From what I've heard of Shock Absorber, I thought I should go up a band size. After trying the 30F, I felt that it might not be true. The 28 band is certainly snug, but it is a sports bra, and I didn't feel like I was unable to breathe.
I tried 28FF and 28G. The 28FF gives me some serious quad boob. The 28G fits much better and does not give me quad boob. Still, both of them had a bit of bounce when I jumped around. I don't think the 28G fits better because I'm actually meant to wear that size... it's probably because of my wide/shallow boobs that I got quad boob with the smaller size. I could see this bra giving top-heavy boobs some serious quad boob.
This bra provides good support and it stays put when arms are swinging. It helps control side to side bouncing. Like most sports bras, it has a definite constricting effect, and it doesn't flatter one's figure in any way. The one reason I wouldn't recommend this bra to anyone with similar breasts is that the cups are terrible. They are wireless, but they enclose the breasts around the sides with a sewn-in inner support sling The front of the cups enclose the outer part of the breasts around the sides and the top, which stretches the inside layer over the breasts, causing the ...outside layers to wrinkle. This design has the effect of making the nipples look exposed, and it makes me feel like my very sensitive nipples are vulnerable, rather than protected. The front of the bra appears to have two circles directly over the nipples, and because the outer layer wrinkles, to me they look like nursing pads that are ready to be changed. I've tried using "no peek" pads and nipples covers, but nothing stops the wrinkling, and my nipples wind up showing through. This bra looks strange because of the outer cups, so I wouldn't wear it alone even around the house. Read more 107 more words
I bought the 30F used. The previous owner had altered the straps to be shorter because she was 5'2". I thought it might work since I am also 5'2". Alas, it's not perfect...
First of all, I think I should've gone with a 28 band. I only went with the 30 because I heard the 28 bands are really tight. Perhaps the previous owner broke in the bra? The band isn't terribly loose, but I think given that it's a sports bra, it could be a little more snug.
Secondly, the quadboob! Seeing as I wear somewhere between 28E and 28Fs, I certainly didn't expect the 30F to give me quadboob. I think I'd have to try a 30FF or 28G. Of course, it could be that the previous owner altered the straps so much that they are really tight on the loosest setting.
Despite the band and cup issues, I still think this is far better than my Target sports bras.
Found this runs small in band and cup, so recommend sizing up (I wear a 30E in the Panache sports bra for comparison). Offers excellent support for running, albeit that I have fairly small boobs.
Technically, this bra fits, provides adequate control, and all that jazz. However, the way it mashes my boobs down is unnatractive and feel sweaty and constrictive - my breasts get mashed downwards and against each other, which is bound to get real sweaty, real fast.
The sort of racer style back holds everything in place, but presses down uncomfortably on my shoulders. There's a sling contraption inside but it's non obvious how it's supposed to interact with my boobs - it just sort of mashes on top of them.
I've yet to find a comfortable, supportive high-impact sports bra in my size. This one certainly isn't the worst, but it's not winning any awards either.
What an awesomely well made bra, but the band is WAY too tight. I can only fasten it if I "suck it in" and get help from my boyfriend! It would probably be a great fit on someone who needs a 26 band.
I wanted a bra for tennis and this was widely recommended. I bought it relatively recently and it was expensive, so I'm suffering from buyer's remorse seeing that it's been discontinued. I'm not surprised though, because I doubt I'm the only person who has fit-issues with this design. As far as function goes, this bra truly has excellent support. Even when running up and down stairs I pretty much stay put. It's an excellent model for racket sports in that it reduces lateral breast motion, and the straps really stay put. Unfortunately the shape of the cups is all wrong for me. My breasts are wide ...at their roots (read "squash easily") but they do not get much narrower toward the nipples. I think this bra seems to assume that every wearer has thinner, tube-shaped boobs, and that nipples don't protrude or need protection. The cups have support all around the sides of the breasts but they are unlined and consist of two sheer layers in their fronts. The sheer layers form rounded shapes at the tips which look like two protruding circles on me. The very front layers wrinkle up, and the wrinkles show through T-Shirts. The cups' design gives an appearance under clothing that is similar to that of a nursing bra, and the front cup area looks rounded, as though it contains nursing pads. I have to wear nipple covers with this bra, which is a pain in the patootie. I have tried to get these cups to look smooth in the front. I even layered bra pads inside the bra to see if the problem was that the cups were too big, but even when my padding was "G" cup level, the outermost layer of cup was wrinkly and looked like a nursing pad that was ready to be replaced. My husband thinks this is the ugliest bra he's ever seen, and he says he suffers from recurring nightmares caused by this bra. Read more 224 more words
Since I'm a fairly shallow shape this bra isn't a great choice for me. It does keep me from bouncing if I jog in place but it still has some wrinkles around the cup. If I were to buy it again I'd go up a band and down a cup. However, it also has armsceyes that cut into my armpit. If I ran, this would probably be a "good enough" choice. However, I was gonna wear it while doing kettlebell swings and it drives me nuts. Boo https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> I think I will put this one up for a swap in the near future.
I got this bra because I was in need of a racer back bra and the Shock Absorber Ultimate Gym bra just did not work for me. I haven't actually used it yet but here are my first impressions (for the record I purchased the blue/yellow colourway).
I got this in a 32 instead of a 30 and I think that was a good choice as the band feels comfortably firm. It feels secure across the chest with the top closure hooked on the loosest hook and I didn't have any problems during the bounce test. What I like about this bra compared to ...the Shock Absorber Ultimate Gym bra is the upper closure. It sits a bit lower on the back, the the closure is a regular hook and eye closure with three columns so it's easier to reach and easier to do up.
Review will be updated once I have a chance to work out in it.
Post workout review: Just for context, I do martial arts and that usually involve a lot of quick twisting actions like when I'm punching. I feel that both the upper and lower hooks are too loose and needed to be set to the tightest setting in order to get the support I really need for the type of activity I do. I think next time I would try a 30FF.
It's a good sports bra for wide root shallow breasts, and - unlike compression type sports bras - it's not flattening. It does create a very pointy "rocket breast" shape, though. However, if you wear it under a tighter top, the shape looks roundish and okay again. I don't think it gives as much support as other Shock Absorbers, although it's supposed to be a level 3. This bra does not quite fit me anymore - it fit perfectly when I was still a 30C in other bras - and I measured the bust perimeter with major quadboob going on.
Awesome sports bra. The band is VERY tight and the straps are almost too long. The strap issue would probably be fixed if I went down a cup size (my boobs have more than enough room in there right now), but I bought this size because I found it for very cheap on eBay. The padding on the straps is wonderful for comfort.
But I wear this bra during long endurance runs and my boobs do not move at all, which is fabulous and exactly what it is supposed to do. I also own it in a 30DD and it works great too, so you can fudge the size a bit as long as the band is doing its job.
I have two of these: white and black, and they've fitted well for almost 4 years. They're reaching the end of their lives now though. (and I'm not sure a new 32C would fit me still!) Offers great support even during running, and this is a really comfy bra. I'll probably continue to wear them for a while as 'normal' bras under some clothes. So: thank you Shock Absorber!
I've 'outgrown' this bra with my recent increase in cup size, so it doesn't fit well in the cups any more. Band is surprisingly small for a 32, and the whole bra just offers much compression. It still does what it's supposed to do when I'm running, despite the fit not being perfect and it stays in place due to the fact that it's not just the band but the whole thing that stays put on your body. I do find the back construction a bit uncomfortable over my shoulderblades
Volume-wise, everything is contained really well. I still get some movement when running but a smaller cup size would impact my breathing.
The band is extremely tight with very little stretch. I struggle to put it on, though it's fine once in place. I'm flexible so the top row of hooks is actually really easy to do for me. The bra is much easier to take off.
If I went with a larger band to make this easier to put on, I'd go down a full 2 cup sizes instead of one.
I bought this bra to compare with the 32F that I also bought in the blue/yellow colourway. My first impression of this bra is that I'm glad I bought the 32 instead of a 30 as the band fits great, it's not tight it's comfortably snug. Overall, this bra fits well if I do up the upper closure on the tightest setting. It also fits well on the loosest setting, but it doesn't feel firm enough for heavy activity.
This bra fits like my well-loved and now worn out Champion sports bra (in 36D!) I have done a short bounce test and it's not perfect but it seems as though it will keep me from bouncing painfully. Can't test it on a run until I get over being sick https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> but so far, I find the fit quite similar. The double clasp is a trifle hard to fasten but I'm getting the hang of it. It's a compression bra with boob pockets/inner slings, like the Champion, but it's definitely for sport and not casual wear!
Although this bra technically "fits"me, I don't think this a right fit at all. The straps feel like they are holding up the weight of my boobs and my shoulders hurt almost instantly. This sports bra works by compression, and I feel like if I exercised in this my boobs would sweat in the middle. Also this is supposed to be a high impact sports bra but my boobs wiggle way too much. I put it on the middle hook and that controlled the wiggle some, but I definitely could not power walk in this. Perhaps in a smaller cup size this bra holds the girls in, but ...not in a HH. Although their was no quad boob, my boobs were trying to escape on the sides. I would have like to go up to a J to see if maybe that would be a better fit, but alas, this only goes up to a HH and the band runs true to size so a 36 would be way too big. This bra also gave me no support, my boobs were hanging and the straps were already uncomfortable so I was not going to tighten them. I am sending this bra back. Perhaps encapsulating brasare the way to go for me. Read more 103 more words
I'm still a bit shell shocked that it fits me in this size - my old Shock Absorber size before migration was 32B. Once I've managed to close the upper fastener, the bra is quite comfortable and feels a lot like the Shock Absorber Max (4490). I haven't gone running in it yet, but it seems to give extremely good support - it's a level 4 sports bra. Being a compression type sports bra, it does of course "flatten" me quite a bit.
lol whoops, at least it was free right? :3