The athleisure movement has altered what consumers expect from a critical workout garment, such as a sports bra. Traditional styles often rely on compression to restrict breast movement during exercise, which can cause chafing and discomfort. Moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you cool and dry during a sweaty session should be your top pick. They also feature a flattering shape and comfortable band to minimize chafing.

Breathability

A high-performance sports bra can make or break your workout. It needs to be breathable to help you stay cool and dry so that you can focus on your routine. It must also provide enough support for your body type and impact level. Moreover, it should look good too! For our most recent test, we asked a panel of active women to wear each bra in our collection and rate their comfort after jumping jacks for two minutes and then jogging for ten.

They also looked at the sizing and shape of each bra and sports bra fabric composition. Traditionally, knit fabrics have not been known for their breathability due to using absorbent fibers such as cotton or polyamide. However, recent innovations in yarn and manufacturing technologies allow for the creation sports bras that offer responsive behavior when actuated by perspiration while maintaining breast support and comfort.

Support

The best sports bra will keep your breasts in place and provide the right support for your particular needs. This includes ensuring that the fabric will not pinch or poke and will not pull against your body in any way.

This can be especially important if you do high-impact activities like running, HIIT, or boxing. High-impact exercises can cause your chest to bounce or move around, and if the wrong sports bra is worn, it can lead to irritation, chafing, or even pain. To avoid this, look for a bra that has good elasticity and stretch and is made of a material that will wick away sweat. A polyester and elastane or cotton and elastane blend is the best for fast wicking and breathability. Some fabrics even work to repel odors, and some offer ventilation features like laser-cut or mesh panels.

Style

Whether sweating it out on the bike or at the pickleball court, you want to look good and feel confident. In recent years, women have moved on from their old racerback sports bras in favor of eye-catching strappy designs that show off a small quantity of skin while breaking a sweat. To support these trends, many manufacturers offer sports bras designed to fit a range of styles.

This includes a variety of necklines and several strap configurations, including racerbacks, halters, v-necks, and scoop necks. Additionally, several manufacturers use several size options to help you find the right fit. For example, they may use classic cup sizes and dress sizes to determine your bra size. Some also have unique sizing systems that consider the fabric you prefer to ensure you get the best fit for your workout. Using moisture-wicking fabrics and breathable design also helps keep you cool and comfortable, even in the heat. Moisture management at fiber and yarn levels is critical to ensuring comfort during high-impact activities such as running.

Flexibility

The breathable fabrics feature in many sports bras are designed to keep you cool and dry as you sweat during workouts. Whether the fabric is a synthetic blend or a natural Merino wool, the ability to wick away moisture and odor is crucial. The growing practice of women wearing activewear apparel for everyday activities (athleisure) has increased expectations for comfort and functionality in sports bras.

Research indicates that despite the market’s wide range of options, few currently offer efficient breast support during exercise. While several studies have investigated the impact of various design parameters on sports bra performance, only some have combined all the necessary steps in a comprehensive approach.

This study aims to develop a predictive early-stage design framework incorporating body scan analysis, fast simulation, design generation, and evaluation methods. The framework has apply to a moisture-responsive plant biomechanics model to design a sports bra that offers responsive behavior. The resulting prototype maintains bra comfort and breast support in rest and running conditions, as confirmed by 3D body scanning and questionnaire results.

Comfort

A comfortable sports bra can mean the difference between feeling your workout and barely noticing you are wearing one. Look for soft, stretchy fabrics that move with you as you exercise, and avoid stiff, uncomfortable materials. Also, consider how your bra fits, as weight fluctuations can cause the band and straps to change size. A biomimetic framework as functional inspiration helped with the conceptualization, product development, and evaluation of this new function.

The design incorporated a dynamic moisture property that is activate by sweating, which causes the inside fabric of the garment to thicken and resembles the shape of mushroom fields. The engineered alternation of performance wool and Nylon yarns in the lateral encapsulation layer was inspire by the structure of natural mushrooms, resulting in an efficient pattern for moisture absorption inside the garment. This new feature was evaluate through lab tests and wear trials with different impact levels, such as jumping jacks and jogging. The test bras were washed extensively and scored for durability, quality, and comfort.