Which Brooks Running Bra Is The Best Sports Bra For You?
Similar to choosing your perfect pair of running shoes, the best sports bra for one person might not necessarily be the best for someone else. We're blown away by the comprehensive range of running bras from Brooks and we give you the ultimate guide to find the best sports bra for you.
If you’ve read the Essential Guide To Brooks Running Bras, you’ll love to keep on track of your running journey with Brooks as they continue to pave the way forward in research-driven designs that provide trustworthy support.
In the words of Laura Madden, Director of Apparel and Bra Development at Brooks, it takes “a little bit of science and a little bit of art” to develop a new running bra.
Brooks running bras combine the wants of female athletes (support, sweat-wicking power, comfort, coverage and breathability to name a few) with decades of biomechanical research to understand the way you move.
Every member of the Brooks Run Bra family has been put to work in both the lab and real world to ensure the fit, functionality and style supports these key performance-enhancing criteria.
What you'll love about Brooks is that they cater to the individual - whether it’s Brooks running shoes that offer multiple width options or Brooks Run Bras that come in a variety of styles to support the needs of runners of all shapes, sizes and preferences.
Brooks never stops innovating and pushing the boundaries further of what a running bra can do for you - with the emphasis being on the word running and the high-impact support your sport demands.
The latest Brooks running bras are here at Sportitude Running. To celebrate we'll give you insight on these modern styles - everything from support type (encapsulation or compression) to run-ready features like zip closure and adjustable straps to find the best sports bra for you.
Brooks Dare Scoopback 2.0: Easy Adjustability For Custom Support
Running Bra Anatomy
Combining a supportive, body-hugging feel with easy adjustability, the Brooks Dare Scoopback 2.0 women's running bra meets the demands of high-impact workouts. It reduces excess breast movement for a distraction-free run and offers the customisable fit that female athletes crave.
Support Type: Encapsulation – A bounce-reducing design moulds smoothly to each breast for research-driven support. This support type is accommodating to meet the needs of a variety of bust sizes.
Cups / Padding: Built-in moulded unicup with light padding. It creates a stay-put, body-conforming fit – even after being washed, unlike removable cups that can distort and shift out of place.
Bra Band: Hook-and-eye closure at the back of the band provides a personalised fit. The integrated bust band has been updated with increased length for comfortable support and a secure feel. The bust band is reinforced to create a confidence-inspiring fit.
Straps: The wide and stabilising straps can be adjusted from the front with the hook-and-ladder system. The straps are reinforced to tackle tough, challenging runs from road to trail, offering reliable support during high-impact activity.
Key Features: Fabric & Style
Breathability: Strategic perforations in sweat-prone zones like in between the breasts and on the back panels effectively boost air flow to keep you dry and comfortable.
Sweat-wicking: DriLayer HorsePower fabric transfers moisture away from your skin for fast evaporation – leaving you feeling lighter, fresher and cooler. It fights off that sticky ‘sweat-drenched’ sensation during high-intensity training.
Feel: Luxurious and soft – Chafe-free comfort for running any distance.
Style: Adjustable – The hook-and-eye clasp at the back means you won’t have to do a dance to wriggle into this running bra like you do with pullover styles. It also makes it easy to unclasp the moment your sweat session is done and dusted.
Brooks Dare Strappy: Lightweight Feel That You Can Pull On And Forget About
The Running Dare Strappy women's running bra offers a lightweight, barely there feel with a comfortable formula of near seamless support and run-ready style. It’s a staple in both your athleisure wardrobe and running rotation with a soft feel and flattering look you’ll love to live in.
Running Bra Anatomy
Support Type: Encapsulation – Moulded support cups each breast individually so they don’t bounce with a mind of their own during high-impact workouts. This support type is accommodating to meet the needs of a variety of bust sizes.
Cups / Padding: Lightly padded for comfort – providing lift and shape while remaining wirefree.
Bra Band: Integrated bust band for smooth support.
Straps: Chafe-free, non-adjustable straps for a stabilising feel that moves with you. The position of the straps keep them hidden when wearing a scoop neck t-shirt or most running t-shirts with a wider neckline. They offer a stay-put fit – so you never have to stop to slip them back over your shoulders on-the-run.
Key Features: Fabric & Style
Breathability: The open strappy back prevents trapping in heat and humidity against your skin and adds an element of style. Perforations in between your breasts allow this hot spot to breathe. Perforation lines also run beneath your underarms to increase air circulation in these sweat-prone zones.
Sweat-wicking: DriLayer HorsePower fabric transfers moisture away from your skin for fast evaporation – leaving you feeling lighter, fresher and cooler. It fights off that sticky ‘sweat-drenched’ sensation during high-intensity training.
Feel: Soft and virtually seamless feel.
Style: Pullover – No-fuss pullover design keeps your running bra sleek and comfortable. It’s free of clasps that can potentially dig in and steal your attention away from your performance. It sits comfortably beneath your women's running tank or women's running t-shirt without bunching.
Brooks Dare Underwire: Traditional Bra Feel Meets Run-ready Support
Underwire sports bras are a fantastic option – meeting the demands of a variety of busts including larger sizes. The Brooks Dare Underwire women's running bra achieves this without compromising on comfort. Moulded cups provide a secure lockdown of each breast while the supportive underwire stabilises movement from underneath.
It’s your go-to running bra if you want the power to personalise your running wardrobe – featuring adjustable straps to easily convert between a scoopback and crossback design.
Running Bra Anatomy
Support Type: Encapsulation - Lifts, supports and cradles each breast separately to minimise potentially damaging and distracting breast movement during physical activity. It feels more like a ‘traditional’ everyday bra rather than a compressive sports bra that holds your breasts close to your chest. This support type is accommodating to meet the needs of a variety of bust sizes.
Cups / Padding: Built-in moulded cups.
Bra Band: Smooth bust band with built-in underwire for high-impact support – a preferred option especially for women with larger busts.
Straps: Adjustable straps easily convert between a scoopback (straight straps) and crossback (intersecting straps that meet in the middle) to customise the design.
Key Features: Fabric & Style
Breathability: Ventilation zones in between the breasts and at the back with perforations to encourage air flow.
Sweat-wicking: DriLayer HorsePower fabric transfers moisture away from your skin for fast evaporation – leaving you feeling lighter, fresher and cooler. It fights off that sticky ‘sweat-drenched’ sensation during high-intensity training.
Feel: Smooth feel cuts back on non-essential seams to fight off chafing and move in comfort.
Style: Adjustable – This running bra style is easy to put on and remove with adjustable straps and hook closure at the back for support you can count on.
Brooks Dare Zip 2.0: Zip-on Support For Easy On/off
Want the support of a pullover running bra in a design that offers no-fuss on/off? Usually these features are mutually exclusive, but Brooks have worked them into the one sports bra.
The Brooks Dare Zip 2.0 women's running bra is free of back clasps – but makes up for it with a zip front. This means you can unzip it and slip it on without the process feeling like a workout in itself, and then zip up to get the body-hugging support a pullover style is all about.
Running Bra Anatomy
Support Type: Encapsulation – Kicks bounce to the curb with a design that lifts and encapsulates for targeted, high-impact support of each breast. This support type is accommodating to meet the needs of a variety of bust sizes.
Cups / Padding: Built-in moulded cups.
Bra Band: The smooth bust band creates a sleek fit. The integrated bust band has been updated with increased length for comfortable support and a secure feel. The bust band is reinforced to create a confidence-inspiring fit.
Straps: Non-adjustable straps provide support in a wide and smooth style. They lay flat against your skin for a sleek and stabilising fit.
Key Features: Fabric & Style
Breathability: Perforations run along the stabilising straps for a cool feel.
Sweat-wicking: DriLayer HorsePower fabric transfers moisture away from your skin for fast evaporation – leaving you feeling lighter, fresher and cooler. It fights off that sticky ‘sweat-drenched’ sensation during high-intensity training.
Feel: It feels soft, smooth and silky – yet hard-working to keep you feeling secure and supported in every stride.
Style: Zip front – With the zip front, you don’t have to expect the same challenge of putting on and peeling off a standard pullover style sports bra. The zip functionality makes it easy to get in and out, while still providing the trusted support you love from pullover styles.
It features zipper garages at top and bottom to help lock the zip in place and to prevent unwanted rubbing against sensitive skin. A J hook beneath the zip provides extra security to run confidently without any wardrobe malfunctions.
Brooks Drive Convertible: Support You Can Wear Your Way
Shock-absorbing power in a minimalist design, the Brooks Drive Convertible women’s running bra is a go-to for runners that prefer a less structured fit (compared to underwire styles or styles with built-in cups) while remaining supportive. An adjustable design lets you keep your running wardrobe fresh – easily switching between a racerback and scoopback design.
Running Bra Anatomy
Support Type: Compression – Holds your breasts close to your chest to minimise forward-backward movement so you can conquer your running workouts distraction-free.
Cups / Padding: Takes the minimalist route, being free of a built-in cup while offering discreet nipple coverage. It accommodates a variety of bust sizes and women that prefer to keep it simple with minimal shaping and contouring.
Bra Band: Brushed bottom bust band provides support without restricting your movement in any way.
Straps: Adjustable straps easily convert between a scoopback and racerback style to personalise your favourite running bra at a moment’s notice.
Key Features: Fabric & Style
Breathability: Mesh panelling in key zones allow your skin to breathe on-the-run.
Sweat-wicking: DriLayer HorsePower fabric transfers moisture away from your skin for fast evaporation – leaving you feeling lighter, fresher and cooler. It fights off that sticky ‘sweat-drenched’ sensation during high-intensity training.
Feel: Keeps seams to a minimum. A smooth touch with bonded seams ensures chafe-free comfort
Style: Adjustable – Back closure with hook system allows you to fine-tune the fit and makes it easy to unhook post-run, without having to throw it over your head.
The Brooks Dare range focuses on bounce-reducing support that accommodates a variety of sizes by lifting and separating each breast through the encapsulation method using built-in moulded cups.
The Brooks Drive range is all about compression that hugs your breasts to your body for a distraction-free run for flexible and customisable coverage.
You can learn more about what makes a sports bra a sports bra (or a running bra) in How To Choose A Sports Bra To Support Breast Health, and discover both encapsulation and compression support types in more styles in the Essential Guide To Brooks Running Bras.
Happy running!
If you liked this, you'll love:
Part 1: How To Choose A Sports Bra To Support Breast Health
Part 2: Essential Guide To Brooks Running Bras