Tri-friendly sports bra for the well endowed....

[trimolly]

Hello Ladies!!
I am looking for a tri-friendly (i.e., can do all 3 swim-bike-run) sports bra with some support (I am 34C). I have tried a couple, but find that the more supportive they are, the less likely they are to work for all three because they never really dry out from the swim. Any suggestions? I am getting desperate- my tri is September 17 so I am running out of time.....
Thanks in advance!
trimolly

[KnottedYet]

I am also a 34C. I love (love love LOVE) the CW-X bra by Wacoal. I wear a medium, which fits me perfectly.

There are a couple other women here who wear it, too.

There are two layers of thin fabric and sandwiched between them is a system of support "straps" (I can't think of any other way to describe it.) It provides amazing support and doesn't squish you flat. It also prevents "headlights" when you're cold.

It is by far and bar none the most comfortable and flattering sports bra I've EVER worn.

It dries very quickly (on a warm day it is dry before you're done with the bike leg). It's thin enough you can wear it under a trisuit. It's "modest" enough you can wear it alone.

You might need to search around a bit to find it. I've gotten it from Terry Precision (www.terrybicycles.com) and from Sahalie (aka Early Winters). Someone else found it at REI. The "home" page for CW-X is www.cw-x.com

It only comes in solid black. It doesn't have the swoops and swirls of gray like the CW-X tights and shirts (thank goodness!)

EDIT: Oooh, I take that back! It comes in colors now! And lace! I have plain black ones. Here're the lovely new variations of the one I have (#165002) http://cw-x.com/ss/products/womens/w_sport_support_bra And here's a more supportive version http://cw-x.com/ss/products/womens/w_support_bra

[trimolly]

Thank you so much!!! I went to the website- I just want to make sure I get the right one- it appears that they make 2 kinds - the support bra and the sport support bra - ??? Which one is it?
Thanks so much for all your help!!

[colby]

Hello Ladies!!
I am looking for a tri-friendly (i.e., can do all 3 swim-bike-run) sports bra with some support (I am 34C). I have tried a couple, but find that the more supportive they are, the less likely they are to work for all three because they never really dry out from the swim. Any suggestions? I am getting desperate- my tri is September 17 so I am running out of time.....
Thanks in advance!
trimolly

Hey Molly,

I am around a 36C and on Knotted's love for the CW-X I bought one (the Sport Support) from www.paragonsports.com (the only place I could find them in stock) -- they also have "full coverage" models that might even give more support, but they don't reference them on CW-X's site so I don't know what the difference is.

I bought a size L, and I find that it's not quite supportive enough for running by itself, but it's great for biking and dries quickly for swimming. I paired mine with a tri-suit (a tri-top would work too) to add another level of compression, and that works awesome. I just bought a size M to see how that one fits. The straps on the L seem too long, and it seems a little big around the bottom band. I'd definitely start with a size M and work your way down if it seems big.

Before that, I was wearing the Hind Nexus, which was great but I don't know if it would dry quickly, and was too bulky to wear under a tri-top/suit.

Good luck!!

[KnottedYet]

Molly - I'm a 34C and wear size medium "Sport Support". I can do anything in it, it supports me through it all.

I also have a large (from back when I was larger) and it is waaaay to big now. I second what Colby said: start with a medium. If you get one that is too big it won't support you enough for running. (I am keeping the large because I can still wear it for work and low-impact.)

You can buy directly from the CW-X website if you can't find a bra near you.

[EBD]

I am a 34DD and I wear a Sugoi Fizz bra (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17607) under a Sugoi Fizz tri-tank - this is a combo that has worked well for me. I think I have a Medium in both, but the bra might be a Large. I always wear 2 bras to run, so I am used to the mega-compression, and the tank-with-support plus bra underneath is perfect. Somewhat smaller busts could probably wear the Sugoi bra as a top on its own (it's made for that). The Sugoi dries very well and it has a very wide, snug band around the ribcage, so unlike most of my bras it does not ride up and down in the front and cause chafing. Highly recommend!

[Lise]

Thanks for that tip, EBD. I'm a 36D, and always looking for something that will work better than whatever I used in the last tri!

I notice, though, that the sizing charts for both bra and tri top only go up to an A or B cup. Yet you've found them adequate and supportive for a DD? I wouldn't have even tried. I'm looking for a tri top, since I tend to race in tri shorts and a non-aerodynamic top.

[colby]

I notice, though, that the sizing charts for both bra and tri top only go up to an A or B cup. Yet you've found them adequate and supportive for a DD? I wouldn't have even tried. I'm looking for a tri top, since I tend to race in tri shorts and a non-aerodynamic top.

I think it's the compression of the tri-top PLUS the bra that really helps. I probably couldn't use either independently, but when I put them together, it magically works (I was impressed).

I bought this one as a backup to my soon-to-be-replaced trisuit: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20740 but haven't received it yet. I haven't tried one without the shelf bra, but I know Susan liked the Tyr top without shelf bra because she wears a bra underneath. It could just be the compression of the two, but I agree with EBD's comment that the shelf might add some... lift...

[EBD]

I should have mentioned that the Sugoi Fizz tri top has a built-in shelf bra - so I'm wearing that plus a bra underneath. The Sugoi bra top in itself would not be nearly enough, you're right. I have never had much luck with sports bras made especially for the well-endowed - too much hardware, or I can't breathe, or they chafe - so I just double up on the old-fashioned compression, and somehow it works (making sure that the one next to my skin is nice smooth wicking material - doesn't matter so much what the top one is). I guess B + B = DD!

I came to this after trying on a couple of different tri tops with built-in shelf bras (over my sports bra), and although the compression was fine, most of the tops were too scantily cut in the chest, giving me that attractive boobs-squishing-out-into-armpits look. The Sugoi top has a bit more fabric in the armpit area, for minimal escaping boob! That said, my LBS leans heavily toward non-shelf-bra tri clothes and only has a couple of brands, so I am no expert.

[Brina]

I am a 36D I really like the Running Bra by Nike. Unfortunately, they have discontinued it. I am hoarding the one that I have and only wear it for races, or if I am doing a swim/bike brick. The thing they replaced it with is just downright weird.

[Lise]

although the compression was fine, most of the tops were too scantily cut in the chest, giving me that attractive boobs-squishing-out-into-armpits look. The Sugoi top has a bit more fabric in the armpit area, for minimal escaping boob!

Oh, man, tell me about it! I can relate!

[KnottedYet]

WooooHOOOOOOOO!

Susan sent me a quick note! TE is going to start carrying the CW-X! There are support ones and sport ones and heavy-duty ones and ones with colors and different sizes and IT'S SO EXCITING!!!!

I will be able to buy my favorite bras from SUSAN! (well, and TE and Molly the wonder-babe on the phone orders and everyone else, you know)

[lawyergirl]

I just got 2 of the Enell sports bras - http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=4238

They sure aren't pretty, but they do hold things in place very nice. I've used them for running and have been very impressed. And they come in a lot of sizes. I got a size too big at first and had to return and get the smaller size, but now they fit great.

[baskingshark]

Trimolly - how did your race go? And what bra did you buy in the end? Did it work well?