With the growing popularity of athleisure wear, more people are buying sports bras.
Whether women are buying them to go pump iron or just to sit around the house, sports bra sales increased by 32 percent during the pandemic.
A trusted name in sports apparel, Nike offers some of the better sports bras on the market.
About Nike Sports Bras
Nike is not new to the world of sports bras. Although the company didn’t originate this popular product, it has taken the original design and made improvements to make them more comfortable and supportive during any workout.
These improvements include enhanced breathability and better padding.
Standard Styles
Nike makes over 20 styles of sports bras. The following represent some of the best-selling sports bras.
| DriFit Alpha | DriFit Swoosh | FE/NOM Flyknit |
|---|---|---|
| High support | Medium support | High support |
| Moisture-wicking | Lightweight | Flexible |
| Compression | Breathable | Stretchy |
| Lightly padded | Removable 1-piece pad | Molded cups |
| Smoothing and shaping | Seamless |
Other Features of Nike Sports Bra
Regardless of your tastes and preferences, Nike probably makes a sports bra you will love.
These features are just some that make the brand’s bras a popular choice.
- Zip fronts: A common complaint of well-endowed women is that sports bras are too hard to take off when you’re sweaty. Zip front bras solve that problem.
- Sustainable fabrics: For those who want a more eco-friendly choice, Nike offers the DriFit Indy. This light support bra is snug and lightweight, and it’s made of 50% recycled polyester fabric.
- Plus size option: Finding plus-sized fitness gear has often been a struggle. Nike offers a line of plus-size sports bras that offer high support and security without sacrificing style. These plus-size sports bras are cute and functional.
Support Levels
Sports bras come with different levels of support. You might think that this is determined by your breast size, but it’s actually a reference to your activity level.
Although women with larger breasts usually like more support even at a lower impact.
Low impact Sports Bra
This is the minimum level of support offered by a sports bra. It makes the bra stretchier and more flexible, but it isn’t supportive enough for high-impact activities.
Wear this bra for lounging or low-impact activities like yoga or Pilates.
Medium impact Sports Bra
At this level, your sports bra is slightly more compressive than the low-impact bra.
It usually features a wider band and sometimes contains padding to help keep your boobs in place while you’re working out.
Medium support bras are good for light activities like hiking, biking, and weight lifting.
High impact Sprts Bra
If you have large breasts or if you don’t enjoy bouncing while you’re working out, pick a high-impact bra.
These sports bras are the most supportive, with compressive material made to hold you in place.
If you’re running, dancing, or taking a high-impact cardio class, pick one of these bras.
How to Fit a Sports Bra
Some manufacturers list their sports bra sizes in cups like traditional bras, but others, including Nike, size them as S, M, L, XL, etc.
Nike sports bra size chart
The size chart below shows Nike sports bra sizing.
| Band & Cup Size | Alpha Size | Alpha & Cup Size |
|---|---|---|
| 30A – 30C | XS | XS (A-C) |
| 30D – 30E | XS | |
| 32A – 32B | XS | XS (A-C) |
| 32C | S | S (A-C) |
| 32D – 32E | S | S (D-E) |
| 34A – 34C | S | S (A-C) |
| 34D – 34E | M | M (D-E) |
| 36A – 36C | M | M (A-C) |
| 36D – 36E | L | L (D-E) |
| 38A – 38C | L | L (A-C) |
| 38D – 38E | XL | XL (D-E) |
| 40A – 40C | XL | XL (A-C) |
| 40D – 40E | 2XL | XL (D-E) |
| 42A – 42C | 1X | |
| 42D – 42E | 2X | |
| 44A – 44C | 2X | |
| 44D – 44E | 3X |
You can use the Nike size guide to translate your bra size into your sports bra.
In general, you should be able to pick the same size as other tops, but the size chart is easy to follow. Just look for your bra size within each sizing range, and choose the Alpha size that matches.
Some Nike sports bras have cups. In this case, you would combine the S, M, L size with a cup size.
For example, if you’re a 36D, you would wear a size L, D (large with a D cup).
Conclusion
Sports bras are appealing because the low support styles are comfortable and can be worn every day.
The high support styles make exercising more comfortable, particularly for women with larger breasts or breasts with softer tissue.
Nike has been making sportswear for years, and they take the same approach to designing sports bras as they do with shoes.
They consider your anatomy and how the bra impacts movement. Pick one of these sports bras for your next gym session.
