Knowing when to Replace Your Sports Bra

When it comes to exercise gear most of us fork out a lot of money for cute exercise clothes and great tennis shoes but often overlook taking care of our sports bras. Out of sight out of mind, right? Sports bras, however, are an important piece of exercise gear because they not only provide support and make it more comfortable to work out, but also help to prevent sagging due to motion. Sports bras take quite a beating during a workout and need replacing fairly often in order to maintain their effectiveness. Here are some signs to look for that will let you know when it is time to toss out your old bra and upgrade to a new one.

One of the first parts that wears out on a sports bra is the elastic. Over time with use the elastic on the straps and around the bottom of the bra can lose its stretch. The easiest way to see if your bra is still up to par is to test the elastic by gently tugging on it and making sure that it still has stretch to it. If the elastic is stretched out or seems weak you should toss it and get yourself a new sports bra.

Next up is the jogging in place test. Sports bras should provide much more support than a regular bra - up to two times more. The best way to test how much support your sports bra is giving you is to jog in place. First try jogging with a regular bra on to get an idea of how it feels. Then, pop on your sports bra and jog in place again, comparing the amount of support you are getting from the jogging bra with the amount you got from your regular bra. If there isn't much difference you should upgrade and get a new sports bra.

Another easy way to see if your sports bra could use replacing is to visually examine it. The next time you are at the store check out the rack of new sports bras and remember their shape and size. When you get home lay yours out and make sure that it looks about the same as the new ones at the store. If yours look larger or more shapeless than the new ones you saw it is a good indication that you should toss the one your have and pick up a new one.

Sports bras get a lot of use - especially if you work out regularly - and can wear out quickly. You should examine your bra at least once a month to make sure that it is still giving you good support and that it still fits well. When it comes to replacing your sports bra it is better to err on the side of caution and replace it too soon than too late. To extend the life of your bras try air drying them rather than drying them in clothes dryer.