Sports Bras
What you don’t know won’t hurt you. This is not exactly true with sports bra. Not owning a pair won’t tell you what you are actually missing, but you won’t have its benefits either. In reality, sports bras are more than undergarment fashion statement. They exist to serve a crucial role that only a few women know about.
Sports bras are not designed merely to make us more attractive when working out. Some women wear these underneath their clothes so these are not really meant to satisfy aesthetic requirements.
There is really no reason to state the obvious. But for the sake of those women who insist on holding on to their standard half cups even while engaging in various physical activities, there comes a need to spell out why sports bras are as necessary as their athletic shoes.
Comfort-wise sports bras would win hands down compared to the conventional bras. Majority are made from materials like spandex and cotton that provide breast support minus the binding feel. All women, regardless if they have small breasts, require sports bras during athletic activities.
Finding the best sport bra is not hard if you know what criteria to base your choice on. The following factors are crucial to your sport bra selection: straps, styles, fabric, the gore, closures or clasps, and armholes.
Straps are best when they provide a snug fit but no too tight as to restrict movements. Women with larger breasts often choose T-backs or racerbacks since these offer greater support. Adjustable straps are the more popular choice because these allow changes in the support based on what the activity calls for.
There are different styles of sports bras. Compression style work to press the breasts into the body to minimize movements. Encapsulation pairs feature built-in liners or molded cups, and are more preferred by women who have larger breasts.
Fabric is another essential factor that influences your choice of a sport bra. Make sure that the fabric used is moisture-absorbent. These are mostly a combination of cotton and synthetic material. Cotton is used for softness while the synthetic fibers are meant to keep the bra dry.
The gore means the front of the sports bra. Your choice should depend on how high it reaches from the breasts towards the neck. Women with large breasts are better off with a gore that reaches higher to obtain maximum breast support and avoid “breast spillage”.
Closure or clasps may not seem important but they are actually a crucial element of sport bra choice. Each hook, underwire, clasps, and seams should be wrapped in moisture-absorbent material, and should be attached ergonomically in areas where they complement the body.
The armholes should provide enough space for maximum arm movements, but should not be wide enough to cause breast tissue spillage.
When fitting a sports bra, make sure that you choose function over style. Comfort and breast support are the main requisites. To test whether the sports bra you are trying on is capable of giving you the maximum support, do the jumping test. You may feel like a complete moron doing it but it will actually tell you if the bra allows you to move freely with reduced breast movement.
Take deep breaths. The sports bra should feel snug, but does not restrict heavy and deep breaths. Also, you can check the fitting by raising your arms and clapping them over your head. If the bra hikes up, then it isn’t your size.
Investing in a good pair of sports bra is highly advisable to women who are physically-active. Because when they think of it, the bigger the breasts are, the harder they are likely to bounce.