15 Best Zip Front Sports Bras of 2023

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You shouldn't have to wrestle your way out of your bra post-workout.

Anyone who has ever tried to wrestle themselves out of a tight, sweaty sports bra after doing a tough, upper-body workout knows it's no small feat. This is one reason why a zip-front sports bra may be a better choice, but there are other reasons, too. "Zip front sports bras are good for older people with arthritis at the shoulders or for people recuperating from surgery. They don't require you to lift your arms or pull something on and off over your head," explains Dora Lau, the founder of Dora L. International, and an expert in fitting and creating bras for brands like Olga, Maidenform, and Soma.

The trick, of course, is that no two bodies are alike (often, no two breasts are alike), no two workouts are alike, and the needs and support required by each individual varies widely. Adding to this challenge is that zip-front sports bras can be tricky to fit if you’re unfamiliar with them. "It's much easier to get a zip-front bra on if you bend at the waist and zip it, rather than zipping it standing up. Look for an internal hook that most manufacturers sew into the inside of the zipper to help zip the bra. It can be more difficult to get a zip-front bra on for those with larger busts if the wearer tries to zip it without first using the internal hook or bending at the waist. That's because the bra is compressive, and the cups are generally smaller than the actual volume of the breasts. Trying to squeeze breasts into small, compressive cups while also zipping the bra up is challenging," explains Laura Tempesta, the founder of Bravolution whose previous role was as Nike's Sports Bra Innovation Director.

Meet the Experts: Dora Lau is the founder of Dora L. International and an expert in fitting and creating bras for the world's largest brands. Laura Tempesta is the founder of Bravolution and is a world-renowned sports bra expert whose previous role was as Nike's Sports Bra Innovation Director.

As with all bra purchases, it may take some trial and error to find the best fit for you, but these are the best zip-front sports bras available for a variety of workouts, breast sizes, and needs.

Yvette's Racerback Sports Bra is a good, affordable option for medium to high impact activities, particularly for women with smaller cup sizes. It's a basic zip-front bra that may be a good option for those who have shoulder pain or arthritis and don't want to struggle in and out of a standard sports bra, but it doesn't offer all the features that some zip-front bras have. For instance, the straps and band don't adjust, and there's no hook-and-eye closure at the zipper to make zipping up a little easier.

If you want a name-brand front-zip sports bra with all the bells and whistles, the Nike Alpha does the trick. In addition to the front-zip (with a hook-and-eye closure to help with security), the bra also offers straps that adjust in front of the shoulders and a micro-adjustment hook-and-eye closure at the back waistband. This means you have to reach around your back to clasp the band, so it may not be ideal post-surgery, but certainly is a good option for high-impact activities like running, jumping rope, and doing plyometrics. Add to that the sizing based on cup size, the mesh insets for airflow, and the molded non-removeable cups for added support, and you have a really solid (although somewhat spendy) sports bra on your hands.

With wide, adjustable straps, a hook-and-eye closure at the band, and a zipper that locks in place when pressed down, this front-zip sports bra from Under Armour checks all the boxes. It also comes in sizes ranging from 32A to 40DDD to accommodate a wide range of breast sizes. It's not the cheapest bra on this list, but it's not the most expensive, either, making it a good mid-range option that offers support for high-impact activities.

While the Yvette Strappy Zip-Front Sports Bra claims to be for high-impact activities, it's better suited for low to medium-impact options, like walking, cycling or strength training, due to its thinner, less supportive (albeit cute!) back straps. That said, it's a reasonably supportive option at a price that's more affordable than many of the bigger name brands. It also offers quick-dry fabric, mesh insets to assist with airflow, and a zipper that locks in place when you press it down.

CALIA by Carrie Underwood is a line exclusive to Dick's Sporting Goods, and the products tend to be high-quality at an affordable price. This Go All Out Zip Front Sports Bra is no exception. It features support for high-impact activities, adjustable straps to get the right fit, and sweat-wicking, breathable fabric. That said, the narrower straps might not be ideal for bigger bust sizes, and users note the support declines after a few washes.

When it comes to zip-front sports bra features, the Knix Catalyst bra checks all the boxes. It offers maximum support for high-impact activities, a wide range of sizes and colors to satisfy most customers, and it even sports hard-to-find micro-adjustment options. "The Knix zip-front sports bra has a hook-and-eye at the underband along with the zipper," Tempesta says. This makes it possible to get a more perfect fit.

While the Brabic Post-Surgical Sports Bra may not offer the level of support needed to run a marathon, that's not really its purpose. Its purpose is to offer support and comfort following a surgery for low-impact activities. And for that, this affordable bra delivers. Not only does it offer a zip-front that doesn't require you to wrestle the bra over your head or reach around your back to clasp and unclasp it, but it also offers strap adjustments at the front of the shoulders. This is a lesser-seen feature that is helpful if you’re experiencing pain at the chest, shoulders, or upper back that makes arm movements more challenging.

A good option for medium- to high-impact activities (depending on breast size), the Under Armour Continuum High Zip Sports Bra has adjustable, cross-back straps, non-removable foam breast pads for added coverage, and a zipper that locks in place when pressed down. The fabric offers four-way stretch and sweat-wicking properties delivering high-quality support at a good price for activities like cycling, hiking, or strength training.

Available in sporty, color block patterns, the Champion Women's Motion Control Zip Sports Bra is a nice blend of fashion and function. The molded, non-removable cups help provide support and comfort; the adjustable straps help you get the right fit; the mesh insets ensure optimum breathability through tough workouts. At a mid-level price point, it's a good option to keep on hand for medium to high-impact activities.

Like Under Armour's other zip-front bras, the Infinity High Zip offers wicking, breathable fabric, non-removable injected foam cups for added support and coverage, and adjustable straps. This bra also includes an internal hook-and-eye closure to help get the bra zipped up, and to help keep it closed throughout your high-intensity workouts. The straps also feature Under Armour lettering, which makes it easier to adjust the straps to equal lengths on each side, a handy feature.

Shefit has a whole line of zip-front sports bras, and they’ve gone above and beyond to make sure they’re some of the best sports bras on the market. The Ultimate Sports Bra is specifically designed for larger breast sizes and higher impact activities, with micro-adjustment features at the straps and under band to ensure you get the perfect fit. The bra also has a zipper garage to help prevent chafing and convertible straps so you can find your best fit.

First and foremost, the Alo Fast Bra is designed to be seen—it's intended to be worn as a fashionable zip-front bra top with its circular zipper pull and bright, fashion-forward colors. As such, it's the perfect, cute option to wear when you need a little added support for lower-impact activities, like yoga or walking.

Lululemon is another well-known brand that offers a high-quality zip-front sports bra that works well even during high-impact activities like running. The wide straps offer additional criss-crossing to help lock you in, and the molded non-removable cups are ideal for adding support and coverage. The fabric also offers four-way stretch and sweat-wicking properties to help keep you dry and comfortable throughout your workout.

This bra was specifically designed for women with larger breasts, and can fit sizes from 28 C to 56 L. With all the adjustment points at the front of the bra, including the zipper, hook-and-eye closure, strap adjustments, and patented cup adjustment, you don't have to worry about reaching your arms around the back of the bra to get the right fit. The bra also features a wide, mesh back for support and breathability, and a corset-like fit that flatters the breasts, rather than smashing them, while still offering support and coverage.

Zip-front bras often feature wide straps and coverage to help "lock down" the breasts during a workout, but small-breasted individuals may not need (or want) the extra fabric. The Shefit Exhilarate Sports Bra is specifically designed with smaller-breasted women in mind. It offers the same micro-adjustment capabilities at the straps and underband as Shefit's other bras, but the straps are narrower and the neckline is lower to eliminate some of the added coverage. The bra also features patented, breathable padding to offer a little extra lift and support. One thing this bra lacks is the hook-and-eye closure under the zipper to help with getting it zipped up—a feature reviewers say they miss.

✔️Look for hook-and-eye closures at the zipper. According to Lau, zip-front bras sometimes have a tendency to unzip, and this is especially true for large-breasted or plus-sized individuals. Choosing a bra with a hook-and-eye closure helps keep the bra closed while preventing the zipper from sliding open.

✔️Choose bras with a wider back, as well as features to micro-adjust the band size. When it comes to sports bras, it's all about support, and women who are engaging in higher-impact activities (like running), or those who have bigger breasts, need to look for features that allow for improved support. Lau points out that wider backs offer more support. Tempesta also points out that one of the drawbacks of zip-front bras is they often don't offer a way to adjust the size at the band. "Zip-front bras tend not to fit as well because they usually don't have the three or four hook-and-eyes to micro-adjust the underband to a perfect fit," she says. That said, she admits there are exceptions to the rule, so keep your eyes peeled for bras that allow for small adjustments, whether at the underband, back, or straps.

✔️Look for a padded zipper stop. "Zip-front bras can be more prone to chafing than other types of sports bras because the zipper stop (the bottom of the zipper) can be irritating to the area between the breasts if the zipper stop is not properly padded with a zipper placket or zipper garage. This is something purchasers should watch out for when trying the bra on," says Tempesta.

The main difference between normal sports bras and zip-front sports bras is how they’re put on and taken off. A normal sports bra is typically pulled on and off over the head and may or may not have options for adjusting the fit with hook-and-eye closures at the band, or slidable adjustments at the straps. Zip-front bras, on the other hand, can be put on and taken off like an open-front shirt, without much movement required at the shoulders, thanks to the zipper that runs down the front of the bra. "Zip-front bras are a great choice for people who may have difficulty reaching around their backs to fasten a traditional bra. They’re also a great choice for those with shoulder mobility issues," says Tempesta.

Choosing to wear a sports bra all day really comes down to personal preference and proper fit. Sports bras offer great support and are often more comfortable than traditional bras, making them a good option when comfort is especially important. That said, it's still important to get the right fit, because any bra that's overly tight or restrictive can lead to chafing or pain. Likewise, if a sports bra‘s straps don't adjust and they tug at your shoulders, you could end up feeling sore a few hours in, or you could end up with a headache.

It's also important to note that you should change out of a sweaty sports bra immediately after your workout. Failing to change post-exercise can trap sweat and bacteria at your skin and lead to itchy skin, rashes, chafing, and odor.

First, we consulted with leading bra and sports bra design experts, Lau and Tempesta to learn which features are particularly important in a zip-front bra. We then searched scores of zip-front sports bras and read through hundreds of reviews and ratings to determine which zip-front sports bras were worthy of inclusion.

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

Laura Williams, MS, ACSM EP-C, is a certified exercise physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine who holds undergraduate and master's degrees in exercise and sport science. She also holds certifications in behavioral change, fitness nutrition, sports conditioning, and youth fitness. She authored the internationally-published book, "Partner Workouts" in 2016, and her bylines have appeared in national print and online publications including Men's Health, Reader's Digest, Runner's World, Healthline, Verywell Fit, Thrillist, The Healthy, and Men's Journal. After years of engaging in more traditional workouts, in 2018, after being unexpectedly widowed at the age of 36, she turned to surfing, beach walking, and horseback riding to help in her healing process.

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