Hunting for a great hiking bra for large breasts? Finding a good bra can be harder than snagging an open campsite on a summer weekend in Yosemite.
As a D-cup hiker and backpacker I’ve tried dozens of bras over the years, searching for one that’s supportive enough for hiking but not overly sweaty, sticky, or stinky. Unlike my smaller-chested friends, I can’t get away with just a cute bralette or a top with a built-in bra.
Good news: hiking bras for bigger busts exist! Here are a few of my favorite sports bras for toting your Cs, Ds and higher through the trees, for all of my fellow busty backpackers.
(Looking for the best hiking bra for smaller chests? The Patagonia Barely Sports Bra gets amazing reviews for A, B, and even smaller C cups.)
Should I wear a sports bra to hike?
Hiking is a low-impact sport, so you won’t need as much compression as you would for workouts with running and jumping.
The fabric of sports bras, however, still makes them better for hiking than an everyday t-shirt bra. Most sports bras are less sweaty, more breathable, and less prone to chafing than other bras because they’re designed for athletic activity.
Of course, you don’t need to wear a bra at all while you hike unless you want to. Many female thru-hikers I’ve met choose to avoid “brablems” entirely by letting the girls hang free! But personally, I like the support and anti-chafing benefits of a comfortable bra.
Questions to ask when comparing sports bras for hiking
Will the fabric wick away sweat and keep me dry without chafing?
Nylon, polyester, and merino wool blends are best because they’re breathable and dry quickly. Avoid any cotton blends, which retain moisture the longest.
Extra decorations like lace or zippers are cute, but can cause chafing on long days of hiking. Simple one-fabric styles are best.
Will it get stinky when I get sweaty?
Wool and wool blends smells the least after days of heavy sweat, while polyester and polyester blends tend to collect foul odors.
Lingering stink might not be a problem for day hikes, but it’s a good thing to consider for multi-day backpacking trips.
Are the cups molded (encapsulated) to prevent uniboob?
For most larger-chested women, “shelf” sports bras without separate cups mean one thing: boob sweat. The best sports bras for larger chests are “encapsulated,” meaning each breast is held in its own cup of fabric.
Personally, I hate the feeling of my boobs rubbing together or rubbing on my lower chest as I walk, so I choose styles that lift and separate. This also reduces the risk of chafing.
Will the straps or hardware dig in to my shoulders, especially when I’m wearing a backpack?
Even a bra that’s comfortable all day in town can cause problems when you’re wearing a backpack, since there’s extra pressure on your bra straps from above.
Try a bra with seamless, non-adjustable straps if you can. If you’re like me, though, and have a small or uncommonly proportioned frame, you might need to buy an adjustable style for a good fit.
In that case, adjust the plastic or metal parts of your bra straps so they’re on your chest or upper back instead of directly atop your shoulders, where they’re more likely to dig in. Test the bra on a few short trips before you take it on a long thru-hike.
Will the style let me hike or swim shirtless without looking naked from a distance?
Pro tip: a bright-colored or black bra easily doubles as a swimsuit top for alpine lakes and hot springs, while a fleshy tone looks more like underwear (even though they are, of course, the exact same garment.)
A flesh-toned bra might also freak out your neighbors and campmates because from a distance, it looks like you’re naked! Of course, if that possibility intrigues or amuses you, by all means go for it.
Will it stretch out and sag after a long day of wear?
Stretchy fabrics like elastane are comfortable and easy to pull on and off, but can stretch out and be less supportive over time. This happens more often with cheaper bras than with established, high-quality brands like Patagonia.
Best Hiking Bras for Large Breasts
The question of hiking bras comes up nearly every week in at least one women’s hiking or backpacking Facebook group I’m in, like Ladies of the JMT.
Every brand and style of bra has its supporters (pun intended,) but Brooks and Title Nine are the two that come up again and again for large-chested women. My favorite are the Brooks. (Not sponsored.)
Brooks/Moving Comfort Maia
This bra is a favorite among busty backpackers, and for good reason: the wide straps don’t dig in to your shoulders, even with the weight of a pack, and the fabric is light and breathable.
This woman wore a now-discontinued-but-similar Brooks style for her entire thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, raving that “it’s still as comfortable as the first day I put it on.”
Brooks Dare Scoopback Bra
I wore this bra for 3 weeks straight on my John Muir Trail thru-hike and forgot I was even wearing it.
It dries quickly, which was great for jumping in alpine lakes each evening and still waking up to a dry bra the next morning. I was also able to adjust the hardware on the back straps low enough that they didn’t chafe my skin.
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