Tips for Finding That Perfect Sports Bra

“Today it is actually easier to find a supportive, comfortable, non-chafing, lasting relationship with a man than it is with a sports bra. So, my female athletes, we must turn a corner.”  Kathryn Bertine

A Short History of the Sports Bra

The prototype of the first sports bra, the “jog bra” was made from two jock straps stitched together by some desperate women who wanted better support than regular bras gave during a vigorous workout. I dimly remember those sports bras in the early 80’s. Some were merely a rectangle of stretchy fabric that produced the lovely “uni-boob” look and gave less than adequate support for the well-endowed.

By the ‘90’s one could find cotton-spandex bras that offered decent support for high-impact sports and didn’t break the bank.  I had several of those bras and found they were great—until the cotton fabric became soaked with sweat. In the winter, I became very cold mighty quick. In the summer, I experienced the dreaded chaffing from the elastic under the breasts, and sometimes blood would mix with sweat and drip down. Thanks to the invention of technical fabrics such as CoolMax, which can wick away sweat, and keep it drier and cooler, chaffing was reduced.  The advancements made by using performance fabrics in bras are saving skins, quite literally.

Now there’s a proliferation of sports bras and the variety is stunning: with a palette of colors, patterns, and styles. You can find bras that look great as a trendy apparel piece, pretty yoga tanks with a shelf bras and fashionable spaghetti strap bras, but these “lite” bras won’t do much to support “the girls” for running, triathlons or mountain biking. Women who do high impact sports and have larger breasts put a lot of stress on the Cooper’s ligaments which help hold up the breast. Wearing the right sports bra may prevent these ligaments from stretching. Plus, it’ll be more comfortable!

The “Bouncing Breast” Studies

Thanks to Dr. Joanna Schurr and her colleagues who have been studying the biomechanics of breast movement at the University of Portsmouth.  They conducted a series of experiments that showed the movement of the breast isn’t simply an up and down movement. When a woman walks or runs the breast arcs through a complicated figure-8 pattern. Unfortunately, most bras today aren’t designed to accommodate the side-to-side swaying.

The data from various studies continue to show that breasts are more mobile and less manageable than once thought. For women with breasts larger than C-cup size may want to take note of another study from Dr. Schurr and her colleagues showed that large breasts without good support can throw off their running stride, affect running form and causing them to land more heavily in such a way as to impact foot muscles and possibly cause injury.

In the next few years expect bra designs to get even better. A new study published in Australia last summer showed real promise for an experimental bra design that can reduce breast motion not only vertically, but also from side to side.

Buying Tips for Buying the Best Sports Bras

The discomfort problems still are out there with seams that rub, logos that are sewn on and thus can cause chaffing and bras that are better as a trendy fashion statement than as true support. Ladies, choose your bras well and your breast tissue will thank you.

1. Choose the support to match the activity: triathletes, runners and mountain bikers need bras that will support these high-impact sports. Cyclists who do not run can choose from medium-impact bras.
2. Check out that chest band and shoulder straps: The band should be “firmer than for an everyday bra, but should not dig into your skin. If the shoulder straps dig in to your shoulder now, it would be even worse after an hour of running on the trail.  Make sure there are no seams, exposed hooks, or obvious spots that will chafe.
3. Learn the basics terms of Sports Bra Design: Sports bras are either compression style
   

   This sports bra from Champion is a compression-style bra.

   or encapsulated. Compression bras hold breasts tightly against the chest and are thought to work well for those with smaller breast sizes. Like standard bras, encapsulated style bras cup each breast separately and their design is better for larger busted women. There are some bra companies who are making a combination or molded style bra that has the qualities of both types.

4. Measure Annually: It may be stating the obvious for some of you, but your bra size will change over the years. You want your current bra to fit right so get measured and know your size when you shop. Even if you know your size, some brands trip you up by fitting differently than another, so try before you buy. Generally, you’ll want a tighter fit rather than a looser one.
5. Put the Bra to the Test: Speaking of “try before you buy,” you need to put that bra through a quick test by mimicking the high-impact movements of your sport. Jog in place or pretend to jump-rope and watch for excessive movement.
6. Tight is Good: For those of us, who are larger, look for bras with strong and not stretchy fabric because you want the fabric to hold you in firmly to reduce bounce. Look for a bra that has to be hooked in the front or back. The pull-over-your-head bras are not for us, because if it’s stretchy enough to go over our heads, it’s too stretchy.

This CW-X Firm Support Bra is a combination of compression & encapsulation styles.

When it’s time to say Goodbye: A good sports bra, well taken care of will last up to a year, after that, they may get a little too stretched out to hold you in. If you can no longer read the care label, that’s a sign it’s time for a new one.

The Search for Big Girl Bras:

If you are like me and have been blessed/cursed with a larger chest, you know that it isn’t always easy to find the support you need for high impact sports. I have fluctuated between C & DD sizes over the years and am now the hard-to-find size of 32D. For those who are larger, it can be even harder finding an E, or DDD, but they are out there if you know where to look.  Yes, the retail price is usually north of $50 for great supportive bras when you are well-endowed. But let’s face it, the previous alternative has been wearing 2-3 bras at once—sometimes with a bit of duct tape to make a needed alteration. Then, I know, you may have to pop a few Ibuprofen afterwards for the resulting back and shoulder pain. In the long run, ladies, a decent bra is cheaper than that.

Check out these bras and if you have other recommendations, we’d love to hear from you!

The Enell Sports bra in this photo is an encapsulated style bra--perfect for those C-cup or larger.

Enell Sports Bras come highly recommended by Oprah and Drew Barrymore! They have great supportive bras for the well–endowed athlete.  They come in sizes that go up to 50 DDD and 52 DD.

The Shock Absorber Sports Bras are some other highly recommended and well-supportive bras for the big bosomed. Their research and development is impressive and they are developing (have developed?) bras that minimize the figure-8 movement of the breasts, not just the vertical bounce. Their bras come in sizes up to 40HH.

Champion Sports Bras have been around a long time. They still make great bras and come in sizes that go up to 44DDD

Moving Comfort Bras: have been my bra of choice for the last few years. They come in sizes that range up to 44DD.  As you can see by the photos of our brave and beautiful model running with these bras in the snow, they are good looking bras as well.

Moving in Comfort with Moving Comfort–Our Review

Beth’s Review of the Moving Comfort Venus Bra: I really enjoyed my Moving Comfort bra (M(34AB-36A) VENUS A/B – DAWN and it is High Impact).  I found it to be a better fit then a pull over the head/one piece sports bra.

• I was able to adjust around my body (chest area) – like a traditional bra with the 3 sets of hooks.  I also like having the ability  to adjust the straps.  I was able to keep the Moving Comfort sports bra from riding up on me while I was moving around.
• I am not very busty, so I don’t need a lot of support.  Besides the above mentioned, I also liked the compression feeling.  I had no movement while exercising (running and plyometrics).
• The sports bra felt like a part of me, not like I had a piece of “equipment” on that I had to fiddle and fuss with while I was working out.
• great look and feel
• great construction/durable
• keeps/kept its shape & washed well (I didn’t ever dry it in the dryer)

Tara’s Review of the Moving Comfort Fiona bra: This is one of Moving Comfort’s most popular bras for good reason. It’s my most comfortable bra by far. I love how I don’t even have to think about it while I run: it doesn’t feel tight, there’s no seams that could chafe, the shoulder straps are comfortable, and as a D-size girl, I noticed there’s not a lot of movement. During prolonged speedwork or a hellish spin class, when any little discomfort can become a big irritant, I still feel comfortable. Plus, hey, it’s stylish and I love the color! A few days ago, I went out and bought another one!

This is the Moving Comfort Venus bra (now called the "Vero" bra)