Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 30
Women’s Running brought to you by
No More Bounce!
There are few things worse than a sports bra that is too tight or one that does
not give enough support, and whatever your cup size, you need good support
so you can focus on your sport. We spoke to an expert in this area, to find
out what to look out for when fitting and purchasing a supportive and lasting
sports bra. – BY NICOLE DE VILLIERS
S
tephen van Niekerk is perhaps best known for his
roles on The Wild and Isidingo, but as the owner of
Anita’s Bodywear, he also knows a thing or two about
sport bras. For starters, he says that women shouldn’t
rush a sports bra purchase. “The key to choosing
and fitting a sports bra is function and comfort. You
wouldn’t run in stilettos, would you?” He adds that
many women walk into a store and think they know
their size, when in fact there are many things to take
into account. So ladies, this is what you should look
out for, courtesy of Stephen van Niekerk:
1. Make sure there is rigid fabric in the cups and
strong shoulder straps with little to no movement. This
is where your support stems from.
2. To ensure moisture management, choose a
microfibre or technical fabric with great moisture
management. If you keep your skin dry, you will
reduce friction and increase comfort.
3. Try your bra on before you buy it and do the
bounce test – it requires jumping in the change room.
You will know immediately if the bra is going to give
you the support you need.
4. There should be no ‘spillage!’ Sports bras are
meant to be snug, not restrictive or tight. If you have
spillage, it’s likely too small. There should not be a
cleavage either, as this suggests that it is too tight.
5. If you are on a weight-loss programme or training
for a marathon, it is good to get a bra with an
adjustable strap at the back, as you will most likely
need to tighten it later on.
6. Always check to see that the back strap is level
on your back. If it arches up, it is likely too small,
whereas if it droops down, then it is too big.
7. Shoulder straps must be adjustable. This allows
you not only to get the correct length over the
shoulder, but it helps fit the cup correctly. If you have
any kind of fabric puckering in the cup you may need
to adjust the shoulder strap, but not so tight that it
pulls the back strap up.
8. There needs to be good ‘under bust contact.’ Many
ladies complain about chaffing under their bust. There
are many causes for this: Poor moisture management,
an under bust band that collapses (folds over), or
poor elasticity in the under bust band that offers little
contact with the skin. Your bra should move with your
body, and not you with it.
FACEBOOK FEEDBACK
What do you look for when shopping for sports bras?
Mpho Sello: My favourite brand is Shock Absorber! What I look for: Comfortable straps, simple
fastening mechanism, no fancy clasps that are likely to break and be hard to ?nd. And no wiring.
Connie De Villiers Blom: I cannot ?nd an A cup sports bra anywhere...
Ellie Courts: Seamless (or as few as possible) and with no fasteners. This helps to prevent
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