A good-fitting sports bra minimizes breast movement, prevents excessive bouncing and doesn't distract you from pursuing your favorite activity. But a bra that doesn't fit well can be a drag—it can lead to soreness, chafing, pain or even soft tissue damage. For some women, such pain or discomfort can also be a real barrier to exercising.
Sports bra fitting is not an exact science, but we'll give you tips on how to find the right sports bra for your size and activity. Because bra sizing is inconsistent across brands with no universal standard, make sure you try on several brands, sizes and styles in a store until you find the one that feels right for you.
How to Find a Sports Bra for Any Activity
To find the proper level of bra support, first consider the type of activity you'll be doing. Sports bras are designed to provide three levels of support—low, medium and high—depending on the impact level of the sport. The higher the impact (more bouncing, jumping or intense movement), the more support you'll likely need. Many brands categorize their sports bras by impact level, making it easier to sort out.
For high-impact activities such as running, mountain biking or aerobics, you'll want more support to prevent excessive breast movement, which can lead to pain and discomfort. For low-impact activities such as yoga or walking that involve less intense movements, you may not need as much support. Women with larger busts, however, may want to consider having more support even when doing low- or medium-impact activities. Ultimately, the best sports bra will be one that fits well, feels comfortable and suits your personal style and preferences.
You may need several sports bras for different activities - some with more support for high-impact activities such as running and less constrictive bras for low-impact activities such as yoga or walking. Rotating between several sports bras can also extend their use.
How to Find Your Sports Bra Size
Three women wearing sports bras doing yoga
Sports bras may fit slightly snugger than your everyday bras, but your size is likely the same. Do not size down in your sports bra purchase. Calculate your bra size each time you purchase a new sports bra. Your bra size will change several times over your lifetime. Body changes such as weight loss or gain, pregnancy, hormones and aging will affect bra size.
If you haven't measured yourself lately, we provide a basic guideline below. Consider it as a starting point.
You'll need a soft tape measure to get started. Wear a non-padded bra that doesn't change the shape of your breasts—or measure while not wearing a bra.
1. Measure your rib cage
Measure around your rib cage just under your bust. Round down to the closest inch. This is your rib cage measurement, which you'll need to figure out your band and cup size.
2. Figure out your band size
Take your rib cage measurement from step 1 and read across the chart below to find your band size.