Women who engage in any type of fitness activity should wear a sports bra. In fact, even if you are doing some serious gardening, raking leaves, or washing the car, you will likely feel more comfortable if you wear this type of fitness bra. Yet with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to choose a fitness bra style that provides the comfort level and support you need. The following tips can help you choose a bra that is ideal for your cup size and active lifestyle.

Sports Bra Overview

Wearing a fitness bra is important no matter what your cup size. Sports bras prevent uncomfortable and even painful bouncing when women engage in fitness activities. "Not wearing a supportive and properly fitting bra during exercise can lead to permanent breast damage, whether you've experienced pain or not, and even if your breasts are very small." The best bras for sport are designed to keep your bras in place as you move so they are not bouncing in various directions, causing you pain and possibly leading to breast damage.

Sports Bras for A-B Cup Sizes

If you wear an A or B cup, consider a halter-style fitness bra. This style may look too sexy to function athletically, but don't let it's sex appeal fool you. This "bra is surprisingly supportive for smaller sizes" (Source: Women's Health, The Best Sports Bra for Your Body) in spite of all the skin it allows to show. Bras designed with comfortable jersey in razorback or seamless cut styles are also great for small bust sizes. Because they're stretchy and available in so many colors, these jersey bras for sport tend to be extremely popular.

Sports Bras for B-C Cup Sizes

A compression bra is a popular style for women who wear a B or C cup. These bras function in a couple important ways. First, they provide contour without flattening your breasts. Secondly, they provide your breasts with the optimum level of support needed to perform any sportive activity. These bras are great because they conform to your shape while still providing that all-important support. Many women with B or C cups are also opting for bras that are designed with lightweight material that doesn't trap sweat.

Sports Bras for D-DD Cup Sizes

If you're a large-busted woman, you should look for a bra with a crossed back. These bras are great because they appear like an ordinary bra in the front, but their crossed straps in the back provide the added support that large-busted women need. Sports bras with venting material are also ideal for women with large bust sizes. They provide an extreme level of support, but their material is lightweight and vents, so you won't feel so hot even while you are bound up in the bra.

Consider these bras the next time you shop for a new bra. You'll love the support and feel of these bras, but more importantly, you'll protect your breasts during your fitness sessions and provide them with the support they need to look and feel their best.