Athletic Bras for Big Breasted Women (I Mean REALLY Big!)

Updated on April 08, 2012
S.N. asks from Greensboro, NC
26 answers

Hi there-

After a VERY long hiatus I am now back to exercising and trying to loose a MAJOR amount of weight. I've always had larger breasts so when I really worked out and ran I had great bras.. but I can't find a decent bra for how big I am now (42DDD/E!!!).

I went online and googled a few came up ($54-$79) for my size... that's really expensive and I don't love buying on line. SO I thought I'd ask the community... do you know of a great, really supportive ATHLETIC BRA (I prefer the one piece over the head kind... but will do any kind that works well) bras for VERY large breasts? I'm talking old church lady boobs here!!

I was formally a 36DD and there is a TREMENDOUS difference from a DD to a DDD/E so anyone w/ E experience, please let me know. Thank you so much!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have no specific recommendations for you.
But I'll tell you this much: there are no "CHEAP," but great DDD bras out there.

At $54-79 each, if you can only buy O., just do--then wear & wash!

Good luck!

5 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Chicago on

I finally broke down and paid the $55 for an Enell Sports bra about 5 or 6 years ago. I can't tell you how excited it made me to not have to wear about 4 bras at the same time to keep everything from moving!!!!!!!
Here's how I justified it - each of those cheap $5-10.00 bras that I was layering was adding up to the one bra that I spent some $$ on - it's been used A LOT and still 'holds up'!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

I would get professionally fitted so you know you are buying the right size bra.

I googled professional bra fitting in Minneapolis. this is what I came up with!

http://www.mountvernon.org/calendar

http://labratique.com/

2 moms found this helpful

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

see if there is a bra shop in your area. If not JC Penny does a really good job of stocking for large breasted women and if they dont have your size they will measure and order for you through the store. and I wear a 40 H I wish my boobs would go back to a DDD. LOL. also Kohls online has great bras I found Playtex 18hr for $18 and they are SUPER comfortable again you can order at the store and have it shipped.

2 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

I've had an e when I was bigger, I wore Victoria secret and * gulp.... Lane Bryant.

1 mom found this helpful

C.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm quite flat and have found it better advantage to go and get properly sized and do some fittings. Brassiere fits vary by brand, style and material, plus your overall shape. Also, not everyone has the same comfort level. Best wishes to you and "the girls".

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

The first think you need to do is be professionally fitted so you know where to start.

I am natural perky 34DD.

Nordstroms is one of the best for fittings but i you don't have one, Dillards, Macy's and Penney's should be helpful.

GOOD bras are not cheap and if you go cheap, you are not going to get the support you need. I LOVE Wacoal bras and I spend about $60 on each, wear them a good 6 months to a year and go back and get more.

I buy in 3's... beige for now, black, and spare beige

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

One and Done is right, a great fitting one for that large of a chest is going to cost you. No matter what others are saying, they wont do for exercise. Playtex, or Hanes they don't work to keep those bad boys down. They will work for about 5 minutes, then the girls will get minds of there own and start exploring out of every nook and cranny. I have E's... with fluctuating weights I go from DDDs to E's. I am also trying to work out more and find these boulders HURT when they bounce around. Mine twins are NOT perky. I do like to try to keep that appearance though. I am also super cheap. I found that a very large amount of ACE bandages work WONDERS. I am NOT kidding. When I am exercising I BIND these things tight. Not too tight to breath, but I secure them. It takes a lot of bandage but it works. Once held in place then I put my work out cheapy bra on over that and then a t-shirt. I wrap up and over my shoulders for added support too. Not just around. I kinda do a X fashion if you know what I mean. Then around and around. Sorry that's my best description. They are washable and last for a really long time. What I hear is when I loose more weight my boobs with shrink some naturally. I am hoping.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

My onnly suggestion is to try Victorias Secert they carry larger sizes but dont know if they go that large in store.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

In my heavier days I was a 36 I. I'm now a 30 E, so I now all about that ;-)

I have this one and love it

http://www.breakoutbras.com/product/Anita-High-Performanc...

I also have this one. It doesn't go up to a 42 band, but they do have 40's. Don't know if that would work.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/wacoal-855170-underwire-sport...

You're not going to find a good, supportive athletic bra for a large chest for cheap.

1 mom found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

I bought a sports bra with under wire support and wide straps. It's made of strechy grey material. I bought it online, so i dont know the name of the website but it was under 20 and I really like it. I saw some at Sears that were 34.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Dallas on

I was more in the double DD category but my favorite jogging bra was made by champion. It adjusted in the back and on the shoulders and was the BEST jog bra I had ever used. You buy them in a regular bra size as opposed to Small, Medium, Large. At the running store, they were @ $50 but you may find them at Target - they carry Champion and the bras are @ $25. Target also carries great socks for running really cheap.

Finally - the Bali/Leggs/Hanes outlets carry Champion and they have the bras there for @ 20-30.

I do NOT think you will find a one piece over the head kind of bra that will work - those are mostly compression bras, and when your large breasted, there is too much to compress.

Ha ha ha Melissa L.! I forgot that I used to wear 2-3 jog bras so I would have enough "support." That was when I was wearing the over the head compression type bras. Now with the Champion bras I only have to wear one.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Chicago on

Title Nine carries a great selection of TRUE sports bras for women of ALL sizes. Yes they are more expensive, but if you are working out you are going to need a very supportive bra. www.titlenine.com

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H.M.

answers from Denver on

All I can say is JEALOUS from this barely 34B girl - good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

Check out Title Nine sports; they have an amazing sports bra selection, and more than one option for very large breasts.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I'm a 38 dddd, and right after birth was literally off the charts (was a j for awhile once they shrank up some. Each of my boobs was bigger than my head).

www.title9.com

HA... Anyone who is jealous of large chested women needs to be punched in the titty. That's what every bounce feels like. True support is heavenly. But it doesn't come cheap. Actually I feel like I'm stealing when I can get a bra for 40, my everyday bras are 100+. Sports bras at 40 just rock.

1 mom found this helpful

B.B.

answers from Dallas on

AHHH.. if you find out let me know, i am a 38 DDD, not pregnant, so I can only imagine now.. Yikes.. so when I deliver in May, i will be on the look out to, but I do love going to sears, they sell alot of bigger cup sizes, have you tried there.
PS, I hate the uni-boob effect that the cheap bras give lol

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

I'm a 36G and I love the Enell sports bras. I also have one by Freya thats really good. Like others have mentioned, they aren't cheap, but are well worth it. Try www.breakoutbras.com. They are my favorite online bra store with free shipping and easy returns, also great bra advice for well-endowed women.

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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

Enell

I'll mirror what alot of others have said. I was a freakin DD in high school so I know all about the problems of the busty chica. I'm a 40G right now. I need to slim down but in the past I've lost lots of band size and not much for cup size. No matter what I look like I'm going to fall over. lmao

But if you are busty plan on spending 80 on a good bra that will last. I found their sport bras are great though, Enell, as others have said I don't give myself a black eye! hehe

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H.G.

answers from New York on

I'm a 44 DDD/F on a good day. A number of years ago, I tried what used to be called the "Oprah" bra - a very well made no-bounce sports bra that fastens in the front. It's made by Enell and it's fantastic. I use it as my every day bra. Some people might not like that it flattens you and gives you a bit of a "uni-boob", but it's the only bra I've ever had where my neck & shoulders don't hurt. It evenly distributes the weight of your boobs across your shoulders. Since it holds you IN, your neck and back won't hurt. (Think about the strain you'd feel on your back if you held a 15 lb weight out away from your body instead of close to it).

Here's a link to a website I've used before: http://www.barenecessities.com/enell-maximum-control-wire...=

They run about $60, but I sometimes get brand new ones on Ebay for about half that. I've seen women on the Biggest Loser pose for pictures wearing only these bras and shorts. I actually had people ask me if I had lost weight when I first started wearing them.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

I LOVE Title 9. I am a 36DD and they rate their bras by barbells--one barbell is light support, five is no shaking, at all, never. They also rate their bras by who they are good for--they will say, "This bra is great for large chested women!" right on the bra ad. I *have* found that Title IX tends to cater to slimmer women (I couldn't find a size 16 swim suit), so I'm not sure whether they woul dhave a 42, BUT, it's probably still worth checking out, because if nothing else you can find a bra you like and then check amazon or google the brand name of the particular bra you're looking for to see whether another retailer has it in a wider variety of sizes.Yep, they're not cheap, but I'm really happy with the bra I have.

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Try what I did.. get a thinly lined regular bra (but with an underwire) however, be sure the material is thin (otherwise, it will feel too bulky) and then put a cotton sports bra over it.. I do this and it wks much better than a sports bra.. While a sports bra might flatten the girls, it doesn't do much to hold them in place and sometimes they spill over the top..... I have tried various sports bra and my invention works much better for me.

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L.R.

answers from Milwaukee on

I am a 46 H or 46 I and have to get my bras at specialty places here in Milwaukee that will do a fitting and make sure of your size. My favorite regular bra is by Aviana. It was pretty expensive at this store. I then found a couple bra places on line that I could buy the exact bra for cheaper. ...biggerbras.com and barenecessities.com. I found that I try to wait til I have coupon codes and or free shipping. It is tough but it is do-able! Good luck!

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I am a 36DD, but when I was pregnant/nursing I went up to 36F, so I know where you're coming from. My favorite sports bra is from Victoria's Secret (I know, I know - I don't wear any of their stuff except sports bras because typically they don't make really supportive bras!). It's under $50 and I can actually run in it without giving myself a black eye. ;) If that one doesn't come in the size you need, I've had luck with Soma before as well. I know they do carry some larger sizes.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I don't know if Title 9's "Bounce" section or Athleta go to DDD/E, but you should check them out. They're both women's athletic apparal companies and they truly test out their bras and rate them for support, anti-chafing, etc. You're usually going to pay between $35 and $60 for a really good one, but the last time I ran in a cheapy and had what looked like a surgical laceration of some sort from chafing under one of my boobs, I decided that I was just fine with paying $54 to be comfortable and not in agony for 3 days after a jog! Especially if you're an unusual size, you need to expect to pay more -that's just the way it is. You can talk or online chat with reps at both of those companies -give them a try!

Title 9 and Athleta -both are online and have retail outlets in select areas. I've had good luck ordering from them. Athleta is now owned by the Gap corporation, but their stuff is still as good as it always was.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Title Nine - they have a bra catalog called Bounce. They specially make some of their bras for those with very large breasts. You can send something back if it does not feel good. Good luck finding a good one you like!

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