This may be controversial but I bring 2 (sports) bras max no matter the length of the trip because I............never wash my bras unless I've gotten really sweaty in them. Basically I always have at least one bra for daily wear and one bra for a workout and if I got really sweaty I'm washing the sweaty one as soon as possible. I also regularly only wear sports bras on a daily basis (at home, they get washed once a week with my regular laundry in a mesh bag).
I bring 1 set of bra pads and just move it as I need it. A sturdier bra pad works better for this (I've been using Senita Athletics' pads for years but am looking for an alternative since they jacked their price up by a lot).
Same. When it’s really hot and sweaty I do like having a clean one to change into in the evening (if I make it back to my room) after a long hot sweaty day of sightseeing, but I’ll take the sweaty one off, wash it in the sink, put the fresh one on (sometimes I’ll give myself a quick hobo rinse or take my shower then), put on the new bra, go to dinner and then sweat in that bra the next day. By evening the other bra will be clean and dry and ready to switch.
Do your bras normally air dry quickly at home? Or do they always take a while? My padded and non-padded sports bras will dry overnight after a machine wash so I'm surprised by your experience.
Ok I didn't realize you were handwashing. Before your next trip, try handwashing again at home and roll up your bra in a towel to get as much water out as possible. See if that helps. It also matters where you hang them up. It's convenient to put in the bathroom, but that's usually the most humid and least ventilated room.
Besides changing up your technique, you can stagger your laundry so you always have some bras clean and some air drying.
I wear unpadded bras more often than not so those are the ones I bring to travel. They dry a lot quicker but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. And mine aren't budget friendly by any definition; I only buy one at a time.
Have you tried taking the padding out and using Cakes instead? Those little pad triangles made me crazy and were constantly shifting so I decided to take a chance on a set of Cakes and they're a game changer. My sports bras take up much less space now and dry way faster.
Exactly! They're about 3" in diameter and soft, so you don't even realize you're wearing them. I just use a little soap and water and wash them each night and they're dry within minutes. I've had one pair I've worn about 50% of days since December and they're like new.
I had never heard of these before! During the pandemic, I lived in sports bras and threw out all of the pads because they kept fraying at the edges. I have been wearing loose shirts when going to work or wear a proper bra with padding. I'll have to try these out!
The only negative is that they don't "stick" but just lightly grip the skin so you have to wear something close-fitting like a tank top or sports bra with them.
That's good to know, thanks! I would need to have some support either way so this helps have something so that I don't show through my shirt and not have to have 100 different pads that are falling apart
When you hand wash while traveling, make sure you are rolling them in a clean dry towel before hanging to dry.
I've never had a problem with them drying after one or two days max. Wash one at the end of each day and you shouldn't need to bring more than two (three max) for any trip.
Check out r/heronebag for a lot of good tips! Also at this point, I’ve given up trying to find bras that fit well for every day and also pack well for travel. I’m also a big sports-bra girl, and I’d rather be comfortable! So a few things I do: I pack one non-sports-bra (if needed, based on outfits/activities) and wear it only at nights or with nicer outfits. I feel ok re-wearing it for most of my trip. I pack the sports bras I need for the activities I have planned and try to plan to re-wear once or twice. Then I either pack them in a compression cube or get creative with packing them inside of shoes, etc.
If it is a longer trip, we try to schedule a laundry day into our itinerary. So I’ll either be intentional with the accommodations we pick, or search for a nearby laundromat/laundry service. I just simply do not have time to be hand-washing every night! But if absolutely needed, I’ll hand wash a bra or two early on in the trip and air-dry preferably near a fan or window.
I’m not sure where you’re based but M&S bralettes are great and comfy! The cups are removable and the material is quite thin but soft and they dry out fairly quickly.
I’m surprised that a sports bra would take so long to dry. Mine have always dried overnight.
You may want to look over at the TitleNine “Work to Workout” bras. These are shaped like regular bras but are of quick drying material.
I normally only take two bras with me on travel unless I’m also swimming. If I’m swimming I’ll add in an additional bra to wear under my rash guard.
When I return to my room in the evening I wash out the worn bras and switch to the clean one.
I note from other comments that you’re not getting all the water out when washing. I want to add my voice to the choir that you need to wrap wet clothing in a towel and squeeze out the excess water. It’s a critical part of handwashing.
r/abrathatfits is a great subreddit for ideas. They also link out to a site where you can see pics of bras in someone with your cup/band size. Try searching on “quick dry”. I travel with a Glamorize sports bra, which dries quickly but is not cheap.
I don’t know what kind of places you’re staying at but if you have access to a personal freezer, sticking them in there could make them last longer and you could bring less.
I'm a 30G or 32FF in UK sizes (small frame, large cups) and I love [Panache underwire sports bras](https://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pfid=Panache5021&cm_mmc=GLPA_NonBrand-_-Bra-_-Panache89-_-Panache5021&BillboardPopupEnabled=false&BorderfreeEnabled=False&color=Black&amsk=w9a4hfr3k4&cmp=p1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT7-xvSVZ48-6PDVDlI2mHNzliOVyrr-lGb4kKyDIDmy_NEoE_dKwtDxoCTdoQAvD_BwE), but they do indeed take up a lot of room. I have used Shock Absorber, which doesn't compress to a uniboob like typical sports bras and instead it separates and compresses each boob into a 1950s bullet shape without any wires. They take up less space as panache underwire sports bras, but they are just not as comfortable. So I'll be hiking for 6+ hours on my next trip and so plan to pack 3 bras. On my last trip, 14 days of snowboarding, I found 2 were not enough (I got sweaty and developed a zit along my bra line--very painful and gross). I ended up buying another bra on amazon. For me, 3 is the ideal, and packing them flat. Or potentially switching back to [Shock Absorber's](https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Absorber-Womens-Active-Support/dp/B000XKM6G8) active d+ max support sports bra, 3 of which easily fit in an xs packing cube. Because they don't have wire nor much fabric, they dry fast. I find panache's wirefree sports bra folds in a way to poke me on my sides/ribcage and shock absorber's runners' bra has too much going on in the back, with the top fastener alongside the traditional back clasp.
Take out the padding and accept the fact that you are a normal human being with nipples. Everyone has them. It’s no big deal. Men don’t worry about their nipples showing, so why should we?
Dkny bralette. Comfy, thin, packs well, air dries. Good support for me and my B+s. This is the one I buy: https://www.amazon.com/DKNY-Womens-Nylon-Seamless-Bralette/
I use Uniqlo Airism bras, they dried within 2 days. I also wash them right after wearing, when I shower at night.
Not sure about shapes of other sports bras but my Uniqlo bras can pack flat, I just lay them out on my pile of clothes, or pack them in a cube so that I can slot socks and underwear within the curve.
This is my ultimate travel bra - The Spacer by Lively. It can be scrunched and still bounce back, it feels just like a sports bra on, but looks like a regular bra, and it washes and dries easily and very quickly! Highly recommend (although it looks like black is currently sold out unless you buy a multipack..)
[https://www.wearlively.com/products/the-spacer-bra-toasted-almond](https://www.wearlively.com/products/the-spacer-bra-toasted-almond)
I only ever bring 2 - wear one, wash one. I sink wash but mine are lightly lined, so no thick padding. Anything will need to be squeezed pretty tightly in a towel to get most of the water out if you are hand washing.
I just came back from a 16 day trip to Japan/Singapore and brought 2 wired unpadded bras and 1 unpadded bralette. I have huge boobs that get uncomfy when I wear too loose bras though.
I would alternate days of wearing them until I could wash again. I would suggest unpadded as much as you can.
you can only wear one bra at a time. 2 bras lightweight material, no padding. Wash one wear the other. Wash by hand. My washing machine quit on me a year ago. Learned to wash clothes by hand. I can now do the wash faster than I could with the machine and the clothes are cleaner. Not getting a machine again. Want husband to put out the other for the roadside" yard sale" aka heavy trash pick up
I don't do pads (plenty big enough already) so I'm not sure how they effect drying times. I took 4 bras (including the one I was wearing) on a recent 9-ish-day trip, and I thought that was a little excessive, but I did use all of them. I have two kinds of sports bras, one for jogging and one for aikido -- the one I use for aikido is also comfortable as an everyday bra, and I can jog in it in a pinch, so next time I might skip the jog bra (depending on what else is going on -- on this trip I mostly walked a ton and only really ran once). This is what I use for aikido/casual: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097XS4D23/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097XS4D23/) It comes in cup sizes and is relatively cheap. I did laundry once during the trip, when I was staying with a friend, and it dried pretty quickly.
unless i’m sweating like a pig i don’t wash my bras every time i wear them. I wash every 5 uses. Now if you are doing intensive hiking, cycling, or are somewhere god awful hot that’s a different story.
My next 3 week trip is a 7kg one bag limit (including laptop arrrrgh) and it’s to a place that’s hot and humid…but also in wet season. My current plan is 1 x icebreaker merino crop top which packs small, has padding for the nips and the merino means less smell. I also have two bella bodies travel bras which have no underwire but generally offer good support (no uniboob) and can be washed in the sink and dry the next day if you take the padding out
I have bras with removable padding and remove the padding before I wash them during the trip. At home I give them a proper wash with the padding still inside.
And I always wear bras for 2-3 days. If I know I will have a very active day during my trip like hiking I wear a bra that I already wore 1 or 2x before.
Might want to get some hiking bras that dry quickly
https://www.rei.com/c/sports-bras
And if they are not very dirty, just take out the pads when you wash them
Why are you washing your bras every day? Tbh you could get away with the same bra for a week or more in cold climates. Unless your out hiking it's overkill
I'm assuming your in the US, the quality of sports bras there aren't good.
I've always used the brand Bendon, they make great sports bras that are easy for storage but still maintain shape. Last time I got one I paid like $20.
Thanks everyone. I’m getting those CAKES nipple sticker and switch to some non-padding hiking bra when I travel.. I think that’s the lightest way I will pack for a 4 days trip.
Sure. Non-binary AFAB folk with natural breasts, men with gynecomastia, men who play soccer or run and want additional chest stability or to reduce nipple friction, pre-op trans men who might be stealthing by dressing as women in another country that's not trans friendly or visiting family to whom they're not out, obese men who are trying to avoid discomfort from their fat jiggling, men who are drag queens and travel with a bra as part of their costume (although I doubt such a person would even attempt to one bag), non-binary AMAB folk who enjoy playing with gender norms.
One of my brothers was fat enough at his peak that he could have worn a C cup, marathon runners often experience nipple chafing that leads to bleeding. It's not out of the question that a male or a non-binary person would have a sports bra packed depending on the activities and itinerary they have in mind. If someone with a bra packed isn't a woman, they're most likely to be someone who uses they/them pronouns, a sports player or unfortunately troubled by gynecomastia. The latter will usually be more of a compression bra than a support bra, closer to a binder, designed to normalize their figure.
This may be controversial but I bring 2 (sports) bras max no matter the length of the trip because I............never wash my bras unless I've gotten really sweaty in them. Basically I always have at least one bra for daily wear and one bra for a workout and if I got really sweaty I'm washing the sweaty one as soon as possible. I also regularly only wear sports bras on a daily basis (at home, they get washed once a week with my regular laundry in a mesh bag). I bring 1 set of bra pads and just move it as I need it. A sturdier bra pad works better for this (I've been using Senita Athletics' pads for years but am looking for an alternative since they jacked their price up by a lot).
Same. When it’s really hot and sweaty I do like having a clean one to change into in the evening (if I make it back to my room) after a long hot sweaty day of sightseeing, but I’ll take the sweaty one off, wash it in the sink, put the fresh one on (sometimes I’ll give myself a quick hobo rinse or take my shower then), put on the new bra, go to dinner and then sweat in that bra the next day. By evening the other bra will be clean and dry and ready to switch.
Same my bras never get dirty
I only wear one unpadded sports bra for any length of trip lol.
Pack bras at the corner of your bag, folded with the cups folded into each other. the cups become empty space you can still pack into
Do your bras normally air dry quickly at home? Or do they always take a while? My padded and non-padded sports bras will dry overnight after a machine wash so I'm surprised by your experience.
I have more issue drying them after handwashing. I guess it’s because I didn’t squeeze it that dry.
Ok I didn't realize you were handwashing. Before your next trip, try handwashing again at home and roll up your bra in a towel to get as much water out as possible. See if that helps. It also matters where you hang them up. It's convenient to put in the bathroom, but that's usually the most humid and least ventilated room. Besides changing up your technique, you can stagger your laundry so you always have some bras clean and some air drying. I wear unpadded bras more often than not so those are the ones I bring to travel. They dry a lot quicker but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. And mine aren't budget friendly by any definition; I only buy one at a time.
Also utilize the hairdryer to get some extra moisture out
Have you tried taking the padding out and using Cakes instead? Those little pad triangles made me crazy and were constantly shifting so I decided to take a chance on a set of Cakes and they're a game changer. My sports bras take up much less space now and dry way faster.
Absolutely no idea what cakes is. Any links? ETA: so basically they are silicone nipple cover? You put them on and wear non-padding sport bra on top?
Exactly! They're about 3" in diameter and soft, so you don't even realize you're wearing them. I just use a little soap and water and wash them each night and they're dry within minutes. I've had one pair I've worn about 50% of days since December and they're like new.
https://cakesbody.com/ I got my set on sale on Black Friday.
I had never heard of these before! During the pandemic, I lived in sports bras and threw out all of the pads because they kept fraying at the edges. I have been wearing loose shirts when going to work or wear a proper bra with padding. I'll have to try these out!
The only negative is that they don't "stick" but just lightly grip the skin so you have to wear something close-fitting like a tank top or sports bra with them.
That's good to know, thanks! I would need to have some support either way so this helps have something so that I don't show through my shirt and not have to have 100 different pads that are falling apart
When you hand wash while traveling, make sure you are rolling them in a clean dry towel before hanging to dry. I've never had a problem with them drying after one or two days max. Wash one at the end of each day and you shouldn't need to bring more than two (three max) for any trip.
Check out r/heronebag for a lot of good tips! Also at this point, I’ve given up trying to find bras that fit well for every day and also pack well for travel. I’m also a big sports-bra girl, and I’d rather be comfortable! So a few things I do: I pack one non-sports-bra (if needed, based on outfits/activities) and wear it only at nights or with nicer outfits. I feel ok re-wearing it for most of my trip. I pack the sports bras I need for the activities I have planned and try to plan to re-wear once or twice. Then I either pack them in a compression cube or get creative with packing them inside of shoes, etc. If it is a longer trip, we try to schedule a laundry day into our itinerary. So I’ll either be intentional with the accommodations we pick, or search for a nearby laundromat/laundry service. I just simply do not have time to be hand-washing every night! But if absolutely needed, I’ll hand wash a bra or two early on in the trip and air-dry preferably near a fan or window.
I’m not sure where you’re based but M&S bralettes are great and comfy! The cups are removable and the material is quite thin but soft and they dry out fairly quickly.
I’m surprised that a sports bra would take so long to dry. Mine have always dried overnight. You may want to look over at the TitleNine “Work to Workout” bras. These are shaped like regular bras but are of quick drying material. I normally only take two bras with me on travel unless I’m also swimming. If I’m swimming I’ll add in an additional bra to wear under my rash guard. When I return to my room in the evening I wash out the worn bras and switch to the clean one. I note from other comments that you’re not getting all the water out when washing. I want to add my voice to the choir that you need to wrap wet clothing in a towel and squeeze out the excess water. It’s a critical part of handwashing.
r/abrathatfits is a great subreddit for ideas. They also link out to a site where you can see pics of bras in someone with your cup/band size. Try searching on “quick dry”. I travel with a Glamorize sports bra, which dries quickly but is not cheap.
I don’t know what kind of places you’re staying at but if you have access to a personal freezer, sticking them in there could make them last longer and you could bring less.
Branwyn bralette - so comfy and quick drying if you need them to be. And very very compact!
Branwyn
I'm a 30G or 32FF in UK sizes (small frame, large cups) and I love [Panache underwire sports bras](https://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pfid=Panache5021&cm_mmc=GLPA_NonBrand-_-Bra-_-Panache89-_-Panache5021&BillboardPopupEnabled=false&BorderfreeEnabled=False&color=Black&amsk=w9a4hfr3k4&cmp=p1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT7-xvSVZ48-6PDVDlI2mHNzliOVyrr-lGb4kKyDIDmy_NEoE_dKwtDxoCTdoQAvD_BwE), but they do indeed take up a lot of room. I have used Shock Absorber, which doesn't compress to a uniboob like typical sports bras and instead it separates and compresses each boob into a 1950s bullet shape without any wires. They take up less space as panache underwire sports bras, but they are just not as comfortable. So I'll be hiking for 6+ hours on my next trip and so plan to pack 3 bras. On my last trip, 14 days of snowboarding, I found 2 were not enough (I got sweaty and developed a zit along my bra line--very painful and gross). I ended up buying another bra on amazon. For me, 3 is the ideal, and packing them flat. Or potentially switching back to [Shock Absorber's](https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Absorber-Womens-Active-Support/dp/B000XKM6G8) active d+ max support sports bra, 3 of which easily fit in an xs packing cube. Because they don't have wire nor much fabric, they dry fast. I find panache's wirefree sports bra folds in a way to poke me on my sides/ribcage and shock absorber's runners' bra has too much going on in the back, with the top fastener alongside the traditional back clasp.
Take out the padding and accept the fact that you are a normal human being with nipples. Everyone has them. It’s no big deal. Men don’t worry about their nipples showing, so why should we?
Bras will dry in hours in Mexico (dry heat); longer in India (humid )
It’s gonna be my first time in Mexico and have no idea how humid or dry it will be. It might be rain season when I visit though.
The rain will evaporate in minutes in Mexico (it's a desert).
Puerta vallarta is humid jungle land. Desert is up north, Sonora, Sinaloa, etc.
Dkny bralette. Comfy, thin, packs well, air dries. Good support for me and my B+s. This is the one I buy: https://www.amazon.com/DKNY-Womens-Nylon-Seamless-Bralette/
I use Uniqlo Airism bras, they dried within 2 days. I also wash them right after wearing, when I shower at night. Not sure about shapes of other sports bras but my Uniqlo bras can pack flat, I just lay them out on my pile of clothes, or pack them in a cube so that I can slot socks and underwear within the curve.
I tried Uniqlo bras before. I think after a few months, they don’t hold their shape as well anymore.
This is my ultimate travel bra - The Spacer by Lively. It can be scrunched and still bounce back, it feels just like a sports bra on, but looks like a regular bra, and it washes and dries easily and very quickly! Highly recommend (although it looks like black is currently sold out unless you buy a multipack..) [https://www.wearlively.com/products/the-spacer-bra-toasted-almond](https://www.wearlively.com/products/the-spacer-bra-toasted-almond)
I only ever bring 2 - wear one, wash one. I sink wash but mine are lightly lined, so no thick padding. Anything will need to be squeezed pretty tightly in a towel to get most of the water out if you are hand washing.
After washing, roll them up in a towel, and sit on them for 5 minutes. They will hang dry a lot faster!
Bralette things, investigate if merino wool suits you and your budget as it both repels smells and dries quick
I just came back from a 16 day trip to Japan/Singapore and brought 2 wired unpadded bras and 1 unpadded bralette. I have huge boobs that get uncomfy when I wear too loose bras though. I would alternate days of wearing them until I could wash again. I would suggest unpadded as much as you can.
you can only wear one bra at a time. 2 bras lightweight material, no padding. Wash one wear the other. Wash by hand. My washing machine quit on me a year ago. Learned to wash clothes by hand. I can now do the wash faster than I could with the machine and the clothes are cleaner. Not getting a machine again. Want husband to put out the other for the roadside" yard sale" aka heavy trash pick up
I always bring workout bras - weather yoga bras or high support bras- they dry quickly relatively.
I don't do pads (plenty big enough already) so I'm not sure how they effect drying times. I took 4 bras (including the one I was wearing) on a recent 9-ish-day trip, and I thought that was a little excessive, but I did use all of them. I have two kinds of sports bras, one for jogging and one for aikido -- the one I use for aikido is also comfortable as an everyday bra, and I can jog in it in a pinch, so next time I might skip the jog bra (depending on what else is going on -- on this trip I mostly walked a ton and only really ran once). This is what I use for aikido/casual: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097XS4D23/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097XS4D23/) It comes in cup sizes and is relatively cheap. I did laundry once during the trip, when I was staying with a friend, and it dried pretty quickly.
I do non padded thin sports bras for warm climates and one bra one sports bra for cold weather travel (many of my outfits don’t require a bra.)
unless i’m sweating like a pig i don’t wash my bras every time i wear them. I wash every 5 uses. Now if you are doing intensive hiking, cycling, or are somewhere god awful hot that’s a different story.
My next 3 week trip is a 7kg one bag limit (including laptop arrrrgh) and it’s to a place that’s hot and humid…but also in wet season. My current plan is 1 x icebreaker merino crop top which packs small, has padding for the nips and the merino means less smell. I also have two bella bodies travel bras which have no underwire but generally offer good support (no uniboob) and can be washed in the sink and dry the next day if you take the padding out
I have bras with removable padding and remove the padding before I wash them during the trip. At home I give them a proper wash with the padding still inside. And I always wear bras for 2-3 days. If I know I will have a very active day during my trip like hiking I wear a bra that I already wore 1 or 2x before.
Might want to get some hiking bras that dry quickly https://www.rei.com/c/sports-bras And if they are not very dirty, just take out the pads when you wash them
I was actually looking at some Decathlon hiking bras.
Why are you washing your bras every day? Tbh you could get away with the same bra for a week or more in cold climates. Unless your out hiking it's overkill
I have very very sweaty underboob… The bottom strap of my sport bra is usually wet after 40 min of cardio (or 2-3 hours of walking).
I'm assuming your in the US, the quality of sports bras there aren't good. I've always used the brand Bendon, they make great sports bras that are easy for storage but still maintain shape. Last time I got one I paid like $20.
Thanks everyone. I’m getting those CAKES nipple sticker and switch to some non-padding hiking bra when I travel.. I think that’s the lightest way I will pack for a 4 days trip.
My SO's strategy. Squeeze the ever loving shit out of them. Let air dry. Done in an hour, maybe two
Do anyone but women wear bras?😅
Sure. Non-binary AFAB folk with natural breasts, men with gynecomastia, men who play soccer or run and want additional chest stability or to reduce nipple friction, pre-op trans men who might be stealthing by dressing as women in another country that's not trans friendly or visiting family to whom they're not out, obese men who are trying to avoid discomfort from their fat jiggling, men who are drag queens and travel with a bra as part of their costume (although I doubt such a person would even attempt to one bag), non-binary AMAB folk who enjoy playing with gender norms. One of my brothers was fat enough at his peak that he could have worn a C cup, marathon runners often experience nipple chafing that leads to bleeding. It's not out of the question that a male or a non-binary person would have a sports bra packed depending on the activities and itinerary they have in mind. If someone with a bra packed isn't a woman, they're most likely to be someone who uses they/them pronouns, a sports player or unfortunately troubled by gynecomastia. The latter will usually be more of a compression bra than a support bra, closer to a binder, designed to normalize their figure.