The Trick to Finding an Amazing Sports Bra for Under £40

last updated 31 January 2018

The right sports bra can really make a difference to your training, and so this is arguably the most important part of your gym kit. Bra shopping can be hard enough, but looking for a sports bra throws up even more questions. To help you find the perfect sports bra, we turned to Eloise Rigby, founder of The Pantry Underwear, for her five top tips.

1. "Ensure that when you pop your hand behind your back and slip your thumb under the hooks [or band, if it's not a bra strap style] that you can only pull it out by half an inch with some resistance."

2. "Sports bras often cut high on the chest to contain the tissue. Run your fingers inside the top of the cup to ensure there's not an air gap in the cup, where there would be free movement if you were exercising."

3. "Take a moment in the changing room to jump on the spot and check you're happy with the level of support. Ask a staff member to adjust your shoulder straps [do this yourself at home occasionally, as hardware will slip over time due to exercise]. If you're still not comfortable try on more sizes and keep testing—don't expect to take your typical size."

best-sports-bras-248068-1517404189031-image

4. "Some sports bras have unusual straps, including those that appear to be racerback and have a fastening between your shoulder blades. These can offer great support for high-impact sports, but ensure you can easily fasten and unfasten by yourself at home before buying."

5. "Try and purchase sports bras that are adjustable, with a bra strap fitting. Pulling them over your head stretches the elastic more quickly, and when it stretches, you won't have the option to make it smaller."

Shop the Best Sports Bras:

Panache

Padded Sports Bra

"This encases the breasts and has a racerback option whilst being a traditional bra strap with padded and adjustable shoulders. Also gives a great shape under normal tops," says Eloise.

Shock Absorber

Active Shape Support Bra

"For those with a C–D cups, I cannot recommend this enough," says Who What Wear UK Assistant Editor Elinor Block. "It's seen me through 10k runs and half-marathon training over the course of a year, and it's still going."

Nike

Motion Adapt Mesh-Paneled Stretch-Jersey Sports Bra

I know it's not about how they look, but I personally am always drawn in by the amazing Nike styles.

Gap

Medium Impact T-Back Sports Bra

Who What Wear UK's social media editor Isabel says Gap Body is always her go-to for sports bras.

Shock Absorber

Multi-Sports Support

Explore More:

Emma is a freelance fashion editor with over 15 years experience in industry, having worked at The Telegraph, Grazia and, most recently, British Vogue. Emma was part of the founding team of Who What Wear UK, where she worked for six years as Deputy Editor and then Editor—helping shape the team into what it is today is one of the biggest privileges of her career and she will always see herself as a Who What Wear girl, contributing to both the US and UK sites. Whether she's writing about runway trends or spotlighting emerging brands, she aims to write about fashion in a way that is democratic and doesn't promote over consumption.