How I found the best running bra
Plus an exclusive 10% discount code for readers
Having a comfortable running bra is as essential as a decent pair of shoes. Without one you can be subject to bouncing, chafing and even bruising, which is enough to put any woman off running.
Through the years I have tried and tested many different sports bras. Crop top bras from TK Maxx (actually surprisingly good), Shock Absorber bras bought from Amazon (one was great, another not so much), and an excruciatingly tight maximum support bra from an online bra specialist.
Since I started running regularly about seven years ago my boobs have shrunk about two sizes, and post-children they are definitely longer and stretchier. I’ve also gone from doing 10ks and half marathons on the road, to 250km trail ultras in hot countries. So my breast needs have changed over time.
Where to find a decent sports bra
There aren’t really any shops where I live that have a good range of sports bras to try on. This has meant buying bras online, trying to guess at the size, comfort and support. It has been a pot luck approach, and a little frustrating at times. It has meant over-relying of my old favourite Shock Absorber which quite frankly no longer absorbs any shock at all, and has led to some hideous chaffage.
So last year when I preparing for my multi-day running adventure in Tanzania I knew I needed to get a really good bra. The aforementioned online bra specialist was recommended to me by someone working in sports PR. It was a brand I had seen at the National Running Show and it promised its bras were developed by up-to-date science, tried and tested by women. So I set up an online consultation with the brand and they helped me to measure myself accurately, even sending me a handy tape measure.
During the consultation I explained that I was looking for an endurance bra. Something that would be comfortable for 10 to 15 hours of running, day after day. A bra that would not chafe, and a bra that I wasn’t really conscious that I was wearing. I wouldn’t be running at speed, so a high impact support bra wasn’t necessary. Comfort was key.
I was sent a couple of bras to try and they were hopeless. The brand insisted that I needed a really tight bra in order to fully support my breasts, due to the amount of running I would be doing (250km across five days). Their ethos seemed to be that breasts must be strapped down as tightly as possible. I felt like they weren’t listening. The bras were far too tight, dug into my chest straight away and possibly restricted my breathing. They may well have firmly held my breasts in place but they were bloody uncomfortable. I gave up.
Fortunately a couple of weeks later another company - Boobydoo - was recommended by a different PR. I was really skeptical as I felt I had been burned by the previous experience, but race day was looming and I was getting desperate. I had an online video call with the company founder Charly Wright and she immediately got it. In fact she was excited to be working with an endurance athlete and was keen for feedback on which bra brands worked best.
Rather than developing its own bra, Boobydoo have curated a careful selection of existing brands which they know meet their mission statement of comfortable, happy and secure boobs.
Charly did an in-depth consultation with me and listened to my concerns about not wanting a tight bra. She also recognised I needed something to cope well in the heat (it was about 25 degrees and 90% humidity in Tanzania), to stop my sweaty chest from causing too many chafing issues.
She sent me a few different bras to test and I soon settled on the Anita Air Control. It had a supportive band under the breasts, but didn’t feel intrusively tight. The medium support straps didn’t dig in and there was no rubbing from the clasp at the back. But the key selling point for me was the flannel-like material inside the cups which were great for absorbing sweat. On the outside was a thinner mesh to help with air flow.
The bra handled the hot, humid conditions in Africa really well and it became my new favourite ultra running bra. However, out of some kind of weird nostalgic obligation I longed to replace my Shock Absorber favourite. Although my model no longer existed Boobydoo had the next best thing - the Active Multi Sports Support Bra. The main difference between this and my old favourite was that it had two fastenings, rather than one, but this caused no issues. It is a great multi-purpose bra for speedwork, long runs, cycling and even playing football, and is fast becoming a new all-rounder favourite.
On hotter days I will always turn to my trusty Anita Air Control bra, because it never fails to keep me comfortable, mile after mile after mile. But it’s great to have another option and a bra that can handle a variety of activities.
Why I love Boobydoo
I genuinely love the service I have received from Boobydoo and happily recommend them to any runner looking for the right bra for them. They do not force science down your throat, instead they listen to what you actually want. I like them so much I begged them for a discount code to share because I want more runners to find their perfect bra.
I’m really pleased to be able to offer an exclusive discount code to all of my readers so you can go and try out their service yourself. Simply use the code LILY10C to get a 10% discount. I would also highly recommend booking a free online fitting. This is so useful for two reasons. Firstly you get to understand your bra size for different brands, but more importantly the expert team will discuss your bra needs and recommend suitable options. It made all the difference to me and my boobs.
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. If you have any running news for me, let me know! Feel free to send feedback to lilycanter@yahoo.co.uk or suggest topics you’d like me to cover.
