This bra is definitely too small for me. The band is too snug - I would certainly have problems running or doing anything else where I would be breathing. Wayyy too constricting! It also seems that the wires are not long enough, so there's quite a bit of tissue being pushed into my underarms. I think trying a 32DD might solve many of these issues. Otherwise the bra seems to be very solidly constructed and extremely supportive (in the right size).
The Panache Sports bra has some seriously high quality construction. I love the cushioned straps, gel-encased wires, and moulded cups. As sports bras go, it's not so bad looking.
Sadly, I don't think they designed it for shallow, wide-rooted breasts. The fit isn't the worst, but I definitely get some quad boob and side boob. My smaller boob doesn't fill out the cup as well as I would like. The gore does come up pretty high, so that doesn't help with the quad boob.
When I go running with it, the Panache Sports bra does a fair job of reducing bounce. It is a vast improvement compared to most non cup-sized sports bras, but it's not quite like the Lynx sports bra. Of course, this could be because the Panache Sports bra isn't quite right for my shape.
I'd never had an encapsulation sports bra before this. Really nice, elastic material. Plays well under all kinds of shirts and gym clothes but is also sufficiently full coverage that running in it is somewhat modest. Very, very firm band. If you're on the cusp of needing 30s you'll want to stick with 30s. It doesn't move around at all, essential if you have larger breasts. I would say that the wires run pretty similar to Cleo -- pretty middle of the road, at least in this size range.
I had heard that this was the holy grail of sports bras. I had high hopes.
Good news: This is worlds better than my Walmart S-M-L compression/shelf sports bras.
Bad news: Holy grail it is not.
Good news: The band is nice and firm, just a smidge tighter than my other Panache bras in the same size. Exactly what I'd want and expect in a sports bra.
Bad news: Wires are too narrow. Top of the cup has some empty space, room for bouncing. Very top edge of the cup cuts into breast tissue (though my root is tall/higher set, and not everyone will have this issue).
Good ...news: The silicone-wrap plus fabric-sewn-thing of these underwires mean that even though they're too narrow, they do not poke.
Bad news: The narrower underwires and empty space means that I don't get the anchorage, support, and motion control that I'd ideally like.
Good news: Straps are long enough.
Bad news: Straps are not long enough for my 5'8" self to use the racerback feature, which might have alleviated some of the residual boob bounce.
Bottom line? I will keep it for lower impact activities like yoga and hiking. However, I will need to find something more suitable for running. Read more 100 more words
I wore ill-fitting bras for years but it was nothing compared to the torture of wearing ill-fitting sport bras. Oh, the shame and discomfort of wearing brassiere-like bras that minimized my boobs and made them look pointy, flat or sadly pointed toward the ground. Discovering the Panache Sport bra last year was like a miracle.
The band is tight. I was actually uncomfortable wearing the bra the first couple of times and I wondered if I shouldn't have bought a 30E. But now, a few weeks later, it's nicely broken in. I still wear it on the first hook and it's snug without being too tight. Perfect. ...It would besnug enough for ladies in need of a 26 back.
The straps are great. On the wide side and nicely padded. Very comfortable. I often use the raceback option on the 2 32Ds I have because it gives me better support but I wouldn't attempt it on the 28F. I have to lengthen the straps as far as they can go on the 32Ds and the pressure on my shoulders is on the verge of being uncomfortable so it wouldn't work at all with the 28F.
But it doesn't need to work since the support the bra gives me wearing it the regular way is outstanding. I'm a horsewoman and riding is a high-impact sport but I can't feel any bounce in this bra. It's amazing.
The cups are perfectly filled. I'd says they ran very true to size. I had very some very slight quadboobing going on with my 32Ds and they were indeed a half-cup too small for me.
And the (shallow) reason I love this bra so much: perfect, rounded shape from the side. From a sport bra. Heaven. The shape is so great that this bra can be worn as a regular T-shirt bra as long as the neckline isn't too low.
This is the best sports bra I've ever owned! It's very comfortable and supportive but I can't wear it with the back hook because it presses on the junction of shoulder and neck and hurts. The front pulls a little from the gore on the top but it's not uncomfotable.
Because I am 37" at my underbust, I purchased a 36G to make sure that this bra could function as a sports bra (and wouldn't be too loose or stretch out too much). The band is true to size, and the bra fits snug but not uncomfortably so. For the first time in my life, I can jump with absolutely no chest movement! The gore extends past the underwire so that there is full coverage. It's great to have a racerback option without being stuck in racerback. I haven't worn it during a workout yet, but so far the fit makes me excited!
Upon trying this on, I wasn't confident that it would contain the bounce. I WAS WRONG. It totally does. I ran a 5K wearing this bra and had no complaints. No need to break it in - it fit nicely right out of the package. Super soft and comfortable.
The top of my breasts felt very "open" (exposed?) when I put it on, so I was afraid my boobs would bounce upward. I don't know how this bra does it, but they totally stayed put.
The bra is a little unwieldy to store. Basically the whole thing is molded, so it sort of stands up by itself and I haven't figured out the best way to store it yet.
Band is very firm and wide, cups definitely run big (I sized down one cup size from 36F to 36E).
Straps are comfy, wide & soft but rather short, especially when clipped together. They are rather close set, good for people with narrow shoulders (like me), but borderline too close, again even more when clipped together.
The sides could be a tad higher for my taste (they were great in the 36F, but the cups were too big then).
Shape on me is a tad pointy / east-west, but then I don't have super round and close-set boobs. Your mileage may vary. If you have asymmetric boobs, you might ...get unsightly dimples in the foam where your breast doesn't fill the cup. They'll most likely show through clothing. Therefore no "excellent" in the appearance section. Very nice for a sports bra, though!
Fabric, construction, comfort superb.
UPDATE: The band runs super snug (it sometimes puts uncomfortable pressure on my sternum/stomach but it's still (borderline) okay — next time I will definitely size up in the band) so if you're sensitive and/or have medium/small boobs and/or only want this bra for low-impact activities like yoga etc. I'd recommend going up a band size.
Also, the center gore is rather wide (almost an inch), so this might cause trouble for very close-set breast (still, it's (borderline, again) okay for me).
The cups run about one size too large, and it is a MUST to get the right band size, otherwise the center gore will poke out and you'll look like you've got something coming out of the center of your chest under your shirt.
It looks like I'm joining the chorus of voices saying the Panache Sport is the best sports bra ever. I have the purple one (with grey and pink accents) which I love. It's comfortable, supportive and gives a surprisingly attractive shape (uplifted and separated). Brilliant bra.
This is the best sports bra I've ever owned! The straps are slightly padded for comfort. The band runs very true to size, maybe even a little tight. The fabric on the outside can sometimes pull away from the gore, but it doesn't make a difference in the fit. It looks great under clothing as well!
This bra is great for everyday workouts and light cardio, but if you have a very high-intensity sport/activity that moves around more, it might not hold everything down as well.
This is a tight bra but very excellent for high-impact activities like running. The padded straps are very comfortable, but too long for me unless I adjust it to the racerback style.
This bra is sports bra boob heaven! I have it in hot pink and it's adorable! The encapsulation style keeps my boobs comfortable and supported while I work out. NO BOUNCING! The cups seem a bit empty until you put it in racerback configuration. The band is pretty snug.
Many people suggest going up a band size to a sister size because the band is snug, but I didn't feel like I needed to. I measure 31" underbust and fall in between sizes. Your mileage may vary.
I think the only thing I don't like about this bra is the price. The best I can ever find it for is about $45. That being said, I only own one but I wish I could afford another. I get tired of washing it after every workout.
This never was the best fit in the world for me. The bottom part of the cups is very firm; the top not so much, which led to a greater-than-warranted bounce factor. The wires also never sat flat to the sternum. And then I shrank out of it anyway.
I was told by a fitter that this bra is really meant to be worn in racerback configuration (there's a hook and ring on the straps to bring them in to mid-back) but as that really pinches nerves in my shoulders and neck it wasn't an option for me.
The fabric quality is excellent and breathes well; it also looks fantastic. It just didn't work well for me in the first place.
This is a little big in the cups, and the gore won't tack. I'm not sure if that's more a function of band size (this is my normal Panache size) or just the fact that it's a weird floating underwire kind of situation.
Warning: this, like most other molded sports bras, is NOT designed for shallow breasts. It's not really a problem, and your breasts will stay in place while running, but it will have some serious gaping at the top of the cups, especially in the section between the top of the underwire and the top of the gore (a 3" difference).
The band runs snug on this one. I find the cups seem to be a little large- I get wrinkling in the right
Because of the design, it's hard to tell how the underwires fit- I think the center gore may be a little too wide for me.
As far as the design- I like that the cups are moulded, so I don't get any nipple show through (especially when it's chilly). This bra is supportive, but because it's thicker, it also feels hotter, and it would not be my bra of choice for running in the summer. (It's better for the gym or when it's cold out). ...I find that I can't use the racerback hook- (you can't adjust how high the racerback will be on you)- and the bra digs into my shoulders when I wear it.
Final verdict: it's good, but I think I still prefer my shock absorber runs over this, even with the nipple show through. The support is probably better on that one for me, and I prefer having the racerback option. I'll still use this one, when I'm headed to the gym.
