SEE HOW EASY IS TO FIND A SPORTS BRA February 15, 2007

See How Easily You Can Find the Right Sports Bra 

  You don’t have to be an athlete in order to use a sports bra, because they can provide great support and comfort much better than the conventional bras.  For the active women there was a need for a bra that could fit perfectly on the body while working out, have the right qualities for support, sweat control and design.  It would be ideal to find one that has an accessible price if you will need to replace it when it begins to show its wear and tear. 

   A sports bra must be in the first place comfortable.  Forget about the color and the design; if it doesn’t fit you well, than it’s useless.  Unlike the traditional wire brass, sports bras can definitely be more comfortable and assure a proper support with their fabrics (cotton, spandex) and style, without a binding feeling.

   When searching for a sports bra, pay attention because many types are created just for the good look, and offer almost no support for the breasts.  Having information about the manufacturers and the types of sports bras they are specialized in will certainly ease your choices.  Some of the best companies that produce sports equipment and clothing sell sports bras that are functional and good-looking too.

  The main qualities you should look in a sports bra are:  comfort, moisture control, breathability and moving comfort. A high quality sports bra should feel comfortable, fit on the body and not chafe.  The proportions and the overall shape of the sports bra should allow the freedom of movement.  Regarding the moisture control the sport bra should wick the sweat from the body and allow the perspiration and the heat of the body to go through the fabric and keep you cool and dry.

   One of the first things that need to be established when you are getting ready for the workout is what type of sports bra you need.  Having the right sports bra will assure you the right comfort during the workout no matter the type of exercise you like or the gear you have.  Finding the best sports bra can be an adventure for any women, because the sports bras can be included in many categories, depending on the shape, size and support level.  Now it depends on each woman’s needs and tastes in appearance in order to finally decide on the right sports bra.

§     THE SHAPE OF A SPORT BRA

   The sports bras have two basic styles: “compression” and “encapsulation”.

- The compression style has no cups and smooches the breasts close to the body for a minimal motion, but it creates a mono-breast look.  The compression sports bra can be pulled overhead.

- The encapsulation style include additional straps or under wires.  They will give you a more feminine look, Velcro or snap in the front or the back.

- Under wire is usually included in the encapsulated bras in order to provide a higher level of support for women with large busts.

- Elastic rip band is wide elastic that prevents the bras to ride up around the ribs.  The bras that are longer and don’t have elastic rip bands don’t offer the same support.  Make sure the elastic rip band is covered in fabric to feel more comfortable on the skin.

§     THE BOUNCE CONTROL LEVEL

   In order to find out the sports bra that will prevent your breasts to bounce and keep them close to the body at every move you make, consider the activities that you are practicing.  The more intense the activity is the more control is required from the sports bra.  The bounce control of the sports bra is determined by the impact of the move and the quickness of it.  If you want to buy a sports bra for walkers, for example, a sports bra with low impact qualities is the best, but sports such as aerobic or running require a sports bra that has a high impact resistance quality.

   The adequate sports bra for high impact activities is a compression sport bra that minimizes the movements of the breasts.  This style of sports bra is not fitted for all women, and it depends on the size, cup or rib to fit properly.

  For example, women with very large breasts don’t feel comfortable to pull overhead a compression sports bra.  Therefore, a style that can support her bust and shape must have an adjustable band and shoulder straps.  For a woman that has a D cup size and a narrow rib cage and which doesn’t want her bust to bounce all over the place an encapsulation style would be the best for high impact activities like running.

§     THE DESIGN OF SPORTS BRAS

   You should consider in the first place the type of activity you have instead of the design of the sports bra.  Two important elements that you have to consider are the armholes and the back style.

-          The armholes can be cut close to the shoulder and this is an option for the women who practice low impact sports, like cycling, for example.  For the women who like activities that need lot of movement, the armholes must be deeper and less binding, to offer a freedom of movement (runners, volleyball). 

-          The sports bras have the following back-styles:

1. traditional U-back (regular bras);
2. racer back (offers a good movement, but it can be hard to put on and off);
3. T-back (has the shoulder straps join into one on the back side of the bra).

- The sports bras can be also categorized as underwear or outerwear:

a. the outerwear sports bras can be worn without a cover up, but will usually provide more body coverage;

b. the underwear types are designed to be worn under the top.

- The closures are different and allow you to remove or put on the sports bra in several ways:

a. traditional hooks are easier to handle;

b. styles with front and back closures;

c. hook less styles that can be put on/off by pulling them over the head or stepped into.

§     FABRICS USED FOR SPORTS BRAS MANUFACTURING

   When choosing for the right sports bra, you might be tempted to choose the cheapest ones, made from cotton or nylon.  The sports bras produced today have multiple qualities and advantages, starting with a better support, wicking and warmth.  The revolutionary fabrics are especially used in the sports bras manufacturing and value their properties in the ease of the movement and retention of the sweat and smell.

   The fabrics include artificial fibers (polypropylene, acrylic/nylon, polyester) that come in various combinations and manufacturing procedures in order to obtain certain properties of the sports bras such as softness, warmth, stretch or wicking. 

   Other fabrics such as Coolmax, Supplex and Intera can assure the absorption of the sweat and wick it away from the body.  This creates a comforting feeling because we all know how chafing a sweaty sports bra is.

Type of fabric	Advantages
Supplex, Lycra, Spandex	Softness, support, fits perfectly on the body
Cotton,  Lycra, Spandex	Stretch, support, softness
Polyester, Cotton, Lycra	Support, fitted on the body, moisture absorption
Cool Max, Polyester, Lycra, Spandex	Comfortable, stretching, moisture and wicking advantages

   For an increased comfort and appearance, choose a sports bra that has flat-locked, seams and bindings and a soft thread; check if the tags are ribbon-soft to prevent any chafing. 

§     5 EASY STEPS TO FIT FOR A SPORTS BRA

  The size of sports bras is different from one manufacturer to another because each has a certain way of sizing its products and it is best that you try them before buying.  Fitting properly for a sport bra can be an essential condition in assuring a maximum comfort and a motion control while practicing different types of activities.  Amazingly, a high percentage of women, almost 70%, have no idea about their bra size.  This situation occurs because the woman’s body passes through numerous changes due to weight loss or gain, menopause or giving birth and the size of the bras varies according to those natural changes.  Here is how you can find the exact size and type of sports bra in 5 simple steps.

   In order to determine your size at the moment you want to purchase a sports bra you have to use a tape measure.  Stand straight and make sure the tape measure is snug, not tight. 

1.      What’s the chest size?

The right chest size can be determined by measuring around the chest with the measuring tape, under the arms and just above the bust.  You will find out the number measurement of the sports bra.

2.      What’s the cup size?

You can find the cup size by measuring around the fullest part of the breast and stick with the closest whole number you’ll find.  Use this number and extract from it the chest measurement value and you will find the cup size.  This is the letter measurement from the sports bra.

3.      Establish the Difference cup size 

Size Difference	Cup Size
Less than 1”	AA
1”	A
2”	B
3”	C
4”	D
5”	DD

4.      Consider the level of your activity (low impact – walking, medium impact – weight training, high impact activities – aerobics, softball)

      

5.      Choose the best style of sport bra for you 

  You can find more information about the sizing of the different sports bras according to certain manufacturers by accessing their web sites.  Here are few links that might be useful:

ASICS – www.asicsamerica.com/sizing_charts/app/brasize.htm

SPEEDO – www.speedousa.com/templates/catalog/e1/SizeCharts/product/size_chart.html

CHAMPION – www.championcatalog.com/html/womensapparelsizes.html

§     WHAT PRICES SHOULD YOU EXPECT TO FIND?

   The prices vary from $10 up to $70, and they are in accordance with their uses and qualities.  If a person buys a sports bra for the first time, they all might seem the same.  The majority of the sports bra prices rage somewhere between $5 and $20, and they depend on the manufacturer, style and fabric.

  There are many companies that produce sports bra, and some of them are quite expensive (Everlast, Nike, Norcross), while others are cheaper but just as good regarding the quality (Prospirit or the Body Company).  If you want a sport bra for a daily wear, you can choose the ones with lower prices even from K-Mart.  When it comes to gym wear, you will have to spend a little more, from $30 to $70 for a sports bra. 

   Here is a list with some of the prices you might find in the stores with sports clothing or in the online stores of many companies that are in the sports bra business and not only:

  

	Type of Sports Bra	Price	Qualities
1.	Asics Harmony Seamless Bra Top	$35,99	Compression bra, 95% hydrology, nylon 5%, spandex, seamless
2.	Moving Comfort Abby Bra	$ 32	Soft, ribbed texture, medium impact activity, A and B cups
3.	Brooks Energy Sports Bra	$32	Low-medium impact activity, B and C cups
4.	Reebok Zan Chi Reversible Bra Top	$36	Reversible pattern, wide straps for support, for medium-high activities, A/B/C cups
5.	Pearl Izumi Micro sensor Mainframe Crop	$44,99	Cotton layer underneath, it soaks the sweat, recommended for low-impact activities like yoga or stretching; A/B/C cups.
6.	Nike Beach Sport Bikini Top	$40	Outstanding support for B/C cups; recommended for high impact activities, nice cut for the back side
7.	Women’s No Sweat Sports Bra	$30,95
8.	Champion Women Double Dry Seamless Sports Bra	$31,99
9.	Champion O2 Cool Seamless Sport Bra	$34
10.	Glamorize Front Hook Racer Back Sports Bra	$30,99
11.	Adidas Women Response Respiration Bra	$30
12.	Hind Motion Sensor Bra	$44,99
13.	Speedo Accelerate Zip Front Sports Bra	$16,99
14.	Champion Jog bra Sport shape Bra	$24,99	No bouncing, adjustable straps,  double back clasps, disadvantage: unaesthetic seam
15.	Natori Sports Bra	$39	Comfortable cotton, double seam, adjustable elements, defines the bust.

   If you choose a manufacturer that has a high reputation in the sports bras field you might pay a little more, but you will get what you are paying for.  You can purchase sports bras from any local sports shops or by ordering them online.  At the end of the season there are many discounts for sports bras, and it’s a one time opportunity to buy a sport bra that might be inaccessible at the full price.

   The top 10 companies that produce sports bras for any type of activities from yoga to cycling and aerobics include: Nike, Danskin, Adidas,
Patagonia, ASICS, Champion, Speedo, Hind, Reebok and Moving Comfort.  They can offer you a diversity of sports bras with amazing qualities regarding the level of support, the revolutionary fabrics combinations, the high comfort and the modern designs.

  Browsing the Internet for the best deals on sports bras, whatever you size, type of activity or style you like can be an excellent method to find something perfect for your body and activity.  A good place to start if you are looking for sports bras that are specially designed for high impact activities, weight lifting and endurance training is the Speedo Online Store.  Their products aren’t cheap at all, but the quality is outstanding and the sports bras can last for years if you take care of them properly.

   The experts in the industry consider that young athletes like Maria Sharapova

Have a great impact on today’s sports clothing.  The new features of sports bras like the CoolMax fabric and the Lycra ease the moisture control and allow the air to pass through the fabric.  This is why women appreciate more and more the high level of comfort and functionality brought by a good sport bra.

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