How to tell if sports bra fits properly?

jjasmelon wrote: »

I received my first sports bra today. it feels comfortable but i'm a bit sure on if the cup size is right? is it suppose to feel tight at the front or not?

Need some tips on knowing whether it is correct.

I really have no clue. As long as mine are comfortable and keep the girls from jiggling all over the place, I'm good. I don't really wear them out in public too much (other than gym or running) so comfort and support is all that matters to me in a sports bra.

I found this website that explains how sports bras should fit and all that.

http://m.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/sports-bras.html

I couldn't have said it any better then this#

• It should fit slightly tighter than a regular bra, but not so tight that you can't comfortably take a deep breath with the bra fastened on the middle hook.
• There should be no chafing around the armholes, shoulder straps or seams. If the sports bra has hooks or snaps, make sure those don't chafe, either.
• The straps shouldn't dig into your shoulders.
  To make sure you have the right size, raise your hands over your head. If the elastic band moves up your rib cage, you need a smaller band or the straps may need to be adjusted.
• The cup fabric should be smooth. Wrinkles or puckers indicate the cup is too big.
  Test the bra's support by jumping or running in place. You'll be able to feel whether it's sufficiently supportive or not.

You gotta do the jump test.

Put the bra on, stand in front of a mirror, jump up and down, see how much the jubblies bounce. They shouldn't really move much at all, and it should be tighter than a normal bra, because the idea is they're compressed to minimise movement in all directions.

Odds are if you're a biggish cup size, they aren't going to be totally immobile (that'd be like trying to gaffer tape jelly to a wall, and I'm not sure it'd allow for breathing either), but they should only move together slightly up/down with the rest of your body's moment, and definitely not independently! If you're still conscious of wobble/bounce I'd say it's not certainly tight enough or perhaps just that bra is not a great fit for you.

I agree with everyone else... If it completely covers the girls and feels comfortable, I put it to the jump test.

Are you running or doing plyo (or anything jumpy/high impact)?Then jump test in addition to the REI test above is a good idea. However, if you are very full busted, nothing is going to keep them completely contained. But, if you are just doing yoga or lifting, there's no reason to be completely immobolize them if you otherwise have a great fit. Sports bras tend to be designed for different levels of impact/activity.

TavistockToad wrote: »

If it takes you 10 minutes to wrestle yourself out of it, it fits! :laugh:

Haha I live by this ... I don't want any jiggling whatsoever, so I buy as tight as I can.

I have a larger chest so I know I can't wear anything but a maximum support/high impact bra even for lighter impact activities like yoga and lifting (need to make sure the girls are locked and loaded). Like with jeans, the best way to know if it fits is to try it before you buy because you could be different sizes with different brands. The bra is not supposed to be suffocating but should feel tight and secure. And yes, it's going to be a pain to get off esp. if you've been sweating like cray. Your girls shouldn't sneak out of the cups when you jump up and down. There should be no side or top spillage. I particularly like the ones with slight padding (it gets chilly in gym sometimes and cups.
My recent fave is the c9 high impact bra from Target. http://www.target.com/p/c9-champion-women-s-high-support-sports-bra-with-molded-cup/-/A-14968996?lnk=Rec|pdp|viewed_viewed|pdpv1

Wait bras aren't supposed to leave furrows in your shoulders? O.o

TavistockToad wrote: »

If it takes you 10 minutes to wrestle yourself out of it, it fits! :laugh:

pretty much......... LOL

they are meant to hold you in and keep you from giving yourself a black eye. if they move, they should move together and should not cause pain or harm.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KZaz7OqyTHQ

AndiJH wrote: »

It's all about fit here. I'm a small band/large cup size, and I can't stand all that movement movement when I'm running or spinning...I swear by my VS sports bras.

The ultimate, with convertible straps and a back hook (so easy to get off!)
and the Incredible, impossible to get on/off, but it's like a harness for the girls. It's amazingly comfortable once it's on, too.
These both have padding too, so no THO in the cold gym. You can use coupons and get them on sale for $30-40 and that's a great deal for how awesome they are.

Wait...when you say, "small band/large cup..." how are you getting those at VS? Because I'm going broke at herroom.com getting my small band/large cup bras...as far as I know, VS doesn't get you a band smaller than 34 or so!

Someone needs to invent a sports bra that does NOT create uniboob. I have a VS and 2 lulu's, and depending on what action I'm taking, can still come out of downward dog with a uniboob! So aggravating.

squirrlt wrote: »

ceevee6 wrote: »

I have a larger chest so I know I can't wear anything but a maximum support/high impact bra even for lighter impact activities like yoga and lifting (need to make sure the girls are locked and loaded). Like with jeans, the best way to know if it fits is to try it before you buy because you could be different sizes with different brands. The bra is not supposed to be suffocating but should feel tight and secure. And yes, it's going to be a pain to get off esp. if you've been sweating like cray. Your girls shouldn't sneak out of the cups when you jump up and down. There should be no side or top spillage. I particularly like the ones with slight padding (it gets chilly in gym sometimes and cups.
My recent fave is the c9 high impact bra from Target. http://www.target.com/p/c9-champion-women-s-high-support-sports-bra-with-molded-cup/-/A-14968996?lnk=Rec|pdp|viewed_viewed|pdpv1

You might like this one too (or any bigger chested ladies)! I can't. Even. Deal. with sport bra wrestling anymore. I have to go with the hook in back. I wonder if there's a tradeoff. I do get SLIGHT jiggle. but I have not found anything that DOESN'T jiggle a little, even with the uniboober deluxes. Champion's C9 does not come in my size (l'm a tiny band, big cup girl), unfortunately. But this one is secure enough to run in if you get the exact right fit. They also make a non-underwire version that I use for yoga/strength, almost as much support (but 2scared2run in). Pricey, but worth it. Looks GOOD under clothes too. I'd wear it under real clothes, it supports without squishing the dear life out of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Panache-Womens-Underwired-Sports-Bra/dp/B005X5FG2O

Love this bra! Check all the colors, some are cheaper than others. I think i got mine ( gray and lavender) for around $30. I can't stand wrestling into a pull over bra that doesn't even work all that well. Underwire encapsulation sports bras are the way to go for big busted girls. Plus, no uniboob.