How long do you think a sports bra should last?

[foundmylazybum]

When do you retire or throw away sports bras?

Secondly? What are the indicators that a sports bra is finished?

Poll brought to you by me..sensing possible indicators but also still thinking "nah! This bra is only....omg it's pretty old 😐🤔"

[vcubergirl]

I'm going to special snowflake this one. I have different bras for running, other cardio and weights, and yoga.

My running bras I sweat a lot in, and they tend to smell bad, so I have to wash them harder. I probably get a year out of them before the lift just isn't good enough,especially for longer runs.

My general exercise bras I also wash after every use, but I find I can use them longer because the lower impact doesn't require the elastic to be quite as fresh. I probably get 2 years out of them, or I also sometimes use retired running bras.

The ones I wear for yoga I don't necessarily wash every time, so they last a lot longer. I have 2 that I've been wearing 3+ years now, and they're both fine.

[oswin]

I said 3+ because my current set of sports bras has been around for about that long. I think I have 5, some of them are a bit newer but still 2-3 years old. I've lost track, but some of them are actual Moving Comfort bras and the rest are knockoffs that are indistinguishable from the others except for the logo. I wash and dry them after every use. I wore them when I was nursing and had bigger boobs that needed real support (38D-DD-ish), and still wear them now that I'm done nursing and have small boobs (38A-B). None of them have permastink, so I haven't had to experiment with de-stinkifying or getting rid of them for that reason.

I would definitely say that feeling uncomfortable or unsupported would be a reason to get new ones. Or wearing too thin. I do keep even older sports bras around for non-sports applications like doing yard work, etc, where I'm just going to be getting gross.

[mrshandy]

According to some lady who gave us a talk on sports bras at my local running store once, they are only supposed to last a year. Of course I wear mine much longer than that.

But I usually rotate the crappy ones into the backup position or only for short runs. I save the newer ones for longer runs to minimize discomfort and chafing.

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 7, 2019 14:26:46 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

According to some lady who gave us a talk on sports bras at my local running store once, they are only supposed to last a year. Of course I wear mine much longer than that.

But I usually rotate the crappy ones into the backup position or only for short runs. I save the newer ones for longer runs to minimize discomfort and chafing.

I googled and my eyes popped out of my head when I read that yes, it was only 1 year.

Oiselle also says this!

Come back later for an update on how old the sports bra is i wore today.

Spoiler.

Older than 1 year

[lilypad1126]

Um, I think my newest sports bra is 1+ years old. I have A LOT of them, so rotate them regularly, so maybe that helps? I also don't need as much support as some women do, so that likely helps.

However! This thread inspired me to order a new one today. I'm hoping I like it (same brand, different style) because it's currently on sale and I'll buy another if it works/fits.

[wambam]

I wear underwire, cup-type sports bras and I've had my current set 4 years.

[Mrs.flang]

Oh my goodness, my favorite running bras are ones I think I've had since college, which was like, 15 years ago. I remember finding a style I loved and I bought 3 of them and they are still in my regular rotation. I have others that are newer but the old ones are still my favorite and most supportive after all this time!

[Wines Not Whines]

I keep mine for years, but I have a lot of them, so I don’t wear any one particular bra that often. I’m also small chested and don’t need much support, which may make a difference in how quickly they wear out.

[Susie]

I got rid of old ones when my size changed permanently after nursing baby #1.  I realize that's not super helpful.  I would also toss if they started chafing, seeming stretched out, or otherwise not comfortably doing the job.  

My mileage and the strain I've put on bras has varied so much over the years that it's hard to say in terms of time.

[moreace01]

Aug 7, 2019 15:24:07 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

I keep mine for years, but I have a lot of them, so I don’t wear any one particular bra that often. I’m also small chested and don’t need much support, which may make a difference in how quickly they wear out.

Exactly this. I think I've had some for...well at least 5 years. I was thinking about this the other day. Also thinking I should retire some so I can get some cuter looking ones instead of whatever is on sale. 

[emilyj]

I toss when I start chafing or I don’t feel supported anymore. How long that is? Depends on the bra.

I have had a couple of my current sports bras for over 5 years. My Brooks moving comfort ones are at least 3 years old and still going strong.

I have amassed a fair amount that I can rotate through, and I also wash them on delicate and don’t put them in the dryer.

[goldengirlz]

I just replaced all my sports bras — that I had last purchased in 2011. I figured they had had a good run (there were five of them.) They all had clasps that wouldn’t clasp anymore; I replaced them with the ones that go over your head so those may last even longer.

[gt7301b]

I feel like the one year limit is marketing from the sporting goods manufactures to keep us buying more sports bras. Like a lot of the others I usually use my newer bras for longer runs. The older bras get used for yard work/yoga/shorter runs. So my in rotation bras are only used once a week or so. Are they really only made to last 52 wears? If that is the case that is some serious bs.

[minzy]

And a plug to look into textile recycling them when you’re done with them. Lately I’ve been saving ruined or otherwise unwearable fabrics to take to H&M for their recycling program. I think you get a 15% discount for a pound of old clothes.

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 9, 2019 9:08:30 GMT -5 minzy said:

And a plug to look into textile recycling them when you’re done with them. Lately I’ve been saving ruined or otherwise unwearable fabrics to take to H&M for their recycling program. I think you get a 15% discount for a pound of old clothes.

Oiselle doesn't do textile recycling but they take their leftovers and make limited runs of shorts, shirts etc. To reduce waste. It's pretty cool.

[foundmylazybum]

Okay.

So, I'm back with the update I'm sure you were all checking back on about my own experience lol 😉.


I was lounging in one of my sports bras post run and I could just smell..mustiness eminating from it. The bra fits fine, isnt faded..and I wash them in sport wash and oxyclean.


So, I really looked at and realized it was like 13 years old! 😳😳😳

And I'm over here thinking 'can I keep this?'

Anyways. I googled and I DID throw that one away lol and I'm going to get rid of a few others that are..ya know 5-10 years old lol. 🤷‍♀️

I ordered two new expensive bras too.

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 9, 2019 13:02:19 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Aug 9, 2019 12:13:09 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Okay.

So, I'm back with the update I'm sure you were all checking back on about my own experience lol 😉.


I was lounging in one of my sports bras post run and I could just smell..mustiness eminating from it. The bra fits fine, isnt faded..and I wash them in sport wash and oxyclean.


So, I really looked at and realized it was like 13 years old! 😳😳😳

And I'm over here thinking 'can I keep this?'

Anyways. I googled and I DID throw that one away lol and I'm going to get rid of a few others that are..ya know 5-10 years old lol. 🤷‍♀️

I ordered two new expensive bras too.

I don't think sports bras, regardless of use volume, should be old enough to attend middle school 😂😂

IT WAS COLLEGE 😬

[sadlebred]

Aug 9, 2019 9:08:30 GMT -5 minzy said:

And a plug to look into textile recycling them when you’re done with them. Lately I’ve been saving ruined or otherwise unwearable fabrics to take to H&M for their recycling program. I think you get a 15% discount for a pound of old clothes.

Absolutely! Check with your city or county's recycling center as well. Ours takes some types of clothing & shoes for recycling. 

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 9, 2019 13:02:19 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Aug 9, 2019 12:13:09 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Okay.

So, I'm back with the update I'm sure you were all checking back on about my own experience lol 😉.


I was lounging in one of my sports bras post run and I could just smell..mustiness eminating from it. The bra fits fine, isnt faded..and I wash them in sport wash and oxyclean.


So, I really looked at and realized it was like 13 years old! 😳😳😳

And I'm over here thinking 'can I keep this?'

Anyways. I googled and I DID throw that one away lol and I'm going to get rid of a few others that are..ya know 5-10 years old lol. 🤷‍♀️

I ordered two new expensive bras too.

I don't think sports bras, regardless of use volume, should be old enough to attend middle school 😂😂

Also, it took 13 years before the smell really got in there! I thought they were fine! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Let my experience be a learning lesson for us all! 😂

[breezy8407]

I have been buying C9 sports bras from target for years now. I will usually buy 1-2 whenever they go on sale to replace old ones, but I do have some that are probably 5 years old. Like all my workout clothes, they just don't get clean after a while, so I toss them.