Melanie Yvette Martin is a 31-year-old blogger who works out three times a week, doing everything from running to kickboxing, spin and dance classes.
And three times a week, Martin, of Brooklyn, encounters the same problem of having to wear an uncomfortable or unflattering sports bra.
"My biggest issue is always support and feeling like I look good in them, enough to only wear a sports bra to the gym and not a big, bulky T-shirt," she told "Good Morning America." "And there is lots of movement in my classes, so it would hurt my chest, and sometimes my bra's strips dig into my skin and taking the bras off is always annoying."
Martin, a DD cup size, is not alone in needing a sports bra to work out but not having the right one for her body, according to Lexie Sachs, associate director of the Textiles, Paper and Plastics Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
"A sports bra should not be any type of hindrance to your workout or cause physical discomfort," she told "GMA." "If anything, a sports bra should be kind of a fueling power to a good workout. It should not get in the way."
Sachs and her team of textile experts at Good Housekeeping have led the way in evaluating dozens of sports bras, including having real women ranging from A through H cup sizes test them out during workouts.
"I would say the biggest mistake comes down to not thinking about your own size and activity level, or getting stuck in your head what you think you should be buying in a sports bra," Sachs said. "It's kind of life-changing [when women] realize a sports bra does exist for their size that makes them feel good and look good."
MORE: Nike expands sports bras to be more inclusive"GMA" paired Sachs with Martin and three other women of varying cup sizes to find that elusive triple crown of sports bras: ones that are supportive, comfortable and flattering.
First, here are Sachs' four tips for shopping for a sports bra.
1. Try on different sizes: The size you wear in a regular bra may not be the size you need in a sports bra, and sizes vary widely from brand to brand, so make sure to try on options instead of just grabbing your normal size, recommends Sachs. Once you've purchased a sports bra, check in at least twice a year to make sure it's still giving you the support you need.
2. Check the bust and band: Any gaping or loose fabric in the bust area can be a sign a bra is too big, while spillage is a sign the bra is too small. The back band of a sports bra should sit flat against your back, making the bra fit snugly but not too tight, according to Sachs. If the band rides high on your back, it's a sign the bra is the wrong fit.
3. Give it a fitting room trial: If you are using the bra for high-impact workouts, do a few jumping jacks in the dressing room or jog in place to check the support. If you are going for more low-impact, do some quick yoga moves in the bra to make sure it does not constrict you, recommends Sachs.
4. Do a quick water test: Not all sports bras are as moisture-wicking as they claim to be according to Sachs. She recommends doing a quick test by placing a drop of water on the fabric. If the water quickly spreads out, that's a good sign. If the water beads up, that's a sign the bra is not moisture-wicking.
Now shop the looks for different cup sizes selected by Sachs, and see what she has to say about each bra.
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For A cup sizes:
"This one is actually a best-seller online … mainly because it is such a good deal. People also swear it’s so comfortable and supportive. The fabric is seamless. It has cups so you get the support and shaping benefits but they are removable. It has the razorback with good range of motion."
"This is a high-impact bra and very supportive. One of the perks of having a zip-up bra is it's just a really easy off after you’ve worked out. What’s also great about this bra is it has the cups which give you the support and it has the band underneath to give you the support and compression.”
"What's good about this one is that’s low impact so it doesn’t give you too much compression … so if you don’t need all that tightness you don’t have to worry about it here. It also just has a really cool design to it so it’s something that you can wear and feel confident about."
“We tested this bra at Good Housekeeping and it was one of the absolute favorites, mainly for comfort. People who hate wearing a bra said that they forgot they had this on. The fabric is described as ‘buttery soft.’”
For B cup sizes:
"This was a huge favorite in our lab. They thought it was so comfortable and supportive. It’s a really good moisture-wicking bra. It actually takes your sweat and moves it to the outside of the bra."
"This one was actually the most comfortable bra in our last sports bra test. It was a tester favorite and is now one of my personal favorites. What’s really great about it is the overall comfort, the support people had when they were working out in it … and it was durable, it washed well, everything you want to look for in a sports bra."
"This bra is actually designed just for B and C cup users. It also has thin straps which is really nice if you're doing something more chill or low-impact. The back has a Y-back which is like a racer-back but is even more minimal. "
For C cup sizes:
"This bra is specifically designed for C cups through E cups. What’s cool about this bra is from the outside it kind of looks like a regular sports bra, it has that compressive fabric. It also has a built-in underwire and that separation. This would be great for something where you’re moving around in a high-impact way."
"This is a medium-impact workout bra. It still gives you that great support for normal workout activities like jogging, going to the gym. It has the smooth fabric and padding so it's giving you that support too. The bra is actually made in fair-trade certified factories so there's a lot of focus on wages and treatment."
"This bra is actually made of cotton. It will definitely have more of a natural feel. Another thing that we love about this bra is it has really inclusive sizing. It fits a wide range of body types and really gives a lot of people that option for a really comfortable lounge bra."
"What's cool about this one is it also has adjustable straps in the racerback so you can move it as you need to find the good fit, and I love that the front fabric is all seamless.” *NOTE: Fabletics requires an account in order to make a purchase.
For D+ cup sizes:
"This one is designed specifically for larger cup sizes and high-impact workouts. It has both the compression, which is like hugging, and encapsulation, which is separation support. It goes on more like a regular bra so there isn’t that struggle to get on … or to get off over your head."
"Wacoal is really good for larger cup sizes. This bra is really designed to prevent bounce. You've got the full coverage and the full support so you can move freely and not feel it and not have to worry about that type of bounce."
"We have tested this one in our lab and it was a fan favorite. People love the comfort. It's so seamless. It has the padding in there so it gives you the cups but it doesn't have any underwires … so this is really a true lounge bra."
Editor's note: ABC News' Jacqueline Laurean Yates contributed to this updated story that originally published on August 21, 2019.
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