Encapsulation or Compression?

Are you an Encapsulation Girl or a Compression Girl? Do you know which type of sports bra works best for your body type?

Today's sports bras aren't like the ones you used to wear - remember the cotton pull-over that just didn't offer the support you wanted for vigorous activities? We've come a long way since then!

The official term for the pull-over style sports bra is a compression sports bra. It works by squishing your boobs and attempting to hold them against your body. This is the kind of bra you're used to seeing with the uniboob effect, where there's no separation between your breasts.

Compression sports bras work best for low-impact activities, or for women with smaller bust sizes. The soft, wire-free styling makes them super comfortable, and many women wear them for around-the-house or leisure wear.

More and more of the modern sports bras are turning to an encapsulation style. This style offers separation, with individual cups for your breasts. Because encapsulation sports bra styles offer more definition, you can also use these for casual wear, running errands or other everyday activities.

Encapsulation sports bras, or a combination of encapsulation and compression, are common in sports bras designed for women with bigger busts. Women with the larger busts need more support than a standard compression-style bra can provide, and encapsulation designs fit that need.

So if you've got a big bust, and you've traditionally been a Compression Girl - it's time to change your style! You'll find with an encapsulation sports bra, or a bra that offers a combination of these styles, you'll have better support and comfort. With the right sports bra, you can run, ride horses or do other "bouncing" activities without feeling like the girls are going to be flopping all over!

Which bra style is your favorite? Are you an Encapsulation Girl, a Compression Girl or a Hybrid? Check out a short list of some of our favorites in all categories, to the right.

From left: Moving Comfort Cara Underwire Sports Bra, Shock Absorber Level 3 Classic Sports Bra, Glamorise The Ultimate Full Figure Sports Bra, Shock Absorber Level 4 D Max Support Sports Bra, and Bendon Extreme Out Sport Bra