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Step 1
Determine the amount of support and stability that you need based on your cup size, your running style and whether you will be using your sports bra for other sports activities
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Step 2
Evaluate your personal running and workout style to assess whether you are a high-impact or low-impact runner. A woman who is a high-impact runner tends to have greater vertical movement as she runs, causing greater shock and bounce throughout her body. Certain non-running exercises such as basketball, volleyball and some aerobics classes create similar high-impact conditions.
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Step 3
Check the spandex percentage in the fabric composition of a sports bra to assess its support capacity. Sports bras that are composed of 20 percent spandex or more tend to be maximum-support garments. Choose a sports bra with maximum support and stability if you are a C cup or larger. Select a sports bra with less support and stability if you are an A cup or if your exercise style is low-impact.
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Step 4
Buy a sports bra with greater support and stability if you are a high-impact runner or if you will use the bra for other high-impact exercise.
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Step 5
Use the "barbell" rating system on the Title Nine Sports website to help evaluate the support and stability ratings for sports bras in a variety of styles (see Resources below).
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Step 6
Select a sports bra that will suit your personal taste. If you intend to wear your sports bra without outerwear during a hot summer workout, you may want to buy a dark color sports bra with some design or print on the straps such as the Trilogy Bra from Title Nine Sports.
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Step 7
Browse for sports bras under headings such as "Innerwear" if you intend to wear them primarily under other workout clothing. Sports bras that are all white or pastel in color or present a lacy look tend to be more suitable as innerwear.
