This was the second of 3 sports bras that I tried on today. Of the 3, this one is the WORST fit.
The wires are WAY too wide. The cups are too separated. It is an awful, East-West mess. I’m not a huge fan of encapsulation sports bras, but this one takes the cake. I deliberately ordered a size down, but I was still swimming in the cups. I don’t like the padding, I think that’s part of the reason why it looked so ridiculous on me.
I ordered this from Figleaves with a 20% off coupon code. Yay for discounts! When I opened the box and saw the bra, I was first a bit disappointed in the color. It was supposed to be 'magenta', but it looked more like a purple color. Oh well, it was still nice and better than the black or white sports bras I've had my entire life.
Also, I feel the need to disclose the fact that this bra was not the correct size for me (band too large, cups too small), but I will give as much information as I can. I ...will be returning this bra and ordering something else in the future.
Pros:
*Colors are nice (so-called 'magenta' and grey) *The fabric is of good quality *4 hooks for lots of support *Underwire for support *Straps are more centered over cups than at the edge
Cons:
*The shape....wow. SUPER POINTY. I don't have a problem with boobs in your face, but this bra made my breasts come to a SHARP point. It was just too much. Also, the east/west look wasn't helping with the pointiness (I'm sure if someone saw me, they would be afraid I would shoot!) *The straps are not fully adjustable. I'm 5'4", so in most cases, I have to adjust my straps quite a bit on any bra. There was very little room for adjustment here. *I found that the bra didn't control bounce at all, but this may be due to the fact I was wearing the wrong size. I ordered the larger of my go-to band sizes because I had read many reviews saying that the band runs small, but I should have stayed with my normal Freya size of 32. Also, the largest cup size that the bra is made is an H, and I really need a HH or J in most cases. Read more 210 more words
Similarities to Freya's non-active line: wide wires and cups, beautiful construction, seems like it will hold up well Not similar: non-stretch band, which is good for sports bras, but it seems very small compared to their non-active line... I can wear a 32 with an extender in their non-active, and this one in a 34 band I need to have the extender on the 2nd middle hook out of 4. Doing that makes the straps and cups way too wide for me. Freya's are generally wide for me, but this one is uncomfortably wide. I'm afraid ordering a band size up will have the same effect.
Besides too small cups, as usual the underwires are too wide for me. Despite that, it seems fairly comfortable although it gives me wicked torpedo boob. Also, Freya calls this "nude" but I would say it is band-aid colored. It's not the prettiest bra for sure (spoiled by the Panache, again) but I'd be ok with that if it worked for me.
It is more open on top than the Panache Sports bra, which doesn't suit me as I have tissue nearly up to the collarbone and that leaves me with too much jiggle when I run. Nice firm band that is comfortably wide and I liked that it isn't as warm as the Panache but unfortunately, I don't think it is compatible with my shape.
Check out Lynx Sportswear. You and I are about the same size, and it's the only sports bra I've found that works and fits properly.
BumbleBean Thanks for the rec! I think it was you who mentioned Lynx in an earlier post? I've actually been in touch with them about being a tester since I'm sized out according to their charts. Looks like that 4Z fits you really well though - definitely am tempted to try it!
I heard this bra runs tight in the band, but I had already ordered another Freya sports bra in 36H so I thought I would try my normal band size and my smaller cup size. I usually wear between 34H and 34HH but thought that with a sports bra half a cup too small in the cup might be an improvement over too big in the cup.
The band was painfully tight, and the gore didn't like flat. I will need a 36H, or possibly even a 36HH although it did not seem to run as small in the cup as the other Freya sports bra I just tried.
Of course I didn't get any support with such a small cup, so I am exchanging it for a 36H.
The underwire distorts and the cups flatten (get wider and less deep) when the band is hooked securely. Despite that, it's remarkably supportive (better than any other sports bra I've tried), but chafes terribly at the bottom of the center gore due to pulling away from my chest.
Check out Lynx Sportswear. You and I are about the same size, and it's the only sports bra I've found that works and fits properly.