Find The Best Sports Bra

June 21, 2012, 4:04 pm Alicia Beveridge, Senior Trainer Bottoms Up! Fitness

Running + boobs are hardly a match made in heaven, especially for those who are 'well endowed'. Girls, here are 10 top tips to find the best sports bra and ensure your ponytail is the only thing bouncing when you train!

Find The Best Sports Bra
Run

While some girls are lucky enough to get away with throwing on a cheap, cotton sports bra from Kmart and still manage 10km no issue, the rest of us are left layering normal bras, with sports bras and then crop tops – and we still pull up with sore backs and bounced-out boobies!

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Now, I’m assuming that all the well endowed ladies out there want to keep their ‘ladies’ riding high for as long as possible (and if any men out there are reading this, we’re sure you want your girl’s goodies to stay perky too, so pass this article on!). You wouldn’t go running in a pair of flip-flops, would you now? Time to think of your sports bra as just as important and technical a piece of equipment as those Nike Frees!

Yep, it’s time to put your breast assets forward girls, so follow these top ten tips to help choose the best sports bra:

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 1: Try before you buy
When shopping for the elusive 'perfect' sports bra, note that it should fit firmly but should not constrict your breathing. Recall the saying 'try before you buy'? Make sure you do this in the change room - perform a few jumping jacks, swing your arms and move around to test your potential new purchase out. If you feel uncomfortable in any way - rubbing, poking, constricting or bouncing, put it back and keep searching.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 2: Enlist an expert

Get fitted by an expert, especially if you are opting for one of the more traditional sports bras, like a Berlei. An expert will make sure you are trying on the right size and guide you down the right track.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 3: Be specific

Lots of sports bras on the market now come in a size range of small, medium, or large but these are often not specific enough. Ideally, you want to find something that’s similar to your everyday bra sizing and subsequently more tailored to your breasts and upper body shape.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 4: Check stitches and seams

Check out the stitching and seams, as you don't want bumps under your tight sports tank. Seamless cups are brilliant. The Nike Pro Victory Compression bra is smooth from every angle and uber comfy – we love!

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 5: Variety is key

Make a commitment to yourself and your assets to attain an array of sports bras, especially if you are very active and do a range of sports. The bra you wear for downward dog-ing in yoga for example, is not going to be the same one you’d need for say, grapevines and jumping jacks in a high intensity aerobic class.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 6: Is is breathable?

Opt for high-performance, breathable fabrics that are designed to keep you cool, wicking moisture away from the skin. Chaffing should not be an issue with the right sports bra. Try Moving Comfort bras for a high performance range that lasts forever with minimum care.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 7: Wash first

Hand wash your sports bras if you can, or at least wash them in one of those protective bags you can pick up from lingerie stores. If you’re making an investment in a pricey crop, you want it to last at least a year.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 8: Check straps and backs

For the girls out there with bigger, erm, bosoms, reach for bras with wider straps, and even a cross-over back, as they will increase support and ultimately comfort. Try and also choose a bra that has form fitted cups, which should reduce the up and down movement and hold things securely in place. The Tata Tamer bra from Lululemon is a generously endowed gal’s best friend.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 9: Underwire guidelines

To Underwire or not to underwire... this depends on your cup size. If you’re a c-cup or higher, an underwire gives you maximum support, which is what you want when you are jumping around at boot camp. Berlei's High Performance Bra Range are amazing when it comes to high intensity exercise, like running or jumping, as they incorporate underwire and reduce bounce by over 50%.

BEST SPORTS BRA TIP 10: Replace often

Remember, after you've bought those high-tec, expensive and flashy runners, start saving to replace your fancy, high-tec sports bra too. Bras should be replaced roughly around the same time as your runners, if you wear them as often.

Alicia Beveridge is a Senior Trainer at Bottoms Up! Fitness, a collaboration of some of Bondi Beach's top health and fitness trainers, coaches and consultants. For more great tips or to participate in a few sessions go to Bottoms Up! Fitness.

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