Banish the bounce with the right bra. We’ve put them to the test and found a bounce banisher to suit everyone
New research from Tribesports suggests British women are holding on to their sports bras for up to three times longer than they should: in fact, for a whopping 18.7 months on average and anywhere up to 260 wears (and washes). Jenna Anians, president and co-founder of Tribesports suggests that technical sportswear performs at its best between 20 and 50 washes before it needs replacing.
While it may seem unnecessary to replace your sports bra as regularly as this, there are real consequences to not having the correct support when exercising, the most serious being potential damage to your Cooper’s ligaments (connective tissue in the breast) that leads to irreversible sagging. Dodge the droop with our testers’ guide to the best sports bras around:
1. Best for FULLER BUSTS
Freya Active Underwired Sports Bra, £29.99, www.freyalingerie.com
Tester says: ‘Being a 32DD, a decent sports bra is an integral part of my workout gear. In the past, I’ve found great options by Shock Absorber and M&S, but the Freya bra I tested out stands out heads and shoulders above the rest. Its simple style is appealing and it easily blends in with the rest of my gym wardrobe. I tried it out in spinning and body pump classes to see how it would fare.There are four different clips across the back instead of the usual three so you can get an exact fit. The thick, padded straps felt secure and comfy, while the wider curvature wire ensured I didn’t experience any of the dreaded ‘digging in’ that can happen with other bras. I felt confident throughout both classes – even while pedaling furiously I felt comfortable and un-selfconscious: this bra really did minimise bounce. Its high coverage meant that even bending forward I felt supported and secure, something helped further by the double layer fabric and the side sling which minimises side to side movement. The Coolmax fabric meant that even after a particularly sticky spin session, the bra kept moisture away from my skin, providing breathable comfort. At under £30, this is great value for money.’ Naomi, 32DD
2. Best for HIGH IMPACT
Shock Absorber Ultimate Gym Bra, £38, Debenhams
Tester says: ‘I am so fussy with sports bras I wear two when I exercise – sometimes three for long runs and other high impact stuff. So when I heard about the ‘Ultimate’ support of this bra I didn’t believe it. But it’s actually like wearing two bras because there are two layers. The lower layer criss-crosses at the back to hold your boobs in, while the outer layer holds your boobs up. It feels more like a harness than a bra which is just how I like it and truth be told, my boos didn’t move during a tough bout of jumping plyometrics. It was great for using pre-menstrually as before my periods my boobs hurt and this is intensified if they’re not 100 per cent supported. The other advantage for me is a bit of a personal quirk. I like to put my iPod nano into my bra when I am exercising so I can listen to my playlist unencumbered by things strapped to my arm. This way it fitted neatly between the two layers – perfect! Anna, 34C
3. Best for MEDIUM IMPACT
Wacoal Sport Underwire Bra, £43, www.figleaves.com
‘While this doesn’t look too attractive on the hanger – mainly because of the soft cups – once on, it looks loads better than expected. It’s a nice crop top shape and it gave my 32C boobs a good shape too. It’s really adjustable – both the straps and the chest band have lots of variation in size. It uses hooks rather than the sliders you usually find on bra straps, so, while it’s a bit time consuming to alter the size, you only have to do it once. It’s super supportive and I felt happy jogging in it.’ Jo, 32C
4. Best for LOW IMPACT
Sports Bra, £12.99, H&M
‘This seamless, racer-back, neon pink style packed a punch in the style stakes. The quick-dry fabric felt soft and cool against my skin while the stretchy fit was comfy and lightly supportive. I tried this out at yoga and it fared well: supporting my bust even during down dog – although I’m not sure it would handle anything larger than a large B/small C cup. The bra isn’t adjustable and comes in sizes XS to XL – it’s worth going down a size for extra snug fit.’ Anya, 34A
5. Best for SMALLER BUSTS
Karrimor XLite Bra Top, currently £6.00 from £29.99, www.sportsdirect.com
‘The pretty colour of this bra added a nice pop of colour to my gym clothes; I felt like a proper, real-life gym-goer in it. And if I was one of those annoying people who walk around in their training bra in the gym, I would, because it feels more like a top than a bra. It’s made of good quality material and it didn’t look like it would fade the way so many of my other ones have. It was a snug, secure fit over my 34B boobs and did well at covering them (sometimes I can get some bra showing round the side). However there was a LOT of material, it felt quite bulky and showed up under a few of my tops. I wore it on the treadmill, elliptical and for weight training and it did a good job on everything.’ Zoe, 34B
Compiled by Eva Caiden
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
