Best Hiking Bras To Support You On Hiking Trails for 2023

Selecting the best hiking bra for women, for your outdoor adventure, and for the majority of sports activities, is an important decision. The correct hiking bra provides support to your breasts while relieving the stress applied to your shoulders, neck, and back muscles. Thus, the bras must be shock-absorbing and fit well to your chest-breast-back areas.

Hiking comes with lots of ups and downs that depending on the terrain, inclination, and breast size may a comfortable or a painful experience.

With our article, we help you to find the best bra for your body, along with explaining selection factors, like materials, impact level, design, coverage, and types.

Comparison Chart for the Best Hiking Bra

Here are five selections along with their features and evaluation of what makes them unique. Choose the one you prefer. We also suggest the one we would choose and why.

IMAGE	PRODUCT
	1. Champion Women’s Curvy Sports Bra Flattering design Racerback for hiking Right size bottomband	Check Price
	2. Under Armour Women’s HeatGear Mid Impact Crossback Crossback design Snug fit No chaffing	Check Price
	3. Reebok Women’s Puremove Sports Bra For high impact activities No chaffing Very supportive	Check Price
	4. Maidenform Women’s Sport Ultimate Underwire Bra Adjustable straps Semi-sports Good support	Check Price
	5. Moving Comfort Women’s Fiona Bra Back hooks Breathable Soft fabric on straps	Check Price

Best Hiking Bra

1. Champion Women’s Curvy Bra

What We Like

A hiking bra that doesn’t come with the annoying “uni-boob” look. A great all-day comfortable wear. Low cut enough to provide cleavage and foam cups stay in place. It is good for hiking.

What We Dont’ Like

Some clever adjustable straps or an easier way to take it off would be ideal.

2. Under Armour Women’s HeatGear Mid Impact Crossback

What We Like

The four-way stretch is a must and the detail of left/right on removable cups is a plus when you are in a hurry. The bra inserts that the bra comes with, give the option of more or less nipple coverage. No chafing.

What We Don’t Like

The design part shows as “one-boob”.

3. Reebok Women’s Puremove Bra

What We Like

No hooks, clasps, underwires, or adjustable straps to get in your way. An athletic bra with an unprecedented amount of support. No chafing, no moving around even in long runs. Since it’s supportive for running it is good for hiking too.

What We Don’t Like

For some body types, it may be tricky to put it off or on, after sweating.

4. Maidenform Women’s Sport Ultimate Underwire Bra

What We Like

They are supportive, reduce bouncing, and they are moisture-wicking as the other options presented.

What We Don’t Like

Not ideal for hiking due to clasps and underwire frames. Such may cause irritations and scratches when wearing a backpack or a daypack. They seem like something between a regular bra and activities one.

5. Moving Comfort Women’s Fiona Bra

What We Like

We like the support it provides and the softness. For many activities that don’t come with lots of friction it is a good choice or for everyday use as it is easy to wear.

What We Don’t Like

The back hooks are not suitable for hiking when you carry a backpack or a daypack unless you wear more clothes on top of this. There will be friction and irritations.

Our Selection for Hiking Bra

The Champion Women’s Curvy Bra is what we suggest for hiking. It combines all the good parts for such an activity. In hiking, you don’t usually run and the bouncing is moderate, but you need the support and breathability. That makes it a very good choice, instead of going for a much more firm or other high-impact solution that is good for other types of activities and sports.

How To Choose The Best Hiking Bra

As in all technical clothing, the same details, and features that distinguish them from regular clothing, also exist in hiking bras. Here is the information you need to know before you make your selection.

Bras for hiking have a purpose and a health reason to exist. That is why studies that claimed a bra is not needed were largely and easily debunked.

Type

You may be surprised to learn that the first technical bras were made by combining two jockstraps. The original thought was that since these items provided the support needed for the sensitive parts of men, the same would work for another part of a female body. This occurred around 1977. So, less bouncing was the motivation behind the creation of such bras for women.

The same principle is still followed today. Today’s sports bras for hiking are made to support women’s breasts against their chest area, using compression that is achieved with their design and materials.

On top of the “support” factor, and depending on the breast size, there are more bras combinations where breasts are encapsulated to reduce bounce. Therefore, there are bras that are of the first or the second type, and others that combine these two types.

Moreover, there are bras that claim that they are more suitable for hiking in summer or hiking in desert bras and of course the regular bras for hiking.

Design

The design of the bra is not only about the aesthetics, but for its structure, which (along with the materials) has the most important role in its efficiency. The design of the bra consists of 3 structural factors. These are:

1. The straps
2. The cups
3. The band (the side panels are also part of the band)

The band is important and its design should make the bra fit properly under your breasts. The best is to be at least 2 cm wide as it provides nearly 70% of the support.

The rear part of a hiking bra usually comes with a full race back design or with straps that either crisscross or run down your back. The same straps usually have various designs that allow ventilation.

The most popular design is the racerback. When you are moving or even running, it stays in place. Even the cinching detail makes sure that the straps stay closer to your body. That, too, provides extra support.

Depending on your body shape and upper torso, a racerback option may put more strain on the mid part of the top of your back muscles (trapezius muscles). This leads the choice to another option: the adjustable straps. Such straps are usually thinner and the “buckle” that allows the adjustment may irritate your skin, when you carry a backpack or even a light daypack for long and sweat a lot.

Sizing

Let the confusion fly in, right? With so many sizes available it is not by chance that many women suffer for years, wearing the wrong hiking bra (even normal). Sizes change per model and they also change per brand. The main problems focus on the circumference size and the cups.

Now, when it comes to bras for hiking you have to choose carefully. There is a lot of bouncing involved while walking for hours, going uphill and downhill, or running and you need extra support. Most sizes in this category range from X-Small to X-Large Plus, but you will also see the “typical” number-with-letters sizing too. To find the best possible size when ordering try to follow the following rule. The best is that someone else does that for you.

1. Measure the width of your chest at its widest point
2. Measure the circumference under it
3. Decide from which brand you want to buy one and which model from that specific brand

Double-check and then buy.

Coverage

Coverage has to do with two things. First, how much of your breast is exposed, which in relation to the design and the materials help with the extra support. The second is with the nipples part. If you are sensitive in that area you may want to choose a bra with pads, especially when you wear a summer hiking bra with thin layers of technical t-shirts. It is up to you and how comfortable you need.

Material

The prevailing materials as in most technical clothing, are polyester, spandex, merino wool, nylon, lycra. You won’t find silk or cotton for hiking bras.

All these materials are moisture-wicking and quick-drying. They should also be odor-resistant, breathable, and soft. You won’t find such qualities in normal bras and since lots of friction happens while moving, you don’t want any irritation on your chest and armpits or shoulders.

Impact level

There are three types of impact levels.

• Low-impact level: For activities and movements with a very low degree of bouncing, like lounging around the house, in an easy walk, or in a yoga or pilates class.
• Medium-impact level: With a small degree of compression. They fit snug to the body for extra support and are suitable for yoga, golf, hiking, weight training, cycling.
• High-impact level: For activities with lots of jumping and any with lots bouncing. They can be worn for more dynamic activities like running, kickboxing, or HIIT.

The medium support option is the one that is usually preferred in hiking.

What’s The Difference Between Hiking Bras And Sports Bras?

More and more the distance between these two types is reduced. However, bras for hiking tend to be lighter as you won’t do lots (if any) of running, which creates lots of bouncing, which in its turn demands the best support. As such, hiking bras can be a lighter and more breathable choice, especially in summer hiking.

The best is to avoid any activities bra that comes with clasps and hooks as these -especially with a backpack- will rub against your skin and that is not shown when you just try it on, but when you wear it for hours.

If you liked this article about the best hiking bra, consider checking out our other reviews below:

• Best Hiking Shirts For Women
• Best Hiking Shorts For Women
• Best Hiking Leggings for Women in Any Weather
• Best Snowshoes For Women For Winter Hiking
• Best Hiking Clothes for Women Guide
• Best Hiking Boots For Wide Feet