Fitness Experts Reveal Their Top Sports Bra Picks

On the hunt for the perfect-fitting sports bra and coming up short? Don’t sweat it! We’ve talked to eight fitness experts for their top recommendations—so you can get your sweat on in comfort (and style!).

Katie Camburn, Zumba Instructor in Lansdale, Pa.

What’s your fitness background?
I grew up competing in gymnastics and then moved to cheerleading—two sports that required good sports bras. I got my Zumba license in 2013.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
I look for ones that are specifically labeled for high impact.  Zumba is dance cardio and you’re constantly moving, so having a supportive sports bra is really important. I’m also on the bustier side and need more support. Having a fun color or cool design is nice too—Zumba is all about the bright colors!

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
My favorite seems to be Victoria’s Secret brand, anything labeled with high impact; they are on the more expensive side but are awesome!

Jennifer Smith, Certified Yoga Instructor in Seattle, Wash.

What’s your fitness background?
I’m a certified yoga instructor; I also enjoy weight lifting and competing in distance trail running events.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
Something with a wide, snug band. Unlined (because I always fight to get the padding back into the right place after a wash). And I like to keep my gear as minimal as possible, so I also look for versatility (something that’ll work for any activity) and a cute pattern or color, too!

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
I love the Nike Pro Indy Cross Back for its adjustable straps, cute v-neck and fun back strap design, contrasting bright colors and nice wide band to keep it in place through any activity.

Kelly Curci, Personal Trainer & Fitness Instructor in Philadelphia, Pa.

What’s your fitness background?
I have my Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education. After college, I was a fitness instructor for children ages six weeks to 13 years. I also have my Personal Training and CPR certifications as recognized by Expert Rating.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
The desired features of a sports bra are definitely dependent upon what a woman plans to do in it! Personally, I never know when a walk through the park is going to turn into hill sprints, so I look for something that is versatile, comfortable and supportive.

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
The Under Armour Eclipse sports bra. I’ve been playing sports and working out since I was able to walk, so I’ve owned my fair share of sports bras! However, about a year ago I found Under Armour’s Eclipse Sports Bra and I haven’t worn any other sports bra since. It feels like a second skin and it’s gotten me through everything from strolls in the park to weight training, instructing classes and running marathons. It has a bandeau-inspired front that makes it super breathable and comfortable for me. It also has a cool criss-cross back design!

Kristina Beck, Fitness Instructor & Personal Trainer in Winter Park, Fla.

What’s your fitness background?
Certified Yoga Instructor, Group Exercise Instructor, Personal Trainer, Cycle Instructor and Barre Instructor.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
Activity definitely dictates which sports bra I put on. For high-impact exercises (like HIIT, running, stairs or anything where bouncing is involved), I need something that will keep the “girls” from bouncing with me. For low-impact activities (like yoga, barre, weights), I like to wear something that moves a bit more with me and feels more forgiving. I avoid anything that makes me feel like my chest is being pushed up into my neck, moisture wicking is a must, and I also like the band not to cut in or roll up.

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
My favorite is The Player by Victoria Secret. I like this bra because it’s everything I want—it isn’t distracting, it’s comfortable (I forget I have it on), it comes in fun colors, it’s affordable (they have sales pretty often, too!), and bonus points: The fight to get it off after your workout is pretty non-existent.

Kelly Kraiss, Beachbody Coach & Rowing Coach, Knoxville, Tenn.

What’s your fitness background?
I’ve been into fitness my whole life! I played just about every sport growing up (or at least tried to) but finally found my love with rowing in high school and then into college. After college I was a gym rat, a runner and a triathlete. I’m now a Beachbody coach so I do just about any kind of workout. I coach high school and masters rowing, I’ve competed in a figure competition and I’m certified in PiYo, Insanity and Cize (dance fitness). My favorites are rowing and dance fitness!

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
I have tons of sports bras for all the different activities I do. I honestly don’t need a ton of support, so I usually stick to light-to-moderate support bras. I do look for something that is built for really sweaty workouts. I love sports bras that are cute enough to wear as regular bras too— in fact, I rarely wear “regular” bras, ha!

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
My favorite is probably the Free to be Wild bra by Lululemon. It gives enough support for most of my activities and the cut is super cute—cute enough to wear as a regular bra.

Ashley Jablonski, Zumba Instructor in Souderton, Pa.

What’s your fitness background?
I grew up dancing (ballet, jazz, modern) from ages four to 18; I also played field hockey, softball, basketball and soccer. I was on my college dance team all four years. I am now a Zumba instructor and I got my license in 2013!

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
They need to be high impact. All the jumping in Zumba can really be bothersome if the bra is not strong enough. I also like fun colors and many of the Zumba shirts are thinner and you can see part of your bra, or we cut our own shirts a lot and the bra will be seen.

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
Victoria’s Secret. I got my first one a few months back and it’s so nice! Soft, holds up well in the washer, supportive and good for high impact.

Jamie Klein, Spin & Bootcamp Instructor in Hoboken, N.J.

What’s your fitness background?
I’m an indoor spin and bootcamp instructor at an upscale, class-based, boutique fitness studio in Hoboken, N.J. I have a Mad Dogg Athletics Cycling certification and an AFAA Group Fitness certification.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
I look for maximum support. I’m a marathon runner so I need something that’s going to keep me comfortable for hours at a time. My workouts are usually high intensity and heavily cardio based, so even if I’m not running, good support is always #1.

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
The Fiona Bra by Moving Comfort (I buy mine at Athleta). They are adjustable in two places, at the shoulder and the back, so you can make the fit absolutely perfect for your body. It’s slightly higher at the neck, so there is maximum coverage and it’s a comfy material with no wire. I recently had a baby and within the last year, my chest has changed sizes at least five times. This was my go-to bra through pregnancy, post-pregnancy and breast feeding. Because it’s is so adjustable, it always fit well, despite any fluctuation!

Jessie Sommers, Yoga Instructor in Philadelphia, Pa.

What’s your fitness background?
Running was always my main source of exercise until a recent iliotibial (IT) band injury. After the injury, I started to get deeper into yoga for its therapeutic benefits, and that led me to getting my yoga teaching certification. I’ve also been taking aerial classes at Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for three years. Aerials and yoga are now the only workouts I do to stay in shape and I’ve never been happier. Aerial work builds my upper body and core while yoga works the core and increases my flexibility. Both are also great mental workouts and help me stay calm and focused in everyday life.

What features do you look for in a sports bra?
First and foremost, I need a sports bra that’s comfortable and fits properly. If a bra is too tight on me, my upper back hurts. If it’s too loose, well then what’s the point? Being a smaller-chested woman, I don’t need as much support. For me it’s more about keeping the “girls” in place. And since most gyms and studios tend to run cold, I like my sports bras to have a light padding.

What’s your favorite sports bra and why?
My favorite is Nike’s Pro Classic sports bra. It’s a classic racer-back design made with sweat-wicking Dri-Fit fabric. Nothing fancy as far as looks go, but I always buy them in neon yellow—because, neon yellow. It’s super comfortable, has great coverage and support, and has just the right amount of padding. This bra has also proved to be great quality—I have one that’s four or five years old and it’s still in great shape!