Sports Bras for C/D Cups

Larger-busted women need more support for high-impact exercise

Larger-busted women need maximum support from their sports bra, so experts recommend an encapsulation bra for those with C cups or larger. This type of sports bra encloses each breast in a separate cup and compresses the breasts against the body. These sports bras typically include zippers or clasps, which makes it easier for women with large breasts to get in and out of them. Many also have adjustable straps to help dial in the right amount of support.

Many encapsulation bras include underwires, but experts say you don't necessarily need underwires to have a supportive bra. Underwires do add another element of support for large breasts, but they can also be constrictive and lead to chafing. User reviews at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com indicate that some women like underwires in a sports bra and others hate them, so it is largely a matter of personal preference.

One underwire sports bra designed for C and D cups, the Champion Double Dry Seamless Full-Support Underwire Bra (*Est. $30), earns several recommendations from reviewers at Running Times, Runner's World, Shape and Health magazines. It includes separate molded cups and cushioned underwires for support; adjustable straps and a back closure help create a personalized fit. The Champion Double Dry Underwire Full Support is crafted from moisture-wicking nylon and spandex, and it comes in sizes ranging from 32C to 40DD.

In a sports bra test at Running Times magazine, the Champion Double Dry Seamless Full-Support Underwire Bra is the top pick for every C- and D-cup tester. These runners love the style, saying it looks like a regular sports bra, and they give it "outstanding" ratings for its moisture-wicking abilities. While chafing can be a concern with underwire sports bras, none of the testers report any problems in this area. A review at Runner's World magazine comes to a similar conclusion. "This bra has so much going for it, our wear-testers couldn't agree on what they liked best," they say. Testers love the support and like the adjustable straps and back closure for personalizing the fit. C- and D-cup testers at Health magazine also prefer the Champion Double Dry Seamless Underwire bra, and those with a short torso were especially impressed with the fit. User reviews at Amazon.com are also positive, with two dozen reviewers giving the bra an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most of the satisfied reviewers have C or D cup sizes, and a few women with larger breasts (DD cups or larger) find that the bra doesn't provide quite enough support for them.

If you prefer a sports bra without an underwire, the Moving Comfort Fiona Sports Bra (*Est. $40) is another top pick for women with C and D cup sizes. Like the Champion Double Dry Underwire bra, the Moving Comfort Fiona uses separate molded cups as well as compression to keep breasts supported during exercise. The straps are adjustable and the bra includes a hook-and-loop back closure. Moving Comfort's Fiona bra is polyester and Lycra, and it comes in three colors: black, white and blue. Sizes range from 32B to 44DD.

Reviewers at About.com, Runner's World, Running Times, Fitness and Health magazines have great things to say about the Moving Comfort Fiona. Large-breasted testers at Running Times rave about bra, saying it is soft, comfortable and highly adjustable. "It received almost perfect scores across the board for fit, support, styling, and chafe-free wear," says writer Candace Karu for the magazine. Testers at Health magazine say it "wick sweats nicely and breathes well." Owner-written reviews at Amazon.com are also highly positive, with 60 reviewers giving the bra an overall rating of 4.5 out of five stars. Users with C- and D-cup breasts report that the bra limits bouncing and excessive movement, but several reviewers say the bra doesn't offer enough support for their DD or larger breasts. A few also note that the back strap starts to curl up after a few uses, and some report that the bra frays easily.

Another Moving Comfort sports bra, the Moving Comfort Maia (*Est. $45) also earns a number of recommendations for women with larger breasts in the C- and D-cup range. The bra includes internal molded cups and underwire to support heavier breasts, and a hook-and-eye closure makes it easy to get on and off. The Moving Comfort Maia is made from a polyester and Lycra blend, and sizes range from 32C to 44DD.

Christine Luff at About.com enlists her full-figured friends to test the Moving Comfort Maia, and impressions are positive. Testers especially like the back closure and the padded straps. "It felt like the Cadillac of sports bras in terms of cushioning," says one tester. The Maia sports bra also gets good reviews at Amazon.com, where users give it a rating of 4.5 out of five in over 30 reviews. Owners say the bra makes for a pleasing profile without the "uniboob" effect, and they give it high marks for comfort and straps that stay put during vigorous exercise. However, finding the right size can be a challenge, according to testers at Running Times magazine. Many of these women had to order a smaller size from what they normally wear, so they recommend trying it on before you buy. Another downside mentioned in user reviews at Amazon.com is the high neckline, which can peek out from under workout tops. A few other women say the underwire felt too constricting along the sides.

The CW-X Xtra Support Zip Bra (*Est. $40) is designed for women with larger breasts up to 40DD. It has internal cup support without underwires, and the bra includes a front zipper instead of the typical hook-and-eye back closure. The sports bra, which comes in black or white, is designed with a moisture-wicking CoolMax fabric. Sizes range from 36B/C to 40DD.

In a handful of user reviews at Amazon.com, women say the CW-X Xtra Support Zip Bra can feel a bit constrictive, but it greatly reduces bouncing during high-impact exercises like running. Since it is rather tight, most reviewers recommend ordering a size up. The breathable, moisture-wicking fabric get high marks, with a number of users commenting on how they stayed dry during vigorous exercise. Testers at Runner's World magazine also say the CW-X bra is comfortable and they love the zipper over the typical back closure. Shape magazine picks the CW-X Xtra Support Zip Bra as one of the best sports bras for C and D cups, and its testers call the bra "super-supportive." However, some reviewers at Amazon.com say the bra is hard to zip, especially over large breasts.

Another sports bra with a zip front, the Under Armour Heat Gear Endure D Cup (*Est. $40) is recommended by Runner's World and O, The Oprah Magazine, for women with large breasts. The bra is designed for high-impact sports like running and aerobics, and it uses both compression and encapsulation to support breasts. The polyester and elastane bra includes Under Armour's Heat Gear treatment to keep moisture away from the skin. The bra is designed for D cups (although a non-zip C-cup version is also available) with band sizes of 28 to 42 inches.

Amazon.com only has a handful of user reviews for the Under Armour Heat Gear Endure bra, where it gets an overall rating of four out of five. Reviewers say the support is excellent, but it comes at a cost -- wide, uncomfortable straps that dig into the shoulders and neck. Testers at Runner's World magazine are impressed with the bra's stability, saying it kept their breasts very secure even while running. However, the HeatGear Endure sports bra doesn't get high marks for style; one tester says it reminds her of a "cheesy '90s swimsuit."

Sports bras for yoga and other low-impact exercise

While these bras offer interior molded cups and a compressed fit for women with C and D cup breasts, user reviews at Amazon.com, Buzzillions.com and other review sites indicate that the following sports bras are best for low-impact activities like walking, cycling and Pilates.

One option for low-impact sports is the Nike Revolutionary Sports Bra (*Est. $40). The Nike bra doesn't include underwires but uses separate cups to support each breast individually and an adjustable chest strap to personalize the cup size. The bra is made from a polyester and spandex blend, and it features Nike's Dri-Fit fabric to wick sweat away from the body. Sizes start at 32C and go up to 38D/40C.

The Nike Revolutionary is recommended by reviewers at Self and Fitness magazines, where the bra gets high marks for adjustability. The fabric is light and breathable, and the bra can be adjusted in the front, back and on the straps. Fitness magazine recommends the bra for running, with one tester exclaiming, "This ultra-lightweight bra gave me all the support I could ever need." However, that opinion is contradicted by testers at Running Times magazine, who deem it a better choice for low-impact activities. "Our testers objected to the complexity of the adjustment process, and felt that, in the end, this bra did not offer adequate support or motion control," says Running Times. User reviews at Nike.com indicate that the bra can stretch easily, and a number of women raise durability concerns. The Nike Revolutionary Sports Bra has limited availability online right now, but it is available at Nike.com.

The Moving Comfort Lila C/D Bra (*Est. $30) also earns a number of recommendations for women with C or small D cups. Unlike most other sports bras designed for large breasts, the Lila bra has a racerback style with straps that curve in along the back, allowing for better arm movement than traditional bras. The bra has internal molded cups, but it doesn't include a clasp and the bra is designed to be pulled over your head. Sizes start at 32C and go up to 38D. Like Moving Comfort's Fiona, the Lila sports bra is made from a blend of polyester and Lycra.

The Moving Comfort Lila is the top-rated sports bra at Buzzillions.com, where over 200 reviewers give it an overall rating of 4.4 out of five. A number of reviewers like that it looks like an actual sports bra and can be worn without a shirt. The bra is also highly durable, with many women noting that it maintains its compression and support after repeated washings. Most women also claim the support is good for C and small D cups. "I am a marathon runner with a larger chest (36C/D) and this bra works great for people who, like me, don't want clasps or underwires in a sports bra," writes one woman at Buzzillions.com, "It holds everything in its place with minimal bounce, it's comfortable, and the colors are fun." Runner's World magazine also recommends the Moving Comfort Lila for those who need a medium level of support. However, since it doesn't include separate cups, large-breasted women with DD or larger cups find the support lacking. Some also complain that the Moving Comfort Lila sports bra is hard to get on and off, and others say the chest band is too tight and constrictive.  

CW-X, which gets good reviews for its Xtra Support Zip Bra for high-impact exercise, also earns several recommendations for the CW-X Firm Support Bra (*Est. $50) from Fitness magazine and StilettoJungleBlog.com, a women's fitness and fashion blog. While designed for women with C and D cups, the CW-X Firm Support bra offers less support and is best suited to low-impact activities. It is designed with a crisscross strap system to evenly distribute breast weight and limit bouncing. Like the Xtra Support Bra, the Firm Support sports bra uses CoolMax moisture-wicking fabric and sizes range from 34B/C to 38D.

The CW-X Firm Support bra is designed to be pulled over the head, and two reviewers at Amazon.com say they struggle to get it on and off. Once it's on, however, the support earns praise. Fitness magazine recommends the sports bra for D-cup women, saying it offers "maximum bounce control." Kim Moshtagi at StilettoJungleBlog.com also recommends it for large-breasted women, but a few reviewers at RoadRunnerSports.com indicate that the bra doesn't provide enough support for running.