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Sports bras are generally great until you have to put them on and take them off, especially after a sweaty workout session. Most bras require you to slip your head and arms through designated holes.
The tight spandex material leaves little breathing room, causing you to easily twist and turn trying to pry it off. Enter sports bras with zipper fronts.
Not only is it easy to quickly take this bra off, but the zipper adds an extra layer of compression for those high impact workouts. Read on for the features and recommendations you should look for if you want this type of bra.
Contents
Zipper Front Sports Bra Reviews
I’ve researched and found the 3 best sports bras with zipper fronts. The first one I recommend, the Jockey’s Zip Front Seamless Bra, is great for moderate to intense workouts.
My second recommendation is the more popular option with adjustable racerback straps, the Glamorise High Impact Zipper Sports Bra. My final recommendation delivers extreme support with a soft and luxurious feel. It is the Under Armour Eclipse High Impact Zip Sports Bra.
My Top Recommendation
If you want my final vote (without all the reading), the Under Armour Women’s Armour Eclipse High Impact Zip Sports Bra wins for the Overall Best Zipper Sports Bra.
All 3 of these bras are machine washable. They are also designed with moisture-wicking fabric. This quickly moves the sweat to the outer surface of your bra and then dries it so your sweat does not saturate and stain the fabric.
Jockey Women’s Zip Front Seam Free Bra
Jockey’s Women’s Zip Front Seam Free Bra proves itself to be just as valuable as the more expensive ones on the market. One specialty is the seamless feature.
Together with the removable cups, these bras are suitable for small to average-breasted women. Despite the absence of seams, the band and the zipper are wide enough to provide support.
The front closure is even assisted by a hidden hook, which makes it extra secure against any embarrassing moments. One bonus feature of this bra is that behind the zipper, there is a no-pinch zipper flap.
Rather than the zipper sitting directly on your skin, it’s protected by this flap. Not only is this nice so you don’t have the metal against your chest, but it also prevents you from pinching your skin when zipping it up and down.
Highlights
Made with nylon and spandex, this bra stretches fairly enough to be snug around your bust but not too much that it’s suffocating. The materials won’t absorb your sweat so it keeps you dry throughout.
It’s available in different colors to be attractive enough for getting your coffee fix after a morning run.
Why Buy?
Its wide bra straps, hidden safety zipper lock, and no-pinch zipper flap ensure you have the perfect amount of lift for your workouts.
Glamorise Women’s Full Figure High Impact Zipper Sport Bra
Glamorise fulfills what the brand name suggests with the Women’s Full Figure High Impact Zipper Sport Bra. At first glance, this might look just like another sports bra, but this one is made to last through intense workouts.
In general, zippered sports bras are created with larger women in mind, and this bra caters to this. Therefore, it is one of the more popular options. The trendy zipper design locks to ensure it stays put while you work out.
Additionally, the seamless edges and structured cups will surprise you with an amazing feel for the breasts. The 2-ply cups minimize the movement and bounce, which is ideal for women with larger breasts.
Unlike the Jockey bra, the racerback straps on this bra can be adjusted to your fit and preference.
Highlights
It’s made with 3 different moisture-wicking textiles used in most sports bras, which are polyester, nylon, and spandex. While the Jockey bra is made primarily of spandex for a very stretchable bra, this one is mostly polyester.
This provides more support for your breasts. While this bra mostly provides sizes for women with D – G cups, there are some smaller sizes available for those with smaller boobs if they want to get their hands on this bra!
Why Buy?
Adjustable racerback straps are unique to this bra. Coupled with its stretchy and seamless fabric, this zipper front sports bra does wonders.
Under Armour Women’s Armour Eclipse High Impact Zip Sports Bra
Under Armour’s Women’s Armour Eclipse High Impact Zip Sports Bra carries a lot of similarities with the sports bra from Glamorise.
If you’re willing to challenge yourself further in strength training and exercises, this is one seems to have been made with durability in mind. Out of the 3 bras shared, this one is my vote for the best of the best.
Using nylon and elastane, it’s made with materials and a structure that’s meant to fit tight, remain cushy enough for comfort, and be breathable all at the same time!
This is ideal for women who are a bit more busty because the bandeau-like bra cups offer full support and coverage for each individual breast. The band is pretty thick on the underside of your breasts, but the adjustable thick straps take some weight off them and help in lifting them up.
The full zip front, apart from functionality, adds a stylish element to a plain bra. Under the zipper, there is a clip (similar to the Jockey sports bra) to keep the zipper from sliding down during your workout.
Highlights
It’s mostly loved for the open, criss-crossed racerback and mesh lining. Together, with the sweat-wicking feature, this keeps you upright and comfy for the next rep of your workout.
Apart from Under Armour’s logo on the side, it’s a simple, normal-looking sports bra that comes in the usual black and other colors.
Why Buy?
Providing a great amount of support and comfort is what this bra is known for, yet it’s only the beginning.
Enell Maximum Control Wire-Free Bra
The Enell Women’s Wire-Free Sports Bra deserves the spot as the best among the 3, because of its captivating design and color schemes. That’s not the only thing you’ll love about this, though.
This bra is already serving more than the first two with 10 front clasps. It connects two very full coverage cups that will undoubtedly control and minimize movement of the breasts.
With the 10 clasps in front, this bra is perfect for any high-impact workouts you might have. Similar to the Fruit of the Loom bra, this one is also wireless, adding to its comfort of it.
Thick, wide, and non-stretchable straps keep the bra where it should be. They go to a tight, crossed back that pushes your spine to its best posture. Because of the amount of support this sports bra provides, it’s designed for women who are C cup and above.
If you’re smaller than a C cup, selecting a sports bra like the Fruit of the Loom one I recommended will be a better option. Unlike most other sports bras with moisture-wicking technology, this bra is equipped with Naturexx® moisture management to keep you dry.
To ensure you maximize the control and comfort this bra promises, make sure to follow Enell’s size guide. Additionally, they’ve created their own sizing system (based on numeric values 0-8). So, it’s important to make sure you understand it and can pick the right size.
Highlights
- Full coverage low scoop design
- 0 – 8 sizes
- High impact support
- Wide, non-stretch straps
- Wideband for a secure fit
- Naturexx® technology
Fruit of the Loom Built-up
Fruit of the Loom Women’s Front Close Builtup Sports Bra is one of the most affordable option I reviewed. It’s comparable to a cloud hugging your breasts with its cotton softness.
Also, it’s as light and airy as wearing a loose, oversized t-shirt. It lightly supports your breasts. It features a 6-hook fastening in the front and ruched seams surrounding it for better shape.
As a cotton sports bra, this doesn’t do much in the gym compared to the other options I reviewed. If you’re planning on doing a light workout (such as a light jog, yoga, or pilates), this bra will be fine.
But, anything that consists of working up a sweat might require a different material bra. If you’re like some of the thousands who reviewed this bra, you’ll find this most suitable to use around the house.
This is for those times when you don’t want to be wearing anything, but still need a little assistance in the chest area. It provides full coverage that will hold everything, but its thinness will keep you cool even in hot summer weather.
Additionally, it’s extremely comfortable since it’s wireless! The cups are pretty delicate. When you wear this bra, you might not want any kind of structure anyway, especially if you’re just lounging in the house.
The cups are also removable, making them easy to take out (and add additional padding if you are looking for a bit more support). This bra grants great durability for everyday wear.
Highlights
- Full coverage scoop neck design
- 34 – 48 sizes
- Low impact sports bra
- Unlined and wire free
- Soft, breathable material
- Shirred front for nice shaping
Burvogue Post-Surgery Sports Bra
Unlike Fruit of the Loom’s sports bra, the Burvogue Post-Surgery Front Closure Sports Bra has a special function of assisting women who have undergone any kind of breast surgery. This one is not only limited to them, however.
This bra offers great support for any woman, post-surgery or not. Sizes span a wide range of body types. This bra is inclusive of almost everyone, making it a popular option for women.
As for my guideline, this bra also exceeds six clasps in front. The cups are non-padded so as to not hurt any fresh wounds. In a non-surgical situation, it’s still supportive with firm materials. Though it has a low neckline, it still provides fairly full coverage.
The straps are connected with what looks like a small buckle. It’s made with a thick material that goes to a crisscrossed back, which ensures the bra’s staying power is strong. For a post-surgical bra, this one is serving some serious looks.
It has a smooth, all-black exterior and the same attractive (and breathable) cutouts as the first bra.
Highlights
- The low round neck design
- S – XXL, 32 – 40 band, A – D cup
- Low to medium impact support
- Wide, adjustable cross straps
- Unlined
- Perfect for post-surgery use
My Pick for the Top Zippered Sports Bra
In the end, I prefer the Eclipse High Impact Zip Bra from Under Armour. It’s simple from a design perspective, but it’s built to endure the hardest of workouts.
The Best Zippered Sports Bras
Here’s an overview of my top picks. You may be familiar with the regular bra trick of fastening the back hooks on your stomach first before turning it around, cupping the pads on your breasts, and wearing the straps as per normal.
With zipped-front sports bras, it’s not a trick. There are no extra steps after zipping it up at the center. Once the zipper is secure, your breasts are held on to your chest for good.
However, to enjoy this quick and easy way of putting on a sports bra, there are factors you might want to consider when looking to buy this bra.
What to Look for in Zipper Sports Bras
The convenience of the zip-up feature might be the obvious reason why you’d want to get this kind of bra. But, it also includes other features that are just as coveted in sports bras.
The separate cups and snug fit enabled by the unique fastening equips the bra with unique encapsulation qualities. Encapsulation bras separate and support each breast individually, which is what happens with a zipper sports bra.
This also compresses your boobs more than a standard sports bra. They won’t move around as much which tends to cause irritation or pain. When looking for a sports bra with a zipper in the front, there are certain features to look for, which I outline below.
Comparing Bras With a Front Zipper Features
| Bra | Material | Front Design | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jockey Women’s | Nylon, Spandex | Full-coverage cups | Wireless |
| Glamorise Women’s | Polyester, nylon, Spandex | Full-coverage cups | Wireless |
| Under Armour Eclipse | Nylon and elastane | Full-coverage cups | Wireless |
| Enell Women’s | Nylon and lycra | Full-coverage cups | Wireless |
| Fruit of the Loom Women’s | Cotton, polyester, Spandex | Full-coverage cups | Wired |
| Burvogue | Polyester, cotton, elastane | Full-coverage cups | Wireless |
Zipper Quality
The main concept of zip-up sports bras is for you to easily be able to put them on and take them off like you would a jacket. If you’ve ever encountered jeans with fake pockets that are sewn shut, this can sadly happen with this kind of bra too.
Some have zippers purely for the fashion element. The bra doesn’t actually fully open and separates the cups. Make sure to check for this, especially if you are planning to buy one specifically for the ease of taking it on and off.
Since the zip fastening is front and center, make sure it’s a quality zipper! There’s very little room for failure. That would mean an embarrassing nip slip moment for you. This is not what you want during a workout!
The right zipper closure should be easy to zip up and down. It should still need some force to zip down to ensure it stays secure.
Secure, Sturdy Clasps
Sometimes when you do a really extensive exercise move quickly, the clasps at the back of your bra suddenly unfasten. It’s a normal occurrence, especially for activities like cheerleading or other strenuous sports and exercises.
This only shows that it can happen with front clasps or sports bras with zippers too. It’s even more of a risk when the front clasps unfasten because then, you’re immediately bare as it opens in the front.
The way you know the clasps are secure is when they need a little manual push to unfasten. Also, it can’t be the normal two- or three-clasp closure as it usually is in other regular bras.
Find something that has at least 4 or 5, so there are more of them holding the cups together.
Full, Supportive Cups
A front clasp divides your sports bra in the middle. With this style, it’s more expected for the cups to be able to serve some encapsulation of the individual support for each of your breasts.
You’ll want to find something firm with full coverage. This is for support as well as that’s the only way to go if you’re looking to achieve the secured multiple clasps.
Material
The material used for sports bras matters depending on your intended use for it. Because sports bras with zippers are more so intended for high intensity workouts, spandex is going to be a common material for these bras.
That being said though, they are available in other materials, such as cotton. While cotton might not be as moisture wicking, it works well for LISS activities, pilates, or yoga.
Once you identify your purpose for wearing this type of sports bra, breathability should be a determining factor for the kind of material you choose. Maybe cotton is enough. If not, mesh offers more ventilation for your breasts.
Moisture-wicking technology is beneficial, especially if you know you’re going to sweat a lot!
Strong Straps With Thick Material
With the cups and the clasps in front, the weight of your sports bra will fall mostly on the front as well. Thick, adjustable material for the straps (and the band) at the back is almost required to balance out the sports bra when you wear it.
It will make sure the bra is tight and won’t move or ride up at the back, preventing unwanted back bulges and shoulder discomfort. Also, it will keep your breasts in place.
Durability
Durability plays a part in the longevity of your sports bra. A zip-up one may be fun to use for a time but it won’t be when the zipper suddenly has problems after a few laundry cycles.
If not that, maybe the cups cause the front part of the bra to droop and the band to loosen up from being on a hanger for too long. Maybe the non-adjustable straps go loose and begin to fall off your shoulders.
The sturdiness of each of the aforementioned features will determine where and how you can use it. Some might only take you as far as light movements and activities while others can assist in active sports.
The lasting quality of your bra should be as much of a deciding factor as its individual features.
Who This Bra is Meant For
While any sized woman can wear this type of bra, it’s designed for women with larger boobs. Zippered sports bras are a total game changer for busty women and those who are plus sized!
Front clasping sports bras’ easy-wear function earned it a good reputation among women, especially the those with larger chests (D cup and above). If you typically wear sturdy D cup and above push up bras or sports bras, I recommend looking into this type of sports bra.
The front closure makes wearing them not as tedious as when you try to fit into tight racerback or back-fastened sports bras. This type of bra not only compresses everything up top, but it also securely holds them in place as you work out.
If the bra is padded, this also adds to the compression. Does this mean that smaller boobed women can’t wear this bra? Not at all! They can also benefit from the feeling of being extra secure up top as they work out.
Related Questions
How Should a Sports Bra With a Front Zipper Fit?
A sports bra with a front zipper should fit comfortably snug. Since there should be little room in the cups, they would fit more tightly than conventional bras.
How Do I Measure Myself For Sports Bras With Front Zippers?
Measure the band and bust size to measure yourself for sports bras with front zippers. Make sure to check the corresponding cup size depending on the brand.
When Should I Wear a Sports Bra With Front Zippers?
You should wear a sports bra with a front zipper when doing mid to high-impact level activities. You can do this when exercising, doing errands, or when you’re having difficulties using pull-over closures.
Conclusion
There’s a certain allure to sports bras that weren’t there before. With this type of bra, most people are sold on the convenience of the zipped front. Anything that makes working out – in this case getting in and out of the workout clothes – is a good idea in my book.
If not for that, the cute athletic vibe they give to an outfit will make you say yes. Sports bras are becoming as much of a fashion item as they are a piece of activewear nowadays. Zipped front ones just happen to win on both design concept and functionality.
