Ultimate ‘bra professor’ guide on how to find the perfect sports bra for your shape and exercise type

Here, Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, the Lionesses’ sports bra expert, advises what to look for:

• Pick a bra that fits snugly around your rib cage and encloses your breasts fully within the cups/fabric with no bulging or gaping at the top or the sides. An estimated 80 per cent of the support comes from the back band — the strip of fabric that runs around your chest acting as a supportive shelf. You should only be able to pull the fabric a maximum of 5 cm away from your body. If the underband (the bit under the breasts) feels a little tight on its loosest setting, then it’s probably the right size.
•  The front of the bra should sit flat against your body with no gaping. The shoulder straps should feel comfortable without digging into your shoulders.
•  Check that the bra is suitable for purpose by jumping up and down and shadowing the movements involved in the sport you want to use it for.

SMALL BUST: LOW IMPACT

For anyone smaller than and including a ‘C’ cup, a compression-style crop-top bra usually works well for activities involving gentle movement such as yoga.

Adidas Yoga Studio light-support bra has been chosen as favourite for those with a small bust who are doing low impact exercises

Opt for compression bras made of stretchy material that flattens the breasts against the chest to minimise bounce and avoid bulky clasps at the back which might irritate when you are lying down on the floor or a bench.

OUR TOP PICKS:

• Nike Indy (£32.95, available in sizes XS to 2XL, nike.com)
• Adidas Yoga Studio light-support bra (£35, XS to XL, adidas.co.uk)

SMALL BUST: HIGH IMPACT

Although compression tops may be OK for low-impact activities, even small busts need more support for running, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), tennis and team sports.

Maaree Empower sports bra has been chosen as favourite for those with a small bust who are doing high impact exercises 

Look for hybrid bras with encapsulated cups under the stretchy outer layer that support each breast.

OUR TOP PICKS:

• Nike Swoosh High Support (£49.95, XS to 4X, nike.com)
• Maaree Empower sports bra  (£49, XS to XXL, maaree.com)

FULL BUST: HIGH IMPACT

Ideally, go to a specialist bra shop to be fitted, or arrange an online fitting (available at bravissimo.com, freya lingerie.com, curvykate.com, pourmoi.co.uk, boobydoo.co.uk and maaree.com) because few sports outlets have staff trained in bra sizing. Or go to thebraprofessor.com.

Maaree Solidarity high-impact sports bra has been chosen as favourite for those with a full bust who are doing high impact exercises

Look for a bra with ‘encapsulation technology’, which may have underwire or seaming where multiple panels have been sewn together to create a 3D shape, to separate and support each breast, keeping them flat to the chest wall (so avoiding the ‘monoboob’ look) or a combination/hybrid bra which offers encapsulation and compression together.

Larger bust sizes (a D cup and above) might benefit from thick, strong shoulder straps (more than 2 cm wide) and more than two or three hook-and-eye fastenings at the back to ensure the chest band is fully adjustable and able to give plenty of support.

OUR TOP PICKS:

• Maaree Solidarity high-impact sports bra (pictured left, £68, available up to H cup, maaree.com)
• Bravissimo Inspire high-impact crop sports bra (£37.50, up to 40L cup, bravissimo.com)

FULL BUST: LOW IMPACT

Some support is still required (look for a bra with encapsulation or a hybrid of compression and encapsulation) but avoid too tight compression or encapsulation which might restrict full movement of the upper body and shoulders.

Bravissimo Swift non-wired sports bra has been chosen as favourite for those with a small bust who are doing low impact exercises

OUR TOP PICKS:

• Bravissimo Swift non-wired sports bra (£42, available up to 38J cup, bravissimo.com)
• Bravissimo Motion crop top (£40, up to 38J, bravissimo.com)