OK, this topic comes up all the time, so I thought I’d start a thread - please add to this thread and make it useful! I’ve just tried several high support sports bras in the past couple of months, here is the run down. About me - I’m big busted (D to DD) but relatively small around (32/34 depending on the brand). I ride 2 horses regularly, and one is bouncy. Schooling 3rd and 4th level on her, so I need support for sitting trot work - lots of support. I HATE underwires, hate, hate, hate… So part of my criteria is no underwire. Since different people have different preferences and body types, my comfort may NOT be the same as yours.
Pull on/over bras never work -they are never big enough through the bust, and always too big through the body. I’ve been riding in Champion sports bras, maximum support, hook back, and they are OK, but I have been kind of “overflowing” the sides - mainly because most of them max out at D cup. And the model I have been riding in is discontinued - the newer models are just a bit less support (although they added DD), which doesn’t work when riding a bouncy trot. So, the search begins…
Moving Comfort/Brooks - I tried the Fiona and the Jubralee. Fiona felt great when I put it on, and it isn’t so massively overwhelming - I thought it might be a useful every-day bra too. So I wore it for the day, and it started to fold over in the bottom front. By the next day, it seemed permanently folded over there - gotta check with REI and see if they will take it back, it is a major failure, I didn’t even bother riding in it. Jubralee is a much “bigger” bra with more coverage on the sides and more structure underneath - it is less comfortable because of that - a bit of chafing through the under arms, but not horrible. Support is pretty good, but not fabulous. I did love the straps, well padded, wide, no shoulder issues at all. I’m afraid if I wore it on a hot day, the chafing might become an issue. Haven’t tested that out yet. Got them through REI - free shipping at $50.
Enell - a friend called me a couple of months ago, and said she’d found a miracle bra! She is big busted too - bigger in the body, but we share the big busted, hard-to-find a good bra issue. She trail rides, so support is important, but not as important (aka no sitting trot work). She also has a bad back, and said this bra made a huge difference in how her back felt. She got the Enell Lite, and swears by it. I looked it up, and they were having a special (called her to let her know, so she ordered another). I tried the regular Enell, since I need that added support for the bouncy trot. Followed their fitting instructions, and ordered up since I was kind of on the edge of the next size up, and all the reviews said, “when in doubt, order up.” Enell’s website actually says “if you want more support, order down, when you want a bit less support, order up in size”.
Well, that bra came, I harnessed myself in (had to watch a video just to figure out how to get into the darn thing - you do NOT want to be in a rush when putting it on). The instructions said to wear it for a bit to let it stretch out. Well, I don’t know how long a bit is, but I couldnt breathe in the darn thing. It was that tight. Holy mackeral. Also a LOT of coverage - it is not just a bra, it is a freaking corset - and I live in a hot climate. It is cut so high, that you need a high cut shirt or it will show - I put on a polo shirt and could only unbutton one button before the bra showed. I kept imagining how hot it might get. Meanwhile, I bounced around a bit, and although it was WAY tight on the body, the support was not that great. It might keep you looking a bit trimmer (did I mention it was a corset?), but I’m not sure it is the answer to the sitting trot on a bouncy horse. I’m not sure I could ride in it since I couldn’t BREATHE in it. Wore it for a few hours, decided it wasn’t going to stretch out anymore, and I needed to get some good breaths in. Bagged it up and sent it back. Enell’s shipping is $7, not free.
SheFit - I will admit, I had my doubts. Had seen them at the HorsExpo just a few weeks ago, and they were fitting them over our existing bras. Well, of course there is support, I have a freaking sports bra on already! Halfpasser11 had posted a discount code (LastSpring for those who are interested - it is still working) for the “special colors”, so I thought I’d give it a try. Free shipping helped seal that thought. I had my doubts - no actual cup sizes, it won’t be big enough. Front zip - it’s going to poke me - and not be big enough.
OMG - I am a convert. So, this bra is interesting - you zip it on in front, then cinch it up as tight as you need around the bottom. Then tighten up the shoulder straps as much as you want - that is another issue I often find, the shoulder straps don’t go up enough for a smaller body. There is a cloth tab over the zipper so no poking. Cup size might not fit if you are smaller - these are definitely for the full boobed women. Because you can cinch up the body size, even us smaller bodied people can wear these.
The side coverage is quite good, but no chafing (hurrah!), while it is cut low enough in front that you can show a bit of cleavage, or wear a v necked shirt, or unbutton your polo shirt a few buttons. I wasn’t spilling out the front, but I didn’t have bra coming all the way up my chest. I’ve ridden in it twice - in hot weather. No bounce, lots of support, I’m sold on it - just ordered a 2nd one.
I wish it had a bit more padding on the straps - they are wide enough, but could be more padded. Another thing to be aware of - this bra has velcro, so it needs to be washed in a lingere bag or something to keep it from damaging your other clothes. Or handwash (I’ll use a bag!).
So that is my review of several popular sports bras. Please feel free to add additional reviews here! Here’s to good support!
which disappears if there’s padding.
