WHAT’S YOUR FLAVOUR.. CROP OR UNDERWIRE BRA?

So which bra is right for you? Do you prefer Crops or Underwire? Recent studies have show that 88 percent of female adolescents wear bras during exercise that do not fit correctly. We road tested a mixture of Triumph’s triaction range consisting of their latest Crops and Underwire styles and report back for you on why each suits for our own particular sporting and body shape needs. Two girls, one story.

Pro Crops. – Brooke.

For me a good sports bra is paramount for a good training session. You wouldn’t train in runners that don’t fit properly – you are most likely to trip and hurt yourself. So why train in a bra that is uncomfortable, digging in all the wrong places or simply supplying no support at all.

A bra should fit snug, comfortably and not restrict your breathing. Your breasts need to be supported firmly to minimize bouncing and tearing of your Coopers ligament which is the only ligament that stops the breast from sagging. I’ve gone through my fair share of bras in the past and after trialing the Triumph triaction range I was pleasantly surprised at how supportive these crop tops are. Crop tops are an essential part of my wardrobe; leading an active, on-the-go lifestyle I find them an everyday staple, enabling me to go from training to the street, working from home or running errands.

Comfort is important; that’s what I loved about these crops, especially the Zen Top which is the perfect crop for Pilates and light activity exercise. The Circular knit fabric draws sweat away from the body and has light padding for support and definition. The Zen top measures well under the bust which is important when doing yoga and Pilates based moves, ensuring there is plenty of coverage when in those downward dogs and Pilates postures. I loved teaming the black and white style back with black leggings and a classic bomber for the ultimate training-to-street look.

ZEN TOP

My other favorite crop was the Seamfree Top which was the perfect crop for heavier based activity such as running, jumping and boxing. It acts as compression like fit, which stops bounce in its tracks and was particularly comfortable to have on for long periods of time. The racer back styling pulls the bust in and makes you feel totally secure setting you up for the perfect training conditions. Pop them on with the triaction short and you have yourself go to staple pieces for your activewear wardrobe.

SEAMFREE TOP

Pro Wired Sports Bra – Ellen Tibaldi

Sometimes when people think wired sports bras they think of wire digging into all the wrong places and outdated designs. These are common misconceptions and the Triumph triaction range of wired sports bras proves this. With colourful and comfortable designs, they provide support for women of all cup sizes. I personally wear a 10C and find crop tops ok for light activity, however wired sports bras provide me with optimal support for activities ranging from yoga to running.

Our breasts are made up of delicate ligaments which can break down with extensive exercise without proper support, this ultimately leads to sagging which we definitely want to avoid. The underwire in wired sports bras, provides proper support by reducing the movement of the breasts during exercise. Weather you enjoy leisurely walks or intense HIIT sessions, are a 10C or 18G, the triaction range has a wired sports bra to fit you comfortably, have you looking and feeling good all while providing much needed support.

For women who predominately enjoy running, high intensity plyometrics which involve a lot of jumping and any other workout that involves a lot of movement, I would recommend the triaction Performance Bras I was immediately drawn to this bra because of the girly bright colours it comes in. Also just from first glance I noticed the thick straps that looked very supportive, which they are and also very comfortable. This is a common feature on all the triaction wired sports bras. As soon as I put this bra on I could feel the support and to my surprise it wasn’t overly tight. My favourite thing about the Performance bra is that it goes on like your everyday bra which makes it extremely easy to put on and take off, something you don’t get with crop tops.

PERFORMACE BRA

Another in the range that goes on with the ease of a regular bra is is the Techno bra. Another one of my favourites, this bra offers the medium support it promises and is ideal for women who do very little high intensity training but rather enjoy walking, Pilates, yoga or even weight training. Although it is a wired sports bra it almost looks like a crop top, as it has a small band around the base, which I thought not only enhanced the overall design but also added support. I had never seen a wired sports bra look as though it could pass as a crop top before and I really liked the modern and edgy look it gave. Looks aside this bra is also comfortable and supportive and easy to wear.

TECHNO BRA

Finally my favourite bra was the Energise Racerback. Like the name suggests this bra has a racerback design making it perfect for pairing with a tank top, although it does make it a bit harder to take off because of the tighter fit. However it’s that tight fit that makes it my favourite as it provides such a great amount of support and I felt super comfortable wearing it. Although it says this bra offers medium support I would definitely feel comfortable doing some higher intensity workouts in it. Not only was it supportive and comfortable, this bra has added padding which, if I do say so myself, made my cleavage look very nice while keeping everything in its place. This bra is ideal for women who enjoy a range of different workouts and want one bra to offer great support for all their activities.

ENERGISE RACERBACK

That is the great thing about wearing wired sports bras, you can go for a jog on the treadmill after your Pilates class with the confidence that your bra is supportive enough for both activities. No matter your cup size, your boobs will definitely thank you for wearing a wired sports bra.