What Are The Benefits of A Plus-Size Sports Bra?
Do you really need a sports bra in addition to your everyday bras? The short answer is yes!
Sports bras have so many benefits, especially for women with large or heavy breasts. If you’re going to engage in physical activities like walking, running, or high-intensity training, then a sports bra is essential.
Is a sports bra good for heavy breasts?
Absolutely! A sports bra designed for larger breasts will help to distribute the weight of them evenly. This avoids too much pressure being put on either the neck, shoulders, or back.
When you walk or run, breasts move not only up and down but from side to side as well, in sort of a figure 8 pattern.
The heavier the breasts are the more they move. It’s important that a bra gives enough support to avoid overstretching of the ligaments and tissue, so a sports bra is a great choice.
How do I measure myself for a sports bra?
Measure yourself for a sports bra the same way that you would measure yourself for any other bra.
- Wrap a tape measure around your chest going under the arms and just at the top of your bustline. Round up to the nearest whole number. This is your band size.
- Wrap the tape measure around yourself again in the same way but this time measure at the fullest part of your bust.
- Plug both numbers into our bra size calculator for your bra size.
When trying on your new sports bra for the first time remember that it will be snug, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortably tight.
Do sports bras come with underwire?
Some sports bras do have underwire for added support. If you’re doing a high-intensity activity you may want to consider an underwire to help carry some of the weight.
Look for a sports bra with cushioned or padded underwire for comfort.
Are sports bras just for exercise?
No, you can wear a sports bra any time that you want some extra support.
If you want to be ready for anything, choose a sports bra that lets you customize the amount of support it gives you like the Glamorise Total Control Custom Support Sports Bra. It has an adjustable front panel layered over seamless cups and an adjustable hook-and-eye back closure.
Are they comfortable?
Yes! At least, they should be. The key to finding a comfortable sports bra is to get the right size and make sure that it’s a quality brand that’s made well. It’s also important to choose a sports bra with enough bounce support for the activities you’re using it for.
It can be the best bra in the world but if it doesn’t have enough support, there will be too much movement, and that’s never comfortable. It’s better to have more support than too little.
For example, if you’re doing yoga, a medium or high support bra is ok to wear, but you wouldn’t want to wear a light support bra for high-intensity interval training.
How do I know what type of sports bra I need?
Sports bras are generally categorized as compression or encapsulation and come in low impact, medium impact, or high impact. Here are the differences:
- Compression sports bras are shelf style bras that compress the breast tissue against the chest wall. They are usually low to medium impact. They have a tendency to create a “uni-boob” look in larger cup sizes.
- Encapsulation sports bras have individual cups that hold the breast tissue and reduce movement. They’re great for larger cup sizes and high impact activities.
- Low impact sports bras are good for walking, yoga, and strength training.
- Medium impact sports bras are good for activities like dancing, cycling, and skiing.
- High impact sports bras are good for running and high-intensity interval training.
How should a sports bra fit?
As we mentioned, your sports bra should be snug but not so tight that it hurts. Here are some other things that you should look for:
The cups should cover all of the breast tissue and shouldn’t have any gaps or wrinkles. If there are gaps it means that your cups are too big, and if you’re spilling out of them it means they’re too small.
Your straps should be adjusted so that they’re tight but not digging into your shoulders. You should be able to comfortably fit one or two fingers underneath.
The band should be snug but you should be able to slide a couple of fingers underneath. Raise your arms and make sure that the band stays in place. If it rides up it’s likely too big.
A few of our favorite sports bras for large breasts are:
The VERSATILE MEDIUM SUPPORT SPORTS BRA is wire-free with adjustable straps and an adjustable back hook-and-eye closure. The moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool and comfortable.
The ELITE CAMI MEDIUM SUPPORT SPORTS BRA has secure, non-stretch straps and gives you full coverage with the cami-design. Reinforced, wire-free cups give you support.
The NO LIMITS HIGH SUPPORT UNDERWIRE SPORTS BRA BLACK is an encapsulation sports bra that’s great for high-impact activities. It has cushioned underwire and double-layer cups to hold you up and in.
No matter what activities you choose to do, make sure that you’re wearing a quality sports bra for support and comfort. Wash in cold water and avoid using the dryer. The heat will break down the elastic causing your bra to wear out faster.