I’ve worn this bra several times now, and each time I try it, my opinion is different.
I think part of that is because when I was researching sports bras prior to purchase (and yes, this is a thing that requires research), a lot of fuller busted reviewers had more less portrayed this as the holy grail of sports bras. I was expecting that, it is not that (at least for me), and so I was disappointed.
Part of the issue may be a size misjudgment. I’m between a 32 band and a 34 band, and generally somewhere in the neighborhood of a 32HH/34H cup. Because I’m looking for a bra for running — a higher impact activity — in addition to yoga, I wanted the firmer support of the 32 band. I thought I’d be okay in a 32H (H is the largest cup size they carry) because a few sources said the cup ran large (some mentioned as much as two cups large).
Which may not have been the best move, but I’m not sure resizing would fix things.
Forward space + upward overspill.
Part of the issue is that it’s a molded cup bra, so the bra cup is a pre-determined shape that expects my breasts to conform to it. My boobs see that and are like, “You think we’re doing what?” Because of course my boobs talk to me while trying on bras.
In more concrete terms — the bra band is awesome in my standard size. The cups, however, are too narrow, too shallow at the bottom of the cup, too full toward the top of the cup (empty space in a high impact sports bra = non-starter), and cutting in at the very top edge of the cup. In three out of four areas, the cup is too small. But that fourth area? With the empty space? Means that my breasts bounce inside it during movement.
And bouncing boobies are sort of not what sports bras are all about.
Because of that, I wasn’t able to test the bra for running, except in my own home. Several steps there assured me that this bra was insufficiently supportive for my breasts and these purposes.
But I have worn it for yoga, and it does pretty well there. It handles the intermittent jumps into chaturanga and forward fold. It does not create boob drag (boobasana post on that soon to come, I promise) between chaturanga and up dog. Surprisingly — because I totally thought the wires would be a deal breaker — it handles prayer twists and arm binds with grace and flexibility. And non-stabbingness.
Perhaps most importantly, it keeps my breasts from resting on my throat during inversions. Don’t get me wrong, that trick with the strap across the breasts is great — but sometimes it takes two straps, and always that takes a non-negligible amount of setup. I feel like it’s okay to want a sports bra that prevents this elaborate set up from being necessary.
As another positive, despite the fit issues, I found the bra to be comfortable for all-day wear. Given that I:
- now have approximately 5 minutes to change clothes between the end of the school day and the beginning of yoga class;
- I would be way happier wearing a sports bra for day hikes with significant elevation changes;
this is a decided positive.
I credit the clever construction of the bra for creating comfort while masking fit issues. That is, though the wires are too narrow for me (an issue that I don’t expect many other folk to have), the fact that they’re padded in more than one layer means that they do not poke. Moreover, the band provides support in spite of my breasts pushing the underwires away from my body.
Bottom line? It’s not supportive enough for running. A far sight better than I’d anticipated for yoga. Hiking remains a viable option.
Since I’m using it for lower impact activity than I’d originally anticipated, I’m considering sizing to a 34GG (up in band, same cup volume) and/or a 34H (up in band, up in cup volume). Though I don’t expect either of those changes to solve my cup shape issues, I am curious as to whether they will reduce them.
So. I’m keeping mine, though I’m still looking for a high impact bra. Still, I’m considering getting a second of this model.
It’s good. It’s worth investigating — especially in a size range with few other available options. But it might not be the holy sports bra grail other reviews make it out to be.
I purchased this bra with the pennies from my own piggy bank. I have not received compensation from any party in exchange for this review. All opinions here are my own.