Here is our Ultimate Sports Bra Guide

Why does a bra need to fit you properly?

If a bra doesn't fit, it has no chance of functioning. So choosing the 'highest rated' Sports Bra online may just leave you disappointed if the size isn't spot on. This is because the bra needs to fit firmly around the ribcage in order to best stabilize breast tissue. The cups also need to be fitted appropriately in order to best control breast displacement. Here's a bra fitting guide to help you ensure your size is spot on.

Why do we need breast support?

Wouldn't it be great if we had in-built support for our breasts? Well actually, we kind of do! The problem is that it just isn't sufficient enough for our daily demands. Our skin is the major support structure of the breast, as well as the Coopers Ligaments, which form a thin structure within the breast tissue. However, both of these support systems can be easily damaged, and once damaged cannot be repaired. This is why we need a supportive bra, not just for sport, but for daily living.

What materials do Sports Bras use?

Technical Sports Bras come in many styles and varying fabrics. Each brand will have their own story behind the development of their particular technical fabrics. However, most brands are chasing the same thing: to control moisture during physical activity. Brands want to ensure that materials wick moisture from the skin and move it to the outer layer of the bra. This is a more difficult undertaking in moulded /padded bras, but with advancements in fabrication this has certainly been achievable.

How does bra sizing work?

It's staggering how many women don't understand the way bra sizing works. Here's what you need to know!

An A cup or a G cup is not a set unit of measurement, a cup size will change when the band size changes. For example, an 8D cup will be about the size of an apple, but a 24D cup will be about the size of a rockmelon. As we go up a band size, the cup also goes up in size, but the letter remains the same.

Bra sizing works to allow for a system called 'sister sizing'. This means that if we go down a back size, we need to go up a cup size in order to keep the same cp volume. This means that a size 12D and a 10DD are the same in cup volume/size but just fit differently around the back. This is the reason that sometimes the 12D's will work well for that customer, and in other brands/models the 10DD works better.

What's most important is to know that bra sizes are just a guide. In most cases we fit customers that are buying multiple products into more than one size - every brand’s interpretation of sizing are different.

What is 'breast
biomechanics'?

Breast biomechanics is a technical term for the study of breast movement, typically during activity. There are now many researchers all over the world that are considered Breast Biomechanists as their study and research is focused on the mechanical laws relating to the movement of the breasts. This research helps formulate the info in our ultimate sports bra guide.

How should our breasts move during activity?

Typically, we want our breasts to move in alignment with our torso. When we walk or run our torso moves in a sideways figure of 8 pattern, like a butterfly shape. We want our breasts to follow this same pattern of movement. When our breasts move out of alignment with our torso, it's believed that potential damage to the tissues is done, pain may be caused and embarrassment may be felt.

What causes a bra to
chafe?

Chaffing is friction. Friction is caused by rubbing or movement. In order to reduce or eliminate this, we need to ensure that the materials sit and stay firmly against our skin. We can eliminate chaffing by getting fitted for a high-quality technical bra. However, other factors can affect chafing, which may be outside as the bra itself: E.g. distance being run/walked and moisture content.