (I think). Moreover, it’s BPA-, PFAS- and forever-chemical-free, which I prefer for garments that I wear close to my skin. There are sleeves for removable bra pads, but they’re not included, and it’s dark and thick enough that I don’t worry about anything showing anyway. My only caveat is that since it’s heavier than almost any other sports bra I own, it also takes longer to dry, both on the line and on my body. —Adrienne So

Materials: 76 percent extra fine merino wool, 14 percent nylon, and 10 percent elastane

Size Range: XS through XXL

Engineered by an orthopedic surgeon, the Forme Power Bra uses a blend of six tension fabrics and eight double-fabric panels to nudge your shoulders back, lift your chest, and train your upper body into better alignment. I wear it to Pilates. I wear it under my hoodies. I wear it as a top when I’m running errands because it’s also cute. Forme claims it helps with recovery and deeper breathing, and while that may sound like wellness speak, I found that wearing this bra for just a few hours made me more aware of my posture.

If you get the Forme Power Bra, stretch out the armholes (Forme suggests 10 to 20 times) before your first wear so it’s not too tight around the pits. The brand also sells the Revive Bra for $188, created specifically for those with musculoskeletal disorders or pain in the upper spine or shoulders—we’re in the process of testing it ourselves.