Sports Bras Under Twenty: THE GYM PEOPLE Longline vs RUNNING GIRL Cross-Back
Three longline bras, one gym hour, all under $20. THE GYM PEOPLE longline at $17.32, RUNNING GIRL's cross-back at $19.79, RUNNING GIRL's crisscross at $17.99.
None of them is high impact in the sense that matters for a larger bust — that is a number, not a mood (bounce is data). All three are for lifting, walking, cycling, and a yoga class that is honestly a stretch class.
Longline means the band does the work. That is why all three look alike.
Longline is the whole trick
A longline bra spreads tension over more ribs, so the same fabric feels twice as stable. All three of these are longline for that reason. The difference between them is the back: THE GYM PEOPLE is a straight racer-ish band, the RUNNING GIRL strappy is a cross-back with thin straps, and the crisscross longline adds a second band of straps across the shoulder blades.
The straps matter for one thing: whether your shirt prints them. Under a racerback tank the straight-back is invisible; under a scoop tee the cross-back shows. If you wear the bra as the top, take the crisscross.
Crisscross reads as a top. Straight back disappears under a tank.
Which one, by job
- Lifting and walking: THE GYM PEOPLE at $17.32. Removable pads, hold that does not fight you on a bench.
- Spin and a fitted tee: the RUNNING GIRL cross-back at $19.79. Cooler back, print under a scoop neck.
- Bra as the top: the crisscross longline at $17.99. The softest of the three and the most strap to see.
Fit notes that come up again and again
All three run snug in the band and short in the body — size up if you are long-waisted, which is the top complaint on every one of them. Removable pads curl after a hot wash; take them out, wash cold, put them back while damp. Elastic shows the first sign of age at the bottom band, which is when a $17 bra has earned its replacement.
When to skip all three
Skip if you need high impact at a full bust — go to the Best Sports Bras list and the underwired options. Skip if you want a bra with a clasp; all three pull over the head, which is a real cost on a sweaty day. Skip if you wanted an everyday bra — see the 18 Hour review.
Pros
- Three good bras under $20 from long-running lines
- Longline bands stay put in a row or on a bench
- Straps double as the design, so no extra top needed
- Cold wash and they outlast the leggings
Cons
- None is high impact for a larger bust
- No clasp — pullover only
- Removable pads curl if you machine wash them
- Run short for a long torso
Take the GYM PEOPLE at $17.32 for the gym, the crisscross at $17.99 if the bra is the top, and accept that $20 is a smoothing bra, not a bounce-control bra.
Read next: High-Impact Sports Bra Checklist, Best Sports Bras, and the sports bras aisle.
