Boobs are beautiful: fact. All shapes and sizes, big, small, perky or not – they’re fab. But, when you’re a woman who is blessed with slightly larger assets, shopping for underwear is no easy task.
In the past, the bras that would range beyond a double-D were the most basic you could find. They’d usually come in the standard three tones – black, white and nude – and they’d tend not to have any frills.
That might not seem important, but we all know that when you’ve got underwear on that looks good, regardless of whether anyone is seeing it, it gives you an all-important confidence boost.
We’re pleased to say, however, that things have started to improve. Brands like Savage X Fenty are paving the way with a host of bras that are stylish and sexy without compromising on support. But when it comes to finding an equally stylish and supportive sports bra, the perfect model can still prove elusive.
We know the pain of relying on a standard bra – which, let’s face it, was not made for jumping jacks and burpees. So, we made it our mission to find some decent options for the larger breasted woman among us, so you too can have peace of mind throughout even the most arduous workout.
Panache wired sports bra
Panache’s wired sports bra has been a firm favourite for us for some time now. We’ve worn it for every kind of activity – high-intensity workouts, dancing, yoga and even just running errands – and without fail, it always holds up (pun intended). It’s not only fashion forward, but comfortable and super supportive. The underwire is strong and thick, but as it’s concealed under thick gel padding, you barely even notice it’s there. Similarly, the cups are moulded, encapsulating each breast and giving great coverage, control and a defined shape. Plus, as it’s seam-free, it feels smooth and soft against the skin, which is a welcome comfort.
There’s also a breathable fabric, similar to mesh, on both the cleavage and band, which is ideal for air flow and keeping you cool during even the sweatiest sessions. And we also love the sturdy J-hook, which is easy to fasten and gives an extra bit of support and lift for those really intense workouts. Basically, we’re obsessed with this bra, and as it comes in more than 10 different colours and patterns, as well as sizing extending up to a 40J, we’re certain you will be too.
M&S goodmove extra high impact non wired sports bra
If you’re a woman blessed with a larger bust, the average price for a standard sports bra (and even a regular T-shirt bra) can be anywhere between £30 and £40. If you’re an avid gym-goer – and therefore find yourself having to replace your bras more often than most, due to the amount of use and washing they get – the cost of kitting yourself out can end up being ludicrously high.
That’s why this budget option from M&S is a godsend. Not only is it less than £20, it comes in two colours and more than 20 sizes and is a high-quality product that we instantly fell in love with. It’s non-wired but has thick straps and a wide underband that gives great support during a number of exercises. We even found it helped us with our posture. Plus, the higher neck gave us brilliant coverage and ensured our boobs stayed secure throughout every sit up, burpee and squat.
Overall, it’s a really impressive product and easy on the eye too. We personally love the little cut-out detail on the front which, when coupled with M&S’s “cool comfort” technology, moisture-wicking fabric and mesh panel, not only look good but helped us keep cool. We felt confident and comfortable – really, what more could we ask for?
Bravissimo inspire sports bra
This was probably the most flattering bra we tried – from the moment we slipped it on, our shape changed dramatically. We felt uplifted – both physically and spiritually – and noted how the extended wire gave us a great, rounded shape. All that and it kept our boobs separated throughout our workouts too.
More than that though, it was supremely comfortable. The straps and hook are all padded, and at the top of the cleavage – where wires can sometimes break through and impale you – the bra is made of a sturdy yet flexible material. The bra continued to mould to our shape through every movement, without causing us any discomfort. We reckon this bra could withstand a lot of use both inside the gym and out, but perhaps for a longer run something with more coverage at the front might be best.
Pour Moi energy elevate zip front lightly padded sports bra
We’ll be the first to admit that we’ve always been sceptical of zip front bras – they’ve never screamed comfort or support to us. Perhaps it’s the threat of the zip suddenly buckling under the pressure as we attempt jumping jacks or a downward-facing dog.
We weren’t sure what results this Pour Moi model was going to yield, but we were pleasantly surprised. Made from polyamide, elastane and cotton, it’s lightweight and feels soft against our skin. The adjustable straps make pulling the bra on a lot easier and, once again, we liked that it includes a J-hook. We also found it to be absorbent and despite the lack of an underwire, it was also surprisingly supportive – a tighter and wider underband ensured our breasts stayed clamped into place during even the most intense spin session.
By far our favourite element of this bra though, and something we can’t say we’ve seen on similar models, is the small hook tucked away in the zip line. It helps to keep the bra firmly in place and just gave us extra piece of mind. We wore a 36G and found it ideal for our lower-impact activities like cycling and pilates, but some might find it works for running too.
Elomi energise sports bra
Innovation, femininity and strength – these are just three of Elomi’s core values, all of which are demonstrated beautifully here. Firstly, this bra is uniquely designed with non-compression technology. This means that, instead of clamping your boobs to your chest, it aims to encapsulate your full bust and give the best all-round support. We can attest that it did just that, with our breasts staying firmly in place without ever feeling squashed or restricted.
Secondly, we found the flexible, three-piece cups really helped give us a more curvaceous figure. Our breasts were lifted and separated, similar to the way they were in the Bravissimo inspire sports bra, (£40, Bravissimo.com), which gave us a huge confidence boost before we even started our workout. Plus, the nylon fabric was great at mopping away sweat.
Finally and most importantly – this is a strong bra. It has a moveable J-hook and a really thick underwire. We knew this bra could withstand even the toughest Tabata sessions – we only wished there’d been a bit more padding on the underwire as after an hour of wear we did start to feel a bit sore. That said, this bra comes in the widest variety of sizes we saw, so if it’s something you love you can keep purchasing it, even if your shape changes.
Royce Lingerie aerocool sports bra
If you want a bra that has style and substance, then this model from Royce has plenty to spare. Coming in a deep shade of purple with lighter mesh panelling, we were immediately impressed with how chic it was. We’d even go as far as to say it was the prettiest bra we tested.
But this bra is amazingly functional too. It’s the UK’s first wire-free, high-impact sports bra for G-K cups and is designed to give the best support for larger-chested women – and boy, does it deliver! There’s no underwire this time, but the wide elasticated band, high neckline, and internal side sling ensures maximum security during even the bounciest of workouts. The straps are also adjustable and there is the option to convert it into a racerback for additional support.
A word of caution though: because of this bra’s style and compressive qualities, Royce advises you up your cup size to ensure it fits. We opted for a 34H on this occasion, and still found the band a bit snug. Don’t let that put you off though – Royce offers an incredible virtual bra-fitting service so that you know exactly which size will fit you best. So, not only will you know you look good, but you’ll be able to work out comfortably and confidently too.
Freya epic sports bra
We’ll agree that this bra is “epic” in size and in coverage. There is no cleavage or side boob on show, giving us great piece of mind, and it has one of the biggest back bands we’ve seen. Because of this, we felt totally secure during our run knowing that we weren’t going to pop out unexpectedly or feel our breasts jiggling as we jogged.
However, the underwire was extremely tight and about halfway into our run we felt it starting to dig in – not idea if you’re training for a marathon. So, we’d perhaps try going up a back or cup size to see if this changed the tightness at all. For that reason, we’re nicknaming this our “Marmite bra” – some of you will absolutely love it (for the coverage and the security it gives), others, well, maybe, not so much.
