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As a guide I have to help my clients be completely prepared for anything the trail can throw at them. From Peeing, pooping, and periods on the trail, to all the various animals we may meet. There is much to go through while preparing for an adventure. I do my best to be as helpful as I can, but one area I am failing in is bras. My female clients ask the question often, but I never have an answer, I just offer the advice women in the past have passed along, so this week, we will help the women out and take a look at Alison's recommendations...
For many people, bras are a necessary nuisance. The straps, cups, wires and clasps can be uncomfortable and annoying. In the outdoors, practical sports bras are typically a better choice than underwire or push up bras, but it can be difficult to find one that doesn’t over-compress, interfere with backpack straps or feel uncomfortable after a few hours on the trail. A cinched-in, too-tight bra can cause discomfort and even pain—and a too loose, unsupportive bra can do the same.
Every body is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all hiking bra. It might take some trial and error, but you can find the right mix of supportive and comfortable that works for you.
Low-Impact Hikes
Kari Traa Var Bra
This bra is perfect for low-impact hikes with fully adjustable racerback straps, a wide underbust elastic and removeable cups. It offers light support for relaxed days on the trail when you want to forget that you’re wearing a bra. As long as you’re not jumping, scrambling or running, a low-impact sports bra like this one will work well for easy to moderate hiking trails. The thin straps and V-neck design won’t show under most tank tops or T-shirts. It’s made of polyester and elastane and can double as a chilling-at-the-campsite bra.
BUY IT HERE: mec.ca
Backpacking Trips
Brooks Drive 3 Pocket Bra
Carry everything and the kitchen sink with this versatile bra featuring not one, not two, but three ingeniously integrated pockets. The two side pockets are perfect for stashing your keys and cards and the hidden pocket on the upper back can fit an iPhone 14 Pro. The high neckline wards off sunburn and the integrated bottom band supports and moves with you as you hike, climb and set up camp. Size up as it’s extremely supportive, and compressive sports bras can start feeling too tight on an extended or overnight trek.
BUY IT HERE: mec.ca
Mountain Climbs
Lululemon Energy™ Bra
If you’re scaling mountains and scrambling up ridges, you’ll want something supportive and comfortable with ample freedom of movement. This bra provides moderate support for a B-D cup and is made with Luxtreme™ fabric with four-way stretch and added Lycra® fibre so you can reach your next hold. The material wicks away sweat and feels cool and smooth to the touch, even when you’re sweating up a storm. It has sturdy straps with an interesting criss-cross back design and removeable cups.
BUY IT HERE: lululemon.com
Quick, Steep, Strenuous Trails
Brooks Dare Crossback 2.0
If you’re pushing your legs up a difficult, hour-long trail—something like North Vancouver’s Grouse Grind—you might want to look for a high-impact sports bra like the Brooks Dare Crossback. A moderate- or high-impact bra like this can be worn on adventures when you’re going to be actively bounding up steep, technical trails. This bra features a strong bottom band and built-in (non-removeable) cups molded to offer on-the-trail support. This nearly seamless bra is made from a breathable, sweat-wicking DriLayer® HorsePower nylon and spandex to get you to the top of the mountain in record time.
BUY IT HERE: mec.ca
Trail Running
Lululemon Run Times Bra
Whether you’re tackling the trail at a sprint or going for a joyful jog through the forest, this high-support bra keeps you comfortable and held in place so you can focus on your pace. High-support sport bras are perfect for trail runs because you’re going to experience more bounce and impact. This bra is made from sweat-wicking, quick-dry fabric and features build-in (non-removeable) thin cups. Perforated panelling encourages airflow and adjustable, padded straps keep your shoulders comfortable. The back hood-and-eye closure cinches everything together.
BUY IT HERE: lululemon.com
Multi-Use Adventures
Lululemon Enlite Front-Zip Bra
So, you’re a multi-adventure-type—you like to cycle, hike, paddle and run all in the same day? Zip into this supportive bra for A–DDD(E) cups. Multi-use adventure bras should be well-fitted and versatile, and ideally, something you’re comfortable wearing as a swimming top. This bra is made for comfortable support on intense multi-adventures with smooth, sweat-wicking, quick-drying Ultralu™ fabric. It features a bonded underband to stay in place while you move and lightweight, built-in, non-removeable cups. The zipper is on the front, so be careful when zipping it up—fasten the small hook closure first.
BUY IT HERE: lululemon.com
Written by Alison Karlene Hodgins for Explore Magazine, published May 30, 2023N.A.C. NEWS
(Sunday, October 8, 2023)
Good Morning,
As I am typing this newsletter, I am fighting to stay awake. I am exhausted. Why, you ask? Well, earlier today (Friday, October 6th), Niagara Adventure Club and 3 felllow hikers headed up to the Beaver Valley. Once there, we began hiking the Bruce Trail along the entire West side of the valley. After about 13kms, we arrived at the first car, and two of our hiker's left. However, the very brave Lauren and myself continued on to complete a 26.8km hike late into the evening. The last 6 kilometers was completed in the dark using only head lamps to guide ourselves. This is the longest hike I have done in a very long time and the 7 hours of driving made for a very long day!
However, completing this hike today allowed me to get complete GPS logs of the entire Beaver Valley Section of the Bruce Trail. Now I only have to complete one more short 21km section in roughly the same area and I will have a complete GPS record of the Bruce Trail. Over the course of more than 25 years, I have hiked every piece of the Bruce Trail. But it wasn't until 2009 that I received a Garmin GPSMap 60cx as a Christmas present and began recording all my hikes. A few years back, I upgraded to the Garmin GPSMap 64s, and have continued to log and save every single hike I have completed all over Ontario, Canada, and even various places all over the world. I store the trail files all on one map, and I can scroll around the world and see every hike I have completed since 2009. It's very cool to see where you have been, how long it took you, the speed you completed it at, the elevation gain and more.
When you scroll down, you may notice that we don't have ay upcoming events. I have decided to hold off until we return from our Yosemite Expedition on October 22nd to plan and post more events. I have so much to do this week, and I am in need of a short break. This is the first year I have ever had an event every single weekend, and it's starting to wear me down. I will let you all know when I start posting events again in the very near future.
That's all the news for this week. As always, stay safe, and happy hiking!
Lenny Burch