Your sports bra should be the first thing you put on and the last thing you think about. No digging in at the ribs. No cup spillage halfway through burpees. No straps sliding off your shoulders mid-stretch.
This sports bra guide breaks down what actually matters when you're choosing the right sports bra: impact level, fit and fabric. Support means something different for a slow pilates flow than it does for a heavy squat set, and the wrong choice leaves you adjusting your straps instead of enjoying your workout.
Whether you're buying your first proper sports bra or replacing an old one, here's how to choose a sports bra that works as hard as you do.
Sports Bra Impact Levels Explained
Low, medium or high impact? The right sports bra isn't always about the workout. It's about how much you're actually moving.
Your bust size and how much your girls move are the main factors. Someone with a smaller bust might feel perfectly supported in a low-impact bra for a Pilates class, while someone with a larger bust may want more support for the same workout. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.
Get it right and you'll forget you're wearing a sports bra at all. Get it wrong and you'll spend the whole class pulling it back into place and counting down until you can rip it off.
Low Impact Sports Bras
Low impact means less bounce and less need for heavy-duty support. These are the bras for slower workouts and everyday plans. Think:
-
Barre
-
Walking and hiking
-
Coffee runs, errands and everything in between.
For this kind of movement, DayFlex and Seamless Rib are soft, stretchy and easy to wear. They work just as well with your Pilates leggings as they do with jeans and trainers afterwards.
Shop low impact sports bras or browse our yoga and Pilates sports bras.
Medium Impact Sports Bras
Need a bit more support without feeling strapped in? Medium impact sits nicely in the middle. There's more structure than a low-impact bra, but you still get enough flexibility to move freely through faster-paced sessions. Think spin, cycling, dance, strength training and lifting. Shop our medium impact sports bras or shop gym and lifting sports bras.
Our Sculpt Seamless and UltraSculpt styles have a little extra support here, with compressive fits designed for harder sessions. Snatched, secure and ready to move.
High Impact Sports Bras
High impact is for the workouts where there's no shortage of movement. Running, HIIT, cardio. This is when you need your sports bra to do some serious work, keeping your girls secure while you give it your all.
Enter: SkinLuxe - everybody’s favourite cardio companion. It's sweat-wicking, supportive and made to keep up when things get a little more intense. Shop high impact sports bras, or head straight to our running bras.
How Should a Sports Bra Fit?
Getting the impact level right is one thing. Getting the fit right is another.
A sports bra should feel secure without feeling restrictive. You shouldn't be pulling it down, moving the straps around or thinking about it halfway through your workout. If you're constantly adjusting it, there's a good chance the fit isn't quite right.
Here's what to look for.
Band
The band should feel snug around your ribs and sit level, rather than creeping up at the back. You should be able to slip a couple of fingers underneath it, but it shouldn't feel loose.
Cups
Your bust should sit comfortably inside the cups without spilling over the top or sides. Equally, you don't want obvious gaps. If you're having to rearrange things halfway through your workout, it's worth trying another size or style.
Straps
Straps should stay in place without digging into your shoulders. If they're constantly falling down, try adjusting them first. Still happening? The shape or size of the bra might not be right for you.
How to Tell if a Sports Bra Is Too Big
A loose band, slipping straps or noticeable movement inside the cups are all signs that you might need a smaller size. The bra should feel secure when you move, rather than something you have to keep correcting.
Still not sure? TALA's sports bra size guide covers sizes from 2XS to 4XL and can help you find the right fit.
How to measure for a sports bra
-
Grab a soft tape measure and start with your band size. Wrap it around your ribcage, directly under your bust, keeping it snug and level all the way round, then round to the nearest even number.
-
Next, measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape level and not too tight.
-
The difference between the two numbers gives you your cup size, and every extra inch typically moves you up a cup letter.
If you're stuck between two band sizes, size down and go up a cup instead, a snugger band gives you better support than a looser one ever will.
Styles & features to look out for
There’s no “right” style of sports bra. Some styles work better for some bodies than others so there’s a wide range of different designs to look out for.
Styles
-
Cross back straps – distribute weight more evenly across your shoulders instead of digging into one point, ideal for heavier lifting sessions. Shop the Sculpt Seamless Ruched Cross Back Sports Bra
-
Bandeau styles – strap-free and streamlined, perfect for lower intensity sessions where you don't need extra structure. Shop the DayFlex Bandeau Sports Bra
-
Adjustable straps – customise the fit through the day as needed, so support doesn't loosen up mid workout. Shop the DayFlex Adjustable Strap Bandeau Sports Bra
-
Twist and wrap front designs – added shape and definition without any extra bulk, so the bra still feels light against your skin. Shop the DayFlex Twist Front Sports Bra or the DayFlex Wrap Front Sports Bra
-
V-neck and square neck styles – a lower, more open neckline that works just as well layered under a jacket as it does on its own, so you're not stuck styling around it. Shop the DayFlex V-Neck Sports Bra or the DayFlex Square Neck Sports Bra
Features
As well as the bra design itself, there are also a number of features you may want to consider when shopping for a new sports bra.
-
Removable bra pads – add or take out pads to control your level of coverage and support, useful for adapting one bra across different training days.
-
Double layer fabric – built-in structure and coverage with no visible seams, giving you support without needing a pad at all. Shop the DayFlex Double Layer Sports Bra
-
Encapsulation cups – separates and shapes each breast individually rather than compressing them together, giving more natural shape and support for higher impact activity than compression alone.
Material matters
Impact level tells you how much support you need. Fabric tells you how it'll feel.
-
DayFlex: buttery-soft and endlessly stretchy, built for low-intensity movement and everyday wear
-
SoftSet: naturally soft, actively flattering, designed for the softer side of movement.
-
SkinLuxe: sleek and second skin, built to move with you through mid to high intensity sessions
-
Sculpt Seamless: compressive and snatched, designed for the gym girlies, CrossFit and Hyrox
-
UltraSculpt: the newest evolution of Sculpt Seamless, with an even more compressive knit for serious lifting days
Want the full breakdown? Read Let's Talk About SkinLuxe for a closer look at TALA's most popular sports bra fabric.
Caring for your TALA Sports Bra
Wash your sports bra in a cool wash, ideally inside out. It’s best to hand wash but if you don’t have time, pop it in a garment bag on a cool cycle to stop it getting stretched out. Air dry rather than tumble dry, as heat breaks down the elastane faster than anything else.
Sports bras are arguably the most hard-working piece in your gym bag so it's worth choosing the right one for you. Impact level, fit, and fabric are important parts of choosing the best sports bra for you. Get them right and you'll never have to think about it again, so you can focus on hitting your workout goals.
Shop the full sports bra edit and find your impact level, your fit and your fabric all in one place.
