How to Find the Perfect Sports Bra
Why It's Important to Have the Right Bra for Your Activity
We all know that running is a high-impact activity, but no one is more aware of that fact than a woman who is running in a poorly fitted sports bra. Despite the discomfort, many women continue wearing sports bras that don't fit properly simply because they don't see any other way to continue their passion for running. Here at Running Warehouse Australia, we believe that doesn't need to be the case. We want to help make running comfortable for those who thought that bra chafing, uncontrollable bouncing, doubling up bras, and digging straps were the only options.
There are so many choices in sports bras that it can be hard to know where to start. We hope this series of articles can help women find the perfect sports bra to meet their needs.
How to Find the Best Bra
1. Does the Bra Fit?
Bra sizing is the most important factor in finding the perfect sports bra to fit your body. We have an article specifically devoted to measuring your bra size, but there are a few telltale signs that will help you know if your sports bra fits correctly.
Read more about: How to find your sports bra size
The Red Flags of Bra Sizing
| Red Flag | What It Means |
|---|---|
| "Spillage" over the top or sides of the bra | The cups may be too small. Size up or try a less shallow bra shape. |
| Straps digging in | This often means the band is too loose and not supporting the weight of the breasts. You may need to size down. |
| Band rolling up | The bra is probably too small. |
| Cups wrinkling or puckering | The cup size is likely too large. |
Signs of a Correct Fit
| Sign | Description |
|---|---|
| Supportive band | The bottom band should be supporting most of the weight. The fit should be snug, but you should be able to take a deep breath when the bra is fastened on the middle hook. |
| Smooth cups | The cups should be smooth, not wrinkled or puckered. |
| Secure Straps | The straps should be taut and secure, but not digging into or falling off of your shoulders. |
2. Does the Bra Provide the Right Level of Support?
Having the right support is a crucial part of staying active and taking part in the sports you love. It is critical to have a well-fitting bra that works for you and minimises the amount of breast movement. During high-impact activities such as running, your breasts move every which way — not only up and down, but side to side as well.
The level of support you need in a bra is largely dependent on your activity. For low-impact sports like weight lifting and yoga, many women will only need a low-impact support bra. Medium-impact support is better suited to hiking and cross-training, while high-impact support is designed for high-motion activities like running and mountain biking. But keep in mind, the more breast tissue you have (i.e. larger boobs), the more support you may need for even lower impact activities. Also, those with smaller breasts may be satisfied with a medium-impact support bra for even high-movement activities like running.
When shopping with Running Warehouse Australia, you can be confident that we have already organised the sports bras on our website to provide enough support at each cup size for the high impacts of running.
3. Does the Bra Have the Right Features?
There are many features that determine the support, fit, and versatility of a sports bra. We have an entire article dedicated to bra features. Depending on the shape and size of your breasts, different styles of bra may work better for your body. For example, racerback and cross-back bras provide extra room for arm movement, but zippered and scoop-back bras will be easier to get over large busts. Different types of cups, straps, shapes, and closures will determine the support and modesty of a bra.
Learn more about: How to Choose the Best Style Sports Bra for You
4. Does the Bra Make You Look and Feel Good?
We believe you should look and feel good in your sports bra. The right bra for you is the one that has the best combination of the right fit, style, colour, and performance features to have you feeling your best while working out.