Finding a really well-fitting sports bra is not that easy. We show you what to look for when buying, how to find the right size and which sports bra fits which sport.
Yes, the sense of many sports utensils can be discussed for a long time. Many are there to pull the money out of our pockets.
But there are also really useful pieces of equipment, where you should not save. The sports bra is one of the most important but still underestimated pieces of clothing for women.
No matter what sport you practice, a well-fitting sports bra should not be missing in any wardrobe!
But let's look at the matter soberly: The bust consists of skin, glands, ligaments, connective tissue and fat.
Compared to our other muscles, the female breast cannot be trained. The bust itself has no muscles. They hang on the chest wall. So in order not to constantly bounce up and down, it needs support!
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Good fit and support for all women
Depending on size and weight, exercise causes tensile and stretching stress on the breast and surrounding skin, as well as the internal connective tissue.
Caution: any breast, no matter how large, that is unprotected during exercise can develop into a Sagging chest develop
The bust begins to sag when the tendons are stretched. The risk of chest pain increases.
Even if you have a smaller bust (Cup A), when you do strenuous sports like running, your chest moves up and down a few inches with every step you take.
The larger the bust the more movement.
On average there are 8,5 cmthat a chest moves up and down while jogging. Per step!
It gets even more frightening when you look at the movement per kilometer run. Then it is a whole 84 meters (!) up and down movement!
Whether we like it or not, our breasts move with every step we take.
A good sports bra reduces movement by up to 75%. Especially women with large breasts can get tension in the shoulders and neck if the wrong choice of sports bra.
The larger the breast, the more intensively you should deal with this issue before buying.
What distinguishes a sports bra from a classic bra?
At first glance, many sports bras look very similar to classic models. Many have similar cuts. However, there are also very big differences.
Therefore, never go running with a normal bra or complete a workout where you are in motion a lot!
A sports bra fits tighter. That's how it gives us support. Playful details such as mesh, ruffles, lace, etc. are not found in a sports bra. All this would irritate the skin during very intense sports and rub on it.
From the formerly boring black sports bra have also developed trends here. Meanwhile, there are fortunately many sporty bras with pretty patterns and colors :)
Especially tight sports bras should really only be worn for sports. If you wear a running bra for too long, it can become uncomfortable.
The right sports bra variant for all sports
If you're buying a sports bra, you've probably noticed that there are different levels (support strengths). This information is a great guide.
How much support it really has to be, every woman decides for herself. Many feel like they are being forced into a corset with a very tightly cut model. Others need exactly this tight wearing feeling to feel comfortable.
The sports bra with low support
These bras are very comfortable to wear. They sit loosely and should therefore be used for sports where you do not move much and quickly. Typical uses for the low support sports bra are Pilates, yoga or simple stretching exercises.
Sports bras with low or medium support are very often cut in the form of singlets. This bra is usually inexpensive and especially good for women with smaller breasts. In the summer, many female runners (with small breasts!) wear these sports bras as outerwear. Often these bustiers have pre-shaped cups or inserts and a fairly wide underbust band.
The sports bra with medium support
As soon as bouncing movements or faster steps are involved, you should keep your hands off models with low support. For Zumba, cycling, Nordic walking and Co. you need a sports bra with medium support.
The sports bra with strong support
Your breasts need even more support during intensive training. After all, you want to concentrate on the sport and not constantly worry about whether everything is good on top. Sports bras should be tighter for ball sports like tennis.
The sports bra with extra strong support
Runners and riders should get a bra with particularly high support. These sports put enormous strain on the breast. This sports bra fits very tightly and hardly allows up and down movements.
These sports bras are cut similarly to the classic bra. The breasts are fixed with individual cups. However, this model has wider straps. Often the straps are also crossed or sewn together in the back. This gives you even better support during exercise. This sports bra is the right choice for runners and riders from cup size B.
How to find the perfect sports bra size for you
It should give good support but not cut, pinch or press anywhere. The perfect sports bra size can be quite a knowledge. The frustration over an ill-fitting model can be quickly times large.
So before you dare to the sports bra size, it is first of all to know your body well. Take the time to measure yourself exactly!
Especially for models with strong or very strong support, normal bra sizes are often specified.
Only if the sports bra really fits perfectly, it can fulfill its task. And this is to pack the bust securely and hold it in the right place.
Finding the size is very simple. All you need is a tape measure and a piece of paper on which you write down the measurements.
This is how you find the perfect sports bra size:
1. measure your underbust size
Start by measuring your chest circumference (=underbust measurement). Place the tape measure directly under your chest.
For example, if you measure 75 cm, you have bra size 75.
However, you must always round up or down. Bra sizes always take 5 cm jumps. So if you have 73 cm, size 75 is suitable for you.
2. measure your total chest circumference
We will now use this to determine your cup size. The tape measure is placed at the point where the breast is widest. This is usually directly on the nipple. Do not place the measuring tape too tightly and do not crush the breast!
Attention: At the back, the measuring tape runs over the shoulder blades. Make sure that the tape does not slip up or down when measuring!
Note the centimeters and look in a bra size chart. You can find a very clear table at Bra manufacturer Triumph. Very often you can determine the size with online calculators.
Worth knowing: There is no such thing as a tailor-made breast. Every breast is individual. The size of the breast changes in the course of our cycle. The breast can become up to one cup larger.
What else you should look for when buying a bra
It must give us support and help us train. What it should not do is hinder us, scratch or rub against the skin. A sports bra must therefore be comfortable. Even under very heavy load, it must give you the feeling that you are not constricted.
When buying, you should therefore definitely pay attention to the Material and the Processing pay attention. Scratchy shields, bad seams or pressing temples do not go at all.
The Carrier should be wide, they help distribute the weight on the shoulders. Straps should not slip or cut.
A training course is really successful when you get into the Sweating comes, right? :) But then the sports bra must also do that. The Material of the bra should be breathable and wick sweat to the outside. Most models are made of polyester, spandex and polyamide. The perfect mixture!
Washing the sports bra: this is how to do it
Once you've found the perfect sports bra, it needs good care to support you for a long time.
Most sports bras are very easy to care for. The high-quality fibers can simply give to the 40 ° wash. A mild detergent is particularly gentle.
Never use fabric softener! It attacks the fibers and the good support is gone. The rinse agent impairs the function of the fibers.
You do not need to put a sports bra in the dryer. Thanks to its material, it is dry after a few minutes.
Wash the sports bra more often than too rarely. Preferably after every workout. Sweat, body fat, deodorant, creams and other substances penetrate deep into the fabric when you sweat. This can cause the microfibers to stick together and even attack them. They will no longer be able to reliably transport sweat the next time.
Our conclusion:
Such a sports bra must take quite a lot and endure. Therefore, you should take the time to buy 1-2 really good models. For sports bras is: Better less and really good, than many pretty, which give no support.
The perfect sports bra is comfortable, supportive and looks beautiful at the same time.
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