Tried & tested: The best sports bras
Editor's note: Our sister site, Souk, works hard to bring you recommendations for cool, fun, AND useful products every day. Today is no different. In this list, Souk's Brand Outreach Executive Gauri Sinha lists nine tried and tested sports bras—notoriously difficult to find in the right size and fit, and even more difficult to shop online for—and gives you her recommendations.
Written by: Gauri Sinha
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Welcome to Souk’s brand-new feature: Tried & Tested. Here’s how it works. We pick a product that all of us need in our lives, but struggle to figure out which one to buy. More often than not, we end up disappointed and frustrated. The answer: Tried &Tested, our very own product-testing laboratory. The Souk team personally orders and ‘test-drives’ a number of brands that claim to be amazing. Then we share our results with you. Simple as that—zero product placement or paisa involved.
For our first edition I dived into sports bras—which fit the remit to a tee: essential and often hazardous to buy online. My exercise of choice is strength training. I fell in love with it right when I was emerging from that long pandemic slumber. And thus started the hunt for the perfect sports bra. With women’s lingerie, the hype so often outmatches reality. It was especially challenging since sports variety don’t often work for larger bra sizes.
I decided to focus my search on three parameters: support, comfort and reliability (I didn’t want anything slipping out of place during high-impact workouts). Good looks mattered but were not enough to compensate for any shortcomings in these areas. So I ordered a bunch of bras for our ‘Tried & Tested’ venture, asking myself one simple question: Is this sports bra paisa vasool?
This one looked promising at first, but didn’t hold up in practice. It wasn’t secure, and didn't provide enough side coverage. It failed the jumping-jack test (I did 40, to be exact), and the hooks kept opening, which is the last thing you want mid-workout. Adding to my sorrows, the brand ran larger than my usual size.
Verdict: 4/10
This has decent padding, and the waistband is actually quite soft and comfortable. That said, the overall experience was disappointing. The adjustable straps are made from a much rougher material than the rest of the bra—almost velcro-like in feel—which becomes especially uncomfortable once you start sweating. The front zip looks like it adds support but is, in fact, a struggle to zip up. The criss-cross back also makes it unnecessarily hard to put on or take off. I’d only recommend this for shorter, low-effort workouts, and only if you have the patience of a saint.
Verdict: 4.5/10
This one is a beauty and all about aesthetics. It’s not well padded and didn’t feel secure at all. I needed two attempts to master the halter-neck design, which makes it a bit tricky to put on.
I’d recommend sizing down for better support. But even so, this feels more like a cute workout look than a practical bra for everyday use. Great for your Insta flex, not for serious gym sessions. (It did come with free socks, which was a nice touch.)
Verdict: 5/10
This bra is not well-padded and definitely not meant for high-impact workouts. The waistband felt loose, which made it unsuitable for anything like HIIT. It is, however, comfortable, easy to wear, and does fine for low-intensity workouts, walking, stretching, or days when you’re just chilling at home. It’s wearable in limited situations.
Verdict: 6/10
This bra is super soft, very comfortable, and easy to slip into. Comfort-wise, this is a big win.
However, despite being labelled as padded, it didn’t feel secure and failed the jumping jack test. I’d wear this for very low-intensity workouts or on days when comfort matters more than support.
Verdict: 6.5/10
This bra is very comfortable overall. The small mesh panel at the back makes the design breathable, which is very handy if you’re prone to sweat-related back acne. The downside: the padding is minimal, so it may not work for everyone. But in terms of comfort, this bra holds up well, literally:)
Verdict: 7/10
This one surprised me in a good way. It’s well padded, with removable pads, which helps you adjust coverage depending on how much support or compression you want for a workout. The bra itself is completely seamless, and the straps didn’t dig in or leave marks (rare). There are no hooks or sharp bits to deal with, which makes it easy to move in without irritation.
I did the jumping-jack test and felt securely held throughout. The only reason it doesn’t score higher is because it doesn’t offer anything functionally different from other reliable sports bras in this category. It performs well, but doesn’t bring a standout feature that makes it memorable.
Verdict: 7.5/10
I loved the design straight off the bat. The halter-neck illusion is cute and different from the usual sports bra styles. It’s extremely comfortable, well padded, and secure. The material feels great on the skin and has a slight cooling effect, which I really liked. The seamless waistband and breathability made it feel like I wasn’t wearing a sports bra at all. It lost some points because I am not entirely sure it will survive very high-impact workouts. I’d personally want a bit more time with it before calling it a no-notes winner.
Verdict: 8/10
This bra was my clear favourite. I am personally a sucker for a sports bra that doesn’t look like one. The Aer really, really checks that box. The design at the back is super fun—backless with a criss-cross detail. And yet it’s extremely sturdy. The ribbed material is something I don’t see often in sports bras, and it feels great on the skin. It’s very well padded, super comfortable, and supportive, while still feeling light. I genuinely forgot I was wearing a sports bra, which is the highest compliment for a category of underwear that is typically bulky, intrusive and (let’s face it) kinda unattractive.
PS: ‘S’ is currently sold out, however, it’s available if you choose to buy the set.
Verdict: 9/10
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Gauri Sinha is Brand Outreach Executive at Souk.
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