Blog
Benefits of Working Out with a Partner
05/11/2018
Working out with a partner is a great way of combining exercise and a catch up, but do we actually get the job done or does the chatting take over? A lot may depend on the chosen activity and the chosen friend, but there are definitely some added benefits of working out with a partner rather than going it alone. Over the years statistics have shown that people who work out with a partner have a higher probability of reaching their fitness goals. We delved a little deeper into the reasons behind this. Commitment It’s been a long tough day… Read More »
Things Your Sports Bra Should Do
24/10/2018
If you exercise you’ll appreciate all your sports bra does to keep you comfortable and supported. And if you don’t then perhaps it is not doing everything you expect it to do. What outwardly appears to be a pretty simple piece of clothing can actually be pretty complicated considering all the elements it can have to have it performing as expected. The options are pretty much endless; underwired, wirefree, hi-tech breathable materials, stretchy fabrics, racerback straps, pullover, zip fronts, mesh panels, etc, etc….arghhhh. The list is almost endless. But not all sports bras are created equal and not all do… Read More »
Equestrian Hub Blog: Should Female Riders Wear a Sports Bra?
16/10/2018
I recently wrote this blog at the request of Equestrian Hub to provide sports bra advice to their female readers so thought I would put a copy here to help all female riders find the best bra for them! I recently (I have been busy recently!) read a statistic that around 90% of marathon runners say they always wear a sports bra, yet as few as 14% of horse riders follow suit. So should more horse riders wear a sports bra? Absolutely YES! I have seen and heard of so many women at events wearing two or three bras and… Read More »
Sports Bras for Cricket
11/10/2018
Sports Bras for Cricket Well we’ve had a look at Tennis and the features good sports bras should have to keep the girls in check as you race about the court but what about that other great Aussie summer sport…..cricket. You may think a good sports bra would be the last thing from your mind when dressing for such a slow sport but you’d be wrong. All that running between wickets, chasing the ball to the boundary or diving outstretched for a classic catch creates a lot of bounce. Just like the good old cricket box is an essential piece… Read More »
Sports Bras for Tennis
28/09/2018
As the weather warms up and we start approaching tennis season it’s important to look at the condition of your sports bra, not just your racquet. Tennis involves lots of running and jumping around the court, reaching for the volley or jumping for the overhead smash making it essential to make sure that your breasts are well supported. Any sports that involve a lot of quick movements to the side or jumping up such as tennis, netball, basketball can place a lot of strain on your delicate breast ligaments. It is important that you wear a sports bra with maximum… Read More »
Sports Bra Brand Focus: Glamorise Sport
17/09/2018
Sports Bras Direct are excited to announce that we now stock Glamorise Sports Bras. But who are Glamorise? The Glamorise brand was founded in 1921 in New York and originally focused on bras for full figured women. The brand grew worldwide and eventually incorporated Glamorise Sport, a pioneer in the sports bra industry. Glamorise now caters for ladies from size 10 to 24 and up to G cups. The History of the Glamorise Brand Glamorise was founded in New York City in 1921. It was founded on the idea and ambition of creating comfortable bras for fuller figure women. By 1925… Read More »
We Are Becoming A Social Enterprise
17/08/2018
Sports Bras Direct is evolving to become a Social Enterprise, and we are incredibly excited about this change. We wanted to explain what this really means and the difference we can all make together. The Origins of Sports Bras Direct My own struggle finding a great fitting sports bra planted the seed for Sports Bras Direct, but it was a family trip to South West WA that was the catalyst for that seed sprouting. Walking into the only sports store in town I was pleasantly surprised at the selection of styles but appalled at the range of sizes. There was… Read More »
Exercising with Bigger Breasts
09/08/2018
Let’s be honest, exercising with bigger breasts can be a nightmare. Breast pain, back pain, feeling self conscious, inability to do certain exercises or positions. All of these are common complaints. In a 2015 issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, a study by British researchers identified breast insecurities to be the fourth greatest barrier to physical activity. This was after motivation, time and health among the 250 women surveyed. Exercise is one of the core pillars of optimal health. Being well endowed should not prevent you from exercising or missing out on doing an activity that you… Read More »
10 Minute Cardio Blast for when you are short on time
30/07/2018
When you are short on time it’s easy to forego your run or visit to the gym. However research has shown that small bursts of activity on a regular basis have measurable health benefits. Not only is a cardio workout great for your body, it also helps you to calm your mind too, gaining some clarity and focus for the day. So don’t let a busy day ahead prevent you from exercising. Follow this 10 minute cardio blast – no equipment needed to set you up for the day ahead. Don’t forget to pop on your sports bra! 10 Minute… Read More »
7 Tips to Keep Your Motivation During Winter
17/07/2018
We are mid way through winter, and it’s very common during the colder months to lose your motivation to keep active. Cold nights and shorter days are definitely not as appealing as warm mornings and bright sunshine. Its hard to leave the warmth of your bed and head outside, but leading an active lifestyle means keeping active all 12 months of the year. How can you fire up your enthusiasm to get through the rest of winter? Reset your ‘Why’ Write a list of your reasons for keeping active; going running, attending your gym class or whatever activity you choose. … Read More »
Sports Bra Focus – Triumph Triaction Magic Motion
04/07/2018
Triumph are continually researching and tweaking their sports bras designs, making use of new fabrics and manufacturing technology. They don’t disappoint with this new style, the Triaction Magic Motion Sports Bra. Triumph’s research with active women found three common responses of what they wanted from their sports bra; “I want to feel supported, while staying comfy” “ I want a versatile style I can wear from the office to the gym” “ I want a sports bra that adapts to my curves” The Magic Motion bra is designed to satisfy these needs whilst also offering extreme impact support with 83%… Read More »
10 Common Sports Bra Fitting Problems and How to Solve Them
07/06/2018
A sports bra is an essential piece of exercise equipment for women, but unfortunately sports bra fitting problems are common. You shouldn’t have to put up with an uncomfortable or poor fitting sports bra. We have summarised the 10 most common fitting issues to help you find a more suitable size or style to support your breasts. Bra Fitting Problem: Band rides up when I exercise. Fix: A smaller band size This is an indication that the band size is too large. A lot of the support in a sports bra comes from the band, so it is important… Read More »
Treadmill vs Outdoor Running
23/05/2018
Some runners (or walkers) crave the great outdoors while others like the simplicity of the treadmill. Is there really a big difference with running? Is one better than the other? There is no simple answer as there are pros and cons to each, a lot depends on your training goals. Treadmills – Pros – easy to workout in bad weather or when it’s really hot / cold outside. – women can find it safer. – can stop anytime you want (without the big walk back to the start!). – easy access to toilet and water. – can watch TV or… Read More »
History of the Sports Bra
02/05/2018
In today’s modern world there is a huge range of varied activities available to women, from the simplicity of a morning walk to the weird and wonderful like Twerking and just about everything in between. Until recently this wasn’t the case with sport availability often restricted from women. Jogging became the new fitness craze in the 1970’s, fantastic for women to become more active, however it left many women frustrated and in pain from bouncing breasts and chafed skin. Running in comfort just wasn’t achievable in their everyday bras. Lisa Lindahl, a student at the University of Vermont, enjoyed the new… Read More »
Pilates vs Yoga
09/04/2018
Are you thinking of taking up pilates or yoga and not sure which one to go for? It is common to find that some women are devoted to their morning yoga while others are pilates advocates. They are both low-impact workouts which appear to offer similar benefits around lengthening and strengthening the body. So how do you choose? Lets first look at the origins and basis of each discipline and then make some comparisons to help you decide. Yoga The beginnings of Yoga are said to have been developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern Indian over 5000 years ago. … Read More »
A Healthier Easter
26/03/2018
For many of us Easter involves taking a few days off work, over indulging on chocolate and hot cross buns and missing out on exercise as your regular class is cancelled. At SBD we are all for a little over indulgence now and again, but the best approach is to try and achieve some balance. Rest and relaxation is good for both the body and the mind, but so is using some of the extra time off work to get out and move! To help you out we have posted some tips and recipes below for some healthier Easter treats as… Read More »
Sports Bra Brand Focus – Shock Absorber
16/03/2018
It all began for Shock Absorber in 1994. Research carried out at Edinburgh University in Scotland initiates the development of the original Shock Absorber bra. This bra, designed specifically to counteract the negative effects of exercise on women’s breasts, was a breakthrough for women athletes worldwide. Following this Shock Absorber developed a range of sports bras with a wide range of styles and cup sizes up to a G cup all designed to different impact levels. In 1995 Shock Absorber was launched with the endorsement of sporting legend Sally Gunnell. Olympic gold medallist Gunnell worked with Shock Absorber during the… Read More »
The Anatomy of a Sports Bra
28/02/2018
Sports bra’s have revolutionised breast comfort and support for active women. From the humble beginnings of the first sports bra, created in 1977 from two jockstraps sewn together, to the high tech fabrics and designs of today’s modern sports bras. But what do the different components of the sports bra actually do? This post examines the anatomy of the sports bra. Cups: The cups of the bra are designed to hold and shape the breast tissue. Sports bras that have cups tend to provide a more natural and separated breast shape. Cups can also incorporate other features such as moulding… Read More »
Can Sports Bras be Used for Everyday Wear?
16/02/2018
Historically sports bras were only considered for those hot sweaty workouts or sports sessions, but over the last 12 months they have become a fashion favourite, visible on runways and red carpets. More women are choosing comfort over cleavage and making the sports bra their everyday bra. Sports bras are not designed to be sexy and are no competition for a black lacy number on a romantic night. But when we think of the practicalities of looking after our breasts on a day to day basis sports bras can be a great alternative. Benefits of a Sports Bra for everyday… Read More »
Sports Bra Brand Focus – Brooks Moving Comfort
31/01/2018
We love the quality and comfort of the Brooks Moving Comfort sports bras and they are popular with our customers too with the Juno being the leader of the pack. By understanding the unique needs of active women, Moving Comfort has perfected fit, support and comfort and become a leader in sports bra design and development. But at Sports Bras Direct we also love a good story about strong determined women and the origins of Moving Comfort is exactly that… Company History Moving Comfort was founded in America in 1977 by two female long distance runners, Ellen Wessel and Elizabeth… Read More »
Sports Bra Bestsellers 2017
24/01/2018
In 2017 Sports Bras Direct supported a lot of women. So what were the most purchased sports bras? We’ve run our finger over the numbers and come up with SBD’s top 10 for 2017. Interestingly they were all high to extreme impact bras (women want a lot of support) and included two maternity styles (go the active mums!). Let’s take a look. 1. Brooks Juno: No surprise here, it’s towards the top of our top ten too. What can we say, already a Brooks bestseller the updated version was always going to impress. We love it and it seems you do… Read More »
Sport Bra Impact Levels – What Do They Mean?
17/01/2018
You’ve recently reignited your running career after some time off. You dust off your shoes, slip on your faithful yoga sports bra and outfit and hit the pavement. Not long into your run and your boobs are hurting! Bounce, bounce, bounce. Ow, ow, ow. Getting home you check your bra; it’s rated ‘Low Impact’. What does this mean and what impact level do you need for your sport? Just as not all workouts are designed to the same intensity level neither are the sports bras designed to support us and keep everything in place. So what does low, medium, high… Read More »
Are Sports Bras Needed for Low Impact Activities?
17/11/2017
Information on sports bras and breast support is often related to activities involving lots of fast movement or jumping. However what about those lower impact activities such as walking, pilates and yoga? These are all slower moving activities that are incredible for our bodies; aiding in areas such as strength, flexibility and focus. But what about our breasts? Do we even need to consider them during these lower impact activities? The answer is a definite YES! Whether your breasts resemble grapes or grapefruits it is important to wear a sports bra suitable for the activity and protect your assets while… Read More »
Cavalletti Clips Video
04/11/2017
SBD were really proud to be approached by Cavalletti Equine Marketplace to be involved in a Cavalletti clips video they were creating for their facebook followers. The owner of Cavalletti, Kate Majors, had realised that bouncing breasts were a real issue for horse riding ladies. She had seen first hand women at events wearing two or three bras and even taping around themselves to hold their ladies down! Kate was on a mission to not only increase awareness of this issue, but also to help solve the problem…which is why she contacted Sports Bras Direct. SBD were so happy to… Read More »
Elomi Energise Sports Bra Review
25/10/2017
Nothing we love more than a great sports bra (pretty obvious huh) and for the fuller busted ladies out there they don’t come much better than the Elomi Energise. Here at SBD we are excited to announce that we are now stocking this awesome Sports Bra providing you with even greater choice of styles and sizes. This high impact underwired sports bra is designed for fuller figures and/or larger cup sizes. As a new addition to our range we thought it important to provide you with a bit of background info on Elomi and a review of this highly recommended… Read More »
Your Breasts and the Big ‘C’
18/10/2017
At SBD we are all about helping you achieve the best support for your breasts but we also want to make sure you are armed with current knowledge about how to look after your breasts to keep them healthy and the big ‘C’ at bay. It is never too early or too late to start. I have summarised some key areas that can help, however this list is definitely not exhaustive. There is a ton of information available on the internet and I have included some links within this post for those of you that would like to read more… Read More »
New Product Release – PINKCLOVER BREASTBAND
28/09/2017
I love helping active women find the best support for their breasts. As many of you know it was my own personal struggle in this area that gave me the determination to find women a better solution…sportsbrasdirect.com.au was born. The most common question that women ask me is “what will stop the bounce?” There are some amazing, well designed sports bras available that provide great support around the breasts. However none of them completely stop vertical breast bounce. It is for this reason I’m really excited about a new product recently launched in Australia to beat breast bounce; the PINKCLOVER… Read More »
A Spotlight on Maternity Sports Bras
12/09/2017
While I was pregnant I often heard that exercising for 30 minutes or more a day during pregnancy and breastfeeding is important to stay fit and healthy and help you feel good. Try telling my swollen tender boobs that! Even brisk walking was uncomfortable for my sore breasts during pregnancy. The only exercise I managed in comfort was deep water running as the water was very supportive! Once my beautiful baby arrived and we had settled into something that resembled a routine I was keen to get out and exercise. I enjoyed being active again but needed to wear a… Read More »
Sports Bras: What Does ‘Compression’ or ‘Encapsulation’ Actually Mean?
07/08/2017
A well-fitting, supportive sports bra goes a long way in reducing physical and psychological discomfort during exercise. However with so many sports bras on the market choosing the right one can be a minefield. Finding an all round ‘best’ sports bra suiting every woman is an impossible task as every woman’s requirements are different. We want to make finding your perfect sports bra a little easier so in this article we will explore the differences between Compression and Encapsulation (and both) sports bras to help you decide which type will best suit your needs. Compression Sports Bras These sports bras… Read More »
Sports Bra Brand Focus – Anita Active
18/07/2017
At Sports Bras Direct we love the Anita Active range. Innovative materials, functional designs and quality workmanship ensure they are incredibly comfortable to wear, like a second skin, whilst still providing brilliant support. A definite go to bra for me. I realise that some women will not be familiar with the brand so I thought I would write a ‘Brand Focus’ blog and introduce you to the award winning world of Anita Active. Company History Anita started back in the late 1800s making braces and corsets! In 1917 Dr Walter Helbig, grandfather of today’s owner Georg Weber-Unger, took over the company. After… Read More »
Sports Bras Are A Must For Active Teens
06/07/2017
There are many activities available for young girls to participate in and often a specific team uniform or sporting equipment is required. However there is one piece of equipment that should be a priority for all active female teenagers…A Sports Bra! Young girls develop at different ages and there can be a vast difference in the rate of breast growth. Every girls experience is different and this must be taken into consideration when buying a sports bra. A small busted 12 year old will probably want to wear a very different style of bra compared to a larger busted 16… Read More »
Should Horse Riders Wear a Sports Bra?
08/06/2017
I recently read a statistic that around 90% of marathon runners say they always wear a sports bra, yet as few as 14% of horse riders follow suit. Should horse riders wear a Sports Bra?..…Absolutely YES! The Evidence: Horse riding creates a large amount of vertical breast movement and any form of riding that is faster than walking is considered to be a high impact activity. This puts a lot of strain on delicate breast tissue and ligaments, causing irreversible damage and sagging. Sports scientist testing the effectiveness of bras found that sports bras can prevent bounce by up to… Read More »
Underwired vs Wirefree Sports Bra
21/05/2017
Whether you choose an underwired or wire free sports bra is very much down to personal choice. But how much is our choice dictated by our experience and preference with an everyday bra? Is there actually any significant pros and cons between wired and wire free sports bras that we should be basing our decision on? Many woman, especially those who are larger than a D cup, often prefer an underwire in their everyday bra for the added support and lift they provide. However everyday bras do not undergo the same kind of workout as our sports bras; nor do they… Read More »
Is it Time to Replace Your Sports Bra?
07/05/2017
When you finally find that perfect sports bra, it’s really comfortable and supportive, you want to keep using it again and again. But sports bras are given a much greater workout than your every day bra and still need to continually provide your breasts with the same level of support and comfort. So how can you tell if your sports bra is still up to the job? As a guideline your sports bra should be replaced every 6-12 months. However this is only really a general rule of thumb as everyone uses their sports bra differently. “How long your sports… Read More »
Your bra back size is determined by your under bust measurement. Place tape
Place the tape measure loosely over the fullest part of your breasts (usually over the nipple). This is best done when wearing a bra. Ensure the tape measure is at the same height across your back as across your bust.
