Choosing a sports bra.

If you are active, it's important that you invest in a good sports bra for your breast health, just as you would in a good pair of shoes for your sport. When you are larger busted, it can be uncomfortable or painful to do high-impact activities without the proper support. The ligaments in your breasts, as well as your skin, can experience a great deal of movement and the right sports bra style in a good fit will restrict movement and reduce any damage or fatigue to the ligaments in your breasts.

There are many different styles of sports bras available in larger cup sizes and they fall into two categories, encapsulation and compression. Once you know which category you prefer, or find works best for you, it'll be easier to identify other styles that may work for you.

Encapsulation sports bra

An encapsulation style supports the bust by holding each breast separately. The support within the bra will lift your breasts up and away from your body, and will have a good amount of coverage in order to reduce bounce. This type of style will usually have underwires to separate the bust. The shape this bra gives will be most similar to your everyday bra by separating your breasts.

Products: Marie Jo Action Arrow, Freya Lingerie Active, Elomi Energise

Compression sports bra

The other style, compression, will hold your breasts tight against your body. It will not usually separate your bust, and could be described as flattening your breasts against your body. The idea is that with the breasts bound tightly against the chest, there will be less movement.

Products: Shock Absorber Active Multi

What do you prefer?

There are some styles that are a combination of both encapsulation and compression. These styles tend to be non-wired styles that still have some structure to separate the breasts, but do not offer a lot of depth or projection to the cup, instead trying to compress and hold the breasts close to the body.


Some women will have strong preferences for one style over another, so certainly try both styles to see which one you like. It may be shape, comfort or level of support based on your figure and preference. It's important when trying on a sports bra to mimic the movements you would do in your sports activities to make sure it provides enough support, straps stay in place and do not rub or chafe, and that you are comfortable with or without the wires.

Products: Shock Absorber Ultimate Run, Anita Momentum

Sports bras without wire

Many sports bras come without wires. Choosing the style that works for you, it's usually a personal preference, but be sure to consider your activities. If you are doing activities like pilates or yoga where you are bending, stretching and twisting the body, you may find that wires are restrictive or press on your ribs. A generalisation could be made that styles with wires tend to be encapsulation styles, as the wires will separate each breast, and non-wired styles usually offer compression of the bust.

Products: Anita Momentum, Anita Dynamix Star, Berlei Podium

Sports bras with seamless moulded foam

Recently, there has been a trend in sports bras for seamless moulded foam cups. Some may think that they are bulky and warm, but with advances in fabric technology, these styles are lightweight and breathable, pulling moisture away from the skin. These styles will give a smooth, rounder shape under tops like your everyday bra, and will also have no seams to rub or chafe against the breast.

Products: Panache Sport, Chantelle Speciality, Freya Lingerie Active Crop Top

Shoulder straps

Other features to look at in a sports bra are the shoulder straps. Are they comfortable and versatile? Some styles will have wider, padded shoulder straps, and many now have special features where you can cross the straps over in the back, or a small hook brings them together. This function works well if you have slipping shoulder straps, or want to hide the straps under your athletic top that may have cut out shoulders. Some women also find that crossing the straps over, or hooking them together gives more support, so give it a try! Products: Berlei High Performance, Panache Sport, Anita Dynamix Star

LACE helps

We hope this helps you find the right sports bra, and as always if you need any style or fit advice, our experienced advisors are ready to help, just email, call or Skype!