The Best Sports Bras for Any Activity
Perform your best with these top picks
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For female athletes, the sports bra is an essential piece of the training and competition uniform. But even with a plethora of bra options available, finding the best fit for different activities can still be difficult. We asked five professional athletes to share their favorite sports bras for training and competing at their best.
Lululemon Energy ($52)
Kate Courtney, Mountain Biker
Kate Courtney, 22, wore this medium-support bra in black camo when she became the first American in 17 years to win the Mountain Bike World Championships. In addition to the comfort and support the bra provides, the color matches Courtney’s mentality on the bike. “To me, it’s a reminder to go out there and race like a badass,” Courtney says.
Forever 21 Low Impact ($13)
Marta Pen Freitas, Middle-Distance Runner
When traveling the world representing Portugal in the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships, Marta Pen Freitas says her sports bra is one of the most important pieces in her wardrobe. The 800- and 1,500-meter runner opts for this lightly supportive and low-cost sports bra from Forever 21 for the high-intensity movement of middle-distance running. Freitas also appreciates the bra’s flexible torso band: “I want one that makes me feel comfortable and sexy, because I use it the most. I like to have something that blends with me,” she says.
Nike Rival High Support ($65)
DeAnna Price, Hammer Thrower
DeAnna Price considers her favorite sports bra lucky, and for good reason. The 25-year-old received the Nike Rival with Dri-Fit in her 2016 Team USA Olympic kit, and it has supported her through several breakthrough moments, including setting the U.S. record and winning the USATF national championship in the hammer throw. “Every time I’ve worn it, I’ve thrown well. When I put that thing on, it holds me tight, holds me well, and I’m able to do what I do best,” Price says.
C9 Champion Strappy Cami ($20)
Anna Beninati, Skier
When slalom and GS skier and Paralympic hopeful Anna Beninati tears down the slopes, she wears C9 Champion’s racerback sports bra from Target. Beninati, 24, appreciates the bra’s affordable price point and removable cups and says the color adds a pop of her personal style. “It’s a little bit of me underneath,” Beninati says.
Onzie Graphic Elastic Bra ($45)
Katie Lambert, Rock Climber
For years, Katie Lambert had some difficulty finding a sports bra that didn’t cause chafing against her lat muscles, but then the rock climber found a perfect fit with Onzie. “Since the back bands are elastic, it allows for a lot of contraction and expansion in the back muscles without getting chafed or pinched,” she says. While climbing around the world, Lambert wears pieces from the brand’s graphic elastic bra collection, which enable unrestricted movement for muscular body types.