Branwyn Essential Racerback Sports Bra Review

by Kay Levesque on July 30, 2024

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Designed to feel like a second skin, the medium-support Branwyn Essential Racerback Bra is made from their exclusive GLDNspun and buttery-soft Merino for your best days in the saddle, laps on the mountain, and training rides. Their underwire-free, seamless design eliminates digging while maximizing mobility. Supportive and breathable, their Racerback Bra hustles as hard as you do.

Review – by Kay Levesque

Branwyn Essential Racerback Sports Bra – Size Medium in black

Maybe you’re like me. You’re active. You lift weights occasionally (I don’t). You do some yoga (I don’t do that either…). You mountain bike (yes!). You even mix it up with gravel and road biking (yup). You realize that your body might do well with some impact because riding bikes isn’t really impactful unless you fall over. I’ve been interested in adding some light running to my weekly activity, but since it’s been some years (many…), my old jog bras are completely worn out. The bras that I wear while riding bikes are not supportive enough for any kind of trotting. Once the Branwyn bra arrived, my excuses were gone. It’s time to remember how to run.

I’ve been testing the Branwyn Essential Racerback Sports Bra for about a month now and can confirm that, as advertised, this bra is body-hugging and seam-free. It’s made from 76% merino wool, 14% nylon, and 10% spandex, a blend that allows for a fair amount of stretch but also wicks away moisture to decrease odor. This bra is constructed for action—it’s compressive and heavy-duty. In fact, my initial impression was that I ordered too small, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to breathe, but I did know my breasts would stay put. I’d likely keel over, out of breath, but I’d be bounce-free. Now that I’ve had some time to get to know this bra, I’m finding the size is spot on. Maybe the compression has settled a bit, or perhaps a few washes have softened the hold. Either way, I’m happy with the fit. A bigger size might not do its job.

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The first box was checked. The bra holds things in place. Returning to the concept of seam-free, one of the things I like about this bra is that there is no place where the bra scratches me or rubs me the wrong way. The label is printed right on the fabric, so no itchy tag to irritate me. And seam-free means no extra bulk anywhere. I used body lube to prevent chafing when I ran in the past, but I don’t think I face a rub risk with this bra, given its construction.

I’ve washed the bra several times, and it is holding well. No pilling, and it’s kept its shape. Like all my wool clothing, I don’t use the dryer and wash in cold water. It seems to be working great. I tend to err on the side of less is better. If I wash clothing less often, my items will last longer, and in the long run, I’ll consume less. My strategy aligns well with the natural fibers in this bra, which reduce odors.

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I also like that merino wool is sustainable and regenerative. Sheep hair grows back! I realize the clothing industry can be quite wasteful and even destructive to our world, so I would like to make that choice when I can mitigate that impact with my buying power. Thank you, Branwyn, for considering your fabric options and also for the environmentally friendly packaging. I noticed. Branwyn aims to have a 100% compostable product by the end of 2025. They use Santoni seamless technology instead of the standard mass production. This method is perhaps slower but wastes less material. I appreciate less waste.

There are tons of bras out there to choose from. Many are good, but few are great. When I make a choice to consume, I consider many factors beyond fit and function. This bra checks all the boxes for me. Branwyn even donates 1% to organizations that support women. So, this bra supports more than just my breasts. It’s giving support to organizations that inspire and empower women. Even if you don’t try out a Branwyn bra, go to their website and check out the Empowerment section. I promise you’ll be lifted up. Pun intended.

Note the equal sign stitched on Branwyn products. Gender equality, y’all!

Click here to buy the Branwyn Essential Racerback Sports Bra

Key Features:

  • A GLDNspun knit blend of 76% extra fine Merino wool, 14% nylon, and 10% Spandex
  • ZQ, OEKO-TEX 100, and RWS-certified Merino is also regenerative and sustainable (which also means it is BPA, PFAS, and toxic-free)
  • Sleeves for removable bra pads for increased coverage (pads not included)
  • Body-mapped contours provide additional support and separation
  • Pullover style with a racerback design for a full range of motion
  • Built for moderate impact with higher compression than our Essential Bralette and Busty Bras

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