Sports Bras for the Large Busted Woman

As any large busted woman will tell you, finding the right bra makes all the difference between being comfortable and being miserable. The same goes for sports bras, but too often the bras we see in retail stores are made with aesthetics in mind, but not practicality. I see lots of sports bras that look pretty, but very few that are actually functional, so I've put together a list of some quality sports bras made specifically for large busted woman with both aesthetic and practical value.

• Enell Sports Bra. This is my personal favorite. I find it to be very comfortable and supportive, I don't feel like I'm going to hurt myself (or anyone else) no matter how much jumping and bouncing I do. And the best part is that because of the thick supportive straps, there is no digging in on the shoulders. It comes in sizes up to 50DDD/52DD, but can be custom made for any size if they don't stock one that fits you. It lists between $60-62 on their website.
• Champion Powersleek Sports Bra. This has a classic bra fit and look with wide shoulder straps to prevent digging in. It comes in sizes up to 44DDD and lists on the website for $40.
• Nike Full Control Zip Front Bra. Looks similar to the Enell bra listed above, it has wide shoulder straps and supportive cups. This bra is available up to a 40DD and lists on the website for $60.
• Panache High Impact Sports Bra. Not the prettiest bra, but provides shape and much needed support. This is sized up to 42F and is listed for $66.

Of course, in order for a bra to be comfortable it has to fit right, so make sure you measure yourself properly or get a professional fitting, especially if you are going to be ordering online (also, make sure the website you are ordering from has a good return policy so you don't get stuck with a bra you can't wear).

Bra sizing is made up of two components, the back size (usually an even number) and cup size (a letter).

• Measuring your back size: use a tape measure to measure snugly around your rib cage just below your breast. Use a mirror or the help of a friend to make sure the tape measure is parallel to the ground. In most cases if you get an odd number of inches, you should round up to the next even number.
• Measuring your cup size: use a tape measure to measure snugly around the fullest part of your bust, then subtract the back size from this number. If the difference is 0 inches, the cup size is AA. If the difference is 1 inch, the cup size is A. If the difference is 2 inches, the cup size is B, etc.

Aside from the actual product websites, and obvious places like Amazon, here is a list of some of the sites I usually browse when shopping for a quality bra.

• Bare Necessities
• Lauren Silva
• Just My Size
• Fig Leaves United States