View Full Version : size 36c and size 34b, bra or no bra when hiking? Pro or con?
mcplkelly
10-24-2008, 01:34
whats your thoughts of going braless when hiking? Any medical problems going without? What about hiking for several weeks without cleaning yourself or changing your underwear?
i'm a 36c and go braless on weekend hikes, couldn't do it much longer than that - the girls start to hurt. several weeks w/o cleaning yourself or changing your underwear is just asking for problems tho. think rashes, severely chafed skin, yeast infections. take a bandana and wipe down every evening at camp.
I don't think I could do the braless thing. I wear a Patagonia built in bra camisole. Very breathable and not as restricting as a sports bra.
Washing yourself off is vital when backpacking, IMO. I take wipes and a wash bandana. I totally agree with Kanga. By not washing you are setting yourself up for some major discomfort.
Mrs Baggins
10-24-2008, 09:24
It can damage the tissues in your breasts to just let them sag and swing around. Met a rather heavy set middle-aged lady with pretty big sagging "girls" while sectioning the Smokies. She wasn't wearing a bra under a fairly thin and sweat soaked tee and it was pretty awful..........
Happy Feet
10-24-2008, 09:47
Ever see those tribal women on National Geographic? More time with no support = more (how shall I say) 'droop'. The elastic tissues that hold things up are only given once - they don't regenerate - so once broken, it's all downhill from there. One of the curses of womanhood ... but there are many blessings. (...and they still make men go stupid ... oh, sorry, Hatman :) )
So my advice would be unless you're fried-egg-flat, wear a good quality sports bra. (And definitely wash up!)
IMO the droop happens whether you wear a bra or not. Age and size matter. So...wear a bra if it feels better to have support, or if you don't like the way you look without one. It's up to you.
IMO the droop happens whether you wear a bra or not. Age and size matter. So...wear a bra if it feels better to have support, or if you don't like the way you look without one. It's up to you.
so true. gravity and i are NOT friends... :D
Anything over a "B" cup and you will be hating it when you get sweaty.....
As for not cleaning up and or underwear that is 3 weeks old....beyond yeast infections beware UTI's. If in summer time? Jump in a river or lake and swim with clothes to rinse out the trail dirt/dust and or wash your underwear every couple days and go commando while they dry.
I am happy being an "A" and even I wouldn't go braless. I like to have what little I have compressed as much as possible. I really like the Patagonia sports bras.
I agree that the sag will occur naturally as a result of age, rather than wearing or not wearing a bra. I'm a 36c and often go braless on a day to day basis, and occasionally for a day hike in warm weather, but usually wear either a t-shirt with a built in shelf bra, or a seperate sports bra for hiking. Be especially cautious about going bra free in cold windy weather, nipple chafing is very painful and NOT pleasant :eek:
fancyfeet
10-29-2008, 03:04
Besides the sagging issue, I find that going braless can lead to chafed and raw nipples. Then they stick to your shirt and start to scab up. Not comfortable.
As far as underwear goes, I don't skimp. I always hike with at least 4 pair of lightweight, breathable ones. No need to buy the $15 technical kind, just storebought microfiber ones do for me. They dry quickly. And yes, wipes or a washcloth are a must to prevent irritation, infection or plain old funk.
Spirit Walker
10-29-2008, 13:43
When I was younger I went braless. It's much more comfortable for me. Then I started looking at photos and realized that gravity and age made that a bad idea if I'm anywhere that I am likely to run into people.
BumpJumper
10-29-2008, 16:26
I'm with you Fancy. I want clean undies or no undies. :D:D:D
It can damage the tissues in your breasts to just let them sag and swing around. Met a rather heavy set middle-aged lady with pretty big sagging "girls" while sectioning the Smokies. She wasn't wearing a bra under a fairly thin and sweat soaked tee and it was pretty awful..........
Wasn't that a great sight to behold :eek:
I really thought this initial post was a joke. Braless, no big deal. Not washing the undies for weeks? Beyond nasty. It is so easy. Just get some wicking ones and you can keep them and your treasure box clean daily. Wash and dry fast. While you are at it, think about keeping your teeth clean and your feet clean the best you can. The feet are harder, but worth the effort. If your feet get infected or messed up, you are done and you can go home and burn your clothes and under wear. I am just a section hiker, but I was taught to take care of my feet and it has worked for me.
In regards to your initial question, and at the risk of sounding like a radical, I'm a 36C, and don't use a bra hiking. I always figured sagging was a more a result of size and/or pregnancies, neither of which effect me. I imagine if you are inclined to go bra-less when NOT hiking, you'd be fine when hiking. I've never had a problem with chaffing either.
Undies wash out and dry easily. Except last week when they froze before they dried. Oh well.
MerryMary
10-30-2008, 15:03
I met a guy on the trail who was having lunch and he asked me what to do about sore nipples he was in pain. I said that's the only reason I wear a bra. Guess I wasn't much help. As I was not sharing. ;)
BumpJumper
10-30-2008, 18:42
A guy had sore nips? How odd. Was he heavy?
A guy had sore nips? How odd. Was he heavy?
It's a big problem for distance runners. During a marathon, for instance, even thin guys can get chafing to the point where blood runs down their shirts.
BumpJumper
10-30-2008, 18:46
Damn Marta...that made me cringe:eek:
It's ugly, for sure. I'm sure it feels worse than it looks.
Monkeywrench
10-30-2008, 19:37
It's a big problem for distance runners. During a marathon, for instance, even thin guys can get chafing to the point where blood runs down their shirts.
Been there, done that. Nipguards are my salvation.
Yeah, it's pretty scary...
http://www.elitefeet.com/men-dont-forget-you-have-nipples
BumpJumper
10-30-2008, 21:40
Thats actually pretty groce...Yuck. Dont they realize that could happen and tape them suckers up or something?:p
Bandaids. One of my friends had this problem with his first marthaon. The shirt did it. Next one he used bandaids and put athletic tape on top. No problem. Women get chafing too....body glide works.
Jim Adams
10-30-2008, 22:22
A guy had sore nips? How odd. Was he heavy?
Sorry to intrude ladies but when I was racing motorcycles professionally, nipple chafe was a serious problem from the nylon racing jerseys back in the day. A strip of duct tape over each one before going out on the track solved the problem totally...howevewr, the bandaids do sound far more comfortable.:cool:
geek
BumpJumper
10-30-2008, 23:44
Why Jim, if you have any of that sticky stuff left on em I have a way of getting it off!!!!:banana
I've dealt with bra/no-bra issues from both ends of the spectrum. I was once a 36 DDD/E. After surgery, I'm now a 36 B, and I much prefer the smaller me. The new girls are just 2 years old, and they pretty much stay put. I occasionally do enjoy going braless at home and have tried it on the trail. But as others have mentioned, the chafing gets uncomfortable. I wear a cami with support that I found in one of my hubby's running gear mags, and I love it. In the old days, I'd often hike wearing two high-impact sports bras at once. And I never could get a comfortable pack fit, no matter how I adjusted shoulder and chest straps. Life is much better now.
Regarding underwear issues, clean undies are very important. Wicking stuff dries fast. Wash, rinse daily, change out for second pair that I carry.
Blissful
11-01-2008, 10:08
I have to wear one hiking, and I am like a AA it seems! But at camp, another story.
I've dealt with bra/no-bra issues from both ends of the spectrum. I was once a 36 DDD/E. After surgery, I'm now a 36 B, and I much prefer the smaller me. The new girls are just 2 years old, and they pretty much stay put. I occasionally do enjoy going braless at home and have tried it on the trail. But as others have mentioned, the chafing gets uncomfortable. I wear a cami with support that I found in one of my hubby's running gear mags, and I love it. In the old days, I'd often hike wearing two high-impact sports bras at once. And I never could get a comfortable pack fit, no matter how I adjusted shoulder and chest straps. Life is much better now.
Regarding underwear issues, clean undies are very important. Wicking stuff dries fast. Wash, rinse daily, change out for second pair that I carry.
Wow, congrats on the surgery! What a difference. I must have been a difficult decision.
Wow, congrats on the surgery! What a difference. I must have been a difficult decision.
It was a little scary, and it was no picnic during recovery, but it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. Not only did I lose 9 pounds immediately after the surgery, because I could be more active minus pain in back, shoulders and neck, I continued to get more fit. It was a very good thing.
im a 36/38D and wear an underwire bra with a sports bra over it, i know thats overkill but it feels better for me if they are held down pretty good. i just cant go free style!
As to whether or not to go bra-less my opinion is to wear a sports bra. My brother is a physician and I asked him one day how to keep your breasts perky (I've heard things like doing chest exercises strengthens the muscles below the breasts and can keep them perkier and was wondering if that was true and what other recommendations he had) because I have larger breasts and want to avoid sagging as much as possible and his recommendation was to wear sports bras even when I sleep. I looked at him funny at first and then he explained it to me. The reason sagging occurs is because the ligaments (I'm not sure if this is the correct term) stretch when there is no support and that when your sleeping your breasts tend to droop to the sides (or if you sleep on your sides they droop to one side or the other but either way gravity is still having an impact). By wearing a sports bra you keep the ligaments from stretching and will delay the sagging process and hence keep your breasts perkier. Although sagging is inevitable due to gravity, you can do stuff to delay it and going braless regardless of the size of your chest can have an affect. If you don't mind the sagging then feel free to go braless (I'm not trying to tell people what to do just putting in my two cents), but I agree with other posts about cleanliness, chafing, comfort and other issues. For the past two years I've been wearing a sports bra when I go to sleep (not every night of course) and I have noticed a difference between the sagging of my breasts over time and that of my friends who are of similar ages and sizes (I've discussed this issue before with friends).
I recommend Barely There bra and panties for hiking. They are comfortable and light enough to wash and dry quickly. Not a lot of support, but enough to keep you from totally sagging.
I am not comfortable without an underwire bra (a fibroid tumor years ago required day AND night bras). I have several lightweight ones I take hiking. Traveling in Europe with teens got me into packing light and washable. The bandana works well enough as a wash cloth, altho I prefer terry cloth. I am a section hiker, so am able to carry wipes with me for daily clean-up.
Frau
vonfrick
12-01-2008, 21:17
The smiles are not in my signature. They are way above it in the last post.
Hate to say this but I was lurking in the background from the first post. Got to agree with BJ ~ making my nips hurt as well.:datz:datz:datz
that site sneaks the code in for their ad waaaaaaaay down below where you typed. scroll way down and delete the code and preview your post to make sure its gone. ;)
vonfrick
12-01-2008, 21:18
ntm, aren't there plenty of other sites where you can talk about boobs??? hm? :D
tom_alan
12-01-2008, 21:25
that site sneaks the code in for their ad waaaaaaaay down below where you typed. scroll way down and delete the code and preview your post to make sure its gone. ;)
I'm not seeing it for some reason. I did have to go in and edit it to get them where I wanted them. I'll go delete them.
BumpJumper
12-02-2008, 13:25
This topic makes my tits hurt. And I dont wear a sports bra cause it makes my tits hurt.:p