collaborative post // Being comfortable whilst you exercise is of utmost importance and there’s one main thing that can often be a downfall for women when it comes to exercise clothes – and that’s finding the right exercise bra! We have to keep our girls supported and under control but so many women aren’t adequately supported when they exercise.
I love exercising, particularly swimming, walking, HIIT workouts and Yoga. Obviously I don’t need to wear a sports bra for swimming (but a supporting swimming costume always helps!) but for HIIT and Yoga, I need to be comfortable whilst I’m working out.
If I’m not comfortable, for example, a bra strap keeps slipping down or my exercise trousers are a little too tight or too loose, I simply can’t concentrate and I get incredibly irritable. I’m sure a lot of people can relate.
To make the most of your workout, you need to have the proper clothes to wear for the activity that you’re doing and for women, a high impact running bra is one of the most important components of that outfit.
Not wearing an adequate sports bra can result in pain and discomfort during and after your workout or exercise of choice. So here are some top tips for choosing the right exercise bra for you.
6 Tips for Choosing the Right Exercise Bra:
Find a high-quality brand
Not all brands are equal when it comes to exercise bras.
Of course, the higher the quality, the higher the price-point you might be looking at but for the sake of something you’re going to wear every time you exercise, it’s worth investing in a higher quality product.
It will also benefit you in the long run, as it’ll be more durable. Saving you money – and doing your bit for the environment!
Get measured
If you’re unsure before buying a sports bra, then you should go and get measured professionally again.
Even if you think you know what size you are, you might be surprised and you’ll want to know for sure before you purchase an exercise bra that’s going to be supporting you during high-impact activities.
Make sure the fit is right
The fit is SO important when it comes to buying an exercise bra and there are a few things you should look out for to ensure the fit is correct:
- It should be more snug than your every day bra but not so much so that it restricts your breathing
- You should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your shoulder
- If there are wrinkles within the fabric of the cup, chances are the cup is too big
- Any underwire should be laying flat against your ribs – if it’s not then it’s likely the wrong fit
Try before you buy
Before you’re sold on your purchase, move around adequately enough to get a feel for how the bra is going to feel when you’re moving, jumping or dancing. If it’s uncomfortable as soon as you start moving around in this way, then try another one.
Think about the exercise that you’re doing (and your size)
Activities like Yoga and walking don’t require as much support as that of running or HIIT workouts, so you might want to consider what exercise you’re going to be doing so you can purchase the right bra.
However, your size comes into it too. Even for lower-impact activities, women with bigger boobs will require more support.
Choose something you’re confident in
And finally, confidence matters too! You have to feel comfortable and be supported but you also HAVE to feel confident and good about yourself in your new exercise bra.
These are some basic tips to help you choose the right exercise bra for you. It’s so important to be adequately supported during your workouts, do don’t skimp on yourself and choose a low-quality bra that isn’t going to support you!
Thanks for sharing, I did take me ages to find the right bra for me, to do exercise in, as sometimes, the first one that you try is not always right for you 🙂
Absolutely 🙂
I’ll be perfectly honest with you; All my bras are sports bras. I own maybe one or two ‘regular’ bras, but they never fit right. I’m very small up top, yet my back is wide. So I’m always left with an empty ‘cup’ so to speak! But I love a good fitting sports bra!
Sports bras are comfier anyway so I don’t blame you!!
Yes! Having the right exercise bra is so important when working out!
It sure is 🙂
The right bra is really very important. I had a skin problem after using a bad quality bra 🙄
Ah that’s awful, sorry to hear that!
Wonderful tips Jenny! Spending a bit extra to get a better quality and longer lasting sports bra is a great idea, so is trying before buying. Thanks for sharing!
Totally agree 🙂