Sturdy materials that take abuse well, last forever, and can be washed in hot water to remove gym stank make these awesome bras. Not to mention the level of support they provide, no bounce for me in these suckers.
This color is definitely running two sizes smaller in the band, a 32 that measures 28, craziness. Ordinarily I would be concerned with it stretching out, but given my experience with my purple/turquoise 28F, I don't think that's going to happen.
Anyway, sturdy materials that take abuse well, last forever, and can be washed in hot water to remove gym stank make these awesome bras. Not to mention the level of support they provide, no bounce for me in these suckers.
These bras are expensive, currently this color and size is available on Amazon for $12 and it's more than worth it.
I bought this about 2.5 years ago. Mostly because I liked the colors, but also because when I do sprint work the bras I wear for weight lifting do not cut it. I find the band in this still super tight. I go between a 28 and a 30 depending on comfort and this is still the tightest 28 I own, and I've been wearing it (and *machine* washing it) once a week for the 2.5 years I've owned it. So, it really lasts. I only wear it for sprint work though, because the band is so tight it is not comfortable for long. For a sports bra that really does it's job (I'm talking 0 bounce), it's also ridiculously cute and I can wear it on it's own when it's hot.
I needed a racerback bra for yoga so I bought this. Reviews were very hard to find, I didn´t find many. But I kind of got the idea that this bra runs "true to size" compared to for example the Shock Absorber multi sports that I have. I concider my usual Panache / Freya / CK / Mimi Holliday size 28F or 28FF (sometimes 30E / 30F). Multi Sports bra fits me in 30FF! But this one has the perfect cup volume for me in 32DD. 30E was not available but I think that would´ve been my right size! The band is not tight enough for me, but ...reasonable in the tightest hooks.
Some review said that the material is very thin and nipples might show under clothes. I don´t find that true! The material seems to me thick enough. The bra is supportive enough for me, I would NOT run in this bra, but for yoga with occacional jumps, it is very good! It is comfortable and not too tricky to put on. You have to pull it through your upper body, then you can close the hooks. Sometimes the band under boobs folds over, but that´s not a deal breaker.
The straps are a little strange. You can adjust them to 3 different lengths, by hooks+eyes! Never seen like this before. It seems a lot more difficult than it actually is once you get the idea how they close and come off.
I would recommend this bra for low impact sports https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Some might find it good for higher impact as well, but I´ll only run in my Panache sports https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" />
I am a fairly even and projected breast shape. I have average-to-narrow roots with a slight omega shape. My best fitting bra is a Cleo Lily in 28GG, though I think a 30G would be more comfortable in terms of band length.
A great sports bra! I like how the back hooks are split into two sections - I feel like this gives more support over a more spread out area. The colours are nice and solid - it's fine to wear on its own. The white allows my nipples to show through a bit, so I was happy this one did not.
I have wide root shallow boobs. The bra gave me a ridiculously pointy shape (rocket-boobs!!), but the support is superb. I've worn it while running and there is NO BOUNCE AT ALL, despite the pointy/projected shape.
Apart from that: - thick and cushioned straps - no racerback option - very high chest coverage (I couldn't find a tank top to go with it, and decided to wear a tight T-shirt.)
Sizing: Make sure you size up in the band! Shock Absorber bras run extremely tight and will turn into instruments of torture if worn in a too small band size. The cups are generous - I can handle wearing it one cup size smaller than I usually do.
The Good: this bra minimizes bounce by smooshing your boobs together and against your chest wall. It may be too gross and uncomfortable for those who prefer the separation design of some other sports bra styles. For my close set boobs, it's perfect since there's no room for a high rising gore to tack. As such, there's no underwire, which I prefer and the bra still does a great job securing you when you are doing high impact cardio. There are two sets of hooks for ease of detachment when I get back from the gym feeling all mushy and uncoordinated.
The Bad: the cup design seems to cut ...in too much into the side boob. If this design were to satisfy my aesthetic requirements, there would have to be another inch and a half of fabric on each side of the "cup". I wouldn't consider myself full on top, but perhaps this design would work on shallow and narrow roots and FOB breasts. I've resorted to wearing this bra with an extender on the top hook to reduce the look of side boob. While it looks better now, I've sacrificed some support and security. I use this bra now for mid-impact workouts.
Overall: If you can overlook the side-boob, go for it. If not, explore other options if you jump a lot in your workouts. Read more 116 more words
For my 70-71 cm underbust this 32 band feels spot on. I can use the tightest setting, but that gets uncomfortable after a while so I prefer to use the loosest setting. It is very comfortable overall. I can fasten the back hooks just fine, but I can see how it may be challenging for most people. I feel I would like to tighten the shoulderstraps more, but they do not adjust any shorter. It is odd for me, because I have never before had problems with shoulder strap lenght. I love the colors! My pictures seem more blue, it has more of a green undertone to it. My bust does move up and down while I jump, but I feel supported and comfortable.
I find that this bra runs small in the band and in the cups, compared to many other brands that fit me in 28F (/FF), like Panache sport (28F/FF), Panache Andorra 30E (I think 28 would be better, and particularly 28FF, but 28F would do because of the stretching lace), etc.
The bra is a little hard to close, the upper clasps are really high up! But I can manage that. Colour is pink-purple, lovely.
The only problem is that the straps didn´t adjust short enough for me. They really don´t adjust much! I NEVER have this problem in bras, so be aware. Of course I did alter the straps myself, some cutting and sewing, and now the bra is perfect https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
The 30F of the same bra I have is also wearable. I get slight quadboob in it, but otherwise it is fine. Straps in that bra are not a problem for me.
I actually have 2 of these bras, and both are completely red (the other is in 28FF). They both run like 24 bands, which is perfect for me, especially during exercise. (If you check the measurements for this bra, the other colours seem to run closer to 26's. So if you need a 24, look for the all red one). Right now I am about a 28F cup volume, and the bra is just a bit small around the chest. It really squishes me in and up, where some of my breast tissue is coming out at the top. It did fit very well though when I needed the 28E cup volume.
This sports bra really helps eliminate any pain during exercise and when I was running, it kept me in place. I'm not sure how it will work on significantly larger breasts, but for moderately small/medium boobs, it works very well.
The back is tight, but I don't need to size up. It is absolutely perfect. I can breath easily, but the band don't ride up when I expire, or rise my arms (my ribcage is 73cm, mesured tightly, 69cm as tight as possible). If I want to have a very deep breath, I feel the tighteness of the band, it is not super confortable, but I can deal with during one hour of fun sport !
Cups fits too. But I have a little issue with this bra : part of my breast tissues is quite high on chest, and this bra ...is too short for support it. When I jump, my breast can escape at the top,but it is not painfull. The good thing is I have absolutely no bounce from the sides. Maybe the next time I will purchase something with more coverage.
edit 10 months later : This bra gets old very well ! I have worn it 3 hours each week. Still very supportive and tight in the band, still looks good. But my underbust is now 2 cm bigger so my bra is too tight, even if the band has stretched a little bit (like 1 hook, maybe less). Read more 102 more words
Alright, this is not my bra size but I am reviewing it for a giveaway listing.
Believe it or not, I actually think I could still make this bra work. It's very forgiving. With the band on the tightest hooks, it's reasonably snug (for a low impact exercise). This means the band runs tight (since I have a 27.5" snug comfortable underbust). And while I have a slight amount of baggy material up top, because of the second set of hooks in the middle, I can still jump around with a minimum of bounce.
I have tried on a 30E in this same style (since I normally wear a 28F) and found the whole thing uncomfortably tight when taking a deep inhale (but that might be because the cups were so small). I could see myself wearing a 32E in this style, possibly.
I had high hopes for this bra. Silly me, I didn't listen to others' reviews and order up a band size - I had to go out and buy an extender because after 30 minutes of running I would start getting chest pains because it was so tight!
Pros: Quite comfortable, very soft, and not at all itchy. The material absorbs sweat very well (bleh!) and because of the cut, it doesn't ever feel like I am stuck in a heavy, sweaty bra: it is very light feeling. Also, unlike many other sports bras I have tried, the straps don't stretch!
Cons: The straps do not adjust enough; even using ...the racerback option I could still use a good inch less. In order to get great support I have to pull the band down in the back, so it is essentially "riding down" and not parallel and I have to adjust it several times during my workout because it shifts back up to being parallel. Also, since I have to use the racerback option in order to get decent support, my shoulders hurt by the end of my workout and I can't do any exercises that involve raising my arms because it puts strain on those muscles by my neck. Regarding shape: this is a bra that straps you down so you do get monoboob and I end up with a tad amount of side boob.
Overall, the quality of this bra is very high and I am glad I bought it. If I ever get around to taking up the straps it might just become my favorite sports bra. I would highly suggest trying this one out if you can find it on sale from a site that allows exchanges. Definitely order up a band size (I would use your plus-four measurement if you have a bonier ribcage) and consider going down a cup size if you are a less full __. (So a 30E/DDD might try a 32DD or 32D.)
Sadly, this bra didn't fit me. I tried it in three different cup sizes and I could tell by the difference from each size (not a lot of vertical increase from size to size) that this would not suit me even if I altered it as I would've been open to, had the vertical coverage been greater. My boobs are very high on chest and full on top and unfortunately the neckline wasn't nearly high enough to contain me. I would've needed a cup size that exceeded my standard-size waaaaay above and even so it might've not turned out successfully because then the seams on the sides of the "cups" would've been spread way too wide, making it less supportive. There's not enough vertical coverage in my size range. I decided against it. I would not recommend this bra if you are very full on top. It should work great for FOB's though.
This is Shock Absorber's newest bra model which is a high impact bra designed for all activities as opposed to a single activity, like the run bra. I think the red piping on the black bra looks very nice, and the interior of the bra feels nice to the skin as it's completely seamless. The headphone wire clip is a nice feature if you enjoy listening to music when you work out.
The reason I wanted to try this bra was because I was looking for a racer back bra. I think having the upper clip is a good idea so that you can more easily ...put on a bra without pulling it over your head. The reality is, it just doesn't work, at least not for me. My arms or not long enough to grasp the upper clips, and they're not strong enough in that contorted position to fasten them. The only way I was able to put on the bra was to close the upper clasp before putting it on, which kind of defeats the point of having upper clasp in the first place. I thought it would be possible to undo one or both the the hooks on the straps first, but they don't come out so easily.
Overall, I don't recommend this bra just because it's too difficult to put on. Read more 122 more words
The only sports bra I use now, I own 4. I am usually a 32 FF deco or 30 G panache porcelain plunge but in this I am 34E?! The 32 is super tight and if I get a cup bigger than E I don't get enough support. There is the slightest quad boob effect at certain times of the month but not enough to need to go up a cup size. Fantastic support! Edit: OK, I am a 30G in the deco too after a few wears the 32FF is far too loose around the ribs and uncomfortable.
A sports bra that locks my breasts down completely while running! Fantastic! I don't even think about my breasts once while running, which is a first! The band is very tight, and there's even another band higher up that connects the straps together for even more support. But don't let the super super tight band scare you--that's what makes it so effective at holding your boobs in place while running around. I've read about other women buying a band size up for this and other Shock Absorber bras but I think if you do you're sacrificing support, especially considering bras stretch out over time. One gripe I have ...is that I wish the straps could be pulled tighter. They're not loose by any means.. there's just not a lot of option for adjustment.
I got mine in a cute grey and purple shade and it isn't even ugly as far as sports bras are concerned.
PS I got this on ebay for only 12 USD. It was listed as "b4490 shock absorber level 4". I think my particular model is discontinued but that's what it was sold as. Read more 79 more words
My favourite sports bra. It's very comfortable and I especially recomend it for some jumping sports or running - I do irish dancing, there is lot of jumps and this bra has really very good anti-bouncing efect. It's because of very tight material, but not uncomfortable, I have this bra over a year and anti-bouncing effect is still same, it didn't stretch out much, what I appreaciate. It doesn't do "racket boobs" like Freya active, boobs are nice rounded.
I think it's best compromise between anti-bouncing effect and nice shape, which you can have in sports bras.
I'm 68/93 cm, but band is tight, so 65cm band is ok for my measure. Maybe I could have F cup, but E cup sits good too.
Cons? I think it's not very good in absorbing sweat, but maybe I'm only sweating too much https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_surprised.gif" alt=":o" />)
WARNING: I have N102 Shock Absorber bra too and N102 has smaller cups and more elastic band, so you probably will need different size.
I read it was tight so I ordered a 34 instead of a 32 which is usually my size. I find it fits me fine. It is not too tight nor too loose. The fabric is extremely elastic (in a good way) so I don't think a 32 would be too too tight. It is a good fit overall, but I ordered a few for choice and preferred how I felt with the Panache Sports Bra. It is definitively supportive and reduces bounce well, maybe a tiny bit more than the Panache one. The material also looks really really great.
What I didn't like: First, the upper hook is very ...difficult to fasten. (It has 2 lines for fastening, both with 2 hooks). Then, I didn't feel totally comfortable with it. It kind of presses my boobs on top so it doesn't help me getting the rounded shape that I would like. I prefer bras with underwires because the lift my breast up from the bottom. Also, being non wired it gives you a mono-boob shape that I don't find very flattering.
It is a good bra, great quality, supportive and comfy. I just felt better with the Panache one.
Jj If you get a chance, would you mind looking at this one for me? I've filled out everything, but it's only coming up at 80%.