What is a Sports Bra
The full English name of Bra is brassiere, which means a close-fitting bra worn under the coat during the day. Generally, it is a simple style with a thin cotton pad or interlayer.
When it comes to sports tops, everyone thinks of sports t-shirts, sports vests, sports bras, etc. The difference between sports t-shirts is short-sleeved POLO; sports vests are mostly sleeveless racer vests or ladies suspenders; sports bras are mostly Short style with U and V necklines in the front. The core design structure of the back is mainly a wide shoulder strap cross structure and a composite racerback structure.
The sports bra is different from sports vests and sports T-shirts in that its structure combines ergonomics and fabric characteristics, and its design focuses more on functionality.
Some people may ask, can a sports bra be worn outside? Does wearing a sports bra outside is called a sports vest? First of all, sports bras can be worn outside, and sports bras worn outside are still called sports bras.
Why Wear a Sports Bra During Exercise?
The breast is located on the pectoralis major muscle and is mainly composed of fat, breast, and connective tissue. Among them, the suspensory ligament has great support for the breast. Any strenuous exercise of the chest during exercise will stretch and tighten these ligaments, which will easily cause breast sagging in the long run. Once the chest is sagging or loose due to ligament tissue strain, it is difficult to completely return to the previous chest curve.
Speaking of this, I have to mention the front-page headline of a well-known British Daily Mirror newspaper: Madonna wears 3 bras in the morning run in Hyde Park, UK. Although a bit excessive and funny, we can see that the stars are extremely careful in order to protect their valuable assets.
What is the Difference Between a Sports Bra and the Ordinary Bra We Wear?
The chest needs special care during exercise, so sports bras have better stability than the bras we usually wear. The difference is mainly from four points.
1. The composition of the fabric will be relatively fixed
The fabrics of most professional sports bras on the market are mostly full nylon, Polyester ammonia, polyester nylon, and so on. The fabric has better abrasion resistance, and the dense texture can better tie the chest, avoiding the suspensory ligament caused by the shaking of the chest.
Taking into account the moisture wicking needs of sports, there will be some composite fabrics: for example, the cotton knitted structure close to the skin is mainly for absorbing sweat, and the outer layer is polyester and other chemical fiber fabrics for better wicking. What's different from everyday bras is that in order to keep the pores fresh and wick away sweat quickly, the inner lining and back structure of sports bras are mostly breathable meshes.
2. The fabric structure of the bra is different
Sports bras are mostly knitted structure, weft-knitted jerseys with good elasticity, rib structure, or warp-knitted mesh with good fixation.
3. Different on the dividing line
The chest dividing line of the core part of the sports bra is either a structural line that conforms to the trend of muscle movement, or it is a one-piece structure to avoid the dividing line from rubbing against the chest.
4. From the functional structure design point of view
Every detail of a sports bra is worthy of scrutiny. First of all, the shoulder straps are wider than ordinary bras, and the splicing lines are avoided as much as possible on the shoulder straps. Even if there are splicing lines, they are placed at the back of the middle (behind the shoulders). The purpose is to prevent friction between the shoulders and avoid the joints with the greatest range of motion Place.
The design of the back takes into account the slip resistance, which is mostly a stable structure such as I-shaped, composite, or cross. The edges of sports bras, such as the neckline and cuffs, will be wrapped, and then zigzag or double stitch stitching will be added to make the edges fit the body more smoothly and prevent the bra from running wild.
The lower part is wider in order to reduce the pressure of the bra on the chest and make it comfortable to wear. The part where the buckle loop contacts the skin will be covered with a layer of smooth fabric. If there is a dividing line inside the bra, dense needles or straps will be used to wrap the bra, the purpose is to reduce the friction on the body.
The design of the adjusting buckle is mostly metal, and the size is wider than the size of ordinary bras. Sports bras rarely have hooks used on the back of ordinary bras, but mostly wide-sized "9" buckles that can be inserted. These details fully consider the impact of sports pulls on the bra.
What Are the Commonly Used Fabrics for Sports Bras?
As a fabric close to the skin, everyone is more concerned about the moisture absorption and breathability of the fabric, and whether it has abrasion resistance. Therefore, the materials for making sports bras on the market are cotton, cotton, nylon, polyester, nylon, or pure polyester, pure nylon, etc.
Because natural fibers such as cotton and linen have a better moisture absorption effect, but in fabric, if the content of cotton and linen is too high, it will reduce its abrasion resistance. Similarly, you will definitely not have as good moisture absorption as cotton if you wear polyester nylon. Therefore, the diversification of fabric functions is achieved through the combination of natural fibers and chemical fibers. However, this is not the only way to optimize fabrics.
Recently, there are also new artificial fabrics on the market such as slippery and delicate Lycra and moisture-absorbing and quick-drying cool max fabrics. Its quick-drying degree is 5 times that of cotton.
Moreover, the texture used for sports bras of different strengths is different. For example, yoga bras for light exercises are mostly made of cotton and modal fabrics, while high-intensity exercises such as gymnastics bras are mostly made of polyester and nylon fabrics.
The Intensity of Exercise and the Choice of Bra
The function of sports bras is also mainly based on exercise intensity and ergonomics. Therefore, the choice of a sports bra is inseparable from the intensity of sports.
Low intensity exercise:
Bicycle, bowling, golf, walking, weight training, Pilates, etc.
Because the exercise intensity is not great, you can choose a simply fixed bra. The simply fixed bra is fixed with a layer of elastic mesh fabric (mesh bra), simple structure, basically no design for human body structure, similar in appearance, small and cute, rarely exist in independent form, most of them are sports vests, suspenders, etc. Forms of clothing coexist.
Since it is a low-vibration exercise, there is no need to choose a high-elastic one, otherwise, it will easily cause poor breathing during the exercise.
Moderate exercise:
Race walking, rowing, stair climbing, tennis, pedal aerobics
The most widely used type of bra is also the type used by most sports bras. It also mainly relies on the elasticity of the fabric to form pressure on the chest to achieve the purpose of fixation. The difference from Type 1 is that it takes full consideration of breast shape, structure, force on shoulders, back force, and other factors (in short, ergonomics) in tailoring, so as to achieve good fixation at the same time. Still maintain relative comfort.
High intensity exercise:
Basketball, gymnastics, running, football, volleyball, high-impact aerobic dance.
Of course, the more intense the exercise, the higher the support you need. Obviously, you need different sports bras for yoga and boxing. When trying a bra, you can jump in the fitting room to see if it provides proper support for the chest. It should be based on your chest feeling safe (tightened) and not painful.
The most fixed style, in addition to the structure contained in Type 2, generally has special steel brackets (the above two types are all without steel brackets-steel brackets may not be metal materials), with or better support Support, the strength of the fabric is greater. It can provide good fixation and protection for D and D+ mm under medium and high impact sports.
How to Choose a Sports Bra That Suits You
What suits you is the best. First of all, you need to understand your breast size and characteristics, and secondly, make a choice based on the sport you want to do. If your chest is relatively large and you need to perform high-intensity exercises, you can reach into the inner side of the bra and try the tension to see if the design of the shoulder straps is stable enough, the division close to the skin and the edge lines are not tied, the fabric is What is the air permeability?
Some women are afraid of dew points and will choose a padded bra, but it is not recommended to choose a bra that is too thick because it is not easy to wick away perspiration. Check the texture of the hook and the fastness of the buckle. For the neckline, it is recommended that you choose a round U-neck, and try to choose a full cup that is more inclusive.
It’s not as good as a try. I suggest you go to the fitting room to try it on. If you buy a product online, don’t give it up because of trouble. Trying on is a very important part. You should look at the front, back, and side body shapes in the mirror. Move your body and experience whether it is comfortable and natural to wear. The bra strap should feel thick, but not too tight (will not draw a red mark).
It is best to have rubber pads that are non-slip, which can reduce friction during exercise. It is best not to choose a sports bra with underwire type, but also to pay attention to the color contrast between the inner and outer clothing should not be large, so as not to be unsightly. There are many differences in the designation of different manufacturers, so specific products are treated specifically, not one size takes all...
In Summary
Choosing the right sports bra is not an easy task. It is the same as choosing a pair of running shoes that suits you. It is one of the primary considerations before preparing for a workout. With a proper sports bra, you can feel comfortable during exercise without worries.
China Yoga Sports Bra Manufacturer
Ningbo Fito Industrial Co., Ltd has more than 10 years of experience in sports bra manufacturing. A large number of wholesale sales of sports bras, fitness bras, yoga bras.
