Padded sports bras

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Fair enough, but there are not enough choices that come without padding. Every time I look at a sports bra made for A/B cups it has padding. All of the tank tops that I actually like have padding.

The message in all of this is that I'm not supposed to be happy with small breasts, and I have to lie to the world and make them look bigger than they are. Except I'm actually quite content with the way I look and I don't want some clothing manufacturer to tell me that I don't measure up to their standards of beauty. This is how I was born, and anyone who doesn't like it can pound sand.

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If you have a Target store near you, they have a ton of C9 brand sports bras without padding. I have always worn those, until I found the lined ones here at TE. They have a huge selection of colors as well.

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Originally Posted by greenbeanvw

If you have a Target store near you, they have a ton of C9 brand sports bras without padding. I have always worn those, until I found the lined ones here at TE. They have a huge selection of colors as well.

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+1 on the target C9 sports bras. I've got a bunch of those in a slew of colors. No padding and very comfy. Cute enough that I more or less use them as swimwear tops oftentimes with a generic bottom.

As for the rest of the sentiments expressed - hey I feel y'all's pain :)

Nobody likes it when clothing seems to be made in direct opposition to your preferences and what works for you. Especially if it seems the majority of a certain type of clothing is made for a minority of consumers.

95% of women's bike jersey's are too short for me (torso-wise) - but hey for whatever reason the manufacturer's keep churning them out. I guess that's life and there are alternatives out there.

I tell myself if I get that hung up about it then I can always learn to sew :D

I think it's the combination of big shoulders/pecs and small cups that's the problem... I don't have any trouble finding unpadded sports bras for 34A/B. Like the OP, there's just no dimming the headlights, so I don't even try. :o

I ordered the Handful bra to give it a try.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I ordered the Handful bra to give it a try.

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Let us know what you think, Crankin.

I am a big fan of the Handful bras but for activities, I use them only for yoga and hiking. I like to wear them on weekends instead of regular bras. Actually, I wear a regular bra only for work these days. Because I'm petite, I have a hard time finding regular bras that fit right (32B) and have to order them online.

I like the padded bras for modesty purposes, not to increase my bust size. The handful bras are great because they are comfortable and the pads are removable. I'm happy with my body and am glad that I don't have anything that gets in the way (my sister is the other extreme and HATES it).

For anything with impact and for riding, I wear regular compression type bras.

Compression bras really bother me; I get "lines" from tight clothing and a lot of irritation/welts if I sweat. I never wear sports bras for everyday. Thankfully, I have found some good small sized bras at the lingerie store, where they actually fit you. I was spending 60.00 on bras I bought on line, and the women at the shop had me try on a Calvin Klein style that is perfectly cut for a 32A and is 30.00. You should try it out, Mickchick. It's barely padded, just enough for the modesty factor.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

....I was spending 60.00 on bras I bought on line, and the women at the shop had me try on a Calvin Klein style that is perfectly cut for a 32A and is 30.00. You should try it out, Mickchick. It's barely padded, just enough for the modesty factor.

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Crankin---I wear padded Calvin Klein bras! I agree, they fit well.

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

I'm in between A & B. A is too small, B has extra space. The Italian '1' seems to fit better. It only comes in padded. I have sloping shoulders so bra straps do not stay up. I have a little elastic thingy that is supposed to hold them up--that means they don't fall down as often.

I go without as much as possible. Working from home makes that possible most of the time. I think I'm getting saggy at the ripe old age of 35! lol

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A bra's cup size will also increase if the number ( i don't know what it is called) increases.

So for example, I can wear a 36C, but then the cups spill a little, BUT if i wear a 36D it is just too big. To compensate, I go down one strap size to a 34D, and the cups, even though both are D, are a little smaller as well. perfect fit. (I find that many bras in the US have poor cutting though... not sure why, so be sure to try a variety of brands.)

Due to regional preferences, bras also have very different shapes. I find that bras from asian and japanese brands tend to be very round, while french bras have a slightly pointy shape.

Maybe you can go to a proper lingerie shop and get fitted? there is no return for saggy boobs....

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Originally Posted by deeaimond

A bra's cup size will also increase if the number ( i don't know what it is called) increases.

So for example, I can wear a 36C, but then the cups spill a little, BUT if i wear a 36D it is just too big. To compensate, I go down one strap size to a 34D, and the cups, even though both are D, are a little smaller as well. perfect fit. (I find that many bras in the US have poor cutting though... not sure why, so be sure to try a variety of brands.)

Due to regional preferences, bras also have very different shapes. I find that bras from asian and japanese brands tend to be very round, while french bras have a slightly pointy shape.

Maybe you can go to a proper lingerie shop and get fitted? there is no return for saggy boobs....

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I find that for regular bras, a 38A fits across the back but is too big in the cups, and a 36A fits in the cups but is too tight in the band. I wind up wearing the 38A because I'm not a big fan of all-day pain.

Also I can't wear anything with an underwire because they dig into my ribs in the front. I have weird ribs.

Really I wish I could just skip it altogether.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

I find that for regular bras, a 38A fits across the back but is too big in the cups, and a 36A fits in the cups but is too tight in the band. I wind up wearing the 38A because I'm not a big fan of all-day pain.

Also I can't wear anything with an underwire because they dig into my ribs in the front. I have weird ribs.

Really I wish I could just skip it altogether.

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there is an inch of fat between my ribs and the wire, so the wire can't find my ribs to dig in :p

Was the modern bra invented by a man?

some underwires give me heartburn... :eek:

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Originally Posted by deeaimond

Due to regional preferences, bras also have very different shapes. I find that bras from asian and japanese brands tend to be very round, while french bras have a slightly pointy shape.

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Yea? I dunno, all the padding, etc. these days ..it looks like alot more rounded, padded bras in general. Abit useless for some gals, like me. Something quite round and padded looks laughable on me. :p Honest, how some women will "trick" their boobs to be alot more than what they are.

I don't wear sports bras. I just wear older bras for cycling. So hence, bras aren't binding tight on me. THank goodness.

Yea, I'm wierd. Sports bras, shelf bras in tank tops... make me look like a 11 yr. old all over again. Do I need this, nearly 1/2 century later? Guess could be worse. :o

Underwire...geez, only 2 in my whole lifetime so far. Plastic wire rubbing against bone on my rib, is not something to tolerate for many hrs. And absolutely not for any exercise activity.

Unless I go to Nordstrom or someplace for a proper fitting, I feel like it's a crapshoot...to make the risk more fun, I've been buying whatever's on sale at Sierra Trading. Sometimes you win; sometimes you might get a good laugh!

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Originally Posted by malkin

Sometimes you win; sometimes you might get a good laugh!

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Or a good cry! ;)

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Underwire...geez, only 2 in my whole lifetime so far. Plastic wire rubbing against bone on my rib, is not something to tolerate for many hrs. And absolutely not for any exercise activity.

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I was at Macy's today getting properly fitted to determine my new bra size (have lost a bunch of weight) and the fitter seemed almost shocked that I won't wear an under-wire.

Anyway, while there I saw sports bras with underwires!?!? Sounds painful to me.