Padded sports bras

[Crankin]

Personally, I love the light padding in sports bras; I haven't been able to find many, though, so I settle for the double layered bras that help with the headlight syndrome. I have some padded non-cycling tanks from Athleta, that I wear for yoga.
I am a 32 A. I do wear tanks with shelf bras, but it makes me self conscious (I like the Terry Eurohalters because they come up high and cover a lot more than most tanks, but are very cool). I wear fiberfill padded bras with regular clothes (i.e., padded, but not bullet bras) so I look somewhat in proportion; I'd like the same option for my sports bras.
Frankly, I would love to just be a B cup, but years ago, I made the decision not to have augmentation years ago. So, wearing a padded bra is just something that makes me feel better about how I look in clothes.

[rubywagon]

Personally, I love the light padding in sports bras; I haven't been able to find many, though, so I settle for the double layered bras that help with the headlight syndrome. I have some padded non-cycling tanks from Athleta, that I wear for yoga.
I am a 32 A. I do wear tanks with shelf bras, but it makes me self conscious (I like the Terry Eurohalters because they come up high and cover a lot more than most tanks, but are very cool). I wear fiberfill padded bras with regular clothes (i.e., padded, but not bullet bras) so I look somewhat in proportion; I'd like the same option for my sports bras.
Frankly, I would love to just be a B cup, but years ago, I made the decision not to have augmentation years ago. So, wearing a padded bra is just something that makes me feel better about how I look in clothes.

+1. I just received the Handful sports bra they sell here on TE that has removable headlight hiders/liners and I couldn't be happier with it. It does its job, but gives me some shape as well. I am seriously going to order more and throw out every bra I own. I had my implants removed 2 years ago and I need all the help I can get. Especially after two kids.

[tangentgirl]

They have padded sports bras? That just seems silly. Maybe I didn't notice it before because I just completely disregarded those ones as I combed through the bra racks?

Lining, sure. Extra holding power, absolutely. Padding sounds like a bacterial nesting ground. (Do bacteria nest?)

[ny biker]

They have padded sports bras? That just seems silly. Maybe I didn't notice it before because I just completely disregarded those ones as I combed through the bra racks?

Lining, sure. Extra holding power, absolutely. Padding sounds like a bacterial nesting ground. (Do bacteria nest?)

Not sure if they nest but they sure do breed.

[Crankin]

Well, I don't think padding would breed bacteria any more than any other material. Of course, I don't think about stuff like that, for anything, really. All my sports bras get washed in hot water and hung up to dry...
You may think it is silly, but it's not to me. If something makes me feel better about the way I look, than I am going to do it. There's always a lot of discussion about finding larger sized bras and the problems inherent with having large breasts. Frankly, it's almost impossible to even find bras in an A cup size, especially sports bras. Thankfully, I live near a real lingerie shop where I buy my regular bras, after years and years of wearing ill fitting ones.
Off topic, but...
It's the same with petite sized clothes. I am short, always have been. I like stylish clothes. I cannot just walk into a store and buy a t shirt. Even stores that have petite sized pants or skirts rarely have petite sized t shirts/tops. There are 2 places that I can buy things at. On the other hand, there's plenty of larger sizes. Stores increase their plus size departments and get rid of the petites. I know as a society we are getting taller and heavier, but please, there are plenty of flat chested women under five foot four who would appreciate some choices.

[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

[BalaRoja]

As a semi-frequently, self-conscious, nearly 6 foot tall, 38A-cup woman (say that 3x fast), I can understand the idea behind it. There are plenty of times when having a teenage boy like figure can be a bit of a drag. A lot of that is highly individual and pretty complex, at least for me it is and there's no need to get into all the sundry details here.

That said, I stopped using them because they simply were not very comfortable, plus they added bulk. Ultimately, my concern on a bike or during any other exercise, is being comfortable and performing well, so standard sports bras (non-padded) are all I have & use now.

Nonetheless, to be somewhat fair to those making padded sports bras, there is a segment of women, particularly the health club set, that are wearing such apparel much more so for how it looks than how it works. I'm not suggesting that every woman who goes to a trendy co-ed health club at 6pm is merely there to socialize and/or meet potential dates, but there are definitely some. Maybe for those, such a bra makes perfect sense.

Like so many other things that we have to deal with, it seems to me that the best thing is simply to have choices for ourselves while respecting those of other women.

[deeaimond]

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

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....