Katherine Moore puts sports bras from Castelli, Sportful, Nike, Patagonia and more to the test
Wearing one of the best sports bras for cycling can massively improve comfort while out riding. It can also minimise unwanted movement and distraction, especially if you’re riding off-road.
For BikeRadar’s latest cycling sports bra group test, I reviewed a range of bras from cycling-specific and mainstream sports brands, such as Nike and Patagonia.
Keep reading to find out which are the best sports for cycling or jump to our sports bra buyer’s guide to find out what to look for in a sports bra, how to find the right size and fit, and which might be best for you.
Best sports bras for cycling 2024
Nike Swoosh Medium Support
- £38 / $40 / €43 / AU$50 as tested
- Pros: Great coverage; true to size; supremely comfortable
- Cons: Harder to get off than other sports bras
Despite its lack of adjustable straps or rear mesh panels, the Nike Swoosh bra is largely unrivalled for performance, offering a perfect fit and comfort.
There’s a big range of (accurate) sizes on offer. On this medium-support version, the padding is light and stays put because the cups are sewn into the main body of the bra. However, it still offers great coverage without being too compressive.
Even on day-long rides, it was supremely comfortable, with its wide straps and ample stretch where needed. Considering the lack of rear mesh, sweat-wicking is excellent, thanks to Nike’s Dri-Fit tech. Value for money is on-point, too, with this bra costing half of what you’d pay for some comparable options.
It can be difficult to get off after a ride when it’s a little damp and the black Nike logo shows through some cycling jerseys.
- Read more: Nike Swoosh Medium Support Bra full review
Patagonia Switchback
- £50 / $55 / €55 / AU$80 as tested
- Pros: Wicks sweat effectively; great comfort; recycled material
- Cons: Cup inserts prone to movement
With its removable padded cups, the Patagonia Switchback bra offers varying levels of support.
It provides great coverage at the front, in a simple crop-top style. At the back, the crossed-straps design and large cut-out reduce sweatiness.
I opted for the large size, which proved to be supremely comfortable. We were happy to wear this bra all day, for rest days as well as rides, and even for multiple days on the trot (in colder weather and during less intense exercise) because it doesn’t hold any odour.
When wet, it dries quickly. It offers a good level of support for riding, without the non-compressive material being overly constrictive. Value is good and it’s made from recycled materials.
It’s a bit roomy and gappy around the chest band and I preferred it without the padded inserts, as they moved around a little.
- Read more: Patagonia Switchback Sports Bra full review
Adidas Ultimateadidas Run Medium-Support
- £45 / $65 / €60 / AU$75 as tested
- Pros: Good sizing range; removable cups for added coverage; easy to get on and off
- Cons: Pinching straps on shoulders
Not only is this sports bra supportive, with great coverage, and easy to wear, but Adidas claims it’s made from over 70 per cent recycled materials. It’s offered in sizes XS to XL, each with an A-C or D-DD cup.
A hook-and-eye closure at the back makes it straightforward to get on and off. Coverage is fantastic, thanks to the well-shaped, removable cup inserts. This bra offers great support and a close fit without being restrictive or causing any bulging. Sweat is wicked away well, too.
The join between the front panel and the straps, at the tops of the shoulders, caused irritation that left indentations on my skin. I tried loosening the straps, but it didn’t help.
After intense efforts, it would become sweaty at the front, by the chest band and at the back.
Under Armour HeatGear Armour High Sports
- £40 / $45 / €45 / AU$60 as tested
- Pros: Great coverage; high level of support; close but not restrictive; sweat-wicking
- Cons: Compression fit can become uncomfortable
Designed for high-intensity sports, Under Armour’s sports bra offers lots of support and breathability, and is comfortable for shorter rides. It’s also fantastic value.
The fit is close but not restrictive, with a true-to-size cut. It’s good to have adjusters on the front of the straps, where they’re easy to reach. The softshell front section offers great coverage and the thin trim at the top stretches with the main panels, making it comfier than some.
Sweat-wicking is decent, and the rear mesh and cut-out help avoid a soggy back.
On longer rides, the highly compressive fit started to get a little uncomfortable around the back and under the shoulders. The hook-and-loop strap adjustment isn’t the easiest to use, although once the length is set, you shouldn’t have to tweak it again.
More sports bras for cycling
The following sports bras scored fewer than four out of five stars, but we have included them here for your consideration.
Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra
- £60 / $69.99 / €54.95 / AU$89 as tested
- Pros: Lightweight; minimalist; exceptional comfort
- Cons: Minimal chest coverage; cups may wrinkle; pricier than many others
At only 41g, the Castelli Rosso Corsa sports bra is lightweight and minimal. The general fit is good, and on the bike, it proved to be supremely comfortable – to the point where I couldn’t really feel it.
Castelli’s emphasis on breathability has paid off, with only the mesh panel under the cups being a little damp post-ride and drying quickly. The closure mechanism makes it easy to get on and off.
If you require bigger cup sizes, you probably won’t be happy with such a light level of support. When wearing my usual medium size, the cups were a little wrinkled, resulting in a slightly odd profile under a thin jersey. Riders looking for ample chest coverage will likely be disappointed because it’s minimal here.
- Read more: Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra full review
Shock Absorber Active Multi Sports Support Bra
- £43 / $56 / €51 / AU$100 as tested
- Pros: Comfortable; easy to get off; impressive size range
- Cons: Seams can give ridged cup profile
The Shock Absorber Active Multi Sports bra is available in a wide range of chest band and cup options, which give a comfortable, supportive and breathable fit.
Coverage is good, with a double-layer construction. Sweat-wicking is among the best on test, leaving no clamminess.
The Active Multi Sports bra is comfy, too, and while it appears more ‘industrial’ than most others I’ve tried, it’s no less easy to wear. Support is suitable for the techiest trails.
The chest band is narrow and comes up small. I upsized from a 36B to a 38B to fix this, but the cups showed some wrinkling (a sign they were too large) and Shock Absorber doesn’t offer a 38A size.
It’s best to do the closure up behind your back or pull on the bra like a vest.
Velocio LUXE
- £56 / $69 / €66 / AU$83 as tested
- Pros: Great sizing and colour range; soft; built to last
- Cons: Sizing needs refinement; a little pricey
The Velocio LUXE Bra is a luxuriously soft everyday bra that’s great for low-impact activities such as cycling and strength training. It is available in a wide range of sizes.
Laser-cut holes at the front aid breathability during high-intensity workouts, and with minimal coverage on the back, I was never left feeling too sweaty.
The straps are wide and soft, and stay perfectly in place. Having used Velocio’s bras for years, I can say they wash up well and last for ages.
Even after sizing up (something Velocio recommends) to a large, the lower band was still very compressive and would become uncomfortable after a few hours.
- Read more: Velocio LUXE Bra full review
Sportful Pro W Bra
- £58 / $70 / €55 / AU$85 as tested
- Pros: Good coverage; great breathability
- Cons: Limited size range; limited stretch; short in torso
Sportful’s Pro W sports bra has a double-layered front with great coverage and moderate support.
The chest band is wide and has a soft, absorbent backing, with flatlock stitching throughout to minimise skin irritation.
On top of the band, the thicker, foamy cup section works well for modesty. The close fit and thicker front cup panel are ample. The mesh of the rear panel works well to enhance breathability.
I had to size up from my usual medium to a large, which cut in under the shoulder blades, due to the stitching on the back panel being less elastic than the mesh.
The fit is short on the torso, with the elasticated ‘underbust’ band working its way up so the cup section began to rub.
There’s no larger size, so riders with bigger chests won’t be able to wear this bra.
- Read more: Sportful Pro W Bra full review
How we tested the best sports bras for cycling
Our latest sports bra group test was conducted by BikeRadar contributor Katherine Moore.
Katherine has a wealth of experience testing the best women’s road and gravel bikes, and women’s cycling kit, including cycling shorts.
For this group test, Katherine reviewed sports bras from cycling brands as well as mainstream sports brands such as Nike.
She assessed all the sports bras in the real world over a range of road, gravel and mountain bike rides at different intensities.
She considered the fit of the bras, paying particular attention to comfort, security when riding on and off-road, and whether they were true to size.
She also looked at how easy they were to get on and off, and their value for money.
Katherine Moore measures a British size 36B in conventional bras.
Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products before delivering their verdicts and review ratings.
Sports bras for cycling buyer’s guide
Why should you use a sports bra for cycling?
Effectively supporting your chest while riding can go a long way to improve comfort and efficiency, while minimising tissue damage.
Breasts can move from 4cm at A cup size to a whopping 14cm at G cup, according to research conducted by the University of Portsmouth Research Group in Breast Health.
The same research group more recently calculated that over the course of running a marathon, unsupported breasts could travel an extra four miles on their own.
What level of support do I need?
Low-impact sports bras
Designed for low-intensity exercises such as yoga, pilates and stretching, low-impact sports bras provide minimal support and offer full movement.
They are often compression-style bras, which support the whole chest with one piece of fabric. These bras offer minimal adjustability and are better suited to smaller chest sizes (cups A-C).
High-impact sports bras
High-impact sports bras are designed for the most rigorous uses, such as running, mountain biking and gymnastics.
These are often encapsulation-style bras that support each breast separately and offer a lot of adjustability. They can be wired or non-wired, and are typically more effective for riders with larger chest sizes.
Medium-impact sports bras
Medium-impact bras often use a hybrid construction, using individual cups with an extra layer of support. They are suitable activities such as dancing.
Whether you choose a high-impact or medium-impact sports bra for cycling depends on your chest size, personal preferences and riding style (for example, mountain biking is likely to demand a more supportive style than road cycling).
Sports bra fitting guide
Staggeringly, 8/10 women don’t wear the right-size sports bra. Here’s how to avoid being one of those.
- Check the chest band size, which delivers 80 per cent of the bra’s support. It needs to feel firm but not too tight that it’s digging in or restricting your breathing. The bra will work up your back during the ride if the band is not tight enough.
- Check the cup size. You’ll need to aim for complete encapsulation without spilling out over the top or sides (too tight) or there being any gaps between the bra cup and your chest (too loose).
- Some sports bras offer adjustability in the straps to help suit your frame, although these cannot rectify badly fitting chest bands or cups.
Tips for finding the right fit
Here are a few top tips for finding the best fit for you.
- For sports bras with a hook-and-eye closure, try them on the loosest setting. These bras are designed so you can move onto the middle and tighter settings to get the same fit when the elastic stretches over time.
- Many brands, such as Nike and Underarmour, have online tools to help you get the right-size sports bra.
- Consider getting a professional fit with a specialist such as Boobydoo.
- If you use the Garmin HRM-Fit heart rate monitor, which clips onto the bra chest band, it will only work if the chest band fits properly and is sufficiently tight.