Seeking bra reviews for the larger boobage

[colby]

Hind Nexus Bra: I love this bra. It provides more support than any other Hind Bra. It's also the snuggest fit. Where the Motion Sensor has stretchy straps, the entire Nexus bra is lined on the inside with a second layer of non-stretchy fabric. It's easy to see here on the inside of the black bra:

The other reason this bra is so supportive is because it has a broader back across which the weight can be distributed. See the back photo here:

Beware the front zipper. It's a locking zipper, but the zipper pull must be in the down and locked position. Otherwise you risk a spontaneous boobage explosion. Been there, done that. I've never had the bra unzip while running or doing triathlon. BUT I have had it open up while puttering around the office, usually because I've been lifting boxes and stuff and I dislodge the zipper.

Hey Susan,

I have a Nexus and I've been having trouble with the zipper bottom eating into my chest/stomach area when I run. It's driving me nuts. I have been wearing my HRM under it lately, which sometimes helps and sometimes makes it worse. The bra feels great, I really like it, and I don't find myself really feeling like I'm announcing that I AM A WOMAN when I run in it, but this could be a dealbreaker. I don't have this problem on my bike, but it's a lot less up and down, up and down

Is this a sizing problem? Do I need to go up/down in the chest measurement or even the cup size? I really want to love this bra without wearing bandaids. I hate shopping for sports bras, and it seems like my last option is the Enell.

Anyone else with advice or experience with the Nexus, please chime in!

As an aside, I also have similar problems with zippered shirts and running. The zipper at the top eats into my neck/chest area when I unzip it even just a little bit, which really sucks because I love the ventilation effect after you go from "it's a little cold out here" to "this feels nice, but a little toasty." I guess they just aren't built for people who have any chest whatsoever. I wish they'd put some kind of soft lining on the inside of the shirt to cover the zipper. My REI fleece jacket does this right at the neck, and it feels great. Right now, I have two marks on my chest from my latest shirt (I love it, but...). They aren't quite visible when I wear a tshirt, but they are if I wear anything else (or bend over).

[colby]

Is this a sizing problem? Do I need to go up/down in the chest measurement or even the cup size? I really want to love this bra without wearing bandaids. I hate shopping for sports bras, and it seems like my last option is the Enell.

Anyone else with advice or experience with the Nexus, please chime in!

I'm answering my own question, how geeky of me.

I think I figured out my problem. The straps are too long to just put the bra on and go, but if I pull down the back of the bra to make it fit a little better on my body, it seems to stay in place better, too. I went for a 2-hour run (jog, but same bounce factor) this weekend after making that adjustment, and I didn't have nearly as much rubbing by the zipper "end" (maybe none, but I still have a spot from before, so it's hard to tell). I do have trouble with my HRM slipping under the bottom rib of the bra, which means HRM rubbing against skin (OW), but I think I just need to be more careful there, too.

I still wish manufacturers would "protect" the inside of the zipper and the base of the zipper a little better... the skin in these places is so sensitive. Kudos to Hind for at least protecting the inside of the zipper itself with a little flap of soft fabric.

I'm still fighting my zippered collar tops. I have yet to find something that zips across the top of my chest (even just a few inches) that doesn't rub from the top of my collarbone down my chest. I think I will consult my Super Sewing (and Cooking, and Cleaning, and anything else) Grandma and see what she thinks about safely making them stop eating my skin; I'm afraid to sew anything into that fabric and ruin it.