On Sports Bras
Oct. 9th, 2010 01:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threadwalkerI was in Road Runner today and discovered that athletic bras are 20% off to VIP members (sale ends 10/10/10). Since I'm a VIP member and I was going in specifically to shop for ladies athletic apparel, I thought this was fate. A good runners bra will cost in the $50 neighborhood, so a sale is nothing to sneeze at.
IMO, athletic wear is essential for the "robust" sized running gal. Gals like me. Good athletic support prevents jiggle, jouncing and bouncing. There's the concern of comfort, chafing and once those ligaments stretch, they don't unstretch. If I'm not comfortable when I'm running, it's not fun. These are great reasons to be picky and invest wisely. As I was sharing all these great insights with the slightly shocked and overwhelmed young man who was ringing me up, I pointed out that we older gals of robust proportion have our own needs and finding athletic support that meets our needs is priceless.
One DD-cup Shoppers Evaluation of Nike and Moving Comfort:
My size: Right now I'm a 36-DD. When I was 10 lbs lighter, I was a 34-D. I don't typically fit into the average/norm range of sizes for garments only labelled as XS-S-M-L-XL. So I'm a picky shopper who often walks away empty handed.
My Criteria:
1. Bounce: I want no more than 2 inches of travel. That means when I'm running, the nipple doesn't move more than one inch off centerline up and one inch down. Anything shy of that is inadequate. Strap 'em down baby, we have a long run ahead!
Not meeting this criteria = immediate disqualification
+ = not more than 2 inches of travel
- = everything else.
2. Coverage: How much coverage am I getting? Am I being compressed so flat that I have 4 boobs, meaning the two in the bra and the 2 smooshing out the neck hole? Maybe I'm REALLY lucky and I have 6 because 2 are oozing out my arm holes.
More than 4 boobs is automatic failure. I have compromised and had some "cleavage fruit" for bras that performed GREAT in category 1, but it's not preferred. So,
+ = full coverage, only 2 boobs
- = mostly full coverage, but cleavage fruit
--=fail. Too many boobs for even Captain Kirk.
3. Exit: Can I get out of the blasted thing? I love my Champion brand pull on sport bras. They perform AMAZING in category 1, but I always feel like I'm about to dislocate a shoulder when I'm litterally SOAKED in sweat and it's time to get out. F was amused to watch my wrestle my way out of one of these a month ago and when I finally popped back upright, redfaced and hair sticking out, he clapped. I'm too old to end up in ER because I throttled myself in the ladies locker room and ended up with the bra wrapped around my neck and both elbows.
+ = no contortion necessary
- = mild contortion
--= pull on bra. Better take that circus contortion class
4. Shoulder Straps: One Question: do they dig in? does it look like you were parachuting upside down after you take your bra off?
+ = comfortable
- = digs in
5. Breathing: How tight is the elastic band around the ribs? Can you breath? Or is it too lose and your boobs risk slipping free if you roll your shoulders forward? "Yes" to either of these is very bad.
+ = just right
- = either too tight or too loose.
The Judging
When I shop for a sports bra, I don't shop my true size I shop one cup-size smaller. Experience has shown me that this is the path of happiness for me, but everyone's mileage varies. I usually take several sizes with me and in the dressing room I jump up and down in place for a few minutes so I can evaluate the fit.
Brand: Moving Comfort
Bra: Juno
Size, 36-D
1. +. I was very pleased.
2. +. Excellent
3. -. It has a bra hook in the back, but the high tech criss-cross elastic things in the back ultimately make this a pull over. However, because of the bra-hooks, you can loosen it before you start to exit, so you don't need to join the circus to figure out how to get out. It was really tricky, though, to figure out how to get into.
4. +. Excellent
5. +
I liked this bra a lot and tried it on 3x. I was really unthrilled with how complicated the straps in the back were set up and didn't like pulling it over my head, but the fit was so amazing I kept going back to it.
2. Brand: Moving Comfort
Bra: Fiona
Size, 36-D
1. -. Fail.
2. +
3. +
4. +
5. +
This bra was automatically disqualified from futher pondering with criteria 1 disqual. The fabric was too thin and unsupportive. I could see my nipples clearly in profile and 2+ inches of travel.
3. Brand: Nike
Bra: Dri-fit (new this season)
Size: M
1. +
2. --. Ridiculous looking. Skimpy coverage and deep armholes. It gave me 6 boobs when I counted the skin being smooshed out the armholes. Watch out Kirk!
3. + (hooks like a regular bra in the back, which I liked a lot)
4. +
5. +
4. Brand: Nike
Bra: Dri-fit (new this season)
Size: L
(same bra as last one, but next size up)
1. +
2. + (great coverage. Total opposite of next size down)
3. + (hooks like a regular bra in the back which I liked a lot)
4. +
5. - (too loose. I could overlap the straps another inch. However, the band was at least an inch deep and when I inhaled and shrugged my shoulders, my boobs didn't slide through. I tried this one on several times, too.)
All the other sport bras were either pull-on or (in one case) had an underwire.
I had no idea what I was going to do because after trying all these on, none were perfect. However, I am absolutely tired of wrestling with wet athletic support. Since I was on my way to the gym I had my fitness notebook with me and, sitting in the dressing room, wrote out my criteria and rated the bras as you see it here. I crossed off the Moving Comfort-Fiona; Criteria 1 is a must. I eliminated the Anti-Kirk Bra. Then I retried the Nike Dri-Fit and the Juno a few more times. I ended up getting both the Juno and the Large Nike Dri Fit.
After purchasing, I changed right there in the store ladies room into my Juno and did a hearty 2 hour running/weight lifting session, getting thoroughly exhausted and soaked. Getting out of it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. Yay! I give it thumbs up.
IMO, athletic wear is essential for the "robust" sized running gal. Gals like me. Good athletic support prevents jiggle, jouncing and bouncing. There's the concern of comfort, chafing and once those ligaments stretch, they don't unstretch. If I'm not comfortable when I'm running, it's not fun. These are great reasons to be picky and invest wisely. As I was sharing all these great insights with the slightly shocked and overwhelmed young man who was ringing me up, I pointed out that we older gals of robust proportion have our own needs and finding athletic support that meets our needs is priceless.
One DD-cup Shoppers Evaluation of Nike and Moving Comfort:
My size: Right now I'm a 36-DD. When I was 10 lbs lighter, I was a 34-D. I don't typically fit into the average/norm range of sizes for garments only labelled as XS-S-M-L-XL. So I'm a picky shopper who often walks away empty handed.
My Criteria:
1. Bounce: I want no more than 2 inches of travel. That means when I'm running, the nipple doesn't move more than one inch off centerline up and one inch down. Anything shy of that is inadequate. Strap 'em down baby, we have a long run ahead!
Not meeting this criteria = immediate disqualification
+ = not more than 2 inches of travel
- = everything else.
2. Coverage: How much coverage am I getting? Am I being compressed so flat that I have 4 boobs, meaning the two in the bra and the 2 smooshing out the neck hole? Maybe I'm REALLY lucky and I have 6 because 2 are oozing out my arm holes.
More than 4 boobs is automatic failure. I have compromised and had some "cleavage fruit" for bras that performed GREAT in category 1, but it's not preferred. So,
+ = full coverage, only 2 boobs
- = mostly full coverage, but cleavage fruit
--=fail. Too many boobs for even Captain Kirk.
3. Exit: Can I get out of the blasted thing? I love my Champion brand pull on sport bras. They perform AMAZING in category 1, but I always feel like I'm about to dislocate a shoulder when I'm litterally SOAKED in sweat and it's time to get out. F was amused to watch my wrestle my way out of one of these a month ago and when I finally popped back upright, redfaced and hair sticking out, he clapped. I'm too old to end up in ER because I throttled myself in the ladies locker room and ended up with the bra wrapped around my neck and both elbows.
+ = no contortion necessary
- = mild contortion
--= pull on bra. Better take that circus contortion class
4. Shoulder Straps: One Question: do they dig in? does it look like you were parachuting upside down after you take your bra off?
+ = comfortable
- = digs in
5. Breathing: How tight is the elastic band around the ribs? Can you breath? Or is it too lose and your boobs risk slipping free if you roll your shoulders forward? "Yes" to either of these is very bad.
+ = just right
- = either too tight or too loose.
The Judging
When I shop for a sports bra, I don't shop my true size I shop one cup-size smaller. Experience has shown me that this is the path of happiness for me, but everyone's mileage varies. I usually take several sizes with me and in the dressing room I jump up and down in place for a few minutes so I can evaluate the fit.
Brand: Moving Comfort
Bra: Juno
Size, 36-D
1. +. I was very pleased.
2. +. Excellent
3. -. It has a bra hook in the back, but the high tech criss-cross elastic things in the back ultimately make this a pull over. However, because of the bra-hooks, you can loosen it before you start to exit, so you don't need to join the circus to figure out how to get out. It was really tricky, though, to figure out how to get into.
4. +. Excellent
5. +
I liked this bra a lot and tried it on 3x. I was really unthrilled with how complicated the straps in the back were set up and didn't like pulling it over my head, but the fit was so amazing I kept going back to it.
2. Brand: Moving Comfort
Bra: Fiona
Size, 36-D
1. -. Fail.
2. +
3. +
4. +
5. +
This bra was automatically disqualified from futher pondering with criteria 1 disqual. The fabric was too thin and unsupportive. I could see my nipples clearly in profile and 2+ inches of travel.
3. Brand: Nike
Bra: Dri-fit (new this season)
Size: M
1. +
2. --. Ridiculous looking. Skimpy coverage and deep armholes. It gave me 6 boobs when I counted the skin being smooshed out the armholes. Watch out Kirk!
3. + (hooks like a regular bra in the back, which I liked a lot)
4. +
5. +
4. Brand: Nike
Bra: Dri-fit (new this season)
Size: L
(same bra as last one, but next size up)
1. +
2. + (great coverage. Total opposite of next size down)
3. + (hooks like a regular bra in the back which I liked a lot)
4. +
5. - (too loose. I could overlap the straps another inch. However, the band was at least an inch deep and when I inhaled and shrugged my shoulders, my boobs didn't slide through. I tried this one on several times, too.)
All the other sport bras were either pull-on or (in one case) had an underwire.
I had no idea what I was going to do because after trying all these on, none were perfect. However, I am absolutely tired of wrestling with wet athletic support. Since I was on my way to the gym I had my fitness notebook with me and, sitting in the dressing room, wrote out my criteria and rated the bras as you see it here. I crossed off the Moving Comfort-Fiona; Criteria 1 is a must. I eliminated the Anti-Kirk Bra. Then I retried the Nike Dri-Fit and the Juno a few more times. I ended up getting both the Juno and the Large Nike Dri Fit.
After purchasing, I changed right there in the store ladies room into my Juno and did a hearty 2 hour running/weight lifting session, getting thoroughly exhausted and soaked. Getting out of it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. Yay! I give it thumbs up.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 01:39 pm (UTC)Thanks, it does!
Date: 2010-10-09 03:36 pm (UTC)Athletic bras are also good for old ladies who do a ton of yard work, you know. I've liked the Juno bike shorts as well. Their bike shirts flare out too much for me though. I guess they assume that if you have large boobs, you must have wide hips and thighs as well. They need to know that ain't necessarily so.
Keep up the good work of evaluating sports gear. You do a great job.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 09:34 pm (UTC)ROTFLMAO!!!
I don't suppose you'd let me pitch an article about sports bra selection/ranking to a couple of magazines with you as either co-author or interviewee?
no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 06:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 06:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 04:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 09:42 am (UTC)