High Impact vs. Medium Impact Sports Bra
Mar 13, 2023
Sports bras can be designed and constructed different ways to maximize comfort and performance for a range of activities or to suit the range of needs of the person wearing them. There is so much variety in what we do in our sports bras, what our personal preferences are and breast tissue composition, there truly is no one size fits all solution for everyone. Below we go into some of the key differences between a high impact vs. medium impact sports bras to help you decide which one is right for you.
What is the difference between medium and high impact sports bras?
Sports bras can be made with different materials, fit and design to accomplish different levels of support. High impact sports bras are geared toward high impact activities like running, horseback riding and tennis. Medium impact sports bras are created for medium impact activities like hiking and cycling. However, depending on your chest size and personal preference, a medium impact sports bra may be enough support for your high impact activities. Here are some of the main differences in how sports bras are made, which contribute to their high impact vs. medium impact sports bra rating.
Key Differences
High Impact vs. Medium Impact Sports Bras
Compression. High Impact sports bras are generally created with more compression to help reduce breast movement during repeated high impact. Lume Six does this by combining our DreamSupport fabric with support seams to help lift from underneath the bust, combined with coverage listed below...
Coverage High Impact sports bras have more coverage than medium impact sports bras, which allows the compression of the fabric to wrap around a larger area to control movement. The Lume Six Cirra High Impact Sports Bra is higher cut on the front and sides to help create wrap-around compression across the chest.
Strap Width Wider straps help to distribute weight and impact over a larger surface area for high-impact activities. The straps on the Lume Six Cirra High Impact Sports bra are wider to have more comfort during high impact activities, combined with a wider racerback design to distribute the load on the back of the sports bra as well, perfect for maximizing comfort. The Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra has narrower straps and a racerback design, for a lighter weight design to maximize breathability.
Adjustability Some sports bras are made with adjustability so the wearer can cinch down certain areas to increase compression or modify the fit to suit them best. Lume Six sports bras were designed without hardware or adjustability so that they would be more minimal and comfortable while wearing. We got tired of high impact sports bras feeling like over-built contraptions.
Something important to keep in mind is that to get the benefits of a sports bra, it is crucial to have the right fit. Your sports bra should be snug without causing discomfort or pinching, and allow you to move and breathe without restriction. The band at the bottom of the sports bra should have a nice, secure fit against your rib cage and the straps should be fitted, but with enough room to allow at least two fingers underneath.
What is the difference between the Lume Six Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra and Cirra High Impact Sports Bra?
We design our sports bras with you and your activities in mind and the goal of supporting women and their active lifestyles. Below are the key differences and comparison between the Cirra High Impact Sports Bra vs. the Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra:
Lume Six High Impact vs. Medium Impact Sports Bra
Fit The main difference is the fit of the sports bras. The Cirra is higher cut on the front and sides while the Alta Medium Impact is lower cut. The higher cut on the Cirra creates maximum support by wrapping the chest in fabric for compression to control movement. The lower cut on the Alta reduces the coverage of the sports bra allowing for greater freedom of movement with less compression.
Fabric The Cirra is made entirely of our DreamSupport fabric which is geared towards compression. The Alta has DreamSupport fabric on the front only, with our FeatherAir fabric on the back for the ultimate lightweight & fast-drying sports bra.
Straps The Cirra has wider straps to distribute the weight and load from impact during activities over a larger surface area compared to the Alta, which has narrower straps since the intensity and impact intended for that sports bra is lower.
Racerback Similar to the straps, the Cirra has a wider racerback design to distribute the weight and load from high impact activities, while the Alta has a narrower racerback for maximum breathability and lightweight design.
All Lume Six sports bras are made with our comfort-focused features regardless of impact-level. For more details, click here.
When should you wear a high impact sports bra?
High Impact sports bras should be worn during high impact activities, meaning that they involve repeated up and down or side-to-side movement like running, crossfit, soccer, tennis and horseback riding. A High Impact sports bra can also be a great option for women with larger bust sizes to wear during medium activities. Finally, you could chose a high impact sports bra if you prefer more coverage while exercising since they tend to have higher cuts than medium or low impact styles. So when you should wear a high impact sports bra depends on the activity you plan to do, your support needs and personal preference.
Our high impact sports bra is the Cirra High Impact Sports Bra.
What are medium-impact bras good for?
Medium-Impact sports bras are good for activities like hiking, training, and cycling or for high-impact activities for someone with a smaller bust size that doesn't need a high level of support. Medium Impact sports bras are designed to provide moderate support without over-building them so they can be versatile, lightweight, and allow great freedom of movement for a wide range of exercises.
Our medium impact sports bra is the Lume Six Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra.
Can you wear a high impact sports bra all day?
A high impact sports bra that fits you well can be worn all day. Do not wear any sports bra for any length of time if it causes you discomfort, pain or irritation. Listen to your body and don't settle for a sports bra, or any bra, that is causing you pain, soreness, or restricting your movement or breathing. A great sports bra should support you without distraction and allow you to focus on and enjoy your activity or sport.
Finding the right sports bra is important for your health and athletic performance. No one wants to be distracted by an uncomfortable sports bra while doing something they enjoy!
Do you need a high impact sports bra?
If you are doing high impact activities or have a larger bust size, then a high impact sports bra will provide the support you need, resulting in more comfort and improved performance.
We recommend a high impact sports bra to anyone doing high impact activities or for anyone with a larger bust size who would benefit from the features that improve overall support, compression and comfort.
We are on a mission to create better sports bras and to support women and their active lifestyles. If you have any questions about the differences between a high impact sports bra vs. a medium impact sports bra or would like advice on which one is best for you, please reach out to our team!
