Are you looking for an elegant all-round sports bra? So was I! After a long search on the internet, I think I finally found it – the Patagonia cross-beta sports bra. A sports bra that I can use for climbing, hiking, maybe even running, but also for longer holidays for which I don’t want to bring too many different clothes.
In this non-sponsered review of the Patagonia Cross Beta Sports Bra I’ll give you my honest opinion for different sports – from hiking, to running and climbing, and just for normal daily wear.
The pro’s and cons
+
Ample support for A/B cup
Comfortable
Recycled material
Very flattering
–
A bit tight in the waist
A bit expensive
Low support for C+ cups
Patagonia’s cross beta sports bra
Patagonia has several different sport bra’s such as the switchback and the wild trails. They describe the cross beta as a crossover design to reduce heat retention and provide extra support. It is a sports bra best suited for A-B cup sizes (perfect for me!) made from soft, 43-85% recycled (not sure what this large range means) polyster and an innovative elastic band. And, also very important, it was Fair Trade Certified sewn.
While I’m very happy with my Uniqlo sportsbra for climbing and my H&M sportsbra for running, I eventually decided to buy this sports bra because I was looking for a sports bra to wear both for sports as well as something that would look nice for everyday wear. I have to say, it has lived up to my expectations!
Fabric
The bra is indeed made of very soft, and mostly recycled (!), material. I hardly noticed that I’m wearing it, and because the fabric is so soft, I also haven’t noticed any chafing or discomfort. The fabric also doesn’t press down too much, which means you can comfortably wear it all day without feeling squashed (if you have an A or B cup). The bra has padding that can be taken out. I don’t do this, but some people might like this feature and it helps the fabric to dry faster when you use the bra for swimming (but it dries quite fast anyway!)
Fit & comfort
The bra looks like a combination between a sports bra, a bikini and a nice top. In my opinion it would fit in all of those categories! Even as a normal bra I wore it since it gives quite a lot of support and it can even look like you’re wearing a push-up bra! The cross bands on the back also make it very comfortable to wear since you don’t have straps falling off of your shoulders. The only downside in terms of comfort that I found is that even though I usually get a sixe xs, for Patagonia’s cross beta sports bra this was a little bit on the small side when it comes to my waist. While the bra is comfortable for a while, after half a day to a day it becomes a bit tight. Hopefully it will still stretch a bit, but otherwise it might be wise to also try a bigger size.
A nice touch was the tear-away label. At first I thought I ripped my bra, but then I realised this is meant to reduce bulk and add comfort.
Support
Even though the Patagonia Cross Beta Sports Bra is marketed as a “medium” support bra, it surprised me with how supportive it was. I even took it running, which is my highest intensity activity, and it did what it had to do!
For climbing, hiking and yoga it provided ample support. It was a nice combination of feeling comfortable and supported. Also for running it was totally fine, if you don’t mind a tiny bit of bounce. Keep in mind however, that this is the case for A & B cups. For C+ cups I would definitely buy a different bra if you want to use it for running.
All in all, the Patagonian Cross Beta Sports Bra is an extremely good option for anyone looking for an all-round sports bra. It sports an elegant appearance that could also work as a day-to-day bra and has attractive crisscross back straps that show off your shoulder muscles while climbing ;).
Are you happy with my review of the Patagonia Cross Beta Sports Bra? Or do you have any more questions? Let me know in the comments!
