Comparison Review: What is the best sports bra to prevent sweat chills and maintain performance even in winter?
Written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
If you were asked to endure either heat or cold, which would you prefer?
If I were to answer that question, I would say that I can still tolerate the heat! That's because once in my life, I had the painful experience of thinking I was going to freeze to death because my underwear had gotten cold from sweat
It was when I was climbing a snowy mountain with a group of friends, going to see the frost-covered trees. I'm sensitive to heat and cold. That means I sweat a lot, so I packed sweat-wicking, quick-drying, waterproof, and warm clothing, layered it up, and made sure I was well-prepared for the summit, with layers that were easy to take on and off to regulate my body temperature. Along the way, I took off my jacket if I got hot, and put it back on if I got cold. But it was such a pain...oh, so much pain...every time I took off or put on clothes, I'd have to call out to my friends and stop walking. Oh, I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry...As long as I was moving, my body would warm up and I'd be fine, but if I stopped, my sweat-soaked underwear would chill me from the inside, and I'd freeze again
Mountain climbing, which should be fun, is a constant battle of heat and cold, and I found myself a bit worn down. Since that experience, I've unfortunately become less adept at climbing snowy mountains. On a different note, when ultra-running, I've had the painful experience of my underwear slipping off due to prolonged up and down movements, causing blood to flow from my skin. It's an exaggeration to say that underwear, which is supposed to protect a woman's body by being the closest to the skin, can become a lethal weapon if chosen incorrectly, but how much of an impact does it have on sports performance? These experiences have made me realize the importance of choosing the right underwear
Have you ever been frozen during a winter marathon? I'm sure there are many other women out there who have had the same bitter experience as me. So, in this article, I'd like to explore comfortable underwear (sports bras and shorts) that can prevent sweat chills and chafing, and help you maintain your athletic performance over long periods of time
table of contents
table of contents
- About the items tested
- Test Results & Spec Comparison Table
- Evaluation Results - Recommended Sports Bras by Type -
- summary
About the sports bras we tested
First of all, the items for this review were selected based on the following criteria:
- The perfect fit that doesn't tighten too much to hold down your bouncing breasts, and doesn't slip too loosely to cause skin slippage
- Strong sweat absorption that won't affect your outerwear
- To prevent chills caused by sweat, the fabric retains heat even when wet and dries quickly
- Appearance and durability
You might be wondering about appearance when it comes to underwear, but there is a category called visible bras, and conversely, for women who are particular about invisible fashion, it is also an important point, so we also take durability into account when selecting products to maintain the silhouette
About the water absorption and quick-drying test method by actual riding and washing
The actual rides were conducted on several mornings in December, with an average temperature of around 5°C to 10°C. The top gear consisted of a long-sleeved sports T-shirt layered over each inner layer, followed by a short-sleeved T-shirt and a windbreaker. For the water absorption and quick-drying tests, the items were weighed when slightly damp after washing and spin-drying in a laundry net with the normal finish, and then hung to dry in the shade by a window on a sunny day. The dryness of each item was checked by touch every 15 minutes until it was completely dry
Test Results & Spec Comparison Table
| Overall ranking | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | 3rd place | 5th place | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  MILLET Drynamic Mesh Tank Top |  Mont-bell Geoline Mesh Front Hook Soft Bra |  CW-X Sports Bra, Runner's Bra, HTY168 |  finetrack Skin Mesh Bra Tank Top |  adidas W M4T Training Medium Support SB Bra |  CW-X Sporty Shorts JSY376 |
| Recommendation level | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Reference price | 5,724 yen | 4,104 yen | 5,724 yen | 5,724 yen | 5,389 yen | 2,484 yen |
| Fit | ◯ | ◯ | ◎ | △ | ◯ | ◎ |
| Sweat absorption | ◎ | ◎ | ◯ | ◯ | △ | ◯ |
| quick drying | ◎ | ◎ | ◯ | ◎ | × | △ |
| Cold sweat | ◎ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | △ | △ |
| Heat retention | ◎ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | △ | ◯ |
| Appearance and durability | ◯ | ◎ | △ | ◯ | △ | ◯ |
| Specifications | ||||||
| item | MILLET Drynamic Mesh Tank Top | Mont-bell Geoline Mesh Front Hook Soft Bra | CW-X Sports Bra, Runner's Bra, HTY168 | finetrack Skin Mesh Bra Tank Top | adidas W M4T Training Medium Support SB Bra | CW-X Sporty Shorts JSY376 |
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Evaluation results - Recommendations by type -
MILLET Drynamic Mesh Tank Top
It also prevents sweat from cooling down and has excellent heat retention, helping to avoid the dangers of training in the harsh winter
Are there any women who are put off by the look of this? At first, I felt uncomfortable with this ninja-like fishnet-style underwear. But once you actually put it on, you'll realize that it's an excellent item that you won't want to be without when it comes to winter sports
Conventional underwear could absorb the large amounts of sweat produced by intense exercise but could not keep up with the evaporation, so the wet underwear would remain stuck to the skin, often resulting in a vicious cycle of sweating → wet skin → cold → fatigue → exhaustion
To break this negative spiral, we proposed a system in which a polypropylene-based material with excellent hydrophobicity and low thermal conductivity is knitted into a bulky and highly stretchable mesh structure. When worn under a form-fitting, sweat-absorbing, quick-drying layer, it quickly wicks sweat away from the skin and transfers and diffuses it into the upper layer. To achieve this, the mesh is made large and slightly bulky. This creates a layer of air, improving breathability in the summer and heat retention in the winter. In other words, sweating → skin stays dry → less likely to get cold → conserves energy
In the washing test, it absorbed a lot of water given the area of the fabric, but it also dried the fastest, so it's probably the best item for preventing chills from sweat. However, because it has such high heat retention, it was a little too warm for me during my city run. It may not be necessary when the temperature is above 5°C or in situations where you can keep moving and maintain your body temperature
Mont-bell Geoline Mesh Front Hook Soft Bra
Quick transitions are possible! The front hook makes changing clothes much easier!
Montbell's Geoline series, a favorite among mountain climbers, is made using special fiber processing technology, and its ultra-fine fibers provide amazing moisture absorption and diffusion properties
It quickly absorbs sweat and disperses it at the same time, so in a washing experiment, this was the most water-wicking, lightweight, and quick to dry after spin-drying. Geoline underwear comes in a wide variety of styles, including camisoles, T-shirts, high-neck tops, bras, and pants, which is also convenient
As the name suggests, the entire fabric is made of mesh, which is very soft to the touch, light, and breathable. Because of this softness, it may not provide as much support against shaking, but it is comfortable to wear and does not feel too tight
What I like most about this bra is that it has a front hook. Sweaty sports bras can be very difficult to put on and take off, but with this one, all you have to do is quickly unhook the front. The color and appearance aren't the best, but it looks great layered over a white T-shirt without ruining the silhouette
CW-X Sports Bra, Runner's Bra, HTY168
High-performance type with 5-way taping structure that effectively suppresses shaking
Wacoal is one of Japan's leading women's underwear brands, and is so well-known that it can even be purchased overseas. It is famous for producing its products based on scientific analysis of a huge amount of actual data from approximately 4,000 people over nearly 50 years
This runner's bra is ideal for running, trail running, basketball, futsal, and other sports that involve running and jumping. Its unique five-way support function disperses bust movement and provides firm protection. The Y-back design doesn't restrict shoulder blade movement while running, making it stylish and cute for a peek at your bust. The cups are insertable and fit between the fabric.
According to the manufacturer, Wacoal is committed to making the breasts look beautiful, even for athletes. In my case, the difference between the underbust and top didn't quite fit, causing a dent in the cup, which unfortunately created a slightly uneven silhouette when viewed over a T-shirt, but I thought the stitching and fabric quality were the best of all the items. The support is solid, so it might be recommended for those who are concerned about their breasts moving around a lot
However, perhaps due to the insert cup, that area took a little longer to dry, but it was still mostly dry after 45 minutes
finetrack Skin Mesh Bra Tank Top
A comfortable fitting bra tank that can be worn everyday
Following on from the French brand MILLET, finetrack is known for its dry layer technology that keeps moisture away from the skin. The brand's story is based on the idea that clothing is not fashion, but gear to help you get home safely
It may have been thanks to this manufacturer that I learned about layering, a technique often used by mountaineers. This material is a special mesh rather than a net. It has an excellent balance of moderate heat retention and quick sweat evacuation, is suitable for all seasons, and doesn't look too embarrassing, so it might be just right for those trying out dry layers for the first time. However, the fabric is a bit delicate. To achieve both lightness and functionality, a delicate, thin knit fabric is used, which is vulnerable to repeated friction and snagging, and the fabric is easily damaged, so it should always be washed in a laundry net
The chest pads felt a little damp, but the rest of the fabric dried just as quickly as the Millet. In terms of skin friction, the thinness and lightness of the fabric seems to cause it to slip, and the store clerk honestly told me that some people experience pain during strenuous activities like long runs. This might be useful when you want to prevent stickiness caused by sweat during less strenuous exercise
adidas W M4T Training Medium Support SB Bra
For those who don't like tight bras. Medium support and comfort
Wacoal, famous for its fitting, has store staff called "beauty advisors" who will carefully measure your size, but recently, Adidas has also started offering advice from "bra concierges" who are certified by Adidas. Interestingly, I received advice that seemed to contradict the criteria for choosing a sports bra
Wacoal places importance on making breasts look beautiful, and has commercials and products that slogan "Push and lift" but, on the other hand, an Adidas concierge said, "Tighten your breasts as much as possible. We recommend going down about two sizes from your usual size. When you exercise, it's not about making your breasts look big and beautiful, it's about not letting them shake." Hmm, that makes sense
I do a lot of running, so the high support type is recommended as a guideline for that, but it was too tight, so I settled on the medium type. This fits just right and is comfortable without slipping or pain. The only thing that bothers me is the small nipple silhouette...the cups are sewn on and cannot be removed. It's best to avoid wearing thin, tight-fitting white T-shirts as an outer layer
It wasn't dry even after an hour, and it is the second slowest drying item of all, so it may not be suitable for use on snowy mountains, but it doesn't get too cold on normal runs around town
CW-X Sporty Shorts JSY376
I also pay attention to the shorts. They feel great against the skin and are comfortable to move around in
Finally, shorts. Because I get cold from sweat so easily, I've only been devising ways to deal with it on my upper body until now, but I wanted to experiment and see what would happen if I paid attention to shorts as well, so I asked the editor-in-chief to include them in the comparison items
In the end, it wasn't like they dramatically prevented me from getting cold from sweat! But they were incredibly comfortable to wear! I could tell that the high-quality fabric was smooth and comfortable against the skin, and the quality of the stitching was far superior to regular panties. The elastic stretches well, so I think these shorts will last a long time. Cheap shorts tend to stretch out and get ruined quickly. Wacoal shorts are a little pricey for shorts, but considering their durability, they may be worth it. There's no tightness from the elastic in the crotch area, so they're comfortable to walk in
In the washing test, it was slower to dry than the other items, probably because it is 70% nylon and feels cool to the touch, but I didn't experience any issues with it making my waist feel cold
summary
Each one has a different shape and type, so from my perspective as a triathlete, I've selected two that I recommend for situations where you can take advantage of their characteristics
Above all, MILLET offers excellent heat retention. I highly recommend it as an inner layer for winter cycling practice, as well as for climbing snowy mountains. When you're climbing a mountain pass, you're drenched in sweat. However, as soon as you start going downhill, your feet stop moving and you're likely to freeze. This cold weather on a bicycle can lead to accidents, let alone poor performance. That's why I recommend you protect yourself with MILLET
It's also recommended for ultra-running and runners who walk slowly and stop frequently, causing their body temperature to fluctuate. However, it's not recommended for city runs where you can keep moving. For city runs and marathons in urban areas, we recommend Mont-Bell with front fastenings, which can be quickly put on and taken off after the race. You can quickly exit the changing room and enjoy the after-party without freezing in the final changing tent
Michiko Sone
Part-time Triathlete and Full-time Dreamer.
An amphibious writer who enjoys triathlons with the motto "Take it easy and go at your own pace." In 2015, she launched a planning and editing production company and is currently working as a freelancer. She strives to provide articles that are easy to understand and convey the heartfelt message in kind words. She has the energy to hop on her bike and rush off to cover any location within a 100km radius, and if requested, she will ride through the mountains, dive into the ocean, or fly around the world. She is proud of her keen nose for finding interesting things and events.
Planning and editing production company: Office Astro Writing
Blog: Rinko's Diary
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