Although sports bras are worn by every female rider they’re rarely a topic of discussion when it comes to cycling apparel. I’m just as bad, as I’ve never really thought to review one until recently when I started participating in discussions of women’s apparel purchasing at Western Bikeworks. That’s when I met Jennifer Ferguson of Handful. A fitness enthusiast herself, Jennifer was tired of searching for the perfect sports bra.
Handful is run by four women who’ve made it their mission to support women, no matter what life throws their way. Handful’s sports bras are designed to be versatile enough to wear from workout to weekend. I picked out 2 Adjustable Handful bras and decided to give that challenge a go. Would I like wearing a sports bra underneath my regular clothes? Is this sport bra able to support me while I ride my road or mountain bike, run, yoga or lift weights?
I choose the Booyah Black and Battle Cry Pink (hilarious color names) in size small, and immediately liked the soft, quick dry nylon/spandex fabric, it feels silky smooth against the skin. Removable Lights Out pads give you a nice bit of lift and prevents the dreaded cold nipple look. It also has adjustable straps for the option of x-back, straight or tied up as a halter.
In use, I was impressed by the shape it gave me even under regular clothing. Adjusting the straps a few times, I found the right amount of pressure for comfort, primarily wearing it as an x-back.
After five days of use, during the workday and then in the evening for workouts, I’m officially impressed. I usually don’t like sports bras for more than working out. There’s plenty of support so I didn’t feel like my breasts were moving once I was hovered over a bike, bending down or running. The seams in the inside are flat, making them unnoticeable – I never felt like anything was digging into my skin. In addition, the quick dry fabric and performance wicking lining kept me comfortable while sweating, with no annoyingly boob sweat.
Handful currently offers 12 colors to choose from, with fun names like Catch Me if You Camo and Fifty Shades of Gunmetal Gray. Sizing ranges from XS-Large.
Now that I have two really nice sports bras it’s time to get a few more and have one for everyday of the week. After all, I commute daily and also ride a road or mountain bike 4-5 days a week. This is a great bra for an active fashionable woman.
For reference I wear a 34B.
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