Put simply, a sports bra is a technical piece of sports kit that is designed to protect your boobs from excessive movement during exercise.

It is different to your normal bra, designed specifically for sport, and made with sports performance features that help to support and hold your breasts in place - some have been measured to reduce the bounce by up to 83%.

A good quality and properly fitting sports bra will improve your confidence, comfort and performance during your sport or activity - and whatever your age, from teenagers through to not-quite-teenagers-any-more, they are essential.

Protective, full coverage cups • Moisture wicking fabrics • Thick, padded straps • Wide band for support

It's job is simple but vital - to protect your breasts

Your breasts are made up of fat and glandular tissue, and the shape is provided by delicate Cooper’s ligaments which attach to the chest wall and chest muscle.

These ligaments stretch over time naturally, but we can support their lifespan by protecting them from impact during sport or activity.

Step 1:

80% of the support in a bra comes from the band, so it’s important to get this fitting correctly first before moving on. Your band should sit straight across your back and you should be able to fit two fingers under the band and run them smoothly between bra and skin for the perfect fit.

The band should feel firm but comfortable - try taking deep breaths like you would during sport. If it is feeling too tight to breathe, and it is digging in, then it is too small, try going up a band size.

If your band is too loose, it will ride up your back, and can cause shoulder, back pain, chafing, and red marks! Try going down a band size if you are experiencing any of these.

Step 2:

When you're ready to check the cups, make sure the first thing you do is the Swoop & Scoop: Lean forward slightly, swoop your opposite hand inside the bra, and scoop up your breast into the cup towards the centre of your chest. Repeat on the other side! Then check the fit - sometimes a bit of placement is all your need!

The cups should enclose all your breast tissue, and your sports bra should fit flush against your skin with a smooth transition from sports bra to chest.

If your bra is underwired, you want the underwire to follow the natural crease of your breast, hugging closely BUT NOT resting on any breast tissue.

Step 3:

Once you have found your band and cup size, use the straps to make small adjustments to suit the size of your frame.

There should be 1-2 inch give in the straps at the top of the shoulder. Adjust up or down to suit your shape.

Not all sports bras offer adjustability so pick a style that offers you a more personalised fit.

Signs it's time to replace...

	The band of your sports bra is where 80% of the support comes from. So, if your sports bra is getting old this is the first thing to check. Things to look out for are: the band rises and causes friction even when you are on the tightest hook & eye.
	When our sportswear gets washed, the fabric naturally degrades over time, affecting the quality of the elastance (especially is we use fabric softeners or the tumble dryer). You need to replace your sports bra is the elastic is stretched and does not bounce back when you pull it.
	The fabric isn’t performing or supporting you as it used to, it’s faded, looking tired, and there may be a hole on your trusty sports bra somewhere.
	The structure of the bra has weakened, eg, the moulded cups in your sports bra have lost their shape.
	Your body and size may have changed and now the bra doesn’t fit like it used to.

Decided you need to invest in a new sports bra? Check out these options >>