The bigger your bust, the more support you need, and these sports bras are guaranteed to keep you comfortable during high impact exercise

When it comes to bras, anyone whose cups runneth over will tell you that it’s all fun and games until you set off for a swift 5k or 7am HIIT class with inadequate support. Workouts can be tough enough without adding avoidable pain and discomfort to the list – and that’s why it’s essential to invest in a supportive sports bra.

For the uninitiated: exercise in an ill-fitting bra is an absolute non-starter at the best of times, and straightforwardly masochistic for those of us with bigger busts. It’s painful, distracting and is enough to make one consider giving up on exercise altogether. What’s more, it can cause bruising, rubbing and even lasting damage to posture.

Best sports bra for large bust

If you want to perform at your best, then a top quality sports bra is an essential investment.

There is a wealth of sports bras on the market – but how many of these truly cater for women with large breasts? Here we’ll explain what to look out for, and reveal some of our very favourite options.

1. Maaree Solidarity High Impact Sports Bra: Best all-round high-impact sports bra.

Designed by a professional sportswear tester, it’s little surprise that this bra has won a whole heap of awards. It was so popular when it first launched that it sold out and garnered a waiting list of some 4,000 people.

If you are expecting big things you won’t be disappointed. This is a blooming brilliant bra for women with big breasts: it manages to hold you in securely without feeling like your chest has been wrapped. The USP is the Overband® – a curved panel that runs over the top of the breasts, to provide extra support and reduce upward motion when exercising. The reduction of upward motion ‘stabilises’ the movement of the chest.

This was certainly the case during our test – a 10k run up and down hills and over rough terrain provided plenty of opportunity for bumps, but it was comfortable throughout.

This is also pretty chic for a sports bra – the fabric is shiny and the straps are as fine as they can be while still providing optimal support. They can of course be adjusted, made into a cross back and the main back fastening is three hooks wide.

2. Sweaty Betty High Intensity Sports Bra: Best lightweight high-impact bra.

This is super lightweight and sleek – and before you put it on you might be forgiven for thinking it’s a little flimsy. But you’d be wrong. Thanks to a ingenious ‘compression’ design and high neckline, this bra offers support for even the highest impact sports including running, HIIT and tennis.

We loved the quick drying fabric, too. It makes the handwashing process a doddle and means you can wear it on consecutive days without worrying about laundry cycles.

There are mesh panels that let sweat out and air in, helping to keep you cool throughout your workout: there is nothing worse than feeling insufferably hot. We can confirm that on an eight-mile run in 22 degrees, we felt refreshed.

In terms of looks, this is a chic, understated beauty – as you’d expect from Sweaty Betty – not at all bulky or cumbersome. We wore it as a racer back for running but disconnected the link to create a U-back for low-impact exercise including Pilates and yoga.

3. Bravissimo Panache Wired Sports Bra: Best for maximum support.

If you crave the ultimate in support, then Bravissimo’s Panache needs to be on your shopping list. There is no, and we mean no, movement at all when you’re in the Panache. It’s like armour with a rigidity to the front panel that makes you feel completely held in.

The jump test yielded no movement and we felt super confident to embark on our 5k run. With that said, it’s not a gentle, easy wear. It means business. It’s a solid piece of kit – slightly padded on the straps which means you won’t get any angry red indents in your skin post workout, and it’s very sculpted.

We wouldn’t wear this for more sedate workouts, but it’s definitely one we want in the wardrobe. For longer runs, it’s a godsend – and this would be the one we’d run a marathon in.

4. Best Supportive Sports Bra: Sweaty Betty Victory Sports Bra (30A-38DD)

A combination of compression and encapsulation guarantees this sports bra offers maximum support for cup sizes up to a DD. The high-quality design features moisture-wicking fabric and mesh panels for much-needed ventilation while you sweat through your workouts, along with supportive straps and padding along the bust. (Plus the flat, even seams prevent chafing.) All you have to worry about is choosing between two chic colors—black or dusty rose.

5. Best Plus Size: GODDESS Mid-Impact Wire-Free Sports Bra (34C-48H)

Unlike most other bras which stick to standard sizes, this ultra-soft option goes up to a band size 48 and a cup size H. A compression fit holds down your breasts and reduces movement, making this the perfect choice for medium-impact workouts like cycling or the elliptical. Despite the lack of underwire, you can still expect full comfort between padded shoulder straps, a stretchy underband that minimizes rubbing, and anti-bacterial cup liners.