Sports Bra Recommendation

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

HEY VP,

Mods, I hope this is okay to post here. I just joined a gym and I need to find some good sports bras. I'm a ~38C so I need to have support.  I've purchased some bras at Ross and at Old Navy and they just don't fit right. I have looked at VS but their bras are like $40+ and I didn't want to just buy one and hope that it was good. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Comments

[naath.livejournal.com]

I don't know where you'd buy them in the US but I'm a big fan of Shock Absorber (http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product/BB-B4490/Shock-Absorber-Max-Sports-Bra-Top-Level-4/) bras for running; keeps my 30E chest under control nicely, comes in lots of sizes. They do fit fairly tight, which wouldn't (IMO) be comfortable all day but it is comfortable (for me) for running.

[luinecu.livejournal.com]

I second this! Definitely keeps my 30FF's in place! :D

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Thank you; I will look around to see if I can find them in the U.S. Buying them from the UK and having them ship them here is way too much money. But they do look sturdy (?) :(

[naath.livejournal.com]

Ah, I think figleaves have a US site which may have them, but that's less help if you are wanting to try them on in person.

[gunshotbeauty.livejournal.com]

i've heard really good reviews about the brands panache and enell. enell have ones that basically hold them in tight and secure so they won't fly and wack you in the face as the fear can be besides the pain of them bouncing

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are some serious bras. I don't know if I need that much support, but thank you!

[llenn.livejournal.com]

I would recommend a running store, it's the only place I've found one that really works. Grab a few and jump around in the dressing room to see what works best. They are expensive but last a long time with proper care.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

I live in Portland, Oregon and I ran into the Nike store this afternoon but didn't really have time to try on. I grabbed a medium and a large quickly but neither was quite right. I will probably go back and see what I can find. Thank you!

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

Oooh, some Portland bra recs for you!
First, make sure you know what size you really are. For that, go to Just Like a Woman on Macadam, or even better, The Pencil Test, on Alberta st. Both might not have your size, but they're super friendly and nice, and has a few models of sports bras for those of us who need support.

If you find that you are indeed smaller than a D, check out Title 9, downtown. Lots of sports bras, but again, you're going to have a hard time if you're looking for the wrong size. I thought I was a 32DD for ages, and nothing short of major masher bras (like Title 9's now-defunct Frog Bra) was acceptable for running and horseback riding. However, now that I'm wearing 28GGs, I've found great success in bras.

[pluckygirl.livejournal.com]

I just got (well my mom bought them) Champion XL Active Performance. I am a 38DD (by VS standards so probably wrong) and these bras are great!!! $12.99 on sale at Target. :D Food luck in your search!!!

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

I was looking there but wasn't sure if they were good quality. Thanks!

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

I thought that those might be better. The ones that just pull over your head really don't work well for me. The band doesn't get tight enough.

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

36DD/38D here depending on time in my menstrual cycle...seriously. It's a pain. Anyhoo, my favorites are Moving Comfort. I buy mine from REI because their website has great reviews and also because I have a store near me where I can try on. I found the Enell bras very uncomfortable, they seem to dig into my ribs in a strange way.

I've also found that as my breasts have gotten bigger, I've gotten to really appreciate bras that fasten in the front or back, rather than having to be pulled over the head.

[yespleasespace.livejournal.com]

I second Moving Comfort. I'm a 40DD and I play quidditch (yes, like Harry Potter, except our brooms don't really fly), which in terms of physical exertion is similar to soccer or dodgeball. My Moving Comfort bras have worked nicely. I buy them on Amazon.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

How does Quidditch work?

[yespleasespace.livejournal.com]

We try to stay as close to the game in the Harry Potter books and movies as possible. Everybody has a "broom" which is a stick, about 3-4 feet long, that you have to have between your legs at all times. Ours are made of PVC pipe. Chasers score points with the quaffle (a volleyball) by throwing it through one of three hoops. Keepers act as goalies to prevent the other team's Chasers from scoring. Beaters throw bludgers (dodgeballs) at other players, and if you get hit by one, you're knocked off your broom and have to run back to your goal before you can come back in the game. Seekers try to find and capture the Golden Snitch, which is a tennis ball in a sock velcroed to the back of the Snitch Runner (who runs around the pitch and tries to wrestle away from the Seekers). Most teams are based at colleges, but ours is a community team, so we accept anyone 18 or older. There are lots of videos on Youtube if you want to watch a game :)

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that too. The ones that pull over the head usually don't work for me because the band doesn't get tight enough underneath my breasts so it just feels weird. There's a general sports store nearby that sells Moving Comfort so I might try them.

[romeo46.livejournal.com]

I'm a 44D and I use the Champion and Under Armor sport bras. They are very form fitting and keep everything in place.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Thanks, there's a sports store nearby that sells those so I will try them.

[darlahood.livejournal.com]

I'm a D cup and walk and bike, so I don't need something super tight, but I found a great Danskin sport bra at Walmart! I'm not big into Walmart and was impressed!

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll have to look around for that brand; we don't have Wal-Marts here (Portland, Oregon)

[gatehorse.livejournal.com]

I'm a 34C and I love the Champion bra I got at Kohls. Style 6793.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Thanks, there is a sports store nearby that has Champions.

[faithful-summer.livejournal.com]

I'm bigger than you and am a big fan of the Champion sports bras. You can get them at Target or Fred Meyer or any similar store for less than $15.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've seen a lot of Champion bras but I wasn't sure if they were good quality.

[celticdaisy.livejournal.com]

I wear a 32E and was shocked that Lululemon's sports bras work so well with no underwire. So far they're the most comfortable sports bras I've tried and they're sized properly (proper band, proper cup size). I ran a 10K in one in June and I find them really comfortable. They set me back a bit but it was worth it. I have the "Tata Tamer II" (i'm afraid to link to it because my comments with links keep getting marked as spam but just google and it will come up) in two colours - I didn't get the version with removable cups though because I didn't need them. I also like that you can either wear the straps traditionally or crossed. The seams are all lined so there's no rubbing either. The only issue is it's a bit of a pain to put on when the straps are crossed.


I've also tried Champion, but they were way too loose for my breasts and didn't give any stability - but I have a small band size so that may have been part of the problem. Mountain Equipment Co-Op (a Canadian chain) sold a good sports bra a couple of years ago but I still find lululemon's are the best fit.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Love the name: Tata Tamer. And I do like the back-closure. I find that most over-the-head types don't really fit snugly around my ribcage underneath my breasts so I feel like I'm slipping out of it.

[barrelofrain.livejournal.com]

I picked up a couple of the Bestform Flat Front Sports Bras (it's a two pack) at KMart because they were cheap and I wasn't sure if I'd be sticking with the gym, but they've served me pretty well and are more comfortable than I'd have imagined.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look around for that brand; we don't have Wal-Marts or Kmarts here.

[barrelofrain.livejournal.com]

Here's a link to the one I bought. (http://www.kmart.com/bestform-flat-front-sports-bras-2-pack/p-999000VPZS212000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1) It looks like they're actually on sale right now, and that price is for two bras... I know it's not super easy to pick a size online since brands run differently, but if you have a vague idea it might be worth ordering a couple since they are usually much more pricey in my experience.

[princessselene.livejournal.com]

Check out Title Nine (titlenine.com). They carry Moving Comfort bras up to E sizes. I'm usually a 36DD and have NEVER had a problem with their sports bras. The straps to many of their sports bras are adjustable, so you can customize the fit-my favorite is the 3 Reasons sports bra. I'm lucky enough that there's an actual brick and mortar store of theirs in Downtown Portland for me to go and try on the bras, but they've got an excellent return/exchange policy as well if you're buying online OR in the store. They're not cheap, but well worth the price. If you decide to get one, I'd recommend going up a number in the band, since the band itself can run small sometimes.

Of course, you can also check Amazon as well for Moving Comfort sports bras. I've gotten a good price for new ones on there as well.

[rayofblacklight.livejournal.com]

Are you from Portland Oregon by chance?

[neumeindil.livejournal.com]

I had luck (2 cup sizes ago, damn these things to hell) with some from Walmart; plain jersey knit cotton, underwire, similar to these:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Danskin-Now-Women-s-Unlined-Underwire-Sports-Bra-2-Pack/19592261

The ones I had before I outgrew a 38 D were by Everlast. Those aren't quite them, though, and I've never been impressed with Danskin's retail stores line. (The Plus Size leotards I got online, though, were awesome.) I have no idea if they still make one like I found helpful.

This one is closer:
http://www.championusa.com/workout-clothes/sale/sports-bras-sale/underwire-bras-85060--1/champion-sport-no-poke-wire-sportsbra but again, not quite the bullseye. :( Hope that helps.

[hadespuppy.livejournal.com]

I've had good luck with both UnderArmour and Champion. UA does up sizes, which is really nice.

[lipstickz.livejournal.com]

Target has some with cups in them in the $15-20 range.

[rawkemsockem.livejournal.com]

I'm a huge fan of Moving Comfort.

http://www.movingcomfort.com/

I'm a 30E, runner and boxer, and the Juno sports bra is perfect for me. It tends to fit really snug, though, so buy a little larger if you go for that one.

http://www.movingcomfort.com/Juno/350025,default,pd.html

Free shipping in the US for orders over $50! There's also a retailer finder on the website.

[brigittefires.livejournal.com]

I couldn't stand the Champion sports bras. I'm looking for support, not something that doesn't cover half of my boob at any size.

At 40F, I bought an Enell from Title Nine in Seattle.
http://www.enell.com/browse_retail_locations.php?state=OR that link has Oregon stores that sell Enell. Yes it was $70, but! The chick in the next dressing room was buying her second one because after two years, it was still going strong, but she had shrunk out of it too far. That Enell made it possible to run without bruising my face (which I've done) or tearing any internal tissue (which I've also done). 9 clasps up the front, not the most stylish or sexy, but when I'm looking for support I'm not really looking for something to go sunbathing in--I'm looking for something that will hold Pluto and Charon in place without risking them actually taking orbit.

[james72.livejournal.com]

36GG and Freya's sports bra is the best thing I've ever run in apart from an early Renaissance Italian style corset (yes, really! Nothing moves in that baby). The Freya is almost as good and extremely comfy.