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Support in Sport
Finding the right sports
bra for you
By Monique Cole
Over a decade ago, two exasperated women who could not find a
bra supportive enough for running sewed together two jockstraps,
and thus the first Jogbra was born. That brand name has since
become synonymous with sports bras and the original design was
considered so revolutionary that it's now featured in the Smithsonian
Museum's permanent collections.
The first generation of sports bras
tended to look like two jockstraps sewn together and larger breasted
women still found themselves wearing two or even three bras at
once to minimize bounce. Thankfully, we've come a long way since
then, with incredible improvements in both function and fashion.
Bras are now designed as technical apparel, balancing support,
wicking characteristics and comfort, with an overall look that
is stylish.
"For Spring 2000 there are a lot
of nice new styles," says Kelli Lusk, a buyer for the Runners
Roost store on Colorado Boulevard. Some exciting advancements
include reversible patterns giving buyers two bras for the price
of one, as well as styles with mesh accents in both front and
back which serve the dual purpose of allowing venting and looking
good.
Presented with such a wonderful variety
of options, athletic women now face a different kind of dilemma:
which one to buy.
The Right Fit
The most important step in buying
a sports bra, says Lusk, is getting a good fit. A properly fitting
bra will offer complete freedom of movement - a full range of
upper body motion without friction - along with freedom FROM
movement - no bouncing breasts.
"It comes down to comfort,"
Lusk states, "Look for a sturdy band under breasts and straps
that are stiff, not too elastic, because a strap that stretches
won't offer as much support." In the dressing room, watch
for pinching or looseness, or if the style rides too high into
the armpit.
A good fit along with a wicking fabric
will generally prevent chaffing, unless you have really sensitive
skin, in which case Lusk recommends a lubricant such as BodyGlide.
Support
Most sports bras of the basic,
pullover type fall into the compression category, minimizing
vertical movement of the breasts by compressing them against
the ribcage. Compression styles are great for women with A and
B cup sizes, or for larger-breasted women who engage in low impact
sports.
Athletes sized C or larger will appreciate
the added support of encapsulation style bras that support the
breasts in separate cups. In the past, these styles often had
a matronly look, but now some are fashionable enough to wear
without a T-shirt over them.
Lusk points out that cotton fabrics
will offer more support although they won't wick as well as some
of the manmade fibers. But if your favorite sports are low impact,
requiring less breast support, you may place a higher priority
on other aspects such as wicking power, overall comfort and style
factor.
Size matters
Once upon a time, most sports
bras only came in XS through XL sizing. Now you'll often find
rib cage and cup sizing in a wide range- from 32 D to 38A. "Learn
and accept your size," says Lisa Sorrentino, founder of
X-chrom.com, an e-commerce site for active women. "Don't
buy the size you wish you were." She also points
out that sizes are not completely standard so you may not fit
in the same size in one model as another.
Look matters
While I didn't feel so lucky
as a teenager watching puberty pass right by my chest without
leaving much of a mark, now that I participate in a variety of
vigorous and sometimes bouncy outdoor sports, I'm grateful to
say that my A cup is only half-full. My breasts never get in
the way as I rotate through a climbing move and they stay put
as I run on trails.
Compression bras offer plenty of support
for my needs, but as the name suggests, they give me a chest-flattening
look reminiscent of 1920s flappers. (Just because I act like
a tomboy doesn't mean I want to look like one.) Larger breasted
women I know complain of the "uni-boob" look that compression
bras create. Plus, taking off these pullover models can sometimes
make you feel like a contortionist.
Lucky for us, new compression styles
borrow some of the features from the encapsulation style sports
bras that treat the breasts as two separate entities. You'll
find traditional looks with underwires, internal cups and hidden
clasps for ease in taking them on and off.
As attested by the hullabaloo Brandi
Chastain of the US Soccer Team created by tearing off her uniform
and revealing a black sports bra, sports bras can - and perhaps
should - be sexy.
Buyer beware
A 1998 study commissioned by
the American Council on Exercise revealed that some top-selling
sports bras provide no more support than standard, everyday bras.
Researchers measured the amount of vertical breast movement while
subjects ran on a treadmill in a variety of bras.
Their somewhat shocking conclusion was
that two of the models - Danskin's Support Contour and Hanes
Sports' Level 3 Racer Back - did not provide any greater support
than the subjects' everyday bras.
While it won't be quite as scientific,
Lusk recommends mimicking the motions of your chosen sport (running
in place, for example) while trying on a bra. And she points
out that women should beware of shimmels, the tank tops with
built-in shelf bras. "The shelf bra does not offer much
support," she says. "If you're an A or small B you're
probably fine, but bigger than that and you're probably going
to do some damage."
No lifetime warranty
After spending so much time
(and perhaps money) in finding just the right sports bra, be
sure it lasts as long as possible. "On average, a machine-handled
sports bra will last about six months," Sorrentino says.
"If you hand-wash and line dry your sports bra instead of
machine handling, it will last about twice as long."
You might want to borrow my demotion
plan. My newest sports bras are reserved for running and mountain
biking. Once they start to loose their support, they get demoted
to lower-impact activities like climbing, road biking and grocery
shopping. And when they take their last breath, I heave a heavy
sigh and demote them to the rag bag.
Sidebar: Quick Tips
The American Council on Exercise offers
the following pointers:
- Go by the fit, rather than the size
of the bra. Breast size changes with weight changes, menstrual
cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding and medication.
- Choose a bra that has good ventilation
because trapped perspiration increases chaffing. New breathable
fabrics help keep skin cool and dry.
- Make sure the clasps and straps don't
dig into your skin. A good sports bra should be comfortable from
the very first wearing.
- When trying on a bra, jump around and
try to mimic the activity you'll be doing while wearing the bra.
You may want a different type of bra for lower-impact sports
than you would for aerobics or jogging.
Over time, elasticity is lost. Replace your bra every six months
to a year.
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