How to Find the Perfect Sports Bra: Your Questions Answered

Real talk. We love sports bras! A good fitting sports bra can make all the difference to your confidence, health, and performance. The role of a sports bra is a serious one, it has to fit in all right places whilst providing optimal support for your breasts. For such an important garment when it comes to exercising, we all have a lot of questions! From what type of sports bra to wear to what size bra you need. We’ve got you covered with all your sports bra questions.

The average bra size in the UK is now a 36DD and, although breast density differs between women, that’s thought to weigh about 550g per breast. So, the average woman is carrying around over a kilo of weight on the front of her chest that moves independently to the rest of her body.  

Breasts may sit on top of the pectoral muscle, but they’re made of fat and glands and contain no muscle themselves. They’re supported only by skin and some delicate, paper-thin connective fibres known as Cooper’s ligaments. These weave throughout the breast tissue to attach it to the chest wall. But while the skin and supportive structures are able to resist a certain amount of strain, overstretch them repeatedly and they can’t return to their original shape.  

Thought you’d get away with it because your breasts are small? No such luck. Even 34A cup sizes have been shown to bounce up to around 4cm which can also lead to breast sag. But the good news is that, whether your breasts are large or small, the right shock absorber sports bra can reduce bounce by up to 80 per cent - that's twice as much as a normal bra. Choose from our range of beautiful sports bras to find you perfect fit.

We see this question a lot. Whilst there is nothing wrong with wearing your normal bra under your sports bra, hopefully you won’t have to because you have a fabulously fitting sports bra! Our sports bras are made from sweat-wicking material whereas many bras don’t. You could be at risk of saying goodbye to your beautiful everyday bra sooner than you would like.

The impact of a sports bra depends on the type of activity you are undertaking. Low support sports bras such as the Energy Logo Elastic Yoga Crop Top are ideal for activities where your feet aren’t pounding the ground. Whilst it is designed for comfort, it might offer less support if you are taking on a HIIT class. High support sports bras such as our Energy Strive Non-Wired Non-Padded Lined Full Cup Sports Bra are ideal for higher intensity activities such as skipping, sprinting etc. Choose your sports bra wisely depending on the type of activity you are doing.

It used to be that our grey, grubby sports bras never saw the light of day. But with colours, patterns, and styles, this is one item of underwear that can definitely be worn as outerwear. Even if you don’t dare to bare yours fully, a loose vest worn over a sports bra will make sure those cool racer backs and vibrant design details can still be seen.

There is nothing wrong with wearing a sports bra for extended periods of time, however it is important that it fits well. Your sports bra should be comfortable enough to wear all day but be warned! If your sports bra is irritating your skin, leaving marks, and making breathing uncomfortable, it’s a sign that your sports bra is too small!

There should be no shame with your nipples showing through a sports bra, it happens to all of us! But if you don’t feel comfortable a padded or light padded sports bra can help and will provide full coverage. The Energy Empower Underwired Lightly Padded Convertible Sports Bra that comes in a number of beautiful colourways is lightly padded and underwired to support your bust, giving you great shape whilst feeling light and comfy.

Snug, but not too tight. You want to feel supported in your sports bra no matter what activity you are doing, even if it’s just chilling on the sofa! Each cup should fully encompass your breast, if there is too much fabric around the cup your sports bra is likely too big. Any underwire should lay flat against your rib cage, any pinching or digging in, indicates that your sports bra is too small.

Don’t be afraid to put your sports bra through its paces, by doing the bounce test as if you were running, you will be able to get an idea of how supportive it is. If there’s too much movement, you may need to go down a cup size. There should be no chafing at the underarms, shoulder straps or seams. Raise your arms over your head and check that the band doesn’t ride up - if it does, you may need to go down a band size.

To make sure your sports bra lasts even longer, wash it in cold water, avoid fabric softener and do not tumble dry, as the heat may degrade the fabric. This will not only ensure that your sports bra will last but it also helps protect the environment. 

Now all your burning sports bra questions have been answered, check out our cute new sports bras. From no-bounce, breathable styles in fabulous colours and prints our sports bras are the perfect choice for fit fanatics after some high-performance sportswear.