Lume Six Sports Bra – Cirra and Altra

A sports bras this fits and performs well is surprisingly hard to find. The type of fabric, the compression, the breathability, the styling, and the fit are things that are hard enough to find on their own.  Combine that into one item that ticks all the boxes?  We’re talking unicorn status.

The team at Lume Six had the exact same experience with finding a sports bra that both fits AND performs and set out to create that unicorn product.  I think they’re really close.

Products Tested

Alta Medium Impact Sports Bra

• Offers flexible support with maximum breathability
• DreamSupport fabric on the front for maximum support
• FeatherAir fabric on the back for maximum breathability
• Medium profile and coverage for lighter support

Cirra High Impact Sports Bra

• Offers maximum support
• DreamSupport fabric on the front and back for maximum support
• Broader profile for maximum support

Both sports bras also have:

• Sewn-In Light Lining for modest coverage
• DreamSupport & FeatherAir fabric made in Italy at solar-powered facility
• DreamSupport fabric: 76% recycled polyester / 24% elastane
• FeaterAir fabric: 74% recycled polyester / 26% elastane
• Lining: 61% polyester / 35% cotton / 4% spandex

Detailed Review

I’m a small chested athlete with a large rib cage. I have purchased SO many sports bras in the past that, to accommodate my rib cage diameter (i.e. band size), I end up with a whole lot of extra fabric in the cups and strap area. Or, to fit my smaller cup size, I often have to get something that’s way too tight, making it uncomfortable to wear and hard to take a full breath.

Then you add in the wide variety of things that I do (yoga, weight lifting, running, cycling, hiking, triathlon)…. finding something that’s both supportive, lightweight, breathable AND where I can still take a full breath has been a challenge.

Lume Six is a different kind of sports bra.  Right out of the gate, the sizing is different. You order by band size + cup size, giving you a customized fit.  What does this mean for me?  A sports bra that fits around my rib cage but doesn’t end up billowing out around my collarbone and shoulders because of my small cup size. To help dial in the fit, Lume Six offers a wide range of band + cup size combinations.  And they have free shipping and free returns, making it super easy to exchange sizes to dial in your fit.

I did end up needing to exchange both of my bras for better sizing.  The process was fast and easy.  My band size is around 30 inches and there’s overlap for that diameter in the small and medium sizes.  My initial order was for a size small and the band size and shoulder openings were too tight in both the Alta and Cirra.  A quick exchange for a larger band size and I was good to go.

Before even putting on the sports bras, I could tell that they were different from others that I’ve worn. I’m a triathlete and cyclist and the fabric really reminded me of high end Italian aerosuits or a triathlon swimskin. The seams are all taped, rather than sewn. This means that the edges of the bra lay flat and that there aren’t any sneaky seams to chafe you.

Another giant sports bra pet peeve of mine is the removable modesty cups.  I don’t need them.  I think they’re annoying. Lume Six has recognized that their top fabric is on the (intentionally) thin side and has developed a bra liner that’s lightweight and doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a ton of padding. Most of my sports bras have 2 layers of fabric (and removable modesty pads) and the Lume Six liner felt light and supportive without feeling overwhelming.

Alta Medium Impact Vs Cirra High Impact

Coverage and Fit

The Alta Medium Impact Sports bra is has less coverage than the Cirra, but still has plenty of support. The main difference between the two is that the neckline is deeper, the straps are more slender, and the shoulder openings are larger on the Alta. I’ve found that the Alta fits me better because I have giant shoulders from 30+ years of competitive swimming.  The difference in neckline will likely come down to preference – do you prefer a lower neckline or a higher neckline that hits closer to the collarbone?

Performance

I liked the performance of both the Alta and Cirra sports bras. Other than slight differences in fit, I really couldn’t tell the Alta and the Cirra apart when I had them on and I was moving. The Cirra does feel a bit more “shield like” due to the larger coverage profile, but the fabric is so light that it doesn’t feel heavy or smothery.

I’ve been wearing both bras across a wide variety of activities and temperatures. Regular yoga, hot yoga, strength training, 90+ degree runs, long mountain bike and gravel rides. In every activity, I barely noticed the Lume Six Alta and Cirra bras, which is a HIGH compliment.

The bras are a little bit of a struggle to get on, largely because the fabric isn’t super stretchy. But once the bra is on it feels really comfortable and supportive without being too compressive.  The bras are definitely comfortable enough to wear all day.  Tuesdays, I usually run at lunch and then teach yoga and weight lift after work.  It’s just easier for me to keep my sports bra on after my run and go straight to my after work activities. I’ve also kept the bra on on long drives home from mountain biking. With some bras, I can’t wait to get out of it, but the Lume Six bras are comfortable enough to wear throughout the day.

Both of the Lume Six bra options are great in high sweat activities.  I’ve noticed afterwards that I will have a decent salt line on the front of the bra, but I never felt clammy or sticky during my activities. I haven’t done the true wicking test (triathlon) but based on the fabric qualities, I think this would be a GREAT option for women triathletes who are looking for a sports bra that doesn’t retain a ton of water.

Finally, I found the compression and support of both of the Lume Six sports bras to be great.  I felt supported but not constricted.  I had full range of motion and was able to take a full breath.

Closing Thoughts

The Lume Six line of sports bras offer flexible sizing and high performance for women seeking a better made sports bra.  The fabrics and construction techniques are very high end and deliver on style and performance.

The Lume Six sports bras are available in low impact (Strata), medium impact (Alta), and high impact (Cirra).  They come in a wide matrix of sizes and in multiple colors.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke