When you’re working out, the right sports bra can spell the difference between a seamless session and a workout spoiled by constant readjusting, discomfort and compromised performance. Just as shopping for a regular bra is a highly subjective experience, so is sports bra shopping, which is why I consulted with bra specialists and Forbes Vetted staffers to find the best sports bras of 2026. My top recommendation is the Nike Swoosh Medium Support Padded Sports Bra—it offers enough support for a variety of activities and is available in both standard and plus sizes.
The best sports bras are supportive and comfortable to make for a better workout.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
“We need to start thinking about sports bras in the same way that we do our shoes,” says Mari Thomas-Welland, founder and CEO of Maaree. “There is the overarching title of ‘sports shoes’ and ‘sports bras’, but there are so many categories beneath this in order to figure out the best design for you.” With this in mind, I’ve included sports bras to accommodate both large and small busts, as well as different activities. Below are the six best sports bras of 2026, along with an expert-informed buying guide to help you pick the right one.
Nike Swoosh Medium Support Padded Sports Bra
Support level: Medium | Fit: XS to 4X (30A to 48G) | Fabric: Recycled polyester, spandex | Strap style: Racerback
What you’ll love:
Sewn-in pads
Available in standard and plus sizes
Incorporates Nike’s Dri-Fit technology
Keep in mind:
Some reviews mention the bra runs small
With a simple design, stretchy yet supportive fabric and snug fit, the Nike Swoosh Medium Support Padded Sports Bra looks and performs like a classic, tried-and-true sports bra, making it the overall winner in this guide. The racerback style is form-fitting to comfortably hold everything in place and provide the necessary support for Pilates, HIIT classes, runs and more, and the pads are sewn-in to prevent them from shifting, even during vigorous exercise.
Made from a thick polyester-spandex blend, the fabric is soft, with several customers reporting little to no chafing, and it’s adaptive, adjusting to your movements while still retaining its support and structure. The fabric is outfitted with Nike’s Dri-Fit technology to wick sweat and keep the body dry, and an interior mesh panel improves breathability. Available in sizes XS to 4X, some customers find that the bra runs slightly small and recommend sizing up, unless you like a compressed feel.
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Support level: High | Fit: 32B to 40G| Fabric: Nylon, Lycra elastane | Strap style: Adjustable and crossable
What you’ll love:
Straps are padded, adjustable and crossable
Clasps in the back
Minimizes bouncing
Keep in mind:
A high-impact sport requires a high-impact bra, and Lululemon’s Run Times Bra is equipped to handle the demands of running. The blend of nylon and Lycra elastane lifts and supports breasts to hold them in place, preventing them from bouncing during runs and more intense activities, in turn helping protect the breast tissue by minimizing movement. Thick straps provide the necessary support for running, and they’re adjustable to further lift and secure, plus they’re padded and can be criss-crossed.
The bra is cut high to cover the chest and prevent anything from spilling out or over, and a perforated panel between the cups creates separation (no more dreaded “uniboob”) and improves airflow. Customers especially appreciate the hook-and-eye closure, which they find makes it easier to get the bra on and off. It’s worth noting that the bra isn’t offered in A cups, but it does go up to a size 40G.
Wacoal Simone Seamless Underwire Sports Bra
Support level: High | Fit: 32C to 42I | Fabric: Nylon, spandex/elastane | Strap style: Convertible
What you’ll love:
Exterior underwire for support
Suitable for day-to-day wear
Doesn’t squash breasts
Keep in mind:
Not the most stylish option
Jane Newman, chief design officer at Hanes, recommends those with larger breasts look for encapsulation and wired styles, like Wacoal’s Simone Seamless Underwire Sports Bra. The bra has two-ply cups that lift and separate each breast to support them individually, keeping them secure and tucked away without compressing them into an indistinguishable blob. If you’re wary of the underwire, don’t be—unlike a traditional bra, the underwire is on the outside, and it’s cushioned for comfort and to prevent chafing.
The bra is made of a nylon and spandex/elastane blend that multiple customers describe as “substantial” and feel helps provide additional support and reduce bounce. The moisture-wicking fabric and mesh back make the bra more than suitable for exercise, as intended, but it can be worn beyond the gym, with several customers using it as their everyday bra. While not the most fashion-forward option, it’s great for those who struggle to find adequate support or sports bras in larger sizes.
Support level: High | Fit: XXS to 6Luxe (28A to 50I) | Fabric: Nylon, spandex, polyester | Strap style: Convertible and adjustable
What you’ll love:
Adjustable ribcage band
Removable breast cups
Front zipper makes it easier to put on and take off
Keep in mind:
Not suitable for lounging
For cross-training, HIIT workouts or even horseback riding, you need a sports bra that will keep everything in its proper place, which is what the SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra is designed to do. “It’s quite structured and the band and shoulder straps are easily adjustable with Velcro, so you really feel locked and loaded,” says Forbes Vetted senior updates editor Karen Tietjen, who reaches for the SheFit bra when doing high-impact exercises. The bra uses the brand’s patented Zip.Cinch.Lift adjustability which offers up to 15 inches of lift in the shoulder straps and 8 inches of cinch in the ribcage band. Instead of having to wrestle the bra over your head, it uses a front zipper with a zipper garage to prevent irritation. “While it’s not comfortable for lounging around in, if you really want to keep everything in place during high-intensity movement, it’s the best sports bra I’ve used,” says Tietjen.
Support level: Light | Fit: XXS to XL (30A to 40B) | Fabric: Polyamide, elastane | Strap style: Wide (non-adjustable)
What you’ll love:
Gives a slight lift
Buttery-soft fabric
Wire-free
Keep in mind:
Included cup inserts might not work for all breast shapes
Pepper caters to smaller busts, with all of the brand’s bras designed specifically for AA to B-cups, including the Wave Wirefree Bra. “This is the first sports bra where it feels comfortable but supportive and gives me a little lift,” says Forbes Vetted updates writer Francesca Sales. This lift can be attributed to the contouring wavy band that enhances the natural shape of the breast, plus lightly padded cups that are removable. “The fact that it’s buttery but slightly compressive is really nice, and I don’t know how the brand does it, but it never feels like it’ll slip up and risk me having a little accident,” says Sales, who wears the bra for strength training, running, hot yoga, HIIT, barre and Pilates. While customers note that the fully lined cups don’t migrate, some found them to be slightly awkward for their breast shape.
Support level: Light | Fit: XXS to XL (28DD to 36DD) | Fabric: Polyamide, Lycra | Strap style: Tank top (non-adjustable)
What you’ll love:
More than 20 color options
Doubles as a tank top
Keep in mind:
Designed for low-impact workouts
This tank top-sports bra hybrid from CRZ Yoga is a solid, inexpensive option for less intense activities. “I have like ten pairs in different colors and use these as my daily wear because they feel super supportive for around-the-house wear too, but I also wear them when I’m using my walking pad or doing a quick Pilates session,” says Forbes Vetted tech editor Rebecca Isaacs.
Underneath the tank top is a built-in shelf bra with removable pads that provides enough support and gentle compression for yoga or running errands. The top is made from the brand’s Butterluxe fabric, a super stretchy, soft-to-the-touch blend of polyamide and Lycra that Isaacs notes washes and dries well. The low square neckline is flattering and the top hits just above the belly button, making it easy to pair with leggings or other high-waisted bottoms.
How We Chose The Best Sports Bras
When choosing the best sports bras, we considered several factors including bust size, the level of support, fabric and more.
We researched popular sports bras from reputable retailers and sifted through customer reviews to gather knowledge on how each sports bra performs.
We tapped Forbes Vetted staff to learn more about their favorite sports bras. After gathering the team’s personal insights, we considered each bra’s qualities and assets to determine the best use case for each one.
We consulted experts Mari Thomas-Welland and Jane Newman, and used their expertise and guidance to help inform our picks.
What To Look For In The Best Sports Bras
While picking out a sports bra, there are a few things to keep in mind. Below, we break down what to look for.
Support Level
Sports bras are typically categorized as being either low-impact, medium-impact or high-impact. These three categories refer to the exercise or sport the bra is suitable for, and thus the support it provides. “Yoga and Pilates would fall under the low category, weightlifting and walking would typically fall under the medium-impact category and then activities like running and HIIT would be categorized as high-impact,” says Thomas-Welland. The support required from your sports bra will depend largely on the activities you intend to wear it for. Thomas-Welland recommends getting a variety of sports bras if your intended activities fall across the range of impact levels.
Fit
Newman recommends beginning with your regular bra size to find a sports bra that provides effective support and comfort. “Your sports bra band does most of the work, so ensure it’s snug but not tight and stays level across your back. Straps should lie flat on your shoulders, not dig or slip. Finally, cups should fully encompass your breasts, with no overflow or empty space, ensuring you stay supported and comfortable,” she explains.
Thomas-Welland echoes the importance of a properly fitting bra band: “Since 80% of your bra’s support comes from this area and knowing that 4 out of every 5 women are wearing the wrong size, it’s usually because they are wearing an underband size that’s too big for them. Therefore most [women] could benefit from an improved fit and support just by checking if they are in their right size.”
Fabric
Most sports bras will use elasticized fibers for stretch and comfort, but you don’t want a sports bra to be too stretchy, otherwise it won’t provide the necessary support. Look for styles that use synthetic fabric blends, like nylon and Lycra, that provide support without hindering movement. Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are also moisture-wicking, helping you to stay dry as you work up a sweat.
Strap Style
The sports bra’s strap can influence the bra’s support, comfort and adjustability. “A traditional sports bra uses vertical tension in the straps to support your chest, which can cause more digging into your shoulders. Racerbacks, on the other hand, use angled straps that spread the tension diagonally across your back, relieving some of the strain on your shoulders,” says Newman. If you prefer a regular, vertical strap, look for styles with padded straps to prevent them from digging in and causing pressure or irritation.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted gear team is comprised of writers and editors with years of experience testing and reviewing fitness essentials, including leggings, dumbbells and walking pads.
This article was reviewed by Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta. He holds a degree in kinesiology and has more than six years of experience covering health and wellness topics.
For this article we spoke to two experts: Mari Thomas-Welland, founder and CEO of Maaree, and Jane Newman, chief design officer at Hanes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Type Of Sports Bra Is Best?
“Ultimately, the best sports bra is personal; it’s the one that gives you confidence, comfort and seamless support, allowing you to focus on your performance, not your discomfort,” says Newman.
What Is The Best Sports Bra For Running?
How Should A Sports Bra Fit?
According to Thomas-Welland, the band of a sports bra should fit snugly, and you should be able to pull it away from your body by 1 to 2 inches. “With regard to the bust, for ultimate support, it’s crucial that all of the breast tissue is encapsulated within the bra. This means no overspill and no gaps within the bra.”
