Find the best sports bra for your workout
By JANET CROWLEY
Los Angeles Times
Choosing the right sports bra — and getting the proper fit — requires patience, an eye for detail and a willingness to jump in the fitting room.
First decide if you want a compression or encapsulation-style brassiere. Compression bras, like the first Jogbra, usually pull over the head and mash the breasts down, to restrict movement. They comfortably minimize motion in high-impact activities for small- to-medium-breasted women. Encapsulation styles, which separate and support the breasts individually, are usually more comfortable for large-breasted women.
To keep cool and dry, look for wicking microfibers such as Coolmax.Mesh panels in front or back will keep you even cooler.
Look for wide shoulder straps, which are less likely to dig in. Nonstretch fabrics in the straps will reduce bounce. And, ideally, they should be inset.
“Inset shoulder straps can make a big difference on where you distribute the pressure from holding up the breast on your shoulders and back,” says Jen Elise McKey, a bra selector for Title Nine, a national women’s athletic apparel store.
Pay attention to the fit of the chest strap. It provides the foundation and should fit snugly around the rib cage.
Use your regular brassiere size as a guideline, but try the bigger and smaller sizes. If you’d rather not worry about bouncing, go tighter.
Before buying the bra, put it on, jump up and down, bend over. Do as much as you can in the dressing room that will replicate whatever activity you’re planning to wear it for.
High-performance offerings,some already on the market and some coming soon, include Moving Comfort’s “nippleproof” bras featuring nipple camouflage and protection, Hind’s new high-tech molded bra, and Under Armour’s Duplicity bra with ultra-smooth mesh for dryness. Even Victoria’s Secret is getting in on the action with the “Sexy Sport” line.
After purchasing the bra,replace it every six months or so.
WHERE TO BUY,• Flying Feet Sport Shoes, 1511 Mount Rose Ave., York, 845-2833, www.flyingfeet.com.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods, Route 30 and Kenneth Road, West Manchester Township, 848-1696
• The Finish Line, 2901 Whiteford Road, York, 757-6124
• Title Nine, www.titlenine.com
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