The 7 Best Encapsulation Sports Bras of 2021

Which encapsulation bras made the list of the best high-impact sports bras this year?

Bras come in all shapes and sizes, and sports bars are no different. When you need a good sports bra that can support high-impact workouts, you have the choice of two styles, but even then, your options are wide open. We have encapsulation sports bras, compression sports bras, and even combination compression encapsulation sports bras.

But what exactly is the difference between all these sports bra options and what are the best encapsulation sports bras available?

List of Services

What is an Encapsulation Sports Bra?

Just as the name suggests, the encapsulation sports bra “encapsulates” and holds each breast separately. The support lifts the breast up and away to limit vertical breast motion and horizontal movement. A good encapsulation bra will feature underwires in each cup and the comfort will be similar to your everyday bra, thanks to the separation. Encapsulation bras are best suited for women with C and D breast sizes.

While those encapsulation bras that do not have a wire provide support for intense workouts, many women find that they don’t offer the separation needed and they feel more like a compression bra.

How to Tell a Compression Sports Bra from an Encapsulated Bra?

Conversely to encapsulation bras, which lift and separate, compression bras are designed to hold your breasts tightly against your body to limit breast movement.

This sports bra style often has no underwire or even cups. Plus, they usually come in sizes indicating Small, Medium, and Large rather than cup sizes, which might be a let-down for women with larger busts.

What Are Combination Compression Encapsulation Sports Bras?

Combination sports bras encompass elements from both compression and encapsulation styles available, so they can differ from one manufacturer to the next. Due to these differences and the comfort preferences that vary among women, it’s important to try them out until you find one you like. You may be looking for something that gives you that flattering shape, or perhaps maximum comfort is more important. Maybe you prefer one that offers better support and is made with moisture-wicking fabric.

When trying on these sports bras, move as though you were using them for your activity. This will allow you to see how well it might perform for you. Look for the adjustable straps to hold in place and the proper support to give you a full range of motion.

Which Sports Bras Work Best for Large Breasted Women?

It all comes down to comfort and performance, so if you’re a woman with heavy breasts, your options when looking for a comfortable sports bra might be more limited. Encapsulation sports bras will offer more support, better stability, and a higher degree of comfort than compression bras.

The reason for this difference is in the compression itself. It can be much more constricting to hold a large, heavy breast tightly against the body to help with support than the lift and separate style.

The Best Encapsulation Sports Bras on the Market

The Panache Sports is an encapsulation-style sports bra that offers superior comfort and support in a practical design that’s perfect for a fitness routine or everyday wear. And thanks to the wide range of sizes, there are 70 of them, it’s easy for a woman to find the perfect fit. This encapsulated bra was featured in Oprah Magazine and is arguably one of the finest sports bras on the market, offering an 83% reduction in bounce, so go ahead and get active. This sports bra with adjustable wide straps will hold everything in place with comfort and style when running outdoors or during gym workouts. The panache sports bras are available in quite a few neutral colors including black, white, grey, grey marl, and latte
The Champion bras are a high-impact option. These encapsulation sports bras have been part of the brand’s efforts to revolutionize women’s athletic gear since 1968. This sports bra offers incredible support while maintaining those flattering curves. And they are made with sustainability in mind with high-quality woven fabrics that offer exceptional comfort during a high-intensity workout. Plus, this is a sports bra with adjustable straps for a customizable fit and a ventilated mesh system to keep you both cool and comfortable no matter how hard you work. Available in cup sizes ranging from 34/36 CD to 42/44 DD. Refer to the size chart to find your cup size.
New Balance Power Sports Bra’s ability to hold and support you firmly in place even during high-impact activities is what makes this option one of the best sports bras in Canada. With a racerback design that features a hook-and-eye gel closure to prevent digging into the skin, this sports bra is made with spandex and polyester with molded encapsulation cups to provide extreme support and flexible comfort. And with sizes available from A to DD, finding the right fit is not a problem.
Brooks Juno bra is known for its breast stabilizing support while exercising, with a back-eye closure that gives you the fit you want. The added features of a sweat-wicking material and a ventilated mesh only add to the long-lasting comfort of this bra. You can combine its compression and encapsulation abilities to give women the support they need through the adjustable straps.
One of the best sports bras for yoga sessions is the CRZ Yoga Light Support Cross Back. Its sexy and seamless design and wire-free support make it easy to move in and look amazing doing it whether you enjoy yoga or other low-impact activities.
This is one that every woman can feel great wearing. The Anita Sports Bra Extreme Control is a high-performance encapsulation-style sports bra that lifts and supports without a wire. The double-layer molded cups and soft terrycloth lining feature a moisture-wicking stretch poly blend for all-day dry comfort. And with the three-column, three-row adjustable hook and eye back closure, you can enjoy a great fit and a sexy look.
For the woman who wants morning, noon, and nighttime comfort and ease, the Fruit of the Loom Front Closure Built-Up Sports Bra is the perfect solution. The bra features a hook-and-eye closure or zip-up on the front or the back, making it easy to put on or remove. The soft, breathable, and soft fabric allows for amazing comfort that can even be worn to bed.

The right encapsulation sports bra is a personal choice that every woman should make for herself. But these options are a great start on your search for the best fitting, most comfortable, and ultra-supportive encapsulation bras.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

The Cross-Border Bra Crisis - Are We Going to Have to Wear Hockey Jockstraps?

By Brigitte Lessard • March 4, 2025

👋 Picture this: You’re standing in front of your underwear drawer, clutching your favourite ENELL SPORTS bra like it’s a Timmy’s double-double on a Monday morning — pure survival gear. ☕️ Now, imagine a world where that bra couldn’t make it across the border thanks to tariffs, boycotts , and enough political nonsense to make even your most underwired bra feel comfortable. Welcome to the Cross-Border Bra Crisis , my friends — a story of boobs, borders, and bureaucratic buffoonery. Tariffs, Boycotts & Boobageddon Turns out, when countries start slapping tariffs on each other like a couple of drunk uncles at a wedding, it’s not just the big corporations that feel it. It’s devastating for small businesses — like ENELL and SPORTSBRA.CA — and you know who’s going to pay the real price? 👉 Our boobs. No ENELL SPORTS bras crossing the border means Canadian girls will be bouncing their way through horseback riding lessons, fitness classes, and Zumba sessions like a couple of caffeinated beavers . 🇨🇦 Without ENELL’s legendary lockdown, it’s only a matter of time before we’re forced to consider… drastic measures — like sewing together a couple of hockey jockstraps. 🏒 That’s right — the closest thing to high-impact support made in Canada is a jockstrap. Can you imagine tucking the twins into something designed to protect an entirely different set of equipment? 😳

Galentine’s Day: A Toast to Support

By Brigitte Lessard • February 13, 2025

Galentine’s Day: Cheers to Your Boobs & Besties! It’s Galentine’s Day, and whether you’ve already had brunch or you’re counting down to happy hour, there’s still plenty of time to celebrate the incredible women in your life. Today is all about raising a mimosa (or a coffee, or whatever’s in that tumbler at your desk—we won’t judge) to the ride-or-dies who have been there through bad dates, questionable haircuts, and the sheer tragedy of a snapped bra strap in public. How to Celebrate Your Besties Right Now Your best friends are the ones who hype you up, pick you up, and call you out when necessary (like when you text your ex… again). They are your therapists, your karaoke partners, your late-night snack enablers, and the ones who remind you that you deserve the best—whether that’s love, success, or a well-fitted sports bra. So take a moment today to show them some love. Send them a message filled with inside jokes. Drop off a coffee to their office. Venmo them $5 for a treat. If you’ve got plans later, go big: bring flowers, make a toast, and remind them they are a gift to this world. And if you’re apart, plan a Galentine’s movie night for the weekend—complete with snacks, cocktails, and an over-the-top rom-com lineup. Friendship: The Love That Lasts We often put so much weight on romantic love, chasing butterflies and grand gestures, but let’s be real—our friendships are the true love stories. How many times have we cried over a breakup, only to be scooped up by the very friends who knew it wouldn’t last? While romance may come and go, friendships are the steady, unwavering presence in our lives, sticking with us through every high, low, and “what was I thinking?” moment. So today, let’s celebrate the relationships that truly stand the test of time—the ones built on laughter, loyalty, and a deep, unconditional love that no candlelit dinner could ever replace. Galentine’s Day: A Toast to Support

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bra: Lifting Adventures

By Brigitte Lessard • February 4, 2025

Ever gone on a trip and realized you packed the wrong bras for that horseback riding adventure or pickleball match? Painful mistake!!! A friend of mine (we’ll call her Sarah to protect the unsupported) came back from a romantic getaway to Mexico with her boyfriend and immediately called me. Not to gush about the sunsets, the margaritas, or the dreamy beach walks—but to confess her massive packing mistake. Sarah had packed push-up bras for “nice vacation vibes” and ONE comfy pullover sports bra for lounging. She figured she was set. She figured wrong. Push-Up Perils & Pullover Problems The first disaster? Pickleball. Sarah and her boyfriend had a fun little couples competition planned at the resort courts, but what she didn’t plan for was her push-up bra trying to escape the match. “Brigitte, I swear my boobs were moving more than the ball,” she told me. “Every time I jumped or reached, I had to stop and fix them. It was NOT cute.” She finished the game—barely—but her boyfriend won, mostly because she was too busy readjusting. 🫣🎾 Then came the horseback riding excursion. 🐎 Sarah imagined herself riding along the beach, wind in her hair, looking like a movie star. Instead, she was bouncing uncontrollably, holding onto the saddle with one hand and her chest with the other. The pullover sports bra she thought would be comfy? Useless. Zero support. And the humidity made it cling to her skin like a wet swimsuit. By the end of the ride, she wasn’t feeling romantic—she was chafed, sweaty, and swearing she’d never leave the country without a good sports bra again. 😅🌴