Your 6-Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Sports Bra
With so many brands, styles, and features to choose from, finding the right sports bra can seem like a tricky task. But wearing the correct sports bra should be a vital part of your exercise routine.
Here at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, we tested 39 medium and high impact sports brasfor women of all different sizes. We put them through the wringer in our lab to see how well each managed sweat, held up during the wash, and maintained its color through perspiration, crocking, and laundering. We then had real testers -- women ranging from A through H cup sizes -- try them out. After more than 23,400 minutes of exercise and 3,900 consumer evaluations, we came up with these best bets. And compiled these tips for finding your right pick:
Related: See Which Sports Bras Performed the Best in Our Tests
1. How to Find the Right Size
Each bra is sized differently, so follow the size recommendations for the individual styles -- and don't be alarmed if your sports bra size is different from your normal bra or t-shirt size. A sports bra should feel more compressed than a regular bra to hold you during exercise, but shouldn't feel constricting or uncomfortable.
2. When to Buy Compression vs. Encapsulation Bras
Compression bras hug the chest against the body and are best for smaller cup sizes, whereas encapsulation bras separate for individual support (and often look more like a regular t-shirt bra). Bras that offer encapsulation, or a combination of compression and encapsulation, are best for larger cup sizes to protect in all directions of movement.
Related: 6 Mistakes You're Making When Buying a Bra
3. What to Know About Moisture Wicking
This refers to the ability of a fabric to pull sweat off of your skin and release it to the outside of the garment for easy evaporation. Most performance apparel is now made of synthetic fibers to help control the moisture wicking capabilities. Cotton has been known to absorb moisture well; however, it doesn't release the moisture easily and can cause the sports bra to feel soaked with sweat.
4. Avoiding Chafing and Irritation
Chafing and irritation are caused by the combination of sweat and friction. If chafing is an issue for you, look for a sports bra that is moisture wicking and has minimal seams and stitching, which will help reduce the amount of friction during exercise.
Related: You Need One of These 11 Bags for Spring (Don't Worry, They're All Under $50!)
5. How to Pick the Best Style
There are a variety of styles to choose from when shopping for a sports bra. The best style for you depends on personal preference and activity level. For instance, if your exercise involves a lot of movement, a racerback style allows for a greater range of motion. Worried about not enough support? Look for bras with an underwire and built-in or removable cups. Trouble finding a good fit? Look for styles featuring adjustable straps and hook-eye closures.
6. How Often to Buy a New Bra
It all depends on how often you use it, but generally speaking, a sports bra should last as long as a pair of sneakers. The more you wear and wash a sports bra, the more elasticity it will lose. If you wear one on a regular basis, you should replace it every six months to a year.
- By Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Research Institute
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