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The North Face High Impact Sports Bra Review
March 12, 2013The Good
- Convenient stash pocket
- Super comfortable
- Good for high-impact runs
- No customized sizing options
The Bad
- Difficult on/off
This was our favorite traditional over-the-head compression bra in the lineup. No fancy features – the Stow-n-Go is a simple, comfortable, affordable, and supportive high impact running bra with the added convenience of a stash pocket.
Comfort
The Stow-n-Go is as comfortable as a compression bra can get. The polyester/elastane shell is super soft, and the band manages to stay firmly in place without the rubbing and digging of other compression bras. I did need to rip out the booklet of tags due to incessant scratching.
Fit/Mobility
This was one of the only traditional style sports bras that I would wear to yoga—it’s surprisingly flexible for a compression bra. The sizing is the standard S/M/L with no adjustability in the straps or chest band.
Functionality
Traditional over-the-head compression functionality made it a little bit of a struggle to get on and off, and lack of adjustability makes fit a bit of a hit-or-miss. A small interior pocket between the breasts is a thoughtful added bonus that we appreciated.
Support
The Stow-n-Go is a high-support bra, even for our C cup tester. She actually picked this bra as one of her top overall choices in the test for her marathon training runs. Women bustier than a C cup will want to stay away from compression bras, however.
Breathability
The combination of VaporWick material, strategic placement of mesh, the “keyhole” in mid-back, and minimal back coverage made this quite comfortable on long, hot runs.
Value
At $40, the Stow-n-Go was right at the average pricepoint for the 20 tested bras. Given its high support and versatility, this is a good value.