Sports bras were made specifically for women, by women, to comfortably lift and support a woman's bust so she could get her sport on—without the distraction or weigh-down. In fact, a great-fitting sports bra might be one of the most important parts of your workout prep.
At Title Nine, we have tons of styles of sports bras to choose from, suited for cup sizes A to DDD, with all the features women need to strap in and go: adjustable shoulder straps, breathable fabrics, removable cups, wire-free or underwire, and more. From racerback to high-neck bras, low-impact to high, we've got the right bra for you and your kind of sport.
We’re diving deep into sports bra 101 to give you all the details you need to find the right sports bra for even your wildest adventures.
So, what's so special about sports bras?
Since their inception, sports bras have been nothing but game-changers for active and athletic women everywhere. Sports bras provide better comfort and support during all types of movement—way better than a typical everyday bra. With a stretchy and supportive underbust band, thicker shoulder straps, and more coverage all-around, it's obvious why women choose to wear sports bras to hold the girls in through all kinds of movement. Here's everything we love about these high-performance bras:
Sport-ready performance: Getting sweaty? You can bet on a sports bra to bring it on. From low-impact workouts like yoga, to high-intensity activities like trail running, women can get the right impact sports bra to support their movement (and limit breast movement—bye-bye bounce).
Adjustable straps: Slippy straps are a thing of the past. Tighten or loosen your straps for a super-secure fit that never digs into your shoulders or slips off mid-sweat.
Removable pads: Sometimes women want to choose the kind of coverage they want, and removable pads in the cups lets us do exactly that.
Stay-put fit: The right sports bra needs no readjusting — period. Once it's on, it stays there. And Title Nine's bras never slip, budge, or slack, so women can crush their workout with no worries.
Quick-drying fabric: Sports bras are also made with performance fabrics like nylon and spandex to comfortably stretch over the body and wick sweat in a snap. Like a little extra air? Check out the
AC Sports Bra with mesh in all the right places for a targeted breeze. Say see-ya to sweaty boobs, and hello to more dry times.
The key to getting the best-fitting, best-feeling bra? Knowing your cup and band size. Narrow down your true size with our
Bra Size Calculator. If you still need help measuring your cup and band size, our support team's here to help you dial it in.
What’s the difference between a compression bra and an encapsulation bra?
Not all bras are made the same or offer the same level of support, especially across a wide size range. Enter: compression bras and encapsulation bras. Two bras with two modes of support for more comfortable, slip-proof moves:
- Compression bras press your breasts against your body and are most often found in classic pullover racerback styles. (Think uni-boob!)
- An encapsulation bra, on the other hand, gives you extra support from underneath—think of the traditional support you get from an everyday bra.
How do I choose the right sports bra?
When it comes to choosing a sports bra that works for you, there are a lot of different features to keep in mind.
Get support: The type of support you need not only depends on the size of your breasts but also your impact level. D boobs but doing yoga? A medium impact sports bra may do the trick. Doing a HIIT workout? Leveling up to a
High Impact Sports Bra will most likely keep your girls supported and bounce-free. It might sound complicated, but we’ve done the work for you—our barbell ratings can help you decipher all the ins and outs of impact and sizing.
Get closure: Traditional
Pullover Sports Bras have lots of company these days. Take a look at
Front Close Bras, which usually zip in the front, as well as hook-and-eye closures, which work more like your everyday bra.
Get the right fabric: The fabric you choose can make or break your workout, so make sure you know what your bras are made of. Choose silky, seamless styles to stay chafe-free, or moisture-wicking fabrics to wick away sweat and keep you dry.
Get the right fit: With tons of sports bra styles to choose from, women can stop guessing if they fit into standard small, medium, and large size bras. Title Nine has the perfect bra for your next workout (and your whole outfit) that fits your bust size to a tee. Check out our top picks and best-sellers suited for cup size ranges A-D:
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Run it All 2.0 Adjustable Sports Bra: A wireless medium impact sports bra for C and D cups, with built-in molded cups, adjustable straps, and back closure. Super moisture-wicking, super breathable, and super comfortable for all-day wear.
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Goldilocked Cross Back Sports Bra: This medium to high support pullover style gives B and C cup women the freedom to move and their chests a chance to breathe. With just-right compression, mesh lining, and minimal seaming, this crossback bra checks all the boxes. Plus, it's got removable cups.
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Flight Zone Racerback Sports Bra: This seriously seamless, pullover racerback bra crushes it through pretty much any medium-impact workout for B and C cups. Seamless construction and quick-drying fabric means there's no chance of chafe, and offers serious support that never quits.
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Close the Gap Sports Bra: This medium impact sports bra gives A and B cup women all the comfort and support to keep on pushing. Constructed from supportive and durable compression fabric with a venting mesh panel at the back and pullover racerback styling for easy dressing.
How do I care for my sports bras?
A bra will last about a year before it starts to slack on support, so it's best to have a few bras on hand that you're wearing on rotation. But one of the best ways to keep your bras in good shape and ready for your next workout is with proper washing.
Don't wash your bras after every wear—performance-fabrics can go for a few sweaty sessions before needing a run through the wash. If you do put your bras in the washing machine, use cold water, the gentlest cycle and place the items in a lingerie bag. Always fasten hooks so that they don’t get caught on anything else. Even better — wash your bras by hand — but if you can't or don't have the time, machine washing works fine, too. Always lay your bras out flat to dry to keep the fabric and elastic in good shape.
Keep your sports bras stored together with similar active apparel, ideally laid out flat where there's no risk of rips or tears. You'll know it's time to replace your bra when it's showing obvious signs of wear and tear, like fraying in a strap, sagginess in the band, gaping cups, or broken hooks or underwire.
What features are important in a sports bra?
Always look for the must-haves from your sports bra: breathable, sweat wicking performance fabrics, comfortable fit, adjustable straps, no-bounce support, and enough coverage to prevent bulging or spilling. Shop for sports bras according to your cup size and band size if possible. Small, medium, and large leave us guessing, so dial in your fit by picking bra-sized styles.
New activewear trends will tell you that you need way more bells and whistles to get the "best support sports bra." But as long as you stick to the essentials, you'll find the right style and size sports bra fit for your type of sport.
You don't necessarily have to give up fashion for function. At Title Nine, our sports bras give you the best of both, from high-support strappy crossback bras made just for high-impact workouts, to seamless wire-free low-impact sports bras that crush it in the yoga studio. We carry some of the best brands in the game and have tested all our sports bras on thousands of women to get everything right—from fit to performance, to support and coverage that never slips.
Trends are always changing, especially in the world of activewear and active bras. But trendy sports bras don't always have the features and functionality women need to feel supported. So when you're shopping for an active bra that can keep up, skip the trendy styles and pick the bras designed for your bust and activity level.
Whether your go-to workout consists of running, biking, weightlifting, or stretching it out on the yoga mat, the right sports bra makes all the difference. With nonstop support, comfortable coverage, sweat wicking performance fabrics, and max adjustability, Title Nine has the bras women need to crush their workout and crush the day (and keep their girls in place).
How do I know if my sports bra fits properly?
The key to getting a great fit in your sports bra is to make sure you check out all the angles:
- Your bra should be tight enough to be smooth all the way around, without any wrinkles or puckers.
- It should also be large enough to hold you in (and that means top, side, and bottom boob) and provide the comfort you need to wear it for marathon sessions at the gym.
- The all-important cup and band sizes are key, but you should also consider what type of activity you'll be doing. Low impact sports can call for a different kind of bra than a long running session.
Can I wear a sports bra as a regular bra?
Why not? Sports bras are way more comfortable than regular bras, anyway. Women with larger cup sizes (C-DDD) prefer to skip the everyday bras in favor of sports bras because of the high-support and comfortable compression. Big boobs aren't exactly lightweight. And on a hot day, they wick sweat fast to keep the girls comfy and dry all day long.
Even women with a smaller size range (AA-B) prefer the wire-free, seamless fit of a sports bra. Smaller cup sizes are constantly fighting slippy straps and gaping cups, and the right size sports bra gives them the comfortable fit they actually want.
How long do sports bras last?
Sports bras typically last a year before they start to give out, but proper wear and care can extend the life of your bras. At a minimum, you should have three bras on rotation: think one on your body, one in your drawer and one in the wash. Always wash your bras by hand, or on a delicate setting in the washing machine, in cold water and with gentle detergent. Never, ever put your bras in the dryer.
Can I wear a sports bra if I have a larger bust size?
Yes and yes. Women with larger cup sizes have way more bra options today, with brands carrying a more inclusive size range as well as built-in bra features made specifically for larger busts, like molded cups, padded cups, underwires, and thicker shoulder straps.
Title Nine carries a range of low to high impact sports bras specifically for women with larger cup sizes (C-DDD+). From running, to cycling, jogging, and yoga flowing, women with larger bust sizes can get all the coverage and support they need — with no-bounce, no spilling, and no bulging.
Can I wear a sports bra while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes, you can wear a sports bra while pregnant (and definitely get your sweat on while pregnant) if a more comfortable, and more supportive fit is what you're going for. But not all sports bras are made with the features breastfeeding women need, like detachable straps above the cups, so check out the features of any bra before you buy.
Are expensive sports bras better than cheaper ones?
When it comes to choosing the best activewear, let's just say you get what you pay for. Cheap sports bras and athletic gear are exactly that: cheap. The fabrics will only last so long, and the fit will start to slack the more you wear your gear. We're not saying you need to buy the most expensive bras to get the best fit and performance, but high quality bras that last longer aren't going to be cheap. Plus, when you buy a high-quality bra, you'll have a longer lasting piece of workout gear that's fit for any impact level you throw at it.
Here are some of our favorite bras that deliver all the support and performance we can't go without, but don't break the bank:
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Pockito Power Sports Bra: A pullover racerback that's got three pockets for all your running and workout essentials. This wireless, mesh lined bra covers cup sizes A to D, from medium-impact to high-impact activities.
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Pockito Power 2.0 Zip Front Sports Bra: This high-impact style has everything we love about the original, but with a zip front closure, removable padded cups, and wider straps to hold up larger cup sizes.
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Boobyah Sports Bra: With a strappy, cross-back detailing in the back, this pullover medium-impact sports bra is a "booyah" for C and D cup sizes, with wicking fabric, wireless support, and removable padded cups.
