“After running for 20 minutes, I was out of breath, and my chest was shaking so much” “When I stretch in yoga, the shoulder straps always slide” – if you have also had such a problem, it means that you have not chosen the right sports bra. Women’s breasts have no bone support, and the amplitude of the breasts can reach 5-12 cm during exercise, and long-term lack of protection will lead to loose ligaments and sagging breasts. Today’s guide, from function to scene, from fabric to size, will help you understand the purchase of sports bras at once.
1. Understand the core first: Where is the black technology of sports bras hidden?
The core value of the sports bra is “protection”, which is fully supported by the functional design behind the back. Arlene, a marathon enthusiast next to me, once suffered a contusion on the soft tissues of her chest due to running in ordinary underwear, and completely solved the problem after changing to a style with professional technology. You must pay attention to these key designs:
- High-intensity support: Achieved through double-layer cup body and lateral adductor cartilage, strenuous exercise such as running needs to meet this standard, which can reduce breast amplitude by more than 60%.
- Shock-absorbing design: A wide lower band is key to distribute the weight of the chest and avoid stress on the shoulders and back during exercise.
- Breathable and quick-drying: The breathable mesh design on the armpits and back is very important, with quick-drying fabrics, such as Coolmax fabrics, which can quickly wick away moisture after sweating and will not stick to the skin.
- Details plus: seamless process avoids abrasion of skin, removable chest pads are easy to clean, and antibacterial and anti-odor functions are suitable for people who exercise regularly.
2. Scene injustice is equivalent to wearing in vain! How to match different sports?
The intensity of exercise is different, and the demand for sports bras is also completely different. I have compiled an adaptation table, and it is correct to choose according to it:
Types of exercise | Strength grade | Recommended style | Core requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
Yoga, Pilates | Low intensity | Yoga sports bra, cross strap bra | Soft and comfortable, highly elastic, and does not restrict body stretching |
Running, marathons | High strength | Running sports bra, shock absorber style | Super shock absorption, good fixation, and safer reflective design for night running |
HIIT, ball games | Medium to high intensity | HIIT high-strength underwear, I-back style | Breathable, quick-drying, stable support, and sudden movements |
Cycling, outdoor off-road | Medium intensity | Cycling sports bra, outdoor off-road bra | Wear-resistant, windproof, and does not deviate with cycling clothes |
3. Version and size: The secret of small breasts not empty cups and big breasts without pressing down on the chest
If you don’t choose the right fit, no matter how expensive the sports bra is, it will be in vain. My colleague Lisa is a D cup and bought a tight-fitting one-piece bra before, but her chest was tight; and Xiao Zhou, who has a flat chest, complains about empty cups in her underwear, and it doesn’t improve until she chooses the right fit.
Let’s look at the fit first: the front zipper sports bra is easy to put on and take off, suitable for living alone or nail lovers; Cross strap bra and racerback sports bra (I-back) can strengthen back support and reveal a good-looking back line, suitable for sports vests; styles with elongated hems can avoid curling during exercise and have a slight wrap on the waist and abdomen.
Size is the key of keys, and teach you two steps to measure accurately: the first step is to measure the lower bust (the lower edge of the breast goes around the body) to determine the size number; the second step is to measure the upper bust (the fullest part of the breast is around the body) and calculate the difference to determine the cup (the difference of 10cm is an A cup, one cup for every 2.5cm increase). It is recommended to choose a breasted bra with a burst design, and a small-breasted friendly bra can choose a cup with a gathering effect.
4. Fabric determines experience: comfortable sports bras are made of these materials
People with sensitive skin or who sweat easily will feel more clearly about the fabric. A good sports bra fabric should be both elastic and breathable. Common high-quality fabrics include:
- Nylon Spandex Blend: The most mainstream combination, nylon is wear-resistant, spandex provides stretch, and the ratio is usually 85:15, with the best balance of elasticity and durability.
- Recycled polyester: The first choice of the environmental party, like many styles of Adidas use this fabric, the same performance as ordinary polyester fiber, and can also reduce pollution.
- Functional fabrics: Coolmax fabrics have first-class quick-drying effects and are suitable for high-intensity exercise; bamboo fiber antibacterial fabrics are skin-friendly and suitable for daily training; ice silk cool fabrics are suitable for summer wear.
- Skin-friendly fabrics: Modal sports bra is soft and comfortable, but has poor elasticity, suitable for low-intensity exercise; high-elastic lycra fabric is super elastic and can fit the curves of the body without tightness.
5. Brand and purchase: pit avoidance skills see here
Different brands of sports bras have their own focuses, and you can choose according to your budget and needs: Nike and Adidas have strong comprehensive performance, and the style is also trendy, suitable for daily wear; Lululemon’s yoga bra fabric is comfortable and has a good shaping effect, but the price is high; Shock Absorber’s running series is professional-grade, and the big-breasted sisters close their eyes and enter; Decathlon is full of cost performance, and you can buy a good basic model within 100 yuan; Li Ning and Anta’s domestic brands are becoming more and more fragrant, and the plus-size styles are very complete.
When purchasing, you should also avoid these pitfalls: the shoulder straps are too thin and easy to strangle the shoulders, try to choose wide shoulder straps to relieve pressure; the edge of the cup body is too hard to grind the skin, so you should lift your arm to feel it when trying it on; don’t soak it in hot water when washing, don’t wring it out, wash it gently with cold water and dry it flat, which can prolong the life (the normal life of a sports bra is 6-12 months, and it is recommended to change it every 3 months if you exercise regularly).
6. Yigu’s procurement perspective: choose a sports bra, and the cost performance is hidden in the details
As a purchasing agent, I focus on the “cost-performance ratio” when choosing a sports bra. Many niche brand styles use the same nylon spandex fabric as big brands, but the price is only half because the brand premium is eliminated. When purchasing, priority will be given to models with seamless craftsmanship and removable breast pads, which can improve the user experience and reduce after-sales problems. In addition, environmentally friendly and sustainable fabrics are a trend in recent years, and this type of style is very popular in cross-border procurement, and the profit margin is also larger. It is recommended that you compare the fabric ingredient list when buying, and don’t spend money on the brand logo.
7. FAQs of FAQs
- Q: What should I do if the shoulder strap always slides? A: Choose a style with adjustable shoulder straps, adjust the shoulder straps to the appropriate length when wearing, and check whether they are tight before exercising.
- Q: How to clean the sports bra? A: Wash gently by hand with cold water, use neutral laundry detergent, and do not use bleach; after washing, lay it flat and dry, do not expose it to the sun, to avoid the aging of the fabric and lose its elasticity.
- Q: How to collect the accessory breasts? A: Choose a sports bra with a side tuck-in design, the edge of the cup body should fit the armpit to avoid being too loose or too tight, and do an arm lift action when trying on to see if the accessory breast will leak out.
- Q: Can I wear a sports bra while breastfeeding? A: You can choose special lactation sports bras, you should choose a style with front buttons and no wires, which is convenient for breastfeeding, and the fabric should also be breathable and skin-friendly.
- Q: How to make a flat chest bigger? A: Choose a cup body with a gathering effect, or a small-breasted friendly bra with a pleated design, avoid choosing a loose size, and fit the body to show the shape of the breast.