In a world full of aesthetically pleasing sports bras that match your leggings but do nothing except look good with an outfit, underbands are rarely a pause for question when choosing your next purchase. We are here to change that.
Yes, influencers all over Instagram and TikTok are recommending colorful and good-looking pieces; pieces they are, of course, paid for recommending to you, with very little regard to their actual usefulness. Sports bras serve a purpose: they are gear for active women, which helps them move, feel and perform at their best. On that note, with today’s blog, we are starting a series of diving deep into sports bras, picking apart feature by feature, to teach you all the information you will ever need to be able to choose a sports bra wisely, and for the right reasons.
This blog is entirely dedicated to the underband, a very underappreciated feature.
What is it?
Underbands are otherwise known as bands, back bands, underbust bands or bottom bands. The underband is the band that wraps around your torso, sitting directly beneath the breasts. It is known to be responsible for 80% of a bra’s support, making it a crucial elements for your support and comfort.
What makes a great underband?
- The fabric – this is where a lot of sports bra brands don’t pay attention. A good underband should be firm but comfortable, elastic but not stretchy. The fabric choice here is very important. You should be able to pull off no more than a 4cm gap between your skin and your underband. If it stretches anymore than that, your bra is not supportive. It’s also important to note that a moist-wicking and breathable farbic is ideal.
- It’s width – how wide the underband is also has a significant impact on how effectively it supports you. Experts say that the wider the underband, the more supportive. It is recommended to look for a 2.5-5cm wide band if you’re particularly looking for support, as it gives you more stability and it makes it less likely that it will ride up when you move.
- Adjustability – Experts such as Prof. Joanna Wakefield-Scurr recommend an adjustable underband. Once an underband ticks the boxes above, being able to adjust an underband will make it easier to take the bra on and off, as well as help with the fit. And as we all say in the bras world, a bra can only support you as good as it as fits you.
The Science Behind the Underband
Research conducted by breast health experts, such as Prof. Joanna Wakefield-Scurr at the University of Portsmouth's Research Group in Breast Health, has shown that the underband plays a crucial role in reducing vertical breast displacement during physical activity. An ineffective underband can result in increased breast movement, which over time can lead to discomfort, pain, and even long-term breast tissue and ligaments damage, since your breasts are not supported enough.
Vertical Breast Displacement when running in a low impact bra, also known as the “Eight Figure Butterfly Effect”, Courtesy of Research Group in Breast Health led by Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, University of Portsmouth
Additionally, improper support can contribute to back, neck, and shoulder pain, particularly in women with larger breasts. The strain from insufficient support can exacerbate musculoskeletal issues, making it even more important to choose a bra with a well-designed underband that will truly support you.
You should hopefully now have a better understanding of what underbands do, how much credit they deserve for supporting you, and how to choose your next sports bra. We put together a guide to help you choose the right sports bra, which you can access for free, here.