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Gear and Technology

Brooks bra experts debunk 5 common fit myths

March 1, 2021 | By Brooks Staff
Women in Drive Mesh Run Bra
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Wondering how to sort through all advice on running bras out there? We’re here to help. Our bra designers and developers teamed up with biomechanical researchers to find out the truth behind five common myths.

Myth 1: There’s only one correct support level for running

Our biomechanical experts at University of Portsmouth found that most women preferred a similar range of support for running, but that there’s no single best level of support. That’s why we no longer categorise by level of impact/support. Our run bras are all built within the range that women told us felt most comfortable.

Drive run bras laid out on a track

Myth 2: You have to wear your measured bra size

Although measurements provide a great starting point and are often accurate, that’s not always the case person-by-person. You should first measure, then try and make sure that the fit feels right for your body. Check out our fit guide for extra tips.

Myth 3: Wearing an unsupportive bra isn’t that bad

Working with our partners in Portsmouth, we learned that when women wear a bra without enough support, they can lose up to 4 cm of stride length due to poorly controlled breast movement — that’s an entire extra mile over the length of a marathon! No thanks!

Myth 4: Wearing two sports bras offers double the support

We’ve all seen women do this, but we wish they knew they didn’t need to! Wearing a bra that’s designed for running and fits correctly is the best way to get the right support.

Women running on a paved trail in a Dare Racerback run bra

Myth 5: Bras with built-in cups are more supportive than bras without them

It’s true that built-in cups offer one kind of support — their structure can help prevent bouncing — but depending on your body type and what you find comfortable, you may prefer bras that use compressive fabric instead of built in cups. There’s no wrong answer here! Find what you like and go with that.

Putting our bras to the test

We design our run bra collections to meet a wide range of sizes, features and fit preferences. If you need help finding the one that’s right for you, get matched with your perfect Brooks Run Bra using our Bra Finder, or skip straight to the fun part and shop all our run bras. You can also use our Store Finder to treat yourself to an in-store fitting or try on bras in-person.