Clothing of an intimate nature.

[oldskills]

Being a woman I have been looking into sports bras to walk in. I have always worn the "regular" style, straps over the shoulder and fastened at the back. Over the last few months I have bought a few sports bras with varying degrees of support and tried them out.
Getting them on and off is a bit of a contortionist act, I can only imagine it will be more difficult to do with a sweaty or damp body.
The removable cups seem to have a will of their own and move around within the bra as they please, leaving one looking lopsided.
And, I usually feel like I and strapped into something I bought at the bondage shop.
So, I would like your thoughts on why they seem to be included in most female packing lists for the Camino?

 

[Anniesantiago]

After all these years of doing the Camino, my suggestion is to NOT buy special clothing for the Camino but to wear what works for you at home if you were hiking and layering clothes. Just take the bra you normally wear.

 

[AZgirl]

I prefer sports bras that fasten in the back like regular bras, and made of wicking fabric. Like most camino gear, choices are that all answers are correct if you are comfortable and it works for you.

 

[trecile]

A sports bra is not necessary to walk the Camino. It's not an activity like running that causes a lot of bouncing. I wore this bra made with wicking fabric. http://warners.com/intimates/play-it-cool-wire-free-with-lift/
I would hate to try to pull on and off a tight bra over my head while hot and sweaty, or damp after a shower in a tiny shower cubicle.

 

[Pam Scott]

Just wear your normal bras. Buen camino

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi @oldskills
You’re right about trying to put a bra on after a shower in a small steamy cubicle.
Wear your normal bra and gear in general that is comfortable.
Although I wear a sports bra on occasion (yoga class etc etc), I would find washing & trying to get them dry sometimes (depending on weather )would take too long. They are quite weighty.
Buen Camino
Annie

 

[longwayhome]

Depends what kind of sports bra..I wear sturdy supportive ones with adjustable broad straps that can be crossed over or not , depending what sits well under the backpack shoulder straps without rubbing. The fabric is wicking, the "weight distribution" feels comfortable and friction free , especially on the surgically affected side, scars don't rub and quite fast drying.They do up like normal bras without the narrow shoulder strap slippage I often get. They do not require shoulder dislocation while executing pretzel manoeuvres in a wet cubicle. Best of all these can do as a crop top and assist the modesty factor, e.g. Panache , or Bendon extreme out. If you can get away with less, go for it! I tried one of the Icebreaker merino bras and a" travel bra" and my hoots of laughter could be heard clear into the next block.

 

[C clearly]

The only special bra considerations for the camino should be: Is it comfortable while you are wearing a backpack? Is it easy to get on and off? Does it dry overnight (or you'll need two)?

 

[SusanSmyth]

I ditched my sports bras in Burgos because they didn’t dry well. I bought two bralettes which were even more comfortable and dried quickly.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

On the camino I wear the normal bras I use at home which are extremely comfortable and quite wicking. I always seem to have itchy skin under the straps of my Osprey backpack for about the first week on Camino and it seems to be in the area where my bra straps possibly meet the shoulder straps of my pack.
Would like to hear if any other gals experience this annoying itch. It does eventually go away after my skin gets used to the pack.

 

[oldskills]

Depends what kind of sports bra..I wear sturdy supportive ones with adjustable broad straps that can be crossed over or not , depending what sits well under the backpack shoulder straps without rubbing. The fabric is wicking, the "weight distribution" feels comfortable and friction free , especially on the surgically affected side, scars don't rub and quite fast drying.They do up like normal bras without the narrow shoulder strap slippage I often get. They do not require shoulder dislocation while executing pretzel manoeuvres in a wet cubicle. Best of all these can do as a crop top and assist the modesty factor, e.g. Panache , or Bendon extreme out. If you can get away with less, go for it! I tried one of the Icebreaker merino bras and a" travel bra" and my hoots of laughter could be heard clear into the next block.

The shoulder strap slippage is the issue I was trying to get rid of, it is annoying anyway never mind while wearing a pack. I also like a certain amount of support so the lightweight, rather flimsy looking "travel" bras are not for me. I will keep looking as I still have a couple of months before we set off, my daughter is benefiting from my trials as I am passing my rejects on to her.
I may have found a winner though, a Platex Comfort Revolution, it has wider straps which are attached at the back close to where the bra hooks up so they are on an angle rather than going straight down over the shoulder, I'll see how this one goes when I wear it on night shift tonight.

longwayhome take your pretzel manoeuvres in a wet cubicle, add in my waist length hair and you are on your way to a scene from a slap-stick comedy.
Thank you all for your thoughts an suggestions.

Canimo Chris, itchy shoulders, you mean there is another issue apart from blisters, aching legs, sore back, snoring, ect, ect, ect to work through!

 

[alaskadiver]

I can't stand regular bras so I sure don't wear one when hiking
I wore the ExOfficio crossover bra for my Camino. I don't bother with one when hiking at home but for modesty sake I wore one in Spain since we were walking into towns. The ExOfficio bra and panties are super lightweight and dry fast. I have a C cup so don't need support for just hiking. Probably not suitable for ladies with very large breasts that really need the lift and "retention".

 

[susanawee]

After all these years of doing the Camino, my suggestion is to NOT buy special clothing for the Camino but to wear what works for you at home if you were hiking and layering clothes. Just take the bra you normally wear.

Oh yes, I DO so agree with you Anniesantiago.....just wear what works best for you, same as you do at home. This worked for me very well.