Photo: bandier on Instagram 

With the incredible sports bra technology on the market today, there are so many options to choose from. Thankfully, brands now make bras in all shapes and sizes. While this is certainly great, it can still be quite confusing to find the perfect fit for your unique body type. After all, every woman wants to be supported, yet comfortable during sports and fitness activities. Depending on your athletic needs and your size, the kind of sports bra that you require will vary. There are high, medium and low impact level sports, which affect which type of bra you will need. Here are some tips to guide you into buying the appropriate sports bra for your workout:

Impact level sports: For the best performance, it is important to focus on the impact level of the sport you are taking part in. Sports bras are designed to provide three levels of support. High impact sports like running, jogging or contact sports require a tighter and heavier support in terms of coverage. Whereas, medium impact sports like dancing, hiking, or working out on machines like the elliptical require a less supportive bra. Finally, low impact exercises such as Pilates, yoga and walking need the least amount of coverage. If you like to participate in several activities, it’s smart to acquire different styles of sports bras ranging from high to low support for all kinds of sports.

Care and Maintenance: It is important to treat sports bras like all other pieces of lingerie. It is recommended to hand wash the bras and leave them to air dry. However, if that is not an option, throw your sports bras into a lingerie bag for the best wash on the cool setting. It is also important to not re-wear bras more than once before washing as sweat and oil buildup can break down the fabric after a while.

Pay attention to the band: The majority of the support comes from the band so it is especially important to focus on this aspect of the bra. The bottom band should be comfortable fitting around your body and not fit to tight. It is essential that your diaphragm is able to expand comfortably. If the band doesn’t fit properly, you risk less support and chafing. This occurs if the band is either to loose or tight. One common mistake is that women tend to buy a bigger band size for their bra instead of buying a larger cup size.

Switch your bras every so often: One should switch up your sports bra every six to twelve months just like a pair of running shoes. After a lot of use and many washes, the bras lose elasticity, and the overall fit therefore becomes less supportive. Support is essential during physical activity (especially for ladies with fuller busts), so rotate your undergarments to keep them effective, wearable and in great condition.