Image: iStock.com / LeoPatrizi

We know that finding the best running bra is hard at the best of times, let alone if we need that extra support for our bigger boobs.

So, where do we begin? Luckily, we’ve asked the experts for their advice on buying a running bra if you have larger breasts. We’ve also asked our tip top testers for their thoughts on the best running bras for bigger boobs. They’ve taken each and every one out for test runs and selected a few that really made a difference to their comfort and security.

Read on for our running bra buying guide for bigger boobs, or scroll down to get to our pick of the best running bras for bigger boobs.

Running bra buying guide for bigger boobs

First of all, check out our running bra buying guide for some top tips on what to look for generally in a running bra.

Then, there are a few extra things to bear in mind if our boobs need a little more support.

Experts recommend that those of us with larger busts look for the following:

• Moulded cups
  These will encapsulate and compartmentalise each breast, controlling movement across all three planes of the body (up and down, in and out and side to side)
• A high neckline
  This will ensure breast tissue is fully encased within the cups in order to minimise upward bounce
• A wide underband
  Having extra width will offer more support and stability as we run.

Best running bras for bigger boobs

MAAREE Solidarity High Impact Sports Bra

MAAREE Solidarity High Impact Sports Bra technical details

Style: Adjustable according to preference
Band sizes: 28-38
Cup sizes: D-HH
RRP: £72

What our testers said

MAAREE sports bras are hard to beat, and this high-impact design is no exception. It’s a hybrid design between compression and encapsulation, which I was worried would mean that it didn’t do either well: I was wrong, and it felt really supportive. The attention to detail is excellent, with multiple adjustable straps and that innovative Overband. It reduced a huge amount of upward movement as I ran thanks to the stiffer fabric on the front, so there were no embarrassing boob grabs while running downhill (we’ve all been there, haven’t we?). Most importantly, the sizing is great for bigger-boobed women. This is bra designed by someone who really knows what it’s like to run with boobs.

Runderwear Power Running Bra

RUNDERWEAR Power Running Bra technical details

Style: H-back
Band sizes: 32-42
Cup sizes: D-H
Cups: built-in and moulded
Adjustable straps? Yes
RRP: £49

What our testers said

This bra is so great! The fabric is soft and moisture-wicking, and the padded straps are comfy as is the wide, elasticated under-band which holds the bra in place during movement and reduces risk of rubbing. I really noticed that the moulded cups controlled movement, reducing bounce without leaving me feeling constricted. It really does the job for those of us with bigger boobs.

Stana sports bra

Stana sports bra technical details

Style: Convertible
Band sizes: 28-38
Cup sizes: D-FF
Adjustable straps? Yes
RRP: £95

What our testers said

I have so much to say about this bra! It is a genuine game-changer for me. First of all, its support. I hope she won’t mind me saying, but Stana’s founder, Diana, is an actual woman runner with bigger boobs. That means she knows exactly what we all need in terms of support, and this bra offers it in spades. Its encapsulation design kept my boobs fully in-place throughout my runs and workouts. The straps can be made into a racerback easily, too, which gave even more support that I appreciated. I will say that the structured design of the bra means that it does have some seams that are visible under a tighter running top, which may not suit all runners, but wasn’t an issue for me.

I’m also obsessed with the little features that make this bra so easy to adjust into the right fit. The band has a clever little clasp system rather than the traditional hook and eye, and my GOSH does this make it easier to put on and take off! The tightness of the straps is adjusted at the front, too – no more faffing trying to find a slider that’s sitting somewhere behind your shoulder. It is one of the pricier bras we’ve tried, but I would say that it’s worth it for both the support it offers and those clever fit features.

Curvy Kate Everymove Wired Multiway Sports Bra

Curvy Kate Everymove Wired Multiway Sports Bra technical details

Style: Adjustable back
Band sizes: 30-42
Cup sizes: F-GK
Cups: 4-part inner cup
Adjustable straps? Yes
RRP: £46

What our testers said

An absolute banger of a bra, this is the sole sports option from bigger-boob experts, Curvy Kate. And thankfully, we don’t need another one, because this ticks all the boxes. A flexible wire is backed up by solid fabric construction and reassuringly thick straps, which can be worn straight or as a racer back. I’ve worn it, with zero bounce and no chafe, on runs up to half-marathon distance, and it feels totally secure (I’m a 34F). However, it also goes up to a K cup for more magnificent frontispieces. There are different colourways but the black is most readily available – mine has sweet blush-pink clips, making it easier to find on dark mornings. A keeper.

MAAREE Battle Bra

MAAREE Battle Bra technical details

Style: H-back, with racerback option
Band sizes: 30-38
Cup sizes: C-G
Cups: Encapsulated
Adjustable straps? Yes
RRP: £76

What our testers said

Running down steps and hills was an absolute breeze, and I could barely feel any bounce whatsoever. The overband makes all the difference, and works to cleverly reduce upward movement, whilst the encapsulation works with the natural figure-of-eight movement of a breast to limit bounce even further. The result, I would be so bold as to say, is the best support I’ve ever had in a running bra. I’m pleased to report that, as I clock up those miles, I still don’t experience any chafing from the seams or poking from the underwire.

Want more? Read Holly’s full MAAREE Battle Bra review.

POUR MOI Energy Empower Sports Bra

POUR MOI Energy Empower Sports Bra technical details

Style: Underwired adjustable back
Band sizes: 32-38
Cup sizes: B-G
Cups: Built-in, mouldable
Adjustable straps? Yes
RRP: £34

What our testers said

This is such a good bra for the money. It’s underwired, which I like for shape and support. It’s also convertible in terms of how you clip the back. Normal straps give medium support, while the racerback clip position elevates it to high-impact support. I like running in this bra, as long as I have it in racerback position, but I haven’t tested it yet on runs longer than 15K. I feel like it gives me just as much support as my much pricier Sweaty Betty regulars. It also gives me a better shape thanks to the underwire and padding. In this way, it’s great for the gym. There are so many mirrors in that place and it really puts me off my lifting if I look saggy and baggy while I’m doing it! A really good bra for multiple uses.

Boobuddy Breast Support Band

Boobuddy technical details

• Sizes: S-L
• RRP: £15

What our testers said

Not technically a running bra, but worthy of our list. All too often, sports bras provide uplift without any compression from the top. The Boobuddy is here to solve that. You can wear this band over or under your normal sports or running bra and it provides you with so much more support. There are three band sizes, and all have an adjustable back designed to work for any bust size. I’d give it a quick test in the safety of your own home before heading out, as I underestimated how much support I needed and had to readjust behind a tree (embarrassing), but now it’s become a wardrobe staple that I’d recommend to any bigger-boobed runner.