Beauty & Balance

This New Sports Bra Took 3 Years to Develop — and Our Editors Got to Try It

The world of sports bras just got a little better. On September 25, intimates brand Knix launched its first high-impact sports bra with the mission to “transform how women feel before, during, and after their workout,” according to a press release. The bra, which is called the Catalyst, promises to be more supportive, comfortable, and revolutionary than any of the others in the market.

The Catalyst bra went through a very rigorous testing process with the help of some top universities to ensure it would outperform competitors. During the bounce rate test, which entails women running on a treadmill sans bra and then measuring the difference when one is worn, 83 percent of the research participants rated Knix’s option as their top choice in both support and performance. Anyone who has ever run with an unsupportive bra on knows how essential the bounce rate measurement truly is.

Courtesy of brand

Another big element of this bra’s design process was ensuring that it excelled in size inclusion, offering from a 32A to 42G. This was such an important aspect to the Catalyst’s creation, in fact, that development was halted to ensure that they did it the right way, especially because the average US bra size is 34DD. After 22 design sketches and 42 prototypes, the final result is an evolved sports bra with six support zones, performance fabric, and 13 ventilation holes to increase comfortability. But, how did it measure up in our testing?

We had some Allure and Teen Vogue editors test out the bra. While a few had issues with the sizing (Knix takes advantage of a “sister sizing” system that matches up equivalent bands and cups), the people that were able to overcome that initial hurdle ended up mostly enjoying the undergarment.

“I actually really loved the bra — it honestly doesn’t feel like I’m wearing anything at all, which is great because bras normally feel too constricting to me,” says Allure editorial assistant Jesa Calaor. “I feel completely supported in the way that I need when I’m working out, but never ever feel suffocated.” Calaor also loved how the wide straps were seamless and adjustable, while the fabric wasn’t too clingy after a sweaty workout.

Another tester loved how the Catalyst performed, but admitted that it wasn’t the type of bra that they were just to. “This bra did everything it was supposed to do: it held me in, it kept things from bouncing, but it was just too much bra for me,” says Teen Vogue deputy editor Ella Ceron. “Separate cups and industrial grade fabric are nice, but I just don’t know if I need it for every workout.”

With any undergarment, the bottom line is finding what style makes you feel most comfortable. If you prefer something with molded cups and more traditional bra straps for your workouts, you should absolutely give the Catalyst a try, which retails for $85 over at knix.com. If you’re more comfortable in a classic racerback sports bra, you could always give Knix’s Racerback Evolution Bra a try. Either way, you’ll likely find something you like from Knix.

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