Honey Mag

Sports bras may keep up appearances (and prevent sag), but they’re also crucial to comfort – and not every one is created equal.  To find the right style, you’ve got to consider both your cup size and the impact-level of your exercise regimen.  In fact, if you’re very active, and particularly well-endowed, you’ll need to wear different bras for different workouts.

To get the low down on keeping your breasts on the up and up, we recently spoke to Dr. Yael Varnado-Rhodes, an accomplished physician, researcher and health commentator (who is better known as Dr. V).   We hope you’ll find her advice as uplifting as we did.

Honey Magazine:  Why is it so important to wear a sports bra?

Dr. V:  Sports bras are designed to protect the anatomy of the breast by maximizing support and minimizing bounce of the breasts. Excessive bounce can cause stretch to the breast that is irreversible. If the ligaments that hold the breasts up are overstretched it can lead to permanent breast sagging. Therefore, sports bras do protect the breast from damage during exercise.

Will you define the different exercise impact levels for us?

Walking, yoga and weight lifting are all low-impact activities.  Fast walking, skating and cycling are medium-impact activities.  Running, aerobics and boxing are high-impact activities.

How do sports bras work, exactly?

There are two basic ways that sports bras support your breasts. The first method is by compression.  This style of bra works by squeezing your breasts tightly against your chest wall. They are generally made from elastic fibers that stretch tightly and prevent bounce. Compression bras are best for women who have smaller breasts.

The second style of sports bra is encapsulation. This style lifts and separates each breast in its own cup preventing the “uni-boob.” Often it has underwire and hooks, snaps, or a zipper in the front or back. This style of sports bra is better for women who have larger breasts.

What are the most important things to consider, when buying a sports bra?

There are three key things to keep in mind when you buy a sports bra: support, fit, and breathability.

Thanks, Dr. V!

Now that you’re an informed customer, here are Honey’s picks for the best of the sports bra bunch:

Low-Impact/Petite Cup Sizes

The traditional sports bra is best for small cup sizes, and low-impact routines (walking, tai-chi, basic yoga).  We like this one by C9 Champion.

Medium-Impact/Most Cup Sizes

To find the happy medium between comfortable calorie burning and super-flattering fit, this model from Bendon fits the bill.

High-Impact/C-Cup Plus

To keep everything in place during high-impact exercising – especially if you’re blessed with curves – look no further than this “extreme” sports bra by Anita.