Sports Bras!

[Catrin]

I have to start off by saying I hate buying sports bras...but they are necessary. I've been putting it off for about a year now, but I've lost so much weight that I now have no choice. I just noticed that TE has a nice sale right now on some of their sports bras. I settled on this one, while I would have preferred black the purple version had ONE left in my size...

I wanted to mention they have other sports bras on sale as well, just in case others are in need of the same thing What is nice about the Juno is it comes in actual sizes, not just S,M,L - that always makes it more difficult to figure out what you need.

[goldfinch]

I have the Juno but I find it is too much of the uniboob look for a large chested person. However, it is comfortable. I like the Maia, which have a lot of support but still separation: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodMC_350011.html

[Catrin]

I have the Juno but I find it is too much of the uniboob look for a large chested person. However, it is comfortable. I like the Maia, which have a lot of support but still separation: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodMC_350011.html

I've already pulled the trigger...I looked at this one but I went for the racer straps on the Juno. My current Moving Comfort does have a bit of the uniboob look, but it IS comfortable. I will keep this one in mind for the future, thanks!

[Catrin]

It arrived today from TE! I was quite surprised that it was delivered in two days on this week of all weeks. I will take it though. It is very close to being too small...I am actually between a C and D cup still, but I think a larger one would have been too large and I am still slowly loosing weight - so I will keep it. It does have a little of the uniboob look but no where near as much as my older Moving Comfort bra - and that one is a larger size. The Juno is quite comfortable...once I adjusted the straps to their loosest setting,

This might be a good thread to discuss what we like, and don't like, about different sports bras. There are so many different types out there. For me purchasing a sports bra is somewhat intimidating - regular bras aren't however. Am I the only one? I will need to get another one in the next month or two - loosing all of this weight eventually forces the issue...

[Becky]

Because I need a 28-30 band and a large cup, good sports bras are few and far between. The Panache sports bra (model 5021) has been my favorite. Adjustable straps, supportive enough for running, and it's even attractive, unlike some larger sports bras. It's quite expensive (the again, aren't all my bras? ), but Panache isn't usually excluded from sales (I'm looking at you, Freya!). I save my money during the year and stock up during the good holiday sales. Ebay is another way to save money, once you know the style and size you need. I've bought brand new bras there for half off before.

Sports bras used to be intimidating....until a thread here made me realize that I'd been wearing the wrong size (too large of a band and too small of a cup). Once I hashed out my correct size, bras have been far less stressful and far more comfortable.

[Catrin]

I am never good at measuring myself - whenever I do that I wind up with some VERY small size - and I am chesty lady. So I finally went to a good department store last year and got measured - but I suspect that still differs between different styles.

[Crankin]

This may be a dumb question, but what do you mean by encapsulation? It sounds terrible. Compression, I know. I don't need it and actually, almost any tight sports bra chafes me. I am good with the Handful.

[Catrin]

The Freya will be my first true encapsulated sports bra. The Juno seems to really be in between - I don't have the traditional uniboob look - though it seems to lean in that direction but perhaps because the cups are too small? I can make the Juno work, and at least it fits a little better than my old, worn out sports bras that are going to their well-deserved rest.

Here is an image of the Freya I am getting, if you embiggen the image you will see that seperation and a supportive band. I've read this bra can be...challenging to get in and out of but I expect that. I am also thankful I took advantage of the sale price...and that I've been saving. I wish that I didn't need so much support but, I do.

I DON'T get the sports bras with underwires - that sounds like pain to me but I was scared off underwires long ago.

[OakLeaf]

I could barely get into the Handful even BEFORE my injuries. I'd just about have to dislocate my shoulders getting it on, and once it was on I found it super uncomfortable.

I guess, if the support has to come from the band whichever style you get, then going to encapsulation won't help me. I was hoping I'd be able to support the girls without compressing the ribcage.

Juno doesn't go down to a 34-small-B/large-A. I've also found even before my injury that if the cups are too big, the band is SUPER uncomfortable.

Oh well.

[Crankin]

Oak, I wear a bigger size in the Handful than normal. I got a small rather than an extra small at first. I always wear the pads, I like the way it looks and it's not too tight. When I bought the second round, I got the extra small and I wish I didn't. It's not hard to put on, but it chafes a bit. From your description, I would say it is encapsulated as it looks like a regular bra, not the tank top type of sports bra. There's definitely separate cups.
I am just thankful that there is finally a sports bra in small sizes that isn't just a lacy little thing, like the Title 9 bras. I don't need that much support, I just want to look decent and not have the headlights show. Based on what I've seen advertised and read on threads like these, I feel thankful sports bras aren't an issue for me!

[Catrin]

Girls, boobs, breasts, I am sure there are other things we can call them as well.

I note in the photo that the band appears to be flat against her skin in the area between her breasts - I've never seen that myself (but we've established that I've never had the right size for band or cup) Of course, I've spent all of my life under the mistaken idea that the band is just there, that the cups are supposed to support me gals.

Herroom.com has a nice "Know Your Breasts" bra finder that helps you determine what is special about your girls and help direct you to appropriate bras. I found this very helpful. I wound up half stripping and checking out the bathroom mirror to answer a couple of the questions. This bra finder is probably not work friendly... anyway, they ask questions that I've never even thought about.

I do like the Juno, but after examining how it is constructed I don't think it is truly, or at least fully encapsulated. I can easily pull the band 2.5-3 inches away from my body, and the cups give every sign of being too small. My poor gals will breath a sigh of relief when finally settled into something that properly fits for the first time in their lives. The cups are snug enough that I can make the Juno work - I can't return it and I am sure that no one wants to buy a used bra - thankfully I got it for a very good price.

Oakleaf, that sounds painful I hope you can find something that will work for you that won't aggravate your back! I suggest checking out the bra finder I linked to above. It may be able to give you an idea of something that might work. The finder doesn't ask about injuries, it took all of my answers and gave me a list of suggested brands that might be good for THIS, or THAT, or THAT OTHER thing that I noted about my girls - they don't just give you one suggestion but many. They really only gave me one suggestion for a sports bra however, and that was the one I zeroed in on. Their bras aren't inexpensive but is a good place to get ideas for further research. They do have some nice sales right now.

[OakLeaf]

I suggest checking out the bra finder I linked to above.

I did that, thanks! It didn't return any sports bra suggestions, but there are a couple that look possible. A couple of the Shock Absorber bras, for one. It's good to see a high impact bra that comes in an A cup, that makes it less likely that the B cup is an afterthought that's really meant to fit a small C.

I might just order a few to try ... HerRoom's posted return policy is liberal ... anyone have any actual experience returning/exchanging merchandise from them??

[goldfinch]

HerRoom's posted return policy is liberal ... anyone have any actual experience returning/exchanging merchandise from them??

I bought over a $1000 worth of bras from them and returned about $750 worth. Kind of embarrassing, but I wanted to find what would fit. I actually exchanged emails with them and ordered some of what they suggested. They had no problems whatsoever with the returns just as long as the tags were still on the bras. It was inexpensive to ship because I did so many at once.

[Catrin]

Here is what I mean by 'too low and wide,' scroll down to the picture entitled "don't get used to too low and too wide," it's a before and after picture of incorrect and correct fit. It's the number one problem with bra fit, and results from too wide band combined with too small cup.

Before and After.

Edit: might as well insert the picture, but the article is nice, too.

hmmmmmm, looks familiar I am so glad I started this thread and hopefully all of the information will help other members. I never dreamed for all of my adult life that I wasn't in the right bra. There were such a limited number of sizes in the store and had no idea there were many, many other options. Obviously I needed a larger size back when I was a size 22 but even that probably didn't fit. The article was short, but sweet. Interesting points they brought up.

Hopefully my Freya will be delivered today, but we will see if it gets slowed down after the fresh snow fall last night. It IS in Indianapolis and that is encouraging.