Finding the Right Sports Bra

Ladies, are you looking for a new sports bra? How can you find one that both looks good and fits well? Should you just give up and order one like that pretty model on the cover of the workout magazine?

Our response? Probably not. Unless you're shaped exactly like that model, you may not get a bra that works well for you. Here are some terms you'll see when shopping, and what you should look for when shopping for a bra that fits your body, style and needs:

• Cross back (also called Racer-back): This is a shape that has the straps crossing and forming an "X" across the back. This helps distributes the weight evenly and is a nice feature for almost all shapes, but especially helpful for women with larger breasts.
  
  
• Large Elastic Borders: Some sports bras have a large elastic band at the bottom, around the torso. This helps keep the bra securely in place, and decreases bouncing of large breasts. Women with medium to large breasts will find this beneficial, as well as anyone who is does a lot of high-impact exercise.
  
  
• Camisole Styling: This is a tank-style sports top that runs a little longer and has slim spaghetti straps. It resembles a fitted camisole or tank top, and can be very cute for those women with slim figures and relatively small breasts. Larger breasted women may find that these bras don't provide enough support, especially during vigorous activity.
  
  
• Under-wire: Some sports bras have elastic shapers that help hold the breast securely. These are nice for larger women as they provide more support; however, smaller women may find that these bras run loose in the cup. Some women also do not like the "cone breast" effect that you get with this type of bra; however, if you wear a shirt over your sports bra it will not matter anyway.
  
  
• Keyhole Back: Some bras have an extra little hole in the back, generally below the crossover "X". This allows for extra ventilation. This is a nice feature, especially for women who get hot easily and need extra ventilation.
  
  
• Wicking Fabric: This type of sports bra fabric draws moisture away from the skin, allowing sweat to be moved off the skin and onto the fabric. This material is especially nice for women who sweat heavily.
  
  
• Self-bra: Like swimsuits, some sports bras offer thin nylon liners with elastic at the bottom to help keep the breasts in place at the top. Typically found in longer style sports tops, and especially good for the reduction of bouncing.
  
  
• Zip Front: Some sports bras have a trendy zipper front that allowing you to zip the bra up or down at the neck or chest for more ventilation. While this looks like a neat feature, test this out in the dressing room to see if the zipper pinches or slips when you move around. These are good for smaller women who are not doing high-impact activities.

The best advice we can offer is this: " always" try on a sports bra before buying it. Even a different style of a known brand can fit you differently than its predecessor. Once you find a bra that works for you, you can then venture into the world of online shopping without having to worry about making costly mistakes.