Exercising is important if you want to stay fit and healthy. But as a woman, it can be difficult to find the right bra, especially if you have a large bust. If you don’t have the right sports bra, it can cause extreme discomfort and chafing when you run, skip, or lift weights.
Ideally, you need a bra that will provide the support you need without restricting your movement. With so many designs on the market, how do you find a sports bra that’s the perfect fit for you? That’s what you can find out in today’s post.
We’ve provided a guide that will help you find a bra that’s suitable for your size and will provide the comfort you need when exercising.
Level of Support
The first step to finding the perfect sports bra is identifying the level of support you need for your bust for various activities. Some bras are ideal for low-intensity workouts, while other types of exercises, such as plyometrics, will need more support.
Low Impact Sports Bras
Low-impact bras are ideal for women who have an A or a B-sized cup. They’re designed for low-intensity workouts such as Yoga, walking, or strength training. This type of bra is typically a pull-over style without band adjustments. They are lightweight with thinner straps.
Medium Impact Sports Bras
Medium-impact bras are designed for activities such as hiking, cycling, and skiing. These types of bras come with more support compared to low-impact designs to prevent breast movement. They have wider bands and straps, and they’re either pull-over or hook-type bras.
High Impact Sports Bras
High-impact sports bras are for intense exercises that require a lot of movement, such as skipping, running, and climbing. They’re also designed for women who have a bigger cup size. These bras may have wider straps that are adjustable for additional support.
Finding the Perfect Size
The next step to finding the right bra for your level of exercise is to determine the size you need. You should start by measuring your rib cage or the section just under your bust. You can round down your measurement to the closest inch. This measurement will help you find your band and cup size. See the table below to determine your rib cage measurement:
| Rib cage measurement in Inches | Band size needed |
| 25 to 27 inches | 30 |
| 27 to 29 inches | 32 |
| 29 to 31 inches | 34 |
| 31 to 33 inches | 36 |
| 33 to 35 inches | 38 |
| 35 to 37 inches | 40 |
| 37 to 39 inches | 42 |
| 39 to 41 inches | 44 |
To get a more comfortable fit, you’ll need to determine your cup size. Follow these steps:
- Measure around the fullest part of your bust and round up to the nearest whole number. This will be your bust measurement.
- Subtract your rib cage measurement from your bust measurement.
- The difference in inches will be your suggested cup size.
- If you find that you’re between sizes, you can round up the number.
The Ability to Adjust Straps
Some sports bras allow you to adjust your traps for additional support. You can either find bras that allow you to tighten or loosen your shoulder straps or a strap that goes under your breasts. Adjustable rib cage straps are ideal for women who have bigger busts.
The rib cage band is what provides most of your support, so ensure it fits snugly and doesn’t lift when you’re moving your arms. The shoulder straps should sit flat against your skin and have minimal stretch.
If the straps are digging into your skin, they’re too tight and need to be loosened. On the other hand, if the straps are slipping off your shoulder, they’re too loose. Choose a bra that has wider straps because it provides greater comfort and support. You’ll find all types of designs and sizes you need from Anita’s Sports Bras.
Minimizing Movement
Sports bras come with various components besides straps to minimize breast movement. Compression sports bras have a pull-over design and compress your breasts to the chest wall to prevent your breasts from moving. These bras are designed for cup sizes A and B as they don’t have cups built into the fabric.
Encapsulation sports bras have individual cups to surround the breasts to support them separately. They provide a natural shape and protection and are ideal for women who have medium to large breast sizes.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about how to choose the perfect sports bra, you can buy one that’s specific to your size and needs. Whether you’re doing yoga, running, or strength training, you’ll find a sports bra that’s comfortable if you follow the steps provided in this guide.
