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In the late 1970s, two American women created the first sports bra, made out of — can you believe it? —  two jockstraps. Originally dubbed the Jogbra, their creation allowed women to be active without being bothered with the discomfort and distraction of bouncing breasts. Since then, new technologies have allowed for a plethora of choices in sports bra shopping. With so many options, finding a well-designed sports bra that works best for your body and your sport takes careful attention. Heed the following following advice:

Fit. The best method is to have someone measure for you. Make sure your arms are relaxed at your side. “We suggest women first measure the circumference of their torso from the top of the rib cage with a tape measure,” explains Martha Bailey product line manager for bras at Bothell, WA-based Moving Comfort. “The tape should be snug but not tight”.

Add five inches and round up to the nearest even number for your band size. Next, measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust.  Finally, subtract your band size from your bust measurement to determine your cup size.

1″	=A
2″	=B
3″	=C
4″	=D
5″	=DD

Support. Every sports bra needs adequate support so that you can feel secure when you move in all directions — up and down or side to side. There are two ways that sports bras keep breasts in place: compression and encapsulation.  Compression bras are more popular and press the breasts against the body, while encapsulation bras have molded cups that support each breast individually. Some bras, like Moving Comfort’s “Fiona” ($44 athleta.com) and Enell ($56 enell.com), combine compression and encapsulation for extra support (for sizes C-DD and D-DD, respectively). 

“Most women think if it holds the chest in tight, it’s fine,” says D’Lynda Fischer, cyclist and owner of sporteve, a Culver City, CA-based women’s athletic boutique. “That is simply not true. The right fit sports bra is directly related to the activity it will be used for. If you are  running, jump up and down, or run around the store, if it is for your weekly yoga class, get into downward-facing dog.”

Comfort. Quality is key to a comfortable bra. Check the fabric, bindings, elastics, hooks and eyes for imperfections, and be sure that nothing feels too loose or too tight on your body. “Make sure the band is not bunching up or if spilling out in back,” says Fischer. “You don’t want it too snug, though. You want some flexibility.” Move your arms and rotate your body to mimic what you will be doing in the bra; if you feel any discomfort, don’t buy it.

Moisture Management. Choose a bra with good ventilation for added breathability and quick drying. “Staying dry helps to reduce the risk of friction between the bra and skin which can cause chafing,” says Bailey. Look for sports bras with soft mesh or other moisture-wicking performance fabrics.

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