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It wasnt going to happen.
photo_chaz/CSA-Printstock/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
So I let it be, and finished my run with the pad jutting through my shirt.
So we went straight to the source: the brands that make them.
Heres what they said.
Why do so many sports bras have removable pads anyway?
In other words: These little pads exist to hide your nip.
Lots of folks like the pads and the coverage they offer.
Like people who want to feel more filled-out (hot girl walk, anyone?)
Lots of breast cancer survivors whove had mastectomies also opt to wear theinserts, Haron says.
But for all the people who love them, there may be just as many who cant stand em.
Like my pal Paola Quinones.
She wears a size 32H and rips out the pads whenever she buys a sports bra with them.
Jasmine Leidich, product designer at Brooks Running, tells SELF its a 50-50 split.
The Adidas team has noticed the same.
By adding the removable pads, brands can appeal to people on both sides of the aisle.
Good news: Sports bra manufacturers are trying to make the cups less irksome.
The brands are well aware of the complaints, and many have tried to make them less…insufferable.
So it could help to pair these bras with your less grueling workouts.
But, as Leidich says, it really comes down to personal preference.
If you like low-impact bras with removable pads for jogging (confession: I do)stick with it.
Its not like the cup, or lack thereof, is going to hurt you.
Another tip: Be mindful of fit.
Theres a greater chance the pad will swim around if your bras too loose, Haron says.
The best way to prevent the pads from bunching: Know how to clean them.
Why, you may ask?
Because it actually plays a big part in wear comfort.
Her advice: Remove them, clean them in a separate washer bag, then stuff them back in.
This, friends, is where Ive gone wrong.
Well, then, hey, Ill do it.
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