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 out for:

• Choose a bra that fits well around your ribcage and fully encloses your breasts within the cups/fabric with no bulge or opening at the top or sides. An estimated 80 percent of the support comes from the back strap — the strip of fabric that wraps around your chest and acts as a supportive shelf. You should be able to pull the fabric up to 5 cm away from your body. If the underband (the part under the breasts) feels a little tight at the loosest position, it is probably the right size.
• The front of the bra should sit flat against your body with no gaps. The shoulder straps should feel comfortable without digging into your shoulders.
• Check that the bra is fit for purpose by bouncing up and down and following the movements of the sport you intend to use it for.

SMALL BUST: LOW IMPACT

For anyone under and including a “C” cup, a compression-style crop top bra usually works well for gentle movement activities, such as yoga.

Opt for compression bras made of stretchy material that presses the breasts flat against the chest to minimize bounce and avoid bulky back closures that can irritate when lying on the floor or on a couch.

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

While 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.

Look for hybrid bras with encapsulated cups underneath the stretchy outer layer that supports 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, you should go to a specialist bra shop to get fitted, or arrange an online fitting (available at bravissimo.com, freya lingerie.com, curvykate.com, pourmoi.co.uk, boobydoo.co.uk and maaree.com) as few sports shops have staff trained in bra measurement. Or go to thebraprofessor.com.

Look for a bra with “encapsulation technology,” which can have underwire or seams where multiple panels are sewn together to create a 3D shape, to separate and support each breast, keeping them flat against the chest wall (thus avoiding the “monoboob” look) or a combination/hybrid bra that works together to provide encapsulation and compression.

Larger bust sizes (D cup and above) may benefit from thick, strong shoulder straps (more than 2 cm wide) and more than two or three hook-and-eye closures at the back to ensure that the chest strap is fully adjustable and can provide adequate 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 CHEST: LOW IMPACT

Some support is still required (look for a sheath bra or a compression/sheath hybrid), but avoid overly tight compression or sheathing that could restrict full movement of the upper body and shoulders.

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)