I worked the floor as an RN for thirty-eight years, and I can tell you that the women who kept moving into their seventies and eighties were almost always the ones who stayed comfortable doing it. Not glamorous, not fancy. Comfortable. And nine times out of ten, when a friend my age tells me she's given up on her water aerobics class or her morning walk at the mall, the real reason isn't her knees. It's that nothing fits right up top anymore, and the jiggling is downright miserable.
So let's talk about sports bras the way I'd talk about them with the gals at coffee hour. Honest, practical, and with no patience for the marketing nonsense aimed at twenty-five-year-olds.
Why the bra you wore at 45 doesn't work at 65
Here is what nobody tells you in those glossy ads. After menopause, breast tissue changes. The fibrous tissue thins out and the fatty tissue takes over, which means a bust that used to feel firm now feels softer and tends to drift. The skin loses elasticity, just like the skin on the back of your hands does. And the ligaments that hold everything in place, what doctors call Cooper's ligaments, stretch out and don't bounce back the way they did in your thirties.
What that means in plain English is that bouncing during exercise hurts more, recovers less, and the support garment you wore through your forties is probably not cutting it anymore. The good Lord designed our bodies to keep changing, so our bras have to change too.
What to actually look for
Forget the sizing chart for a minute. When you're shopping for a sports bra in your sixties or seventies, here is my checklist:
- A front closure. If you have any arthritis in your shoulders, hands, or back, reaching behind to fasten a bra is a daily aggravation. A sturdy front clasp solves that. The Wacoal Perfect Primer is one a lot of folks rave about for that reason.
- Wide, cushioned straps. Thin straps dig into your shoulders and leave grooves. Wide straps spread the weight. Your trapezius muscles will thank you.
- A firm, wide band. The band does most of the support work, not the straps. If the band rides up when you raise your arms, it's too loose. If you can't slide two fingers under it comfortably, it's too tight.
- Moisture-wicking fabric. Hot flashes do not retire when you do. Polyester or nylon blends pull sweat off your skin so you don't sit there clammy after a walk.
- No underwire, or a soft one. Many of us find underwires poke after a few years, especially if we've had any biopsies or scars. Wireless or soft-wire bras have come a long way and give plenty of support now.
A few catalogs worth your time
The original version of this article, written back when I was still working three twelves a week, mentioned a handful of catalogs. Let me update those for where we are now.
Title Nine
Title Nine is still going strong out of the West Coast and has been since 1989. They are women-owned, and bras really are their cornerstone product. They organize their bras by support level, which they call Brabell ratings, from one to five. For most of us over 60, you'll want to look at the three-Brabell or higher options. They've added something called a Boob Lab in their stores recently, which is essentially a fitting room with knowledgeable staff. If you don't have a store near you, their online sizing tool is reasonable and they take returns without making you jump through hoops.
Just For Kix
Just For Kix is geared toward dancers, and most of their customers are decades younger than you and me. But here's the thing. Their bralettes and lightweight support bras are well-made for low-impact movement, and if your exercise routine is a Silver Sneakers class, water walking, or some gentle stretching, those lighter-support styles can be a comfortable choice. Don't go here for high-impact running. Do consider them if you want something soft for yoga or tai chi.
Ulla Popken
Ulla Popken is a German plus-size brand that has a healthy US following. Their sports bras come in larger band and cup sizes than a lot of mainstream stores stock, and they tend to use breathable microfiber with cushioned straps. If you're a fuller-busted woman and the rack at Kohl's only goes up to a 40DD, this is the kind of catalog that solves your problem. Heads up that they cycle through styles, so when you find one that fits, buy two.
Wacoal and Bali, while we're at it
I'd be doing you a disservice not to mention these two. Wacoal makes the front-close sport bras I keep recommending to my sister-in-law who has rheumatoid arthritis. Bali is a longtime mid-price brand that you can usually find at department stores or at Macy's online. Neither is exotic. Both are workhorses.
For the outdoor folks
If your gym is the walking trail at the state park, look at base-layer sports bras from outdoor retailers like REI or Athleta. The Athleta Interval Bra gets good marks for medium-impact activity and breathable mesh panels. Tom and I do a lot of walking on the rail trail near our house in any weather, and a moisture-wicking layer makes the difference between coming home refreshed and coming home chilled.
Getting fitted, even at our age
I want to encourage you to get fitted, even if it's been twenty years. Most decent stores will measure you for free, and you may be surprised what comes out. After menopause, weight redistribution and rib-cage changes mean the band size you wore in 1995 is almost certainly wrong. A friend of mine from church went in last fall thinking she was a 38C and walked out wearing a 36DD that fit her better than anything had in a decade.
If you are not comfortable being measured by a stranger, there are good at-home guides on YouTube. The Liberare bra-fitting videos are gentle and walk you through it in your own bedroom with a soft tape measure.
One last word
I tell the gals at the food pantry the same thing every January when the gym-resolution conversation comes up. Don't let an uncomfortable bra be the reason you stop moving. Movement is the single best thing we can do for our hearts, our bones, and frankly our moods. Spend the forty or fifty bucks on a sports bra that fits, replace it every six to nine months because the elastic does wear out, and get yourself out the door.
Tom always teases me that I sound like a sergeant when I get going on this subject. But I've sat with too many patients who lost mobility because they stopped moving, and it almost always started with some small discomfort that grew into an excuse. A good bra is a small thing. It's also one of the easiest excuses to take off the table.
