We Reviewed Fabletics’ Most Supportive Sports Bra And It’s Worth The Hype

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Sometimes, all it takes for a brand to take off is a mega-celebrity’s endorsement. Fabletics has something more than that: this activewear brand with a cult following was straight-up founded by the one and only Kate Hudson. It’s both a clothing brand and a buying club in which members can get amazing discounts and stack up loyalty rewards. Fabletics announces new products monthly, and their super-loyal customers always react with a ton of excitement.

QUICK READ: I tried the new Fabletics’ Zoe Zip-Up High Support Sports Bra, and it was as supportive as bras 5x the cost–and easier to get off. You can get yours here.

The newest thing to get the fans going: Fabletics’ Zoe Zip-Up High Support Sports Bra. This one’s all in the name: designed for the highest-impact of exercise routines, this front-zip bra delivers maximum support where it counts. And at under $25 for members, the Zoe is certainly a steal, but does a bra with a price tag this modest truly live up to the hype?

The Zoe aims to address the many issues sport-bra-wearers everywhere face. First, with the rising popularity of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and other high-impact exercises, sports bras needed to evolve beyond being comfortable and sweat-wicking. This bra has a few layers to it, with two front hooks, a thick band, wide straps, and, of course, that zipper, all working together to maximize support.

The Zoe is a bit of a challenge to get on properly, since it’s a three step ordeal. One: Slide your arms into the bra like you’re throwing on a jacket. Two: Hook the two clasps. Three: Zip on up. It sounds like a lot of work, and constriction is definitely a concern: wouldn’t something with that many layers make it impossible to breathe? To my pleasant surprise, the Zoe was so comfortable that I didn’t even notice it.

After discovering that, yes, I can get the Zoe on, I used it for two of my most intense workouts: a run and a cycling class. As support goes, it holds up. On my run, it did an excellent job of limiting bouncing, because the straps are as plush and adjustable as they are thick. As size goes, my medium ran bigger than I expected, and I realized this because, unfortunately, it began chafing my armpits about halfway through my run. Having this happen spurred me to find out if other people experience the same, and it turns out one in every five reviewers said that the Zoe runs a half-size big.

But back to the intense workouts: The Zoe is a miracle for cycling. Running involves a lot more full-body movement than cycling does, so I didn’t experience any chafing, thankfully. The Zoe also kept my cleavage where I prefer it (out of sight), which a lot of sports bras have failed to do during my cycling classes. For both cycling and running, I work up legendary sweats, so I was happy to learn that the front zipper on the Zoe really does make this thing come right off easily, which I haven’t experienced with other bras (read more below). One downside is that it’s not the fastest-drying bra out there, so you’ll really want to get it off quickly.

The final test came with taking off the bra. I think anyone who’s ever worn a sports bra knows just how much it sucks to take off a sweaty sports bra. This is where the zipper came in handy — it just popped right off, no struggling or uncomfortable stickiness to contend with. That was the silver lining on this whole Zoe bra journey (and speaking of linings, this bra does have optional padded lining that you can take out).

Fabletics has really come through here, especially on price and design. It’s worth restating that this one’s especially good for runners and HIIT folks, but anyone whose workout gear consists of just a sports bra will love it just as my much. It might even be worth learning to love zippers, straps, and hooks, given how affordable and supportive it is.

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