How to pick the best sports bra for you?

You can dress however you want for a parkrun - from a suit to shorts, jeans or even a fancy dress. We want everyone to enjoy parkrun, but it's important to dress comfortably. If you're planning on doing a lot of exercise, walking or running, consider a sports bra. We spoke to a bra expert to find out why a sports bra is important and how to choose the right one for you.

Why sports bras are important

Sports bras are meant to control and reduce breast movement in order to prevent injury and discomfort.

A poorly fitting bra, which is not providing adequate support, can not only cause discomfort during your parkrun, it can cause irreversible damage to the breast tissue and even impact your performance.

Breast tissue does not contain any muscles to help control excessive movement, meaning that without adequate support, the delicate tissue structure can be irreversibly stretched and damaged.

Why it’s worth having at least one sports bra

Sports bras are suitable for a variety of activities - from running and walking to yoga and gardening. Finding the right bra can improve comfort and allow you to enjoy your chosen leisure activity more. If you run or walk regularly, it is recommended to have two or three bras on hand so that when one is in use, another can be washed or kept as a spare and ready to go.

How to choose the right sports bra for you?

When choosing the right sports bra, the key is the support of the bottom band. Consider these three simple steps to ensure the right fit:

1.Check the tightness of the bottom band – ideally you should be able to fit two fingers comfortably under the band, but there should be no room for more.

2.Check the cups - breast tissue should completely fill the cups, with no gaps or overflow around the edges. It's a good trick to use your hands to gently push each breast into the center of the cup before assessing the fit.

3.Finally, the bra bands - they should be tight enough that you can't easily fit more than two fingers under them, but at the same time they shouldn't be uncomfortable.

There are many different styles of sports bra to suit your personal preference and body shape. For example, if you like to be able to customise your fit you can use bras with adjustability on the bottom band and straps. Or maybe you like to be able to do them up at the front rather than the back. For fast movement and running, always choose a bra that is built for high impact activities.

Where to find the best sports bra for you

You can buy sports bras in many high street stores and online. Many running shops offer fitting services to help you find the perfect fit. Boltoo also has a full range on their website, with a handy bra selector tool to help you find the best fit for your personal preferences.