Over the last few months, I’ve been working through the grueling (and at times ugly) process of overhauling my sports bra collection. It was like all my old standbys lost their stretch and support overnight—although in fairness, I hadn’t bought any new ones in years. To soften the financial blow of bra shopping, I looked to Amazon, the home of activewear dupes, for cheap(-ish) options.
That’s where I found Baleaf’s Freeleaf Bra ($46, amazon.com), a piece I was deeply skeptical of at first. But its price (which ranges between $32 and $46, depending on Amazon’s current deals) and cute, strappy back convinced me to take a chance. Lo and behold, it’s now part of my heavy rotation—and I love it so much, I recently bought a second one.
The design
The Freeleaf is a longline bra with a scoop neck, molded cups, and criss-cross straps. All those features probably aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re looking for maximum support, but I think they play well together. The scoop neckline doesn’t plunge too low, and the cups don’t have to do all the lifting, thanks to the strap configuration: One set of straps creates an X across your shoulder blades, while another pair runs straight down from your shoulders to the bra’s band. And, in my opinion, a longer-line bra with a nice, wide band is never a bad thing—I can wear my Freeleaf as a regular bra or a crop top, depending on my plans and the temperature.
The one issue I have with the design is that the band and straps aren’t adjustable. The entire bra is made of a nylon and Lycra material that’s incredibly stretchy and what I would call moderately compressive. Meaning, the band and straps can be somewhat accommodating—but if you want a truly dialed-in fit, you may want something with buckles or a hook-and-eye closure instead.
The sizing
Baleaf uses a mix of standalone sizes and ranged sizes, so your options are small-medium, large-X-large, XX-large, and 3X-large. Is this confusing? Yes. Did I, as someone who never knows if I should buy sports bras in smalls or mediums, appreciate it all the same? . The small-medium is just the right size for me. The band feels a little snug when I first pull it on, but it quickly stretches to fit comfortably around my upper torso.
And luckily, the brand provides a size chart, so you can easily find the option that suits your standard cup and band size.
Original image by SELF senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin
Original image by SELF senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin
The feel
is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this sports bra. It doesn’t rub or squeeze anywhere, and it doesn’t chafe under my armpits, which is an annoyingly common problem for me. I don’t own any high-end sports bras (again, I have had to replace this year—budget is everything), but this is how I’d imagine they feel: sleek, soft, and snug.
