Perfect Sports Bra – Instant Guide
Working out is extremely important to stay fit and healthy. Following a well-thought fitness regimen is important. However, what you wear is equally important, especially if you are a woman. Your breasts need the utmost support during a workout as this is the only way you can pursue your exercises comfortably and without worrying about extra bounces and future sagging. This is why it is important to use the perfect sports bra while working out.
According to health experts, wearing a sports bra is half the problem solved. These bras offer 59% more support than the traditional bra, which is why they are a perfect workout companion. However, not any sports bra would do. You need to find the right one that fits you perfectly. Wondering how? Here are some tips that would help you pick the perfect sports bra for yourself.
Guide to Choose the Perfect Sports Bra
1. Right Support
Based on the kind of activity that you plan to engage in, picking a bra that offers you the right support is important. Sports bras are categorized as bras offering maximum support, high support, and medium support.
The maximum support bra is perfect to be worn when engaging in activities that could cause your breasts to bounce a lot. This includes jogging, running, aerobics and basketball.
The high support bra is perfect for high impact regimen and sports like tennis, football, cycling, badminton etc. This bra offers great support to the breasts and prevents them from bouncing at impact.
The medium support sports bra is a perfect choice when you engage in activities and exercises with the least impact. So, pick this bra when engaging in Yoga, Pilates or for walking.
2. Bra Type
The sports bra is widely classified into two different types, namely compression and encapsulation.
Compression bra is quite different from the conventional bra. It does not have separate cups. Instead, this is a pull over bra made from a stretchable material that covers your breasts in a tight embrace like grip and prevents them from bouncing. The best thing about this bra is that you don’t have to worry about doing up the hooks or the strap digging into your skin.
The encapsulation bra, on the other hand, is quite similar to the conventional bra. It has separate cups that offer complete support to your breasts from underneath. The cups have been specially designed to adapt to and accentuate the body curves.
It is always a good idea to pick both these types of the bra as encapsulation is best for high impact sports whereas compression is perfect for medium and low impact workouts.
3. Right Size
There is no point of going through all the trouble unless you pick the right size bra.
Start off by measuring your band size. You can easily measure your band size using a measuring tape. Take the tape from below your breasts and around the body. Add 5 to the measurement that you get and then round it off to the nearest even number. This is the exact band size that you need to pick.
To know your cup size, measure your bust by taking the measuring tape around your body and bringing it in front to the fullest part of your breasts. Subtract the measurement that you get from your band size. This is your cup size.
4. Band Check
The band of your bra should give a snug fit when worn on the very first hook. This is the only way to ensure that you can wear the bra for quite a long time. Make sure that the band does not ride up your back. This can be quite uncomfortable and can be distracting during workouts.
5. Cup Check
Wear the bra and take a look at the way your cups look. If you see wrinkles and folds in the cup, it means you have picked a cup size that is too large for you. On the other hand, if you can see your breasts spilling from the sides, you might want to pick a larger cup size. The cup of the bra should give you a smooth finish, in order for you to have the perfect sports bra.
6. Strap Check
The straps of your bra should fit you snugly. In case you need to adjust your straps to get the maximum support, you may have picked a bigger band size. On the other hand, if your straps bite into your skin, look for a higher band size. You can even try the racer back sports bras as these prevent the strap slipping mishaps.
Workouts and sports can make you sweat quite a lot. So, pick a bra material that is absorbent enough to prevent discomfort. Don’t forget to change your sports bra every 9 to 12 months.