Any recommendations on a sports bra/tri top good for IM distance racing that can be worn the entire race comfortably? I’ve found the most amazing tri shorts, determined my needs for a top (no pockets needed), but can’t find an actual top I want. I don’t want to do a traditional bike jersey (since I don’t need the pockets) but am thinking I need more back coverage than just a basic sports bra for the whole race so I don’t fry. Every tri top I’ve tried would require me to wear a sports bra under it - and for me multiple seams equals lots of chafing, and I chafe really badly in all sorts of odd spots (once I chafed on my belly button:(. I am really just a medium-chested person, but cannot find anything with proper support to meet my needs (I am so jealous of my small-chested friends who can wear basically any top). I don’t even need a tri top - a long bra top/running top would work great as long as it’s one piece. Oh yeah, and a bright color would be cool so I’m easier to pick out of a crowd for my fans
Anyway, any suggestions on things that worked or didn’t work for you would be great. I’ve scoured my local tri and running shops with no luck so far and am getting frustrated.
I have tried sugoi, desoto (a few years ago - maybe they’ve made some advances I don’t know about?), hind (right now I have a hind sports bra I like but it doesn’t have a lot of coverage, and does chafe on long runs), nike (I loved their inner actives line that actually supported you, but apparently they don’t care about function anymore, just cute outfits), louis garneau (although I haven’t tried many of their styles - maybe there’s one that’s better), and probably a few others I can’t remember right now. What are some of the smaller companies you’re thinking of?
Also if you are on a team that gets sponsored clothing, some manufacturers will make one offs in the overall order, for instance my bike club is sponsored by VoMax and people get jerseys/shorts with tailored changes within the standard order.
I have the same support issues. Have you tried the Sugoi Turbo Tank? That top rocks all. It’s high enough in front that you don’t expose yourself to the world when you’re bent over on the bike. It even has pockets (I know you said you don’t need 'em . . . but they’re nice to have). Problem is–not a lot of back coverage. I have yet to find a top that offers both support and back coverage. But if you have a good underlayer that you can wear from start to finish, you can always throw on a light top for the bike (since that’s where your back’s getting the most sun exposure, and you probably have the least chafing up top) then ditch it for the run. I’ve actually been wearing a sports bra and a Sugoi men’s tri top (tight fit/no chafing) this year when I want full coverage and don’t want to change clothes, and it’s working really well.
I have a voler tri top that won’t work on its own, but haven’t tried their sports bras. I may try the shebeest aerosport bra - I’ve tried shebeest before, but I don’t think I’ve tried that style. Won’t get the coverage of a tri top, but at least it looks like it has the support.
I’ve looked through the choices on road runner sports before without any luck, but did just find a long bra top that might work.
Thanks.
Anyone else got other suggestions for me to explore?
I did see the turbo tank in my tri shop, and it looked good from far away. But on closer inspection it didn’t seem to have good support - maybe I’ll give it a shot anyway. Do you wear your normal size in it? Some sugoi bras I have to buy a size smaller to get support by smooshing everything in (which is of course not the way it is supposed to work). It looks like it still has more back coverage than a normal sports bra. Which men’s tri top to you wear? Is it the wireless tri tank? If so, does the zipper (top, specifically) chafe at all on the run? I’m telling you I chafe if I look at something wrong. I have become good friends with sports slick and vaseline and may be keeping those companies in business.
Give it a try! At first I didn’t think it would be supportive enough for running (because most sports tops with built-in bras don’t cut it for me), but it was fine. I got my normal size (M). It’s worth trying on and jumping around in, at least. The men’s (unisex, actually) top–I don’t know the name, but it’s not the wireless with all the funky seams, it’s just plain. I tried on the women’s too, and the men’s was more comfortable and gave more coverage. I can’t remember if I got an M or L. The zipper does not chafe at all (in all honestly, I haven’t worn it on a long run yet, but I’ve had no problems with 6-10 miles so far). I still use body glide around the arms just in case, but these are the best tops I’ve found so far.
I was in the same boat as you - wanted a nice fitting tri top that I didn’t have to wear a sports bra underneath. I just purchased the Quintana Roo Pinnacle tank and I love it! They do run small though, so order a size up. I’m a 34C and normally wear a size 8 or Medium, but got a large in this top. One small pocket in the back big enough for a few gels, and it hits at the hips, which is always a bonus. About $50 with shipping.
I also liked the look of the InSport tri top, but went with the QR.
Took long enough for a response like that on a thread like this - I expected it sooner. Definitely cheaper than a sports bra or tri top, but I think I’ll have to pass on that offer. The logistics would be challenging to say the least, and I think my race times would suffer.
a) You’ve found the most amazing tri shorts and not posted the brand/model? Some of us are still looking…
b) Have you tried the Title Nine catalog? They have a lot of great sports bras and “long sports bras.” The “Frog Bra” is great for no chafing, it’s the only thing I wear in marathons and tris now and what I’ll be wearing in my upcoming IM. I find the Sugoi tops too short-waisted - VERY unflattering if you have any hips in the race pictures. I bought a Zoot “long tri top” and it looks much better. I haven’t tried it relying only on the built-in bra (I am not medium-chested ) - but it does seem pretty supportive.
a) shebeest 8-panel triathlon shorts. Feels like you are wearing absolutely nothing, and they have a pocket in the back that things do not fall out of while biking or running. I could ride/run in them all day, easily. No chafing, nothing. I bought a few pairs when I discovered them to use for all my cycling.
b) The frog bra doesn’t chafe? That one always looks the best to me when I review the bras on title 9, but I’m hesitant to get it because of the 45% cotton it contains. I learned that lesson the hard way years ago with a champion bra with cotton in it. There is one long bra on title 9 that might work, but it’d be good to hear from someone that it really does support the way I expect it to. Have you tried the zoot tri tank? Looks interesting because the built in bra looks like a real bra, but it’s hard to tell on the web site.
With all the great advice here I am going to be spending lots of time shopping and ordering on-line, and then probably even more time returning things. I guess it will be worth it when I find something that works (that I will probably then buy a few of).
Yep, I’ve worn the Zoot tri top and very comfy, no chafing, but, like I said, I haven’t worn it using only the built-in bra, I’ve worn another underneath. But the bra seems substantial.
The Frog Bra has cotton in it? I wouldn’t have noticed by looking at it. One point (yes, men, here it comes) – are you, umm, lubing all the bra areas? That can help a lot. I use BodyGlide and a little extra HRM cream on the underside of the “girls” where they tend to get most chafed, that with the Frog Bra has been the best combo to date.
How about one of these? I tried them both on. I found that the first had more support, but chose the second for IMCdA because it’s got more pockets. But if pockets aren’t a concern, the first one would suit. I don’t need a sports bra under either.
It looks like there is the zoot long top and zoot tri top and they are slightly different. I’ll have to find a place where I can compare the two because it’s hard to do that on-line.
Yup, I lube EVERYTHING. I use some combination of body glide, vaseline, and sportslick with different products going in different areas, based on my past experience with the degree of chafing in that area. I sweat a lot, which doesn’t help the situation.
Well, I don’t think that would provide the support I’m looking for, so probably not. But thanks for the suggestion.
I have been known to bike topless, in the privacy of my home on my computrainer. But probably won’t do that for IM. Talk about lack of coverage and sunburn! Would be worse than chafing.
