Fitness
Sports bra shopping tips
The Best Sport's Bra For You?
Follow these tips from expert bra fitter Susan Nethero!
1. Look for bras that encapsulate each breast in a separate chamber; they reduce bounce and support better than simple shelf bras.
2. Try to find sports bras that come in cup and band sizes rather than just small, medium or large; they usually fit more precisely.
3. Look for strategically placed seams and stitching, which help cushion the breast. (Hate bumpy ridges under a fitted tee? Go for a seamless bra.)
4. Pick high-performance fabrics that wick away sweat to minimise chafing.
5. Own a variety of sports bras, and when in doubt, choose a higher-impact bra for a lower-impact sport – never the other way around.
6. Get fitted by an expert. You can find bra fitters at most department stores or lingerie shops.
7. Before buying, jump, swing your arms and move around. If a bra pokes, rubs, slips, jiggles, constricts your breathing or bulges, put it back. Also, it should fit on the first hook; as it loses elasticity over time, you’ll need room to tighten it.
8. Rotate your bras and wash them regularly so you can get at least a year’s use out of each one.








I think that this is a useful article in a country that has a true choice in sports bras ... sorry not very useful for SA.
Can someone please tell me where in Johannesburg/Pretoria a person can buy a decent sports bra and get expert advice on the correct fit?
I use Shock Absorber by Triumph. Unfortunately their DD sizes don't cut it and I end up wearing two at a time.
Is there anything out there that's better.
Ladies we will ask our experts and get back to you!
This is a request to all sports bra manufacturers to please produce size E/EE bras as well.
new balance has a great sports bar/crop top with tons of support and has made my training a dream!!!! you can buy them at the sweet shop in Dunkeld.
Try Woolies - they're very reasonably priced and they make for big sizes. Also I have found that trying a slightly smaller size holds the girls in tight and then pop a top with built in support over and you're sorted.
I am always scanning stores like Woollies and Edgars Sports etc for decent sports bras. Their selection and ranges are not great at the best of times.
You can also try Sportsman's Warehouse, Totalsports and Cape Storm.
Ladies we will be doing an article on the best bra brands. Watch this space!
the Shock Absorber is good but not exacty the best looker - also the seam right across the nipple line doesnt look good. Seems in SA it is thought that the bigger breasted women dont do High impact sports - its SO difficult to find a good bra!!!
I am a size 34C and have found it difficult to find a decent sport bra since high school. I found that wearing two bra's is the most efficient, one that has cross-style straps at the back and one with straight straps over the back. Woolworths is usually the best bet in SA, but we really need a wider range to choose from. Bought a great sports bra in London recently, it adjusts under the arms.
There is a serious lack of decent sports bras in this country. Its worse than the Eskom crisis and has been going on as long as I have been wearing bras! Triumph used to do a good underwire shock absorber, but then they stopped it. Their replacement offering was not up to scratch at all. If I have problems as a C cup, finding support, I shudder to what the rest of the larger cup sized ladies go through.
I once saw something called the Enell "No Bounce" sports bra on Oprah. They seemed fantastic. I sent them a query, as I wanted to try import them to this country. They weren't much interested. Has anyone tried this brand of bra, while in America?
I am a 34D and started running a few months ago and my sister sent me a bra from the US from the brand "Moving Comfort" They have very good support an a range of high impact bras but after a few months I find I still need to wear another one underneath to stop my boobs from moving when I run and hurting afterwards.
There is a huge gap in the SA market - why has have the stores here not cottoned on and started importing? all you seem to get is a limited amount of Shock absorber bras that only go to impact level 2 or 3
Hi there - I am a 32DD (awkward, I know) and have found the most comfortable sports bras at La Senza.
I am also desperatley looking for a sports bra I am a DD and have started aerobics and fitness classes but am having to stop due to being really really sore. PLEASE if anyone can help.
There is a awesom sports bra, called Enell: The Sports Bra but I email them they werent all that helpful, but they dont really sell it in SA yet, you can buy it online only. I really wish they would bring them to SA. I battle with sport bras to, cant run or jump without looking down and having to adjust.
I'm a 38B and all I find is sports bras for bigger cup sizes. I think that a cup B size also needs proper support when running, so why do most companies only cater for bigger sizes when it comes to high impact sports?
The article is very informative but all the sport bra's Ive tried never gave me the support I need. The thing is the bra's created are usually for women with the 'normal' size cups. There are NO sport bra's for a woman with 32G. Where can I find sport bra's that cater for women with large breasts? I am reduced to wearing a bra and a sports bra to gym.
I run marathons and ultramarathons. I'm a 34A and cannot find any sports bra smaller than a B cup in South Africa. They may be small but still need support... I usually run with crop tops but theres not much choice when it comes to colours and often can't find anything to wear under my club colours :-(
There was a good article in 'Runners World' a couple of months ago (maybe October), about bras voicing a lot of the problems on this page. I need a DD cup and have found Shock Absorber OK. But, it would be nice to have a qualified person to speak to about bra fit at a sports shop
I have an enell, it is amazing! You could do a marathon as a DD in them! There is really a market to import these babies. They are so tight that you barely have any movement at all, whether you are sprinting or jumping up and down. I have never worn a South African equivalent (and I shopped around like mad). It did cost me R600 though.
After searching high and low - I found a New Balance bra which offers great support for bigger and smaller sizes. It cost R349 and is worth every penny. I was told many ladies in the SA Navy use them, and with the amount of training they do, I can only imagine they would have tried an tested numerous bras.
I only need a normal 40E cotton bra can't find anywhere.
Desperate living on Natal South Coast where it is very hot .
Can anybody help?
I am a 34D, and find it extremely difficult to find a good sports bra or even a good fitting bikini top. However, I currently exercise with a La Senza cotton racer back, its got seperate cups and gives good support. Unfortunately I do chafe in summer when I go running. The problem with most sports bras in SA is the "uniboob" which is very unflattering and hot.
We tried and tested these bras for you ladies! - http://www.womenshealthsa.co.za/list/sports-bras-tried-and-tested
Well if you are bigger than E cup you are probably having issues finding a sports bra that fits properly and are probably being incorrectly measured so that shops can sell you what they have in stock (A woman at a boutique store tried to sell me a 36 DD for R 600 because they didnt have 32F in stock)...
I ordered mine online eventually after futile searching for something that fits and didn't make my chest look like a monoboob). I'm finally running again and they don't/can't move! Its a Freya underwire sports bra.. check it out.. http://www.lessbounce.com/acatalog/Freya_Underwire_Sports_Bra.html
Ladies, I feel your pain! I too have an unusual bra size (32DD or 32E depending on what brand/shape bra I am wearing) and have really struggled over the years to find my size in South Africa.
Last year I started shopping exclusively at Barclay & Clegg for sports bras (am avid spinner / cyclist) as they have a huge range of different brands, shapes & sizes. They do stock Freya, (mentioned above) however the best sports bra brand, in my opinion is "Anita". They have different support "levels" for different activities, so for example cycling I use Level 2 but for Yoga, Level 1.
I've just started a blog for ladies in my situation, check it out here:
http://blogs.women24.com/ladylingerie/sporty-girl-make-sure-the-twins-ar...
;-)
i am not able to find a good sports bra here in india. since i am a very active person i am very cautious about de movements and i am desp looking for something that would cover up completly. need tips n brands that i can find in india
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