Ladies Only

[shazcol]

Not sure how to put this but here goes....do any female walkers out there have trouble with their bra straps rubbing on their collar bones with a pack on? I walked from Lake Mackenzie to Lake Ironstone on the weekend and was constantly readjusting my pack to try and ease the pain a bit but without much luck. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice
Ok boys I know you read the post I await your suggestions as well!

Cheers
Sharon

[Strider]

Take your bras off - you asked for it!!!

[Bluegum Mic]

Alas Im not that well endowed that I probably could go sans bra, however I must say I always walk in a crop top style sports bra and never have any trouble. I know I certainly couldn't cope with any underwire etc.

[Snowzone]

Sorry Sharon, I'm probably not much help as I have never had this problem but I wear a sports bra with fairly broad straps. Maybe try a lycra crop top?

[matagi]

A bra with broad straps is the way to go and also check the position of things like the adjustment loops, seams, lace etc which could be creating a friction point over your collar bone.

[Kazarina]

Sharon, you could try bra strap cushions... you can slip them onto your regular bra... they are made of silicone and sit under your bra strap .... and relieve pressure and irritation caused by bra straps. Worth a try, you can buy them on ebay

[shazcol]

Thanks ladies (and Strider) might try the crop top solution first and see how we go. I have lost quite a bit of weight lately and have discovered I actually have collar bones now

Thanks again
Sharon

[tasadam]

In the interests of research for you, I asked my walking partner (wife) how she copes with this issue.
Her first response was "get a different bra". Either a sports bra, which is all fabric - no metalwork, though apparently they can get a bit hot...
Or, her preferred bra, one that's all soft in the right places (the strap). It's a Berlei style Y250N
My wife explained the good things about it -
The label is a soft fabric embedded as part of the strap at the back, so it isn't a scratchy label that sticks out
The straps are soft
There aren't any metal clips in the wrong places
There is a small metal ring on the strap high on the shoulder, but it doesn't bother her.
Seems they are priced at about $45, though some ebayers have them for a little less if you get lucky with the size.

Hope this helps.

[Sonia]

Hi Ladies
I may have come a little late to this party but as someone who cannot go sans bra thought I would make this my maiden post. Will getting smaller I still reside at he larger end of the scale and am firmly in the underwire brigade. Despite this I have never had the issue you describe and wonder if the problem might be pack adjustment. If the bra wasn't giving the problem without the pack . . .
Could it be that too much weight is being transferred onto the shoulders by the straps? If playing with the adjustment doesn't fix the problem then burn that bra and get a new one. I don't think I could go the sports bra. I like to have as much moral 'support' as I can get!

Sonia

[shazcol]

Hi Sonia
Thanks for joining this rather odd subject, I have since discovered that the bra I was wearing that particular trip has a join in the strap that sat right on my collar bone hence the pain. My pack is a One Planet WBA and usually very comfortable so I don't think it was that. I have bought an Icebreaker crop top to wear walking now. I don't need much moral "support" well nothing some inflating wouldn't fix

Cheers
Shaz

[myrtlegirl]

In the interests of research for you, I asked my walking partner (wife) how she copes with this issue.
Her first response was "get a different bra". Either a sports bra, which is all fabric - no metalwork, though apparently they can get a bit hot...
Or, her preferred bra, one that's all soft in the right places (the strap). It's a Berlei style Y250N
My wife explained the good things about it -
The label is a soft fabric embedded as part of the strap at the back, so it isn't a scratchy label that sticks out
The straps are soft
There aren't any metal clips in the wrong places
There is a small metal ring on the strap high on the shoulder, but it doesn't bother her.
Seems they are priced at about $45, though some ebayers have them for a little less if you get lucky with the size.

Hope this helps.

Sharon, I strongly second Tasadam's wife's views on this bra. Speaking as one who is well-blessed, I find the underwire version of this bra to be the most comfortable I've ever worn - soft shoulder straps, decent amount of material where the hooks are so that the hooks don't end up digging in through the fabric or by poking out past the fabric, no seams in inconvenient or unaesthetic places, and in cold weather I don't get chafes or other issues. Plus they come in lots of groovy colours.

[north-north-west]

I suppose there are advantages to being under-endowed. I've never worn a bra bushwalking and never will. And I've seen plenty of 'bigger' women who are the same.

[Onestepmore]

I am still on the search for the perfect bushwalking bra. I have tried merino crop top styles but they don't offer enough support for me and I end up with a monobust. I usually wear an underwire bra for better 'lift and separation', being a C/D size, but find the wires dig in after a time with a pack. Sports bras with wide bands and straps are good because they reduce 'bounce' especially with pack chest strap that accentuates everything, but because they are wide I get really sweaty. Most of them are cotton/cotton mix. I gave up wearing cotton tops ages ago becuse of the wetness factor and now wear polypropylne, merino tees or long sleeved parachute type shirts that dry fast.

Maybe someone should design a structured merino bra? Call it 'The Sheepdog' - (ie rounds 'em up and points 'em in the right direction)

[Tortoise]

I gave up wearing cotton tops ages ago becuse of the wetness factor and now wear polypropylne, merino tees or long sleeved parachute type shirts that dry fast.
Maybe someone should design a structured merino bra?

I've long thought there's gotta be enough of a market for such a thing!! Any entrepreneurs interested?

[Bluegum Mic]

Perhaps put it to wilderness wear. They make great stuff

[Strider]

I gave up wearing cotton tops ages ago becuse of the wetness factor and now wear polypropylne, merino tees or long sleeved parachute type shirts that dry fast.
Maybe someone should design a structured merino bra?

I've long thought there's gotta be enough of a market for such a thing!! Any entrepreneurs interested?

Perhaps send Blacksheep (Macpac) a PM?

[Onestepmore]

Good idea!
I still think the name "Sheepdog Bra" is a good idea for a walker specific merino bra

[Tortoise]

Yep, i'd buy that But also for skiers & lots of others i can't think of just now.

[Onestepmore]

Maybe someone should design a structured merino bra? Call it 'The Sheepdog' - (ie rounds 'em up and points 'em in the right direction)

Ok done! I PM'd Blacksheep and wondered if ayone on the Macpac design team would be interested in taking up my 'challenge'

I had another thought too
Haha - on the label you could have a NZ Huntaway (or the Footrot Flats 'Dog') and find some picturesque shot of some suitable 'twin peaks' in the background..........

Another description could say 'the most comfortable merino braaaaaa you've ever tried'

I think I'd better stop. I'm laughing and I'll spill my cup of tea on my keyboard

[Son of a Beach]

When bushwalking, my busty wife wears a normal underwire bra with a sports bra over the top of it. Then just the sports top for bed time.

[RSD]

They make special bras for female firefighters because underwires transfer heat to places where you don't want to get burnt so Macpac or a bra manufacturer will probably do something if you can show that the market is large enough.

[Onestepmore]

Surely there are more women bushwalkers (and skiers and snowboarders and climbers etc) than female firefighters?