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If you are an active woman who layers on two sports bras for extra support, you’re not alone. Most women who engage in vigorous sports or exercises such as aerobics often find that standard bras or even sports bras don’t provide enough “bounce-proof” support. That’s why a high impact sports bra is essential for the most vigorous sports.
How To Choose A High Impact Sports Bra
The first step in choosing a quality sports bra is to know the impact level of your chosen activity. Typical low-impact exercises include walking, weight training, yoga, Pilates and road cycling. Moderate hiking, skiing and inline skating are considered medium-impact exercises. High-impact activities include running, basketball, volleyball, mountain biking and aerobics.
The key to choosing a bra appropriate to your activity level is to consider the amount of vertical movement your breasts will experience. As you might expect, this impact increases with the size of your breasts. The goal of any sports bra should be to support your breasts sufficiently to minimize “bounce.”
There are three basic types of sports bras: compression, encapsulation and a combination of both.
- A compression bra is one that fits snugly so that breasts are held firmly against the chest.
- In an encapsulation bra the breast is held separately by molded cups, often with underwire support.
- In a compression-encapsulation bras, the breasts are both separated and pressed to provide the firmest support and least possible vertical movement.
Compression bras work well for women with A-B cups, or in low-impact activities. Encapsulation bras benefit women with C-D cups in medium-to-high impact exercises. Combination bras are essential for women who wear D-DD-E and higher cups, and in many high-impact sports.
When shopping for a quality high-impact sports bra, look for several key features. Since the band provides most of a bra’s support, a wider band hold up better than a narrow band. On the other hand, shoulder straps aren’t a bra’s main support, so they should hold up the cups but have minimal stretch to reduce bounce. Wide straps are typically more comfortable than narrow straps because they disperse the weight of the breasts more evenly. Adjustable straps will allow the wearer to customize her fit. However, be sure they fit snugly. Loose straps will fall off during high-impact activities, while too-tight straps will cause discomfort.
Another helpful feature is the support of an underwire, a plastic or metal reinforcing semi-circle that runs around the bottom of the bra cup. The underwire moves with the wearer, providing extra support and helping to prevent injuries.
“Wicking” is a quality of some sports bra fabrics that pulls moisture away from the body and keeps athletes more comfortable during activity. However, more supportive sports bras will be less “wickable” because they’re made with sturdier construction of strong fabric.
It’s best to try on several styles of high impact sports bras before making a selection. Check for the following qualities:
Finally, test the bra’s support by running or jumping in place. You will be able to tell easily whether the high impact sports bra you’ve chosen is sufficiently supportive for your high-impact activity.
