There are more women runners today than ever before. And therefore, more women need the right gear. Remarkably, it was only 49 years ago that Title IX was passed, requiring both men and women to have equal opportunities in sports. Believe it or not, sports bras didn’t even exist then. The “Jockbra” was released in 1977, conceived when two women sewed two jockstraps together to support their busts while they worked out.
Since then, we’ve come a long way in women’s running gear—moisture-wicking tops, shorts with several pockets, and bras that support all bust sizes. The options are bountiful and endless, but that can make decision-making exhausting. It’s essential to find the right clothes made with the proper construction and materials to provide the support and fit you need to stay covered and comfortable.
To ensure you conserve your energy for your runs, we’ve compiled a list of gear to help you choose what to wear as you hit the road or trail. Keep reading to see a list of editor-approved running clothes for women that will make runs more stylish and efficient.
The Best Running Gear for Women
How We Selected
Our test editors evaluated and vetted every piece of gear on this list, and when appropriate, we’ve linked to each respective full review and buying guide. We also consulted longtime Runner’s World test editor Amanda Furrer on what items she deemed the best for women. We picked the gear below based on performance, price, comfort (fabric, ventilation), technical features (moisture-wicking, reflective elements), and women’s specific styling and support (no-bounce, customizable fits, hydration packs that fit contoured bodies) to build this essential collection for women runners.
The Blissfeel 2 improves on its predecessor in every way, with a feel similar to Adidas’s Ultraboost that provides plenty of pop to its ride. It’s a solid trainer, supportive for pounding the pavement daily, with enough toe room—plus an upper designed to contour the foot—to lend it extra comfort.
Furrer highly recommends the Blissfeel 2 as the best women’s daily trainer. It’s “a neutral shoe ideal for recovery days or runners who want more support and firmer cushioning,” she says. “My right Achilles had been sore after a couple of runs, and I could tell it silently pleaded for me to take a day off. Somehow, when I got to testing the Blissfeel 2, my Achilles felt A-OK. You know a shoe is good when you somehow don’t suffer any repercussions from making poor training choices.”
Read Our Full Review | The Best Women’s Running Shoes
Regardless of style, color, or length, our favorite running socks are by Balega. The brand specializes in well-cushioned, anti-odor socks that stay stink-free between washes despite multiple wears. They sport a plush underfoot without taking much real estate inside your shoes, and they’re airy and light, the way we love. They’re also highly breathable, wicking away moisture with its patented silver ions technology, a moisture-wicking alternative to traditional wool. Grab them in one of 10+ colors or crew-styled with extra arch support.
Brooks’ latest Ghost entry is the perfect balance of firm and spongey; its soft give adapts to the bottom of your foot, and a foam firmness lends support and shock absorption. The brand’s DNA Loft v2 updates the compression-molded EVA, previously used in the Glycerin 19 midsole, making it lighter and softer, while a well-ventilated upper provides optimal breathability during runs. The result is a well-balanced shoe with excellent performance, from daily training to distance running.
While several of our testers say it feels clunky at first run, it feels fantastic once you find its rhythmic stride. Some also say they preferred a more cushioned forefoot in the Ghost 15, though the heel is plenty soft.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS to XXL |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Polyester |
This jacket’s superpower is extreme breathability—when we conducted a fabric-permeability test using a hot sauna, the Canopy released more vapors than any other waterproof running jacket we tested. It has a stowable hood, which doesn’t flop behind your head as you run, plus it’s semi-fitted to rid excess fabrics. It’s also made from recycled polyester.
This is ideal for travelers who don’t want to pack bulky clothes but still need quality running pieces. The front pockets also have snug compartments that fit your phone, plus its packability—which includes wearing it as a lightweight backpack—makes it ideal for unpredictable weather when you may have to stash or zip up.
The Best Lightweight Running Jackets
The Shefit bra has long swaths of Velcro on the straps and band for a personal fit. The bra has an impressively inclusive size range, from A to I cups. You can adjust the bra from the front while wearing it—no contorting your arms to reach hook-and-eyes required. The straps go from X-back to H-back and back, whatever your preference is. One more thing: Did we mention it’s a zipper front closure?
Read Our Full Review | The Best Sports Bras
As long as you have Bluetooth headphones, the 255 lets you leave your phone at home while you’re out running, syncing music from services like Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music directly on its device. (If you don’t have these services, you can manually add music and podcasts via Garmin Express.) Music aside, its most significant feature is the multi-band reception, which allows the watch to simultaneously receive two signals from a satellite to filter out inaccurate data points with its GPS.
It’s a mystery to us how Rabbit makes this top soft as butter, but we won’t lose sleep over that enigma—or in the EZ Tee. The shirt is cozy enough to wear to bed and functionally sound thanks to its stretch-woven, sweat-wicking material. We’re fans of Rabbit’s EZ collection for its tailored fit and unrivaled comfort, and as our previous test, Lakota Gambill, says: “The material is so soft and light and comforting.”
The GoCap is made of fast-drying Coolwick fabric that keeps your head from getting too sweaty on hot days. Multi-panel construction provides a sleek, comfortable fit. The soft, bendable brim and reflective accents are bonus features that roadies and trail runners will appreciate.
The Salomon Sense Pro 5 is one of the best women-specific race options we’ve tested. The two front flask pockets are positioned lower to fit around a woman’s chest, and the included flasks have straws to make drinking easy without pulling them out of the pockets. The design also features six additional pockets for quickly accessing essentials, including two zippered compartments for securely holding a phone or other gear. A rear pass-through pocket, a main zippered compartment, and a top-loading pouch provide tons of organization that make it capable of holding everything you’d need for races up to 200+ miles.
These three-inch inseam shorts have a perforated flat waistband, mesh fabric that’s fast-drying and breathable, and for even more ventilation, side-split leg openings. They’re a favorite of Furrer, who says these shorts are so lightweight, “you have to look down to remind yourself you’re wearing them.”
Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ’s Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.
Casey Clark is a freelance journalist who specializes in beauty, health, and style-related commerce content. She graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in journalism. Her work has been published in Women’s Health, Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, and more.
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she’s a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
