Features To Covet

• Shoulder straps that are wide enough to not cut into your shoulders and are not bounce-promoting elastic.
• Armholes cut wide and deep enough so they don’t chafe the front of your shoulder or your armpit.
• Wide elastic bands around your ribs to eliminate riding up or curling.
• Elastic bands around your ribs that are covered to eliminate chafing.
• Snug fit around the ribs so the bra moves with you and doesn’t move against you (anti-chafe feature).
• Flat-locked seams (anti-chafe feature).
• Soft thread (anti-chafe feature).
• Covered, hidden, or ribbon-soft tags (anti-chafe feature).
• A racer-back or T-back style if your sport demands freedom of arm movement.
• Performance fabrics or linings (like CoolMax or Supplex) to eliminate soggy bras and promoto sweat-wicking.
• Support for the impact level of your activity (more details below).

Variables to Consider

• Impact level of your activity:

1. High-impact activities will need more solid compression or control, especially if you are larger-breasted. They include running, aerobics, basketball, volleyball, snowshoeing running, soccer, or even horseback-riding (if you run, gallop or trot).
2. Medium-impact activities will need a moderate amount of control. They include race walking, mountain biking, backpacking, or downhill skiing.
3. Low-impact activities will need minimal control. They include cycling, walking, skating, rock-climbing, or cross-country skiing.

• Your need for shape - Do you want it, or do you care? Consider the two types of sports bras available, compression or encapsulation, or — to put it in plain-speak — smooshed or shaped:

1. Compression is the kind without cups that smooshes breasts close to the body to minimize motion; they usually pull on overhead. Fine if you don't mind the "mono-breast" look. These can be harder to pull on if you are larger-breasted, but can offer the most bounce-control.
2. Encapsulation styles have cups to give some feminine shape, but often include other kinds of straps or underwires. They frequently hook, velcro, or snap in the front or back. The hooks and things might cause more chafing if you’re prone to that annoyance.

• Fit - Be honest about your your sizes, both cup and rib, because some styles are not suited for some people.

1. Women with larger cup sizes, but smaller rib cages may need an encapsulation style with clasps to accommodate the difference.
2. Very large-busted women usually find compression styles less comfortable, particularly pulling it on overhead when one wrong move might trap you in an odd pose.

• Elastic rib bands vs. one-piece construction - Wider elastic around the ribs usually (not always) eliminates bras riding up, while longer cut bras without elastic bands directly underneath the bust line offer less support. (Tip: One-piece construction or longer lines also better accommodate heart-rate monitors, such as Polar.)

Features to Avoid

• Armholes that are cut tightly around your shoulders and armpits that may restrict movement or chafe.
• Low-cut fronts that might be uncomfortably revealing during a workout.
• Plain ol’ cotton if you plan to sweat -- excuse me, glisten -- at all. They’re great for everyday, but will stay wet and uncomfortable during a workout. Invest a little more for today's performance fabrics for best wear, wicking, fit, coolness or warmth.
• Uncovered and raw seams.
• Coarse nylon thread hanging out.
• Rough tags against your skin.

An Adventure Network Truth from Therese Iknoian: Be brutally honest with yourself about the fit and features of a sports bra you are considering. Do not, I repeat not, choose one just because it’s pretty; function is vital. Because if it hurts when you wear it, your workout will be a terrible experience. And who needs that