Let me start at the beginning it will make more sense... Being on an all women’s triathlon team it’s a complaint I’ve heard more than once, believe me. You know the routine, we all pull into the hotel for a weekend training in sunny St. George. Unloading our gear we start to suit up for the first training session and it usually goes something like this...
“Ugh- I hate my bra.”
“I’ve had this one for a while and it doesn’t chafe me quite as much as it used to.”
“Mine drives me crazy. What kind do you have?”
“I love mine. It’s perfect and it only cost $85.”
“$85?! I’ll take the chafing.”
Then a light went off. I thought it was a brilliant idea. I would contact as many companies as I could and finally solve the female athlete bra dilemma. I would be hailed as a hero. I would provide a comprehensive list of bras that would serve as a guide to fit every female on the planet. I enthusiastically charged into the Outdoor Retailer’s Show excited to speak directly with manufacturers and glean information for my project. The first, (I’ll leave names out) gladly showed me their line of sports bras. “The new sports bras this year are all underwire. It’s the wave of the future!”
He proceeded to ramble on about how he stood for hours outside Victoria’s Secret and asked women what kind of bras they wear. He assured me that women don’t want to be flattened when they work out, they want to be lifted and displayed. I stood dumfounded as the female employee behind him winced. “Did you test it with athletes?” I inquired, “Oh yes! They all loved it.”
I had my doubts. He continued to tell me that women will never be properly fit for bras since “breasts are too many different shapes and sizes”.
I dryly asked him how he would explain the brilliance of the shoe industry and their uncanny ability to fit a much larger variance of feet with their shapes and sizes. His response? “Well, that’s feet. Not breasts.”
Undeterred, but slightly annoyed, I continued through the maze of manufacturers getting a different version of the same story. I couldn’t believe it. Grown, intelligent business men were telling me what I really needed- to feel pretty. Who were they kidding?! Pretty has never gotten me to any podium I’d envied. Did every female in their employ pander to these blockheads as they spouted their vast knowledge of the female breast? Had they just given up like the rest of us and resolved to accept what the industry decides is best? I was losing patience and was quickly beginning to understand where the root of all our problems began. The last day of the show came and I gave up. Obviously, I was in over my head. Chatting with a colleague, I glanced over and saw the Moving Comfort booth. I immediately noticed the booth was being run by all female employees and decided it was worth one more try. I related my story to them and they didn’t seem very surprised, albeit amused.
Moving Comfort has been selling women specific fitness wear since 1977, long before any manufacturers were catering to women’s athletic needs. They don’t seem to feel the same way as the other companies I visited, in fact they scoffed at the idea that women will never have the perfect bra. They have spent 30 years of R&D and testing (the real kind, not the Victoria Secret polling version) to find the best fabrics and styles to fit women’s needs. They focused on important details like thigh rubbing, armpit chafing, cinching and pinching; all plagues to us sporty types. They offer a wide variety of styles (yes, even underwire) in each size to optimize the ability to find the perfect fit. Their website is amazing, offering a fit guide as well as information about selecting the perfect bra for your activity and proper care of the garment. I highly recommend you read up on these before you purchase a bra, you’ll be happy you took a few minutes to educate yourself. As a bonus, they still look pretty. What a brilliant idea, you can have both! The goal at Moving Comfort is for women to be comfortable regardless of the activity. I certainly found that to be the case, below are a few styles we tried out to give you an idea of the kind of bras available.
For many more styles and more information check out their website at www.movingcomfort.com.
The Charity
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The Details: An airy liner provides nice modesty, support, and shape without padding. You’ll notice these comfort-focused details: Seam-free interior molded cups, Subtle-contour shape cups, Back Powermesh zone Wide, shaped straps, Flattering front shaped seams A & B Cup = High Impact, C Cup = Medium Impact Body: DriLayer® Cool 82% polyester / 18% spandex Retail: $36.00 |
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Notes: The Charity comes in four different colors ranging from 32A to 38C. Right away I noticed the comfort of the cups; snug but not too restrictive. I wondered at first about the wide straps but found them to be quite comfortable as well. I really liked that they didn’t dig into my shoulders but stayed in place whether running or cycling. After I began to sweat, the Powermesh on the back panel really came into play. It did a great job of wicking away the moisture and keeping me cool. This is a great all-around bra in any athletic endeavor for A and B cups, and great medium impact for C cups. I found myself wearing it not just for triathlon related activities but during yoga, snowshoeing and even ice climbing. I'm going to have to add a few more of these to my laundry. |
The Vixen A/B
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The Details: Style meets high-impact coverage. Feminine piping and shape-enhancing design may inspire you wear this without a workout top. Put (a lot) less bounce in your step with: Seam-free interior molded cups, Moderate-contour shape cups, Powermesh back, Flattering front piping. Body: DriLayer® Cool 82% polyester / 18% spandex Retail: $36.00 |
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Notes: The Vixen A/B comes in five colors and sizes: S (32AB-34A), M (34AB-36A), L (36AB-38A), XL (38AB-40A). Our tester, McKenzie Mauigoa is an avid runner and Ironman athlete. She knows the importance of long-distance comfort and the real worth of a high quality product. Here’s what she had to say after testing the Vixen bra, “This Moving Comfort Bra had a great fit. I was pretty nervous, knowing the first time I wore the bra was going to be on a long run, about 15 miles... Lucky for me it was amazing!” “The support was great. As I was running I had my training partner make sure I was being supported, you know sometimes you can’t tell how bad it really is. It passed the jumping test with flying colors. Even after washing it several times the support stayed the same. It didn’t have a bulky look, yet it had great support.” “Some bras can cause chafing under the breast where the thick band is. There was absolutely no chafing with this bra. It has a really comfortable, yet thick band under the breast. The design was really great.” |
Final Say:
If I sound biased, I am. I didn't start out that way. To me the true testament of a good bra is forgetting it’s even there. Moving Comfort found a customer for life the first time I went for a run wearing one of their bras. I don’t know how long it will take to change an entire way of thinking in an industry that has been around for so long, but in the meantime, be aware that there are companies willing to listen to what women have to say, we just have to pay attention. Now that I have found a solution to my little problem, perhaps I can put my brain power to better use- maybe to coax myself into another lap or two?
Photos provided by Moving Comfort/Ty Milford
GIVEAWAY!! Want to try out a Moving Comfort sportsbra for yourself or someone you know? Go to the TriEdge facebook page and post "Pick me!" Our contest begins Sunday November 6th and closes Tuesday November 8th at 3pm. The winner will be notified shortly after the contest is closed. Contest is open to all US citizens. Void where prohibited. Good luck!
