How is a sports bra for larger breasts different?

Research shows that with each increase in cup size, the need for support increases. Simply put, the more bust you have, the more support you need. This explains why women with smaller cup sizes might feel comfortable working out in lightweight sports bras with minimal support. Larger breasts naturally have more volume, which leads to greater bouncing during movement. This can throw you off balance, cause pain, affect your posture, and even disrupt your stride and performance. 

In contrast, those with smaller breasts might not experience these issues and may assume a simple triangle bralette will suffice. While these bras might look good, they don’t provide the necessary support. Over time, even smaller breasts can experience sagging, and the ligaments and skin can stretch and weaken. A well-fitted, supportive sports bra helps prevent this, protecting breast health regardless of size.  

What makes a sports bra best suited for larger breasts?  

Now that we have established the need for greater support for larger breasts, it’s time to call out all the popular brands. If you’re a larger-chested woman, we do not recommend sports bras with: 

...and just like that, we’ve ruined all your sports bras, we are sorry, but it is for the best. Without further ado, here’s what you should look for when sports bras shopping for larger chests: 

If you’re wondering where you can find a sports bra that ticks all the boxes, Tigers Eye should be on your radar. It’s not only tried and tested by Active-Duty military women around the world, but also backed by science and the experts at the University of Portsmouth’s Research Group in Breast Health.  

Why these features specifically?  

Let’s break it down.  

Thick & padded straps: as breast volume (cup size) increases, the breasts will be heavier, and thanks to gravity we need straps to help combat that. While straps only provide a portion of the support in a sports bra, it’s still a crucial element. If the straps are thin, the weight of the breasts will make them dig and cut into your shoulders. It’s like carrying a super heavy grocery bags with thin handles, they dig into your palms and cause pain. Thin straps work similarly, and they can cause nerve damage which leads to numb fingers and migraines. Yeah... you probably don’t want that. Thick and padded straps prevent digging, distribute the weight evenly on your shoulders and keep your nerves safe, even under equipment (such as running or weighted vests). 

A firm and adjustable underband: you’ll be shocked to know that 80% of a bra’s support actually comes from the underband, not the straps. Think about it, they sit right underneath the breasts, keeping them from “free falling”. The underband is the real heroine for lifting your breasts, and the straps are what help keep them up safely. Unfortunately, thin and elastic underbands provide little to no support in general, let alone for larger breasts. Imagine you’re holding a baby in a baby strap carrier/sling; now imagine having a very flimsy, thin and stretchy material for the bottom of the sling where the baby’s bottom sits. Because of gravity, the baby’s weight will pull the strap down, and you’re probably going to have to keep adjusting the baby as they will be “falling down”, dragging you down with them because their weight just isn’t supported enough. Perhaps the sling you have is for a newborn, and you have a 1-year-old baby. The same concept applies to breasts and underbands. A thing, stretchy underband might just about do it for a B cup, but it will definitely not support your G cup ladies.  

Crossed/Racerback straps: research has shown that crossed straps offer better support than straight straps, especially for larger busts. This is because racerbacks help distribute the weight of the breasts evenly, since breasts move in many different directions and having different sizes and weights, the strap supporting each breast is not even; For example, the carrier bag is making a return. Imagine you’re carrying a heavy grocery bag. If you only hold it with one hand, your arm gets tired quickly, and the bag starts pulling you on one side. But if you hold the bag with both hands and balance it across your body, it feels lighter and easier to manage because the weight is spread out. Crossed straps on a sports bra work the same way. By creating a crisscross support structure, they distribute the "load" (your breasts' movement and weight) more evenly across your shoulders and back. This keeps everything stable and reduces strain on any one area, letting you move freely and comfortably. Because of that, crossed straps also reduce the strain on your shoulders, helping you improve your posture and reduce back/neck/shoulder pain.  

Combination type bra: here’s a quick lesson on sports bra types. There are three types, encapsulation, compression and a combination of both. Encapsulation bras have cups where each breast is supported individually (think of a T-shirt bra), usually using underwires to define the cups; they provide shape but do little in terms of movement reduction. Compression bras do not have cups, they simply squish your breasts towards your chest, restricting your movement and breath. The combination type takes what’s good from both bras, and puts them together into one that’s both supportive and comfortable, minimalizing the negative effects of either.  

Full breast coverage: most brands think that by simply sizing up, their sports bra will be just as great for larger breasts, and unfortunately that’s not true. It takes some tailoring, adjusting, and shape-changing. Let’s think triangle bras here, you’re probably already rolling your eyes at the number of times you thought you bought a nice and comfy bra, only to find that the shape barely covers your nipples. We’ve been there. Triangle bras work for smaller breasts by covering just enough to give that nice cleavage look. However, for larger chests, you’ll be busting out of all sides and end up with a quadruple boob. It’s best to opt for full breast coverage to ensure the cups properly fit your breasts inside and you don’t spill out. This is important for support too, and to keep you feeling nice and securely held in place.  

I’m sure you want to see what a sports bra combining all these great features might look like. Check out the Tigers Eye bra designed with experts and backed by science to provide the ultimate level of support and comfort no matter the cup size. Now you know what features to look for in a sports bra, and hopefully understand why your performance and health is not worth sacrificing over a lightweight, tiny sports bra everyone on social media is wearing.