THE RIG'S GUIDE TO SPORTS BRAS
The sports bra is possibly the most underrated piece of gear in most people's training kit, but a poorly made and designed sports bra could be really distracting during a sweaty session.
Nothing is more distracting than when you feel like your boobs are going to pop out (or pop all over the place) because of poor coverage, or that nasty and stuffy sweat-on-skin feeling that you can't get rid of because you can't just take off your sports bra.
Besides aesthetics, there are a few other factors to consider when purchasing a sports bra that works for you.
1. Support
The main function of a sports bra is to support your bust. The level of support generally depends on the intensity level of your work out and your bust size. Medium to high support sports bras are more suitable for high intensity work outs and bigger busts. Low to medium support bras are great for low intensity work outs such as stretching, mobility, or for lazy days when you can't be bothered to put on an underwire bra.
When you’re shopping online, it’s hard to tell if a sports bra is supportive or not and we tend to go for whatever looks pretty. Besides aesthetics reasons, the design of the sports bra usually offers different support levels. Typically, the traditional racerback offers medium to high level support, and spaghetti straps offer low to medium support. If you are like me and need a medium to high level support bra but you don't like the traditional racer back, you can opt for a crossback with thicker straps. One shoulder sports bras are beautiful but I highly recommend trying it on before you check out. You want to make sure that the support is symmetrical even though the design isn't!
2. Function
A bra is not just a bra these days. There are some pretty cool bras that offer functions specific to your kind of training. One of our all-time favorites is The Chestee because it offers built-in collar bone protection. Another cool function to have in a sports bra is pockets. Make sure you look out for the functions that you need when shopping for a sports bra!
3. Staying dry
Things get sweaty during training (extra sweaty in Hong Kong!) and the worst feeling to have is when you’re stripped down to your sports bra and you are still drenched. I always look for one made with moisture wicking fabric and designed for ventilation (such as mesh panelling and open back) but doesn’t compromise support.
Everyone's needs and preferences are different. Do you have any other tips? Any favorites you want to share? Leave a comment below!