The Most RA-Friendly Bra I've Found
Last updated: January 2024
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means adjusting... literally everything.
Over the years, I’ve found some of the parts of getting dressed that once were easy (clasps, hooks, zippers) have gotten harder. And, on particularly bad days, getting dressed can be extremely frustrating and even impossible to complete.
This or That
Are you newly diagnosed (1 year or less) with RA?
Creating a more RA-friendly wardrobe
So, I’ve made substitutions, adjustments, and changes to what I wear.
I wrote another article about living in leggings. That was my first major wardrobe overhaul. It is a rare day now that I put on a pair of pants with a snap, a button, or a zipper.
It's just too hard on my hands and, frankly, too uncomfortable for my body.
Clasping regular bras got harder
The next change I made was with my bras. As a female who happens to be rather nipple conscious, I choose not to leave my house without a bra on.
However, hooking the three or four clasps on my regular bras has gotten harder and harder. I used to be able to do them blind, behind my back, without a second thought.
Eventually, I switched to completing the clasps in the front and then rotating the bra around to the correct orientation afterward. But, it became such a source of stress and frustration. And, for the most part, I've now ditched the clasps nearly altogether.
A period of trial and error
I have tried several non-clasp bras in the last few years. Everything from zip-up bras, to over-the-head bras with and without an underwire to traditional sports bras.
Upon trying on a new bra, several had more pros than cons, and I'd keep them and wash them, only to find with a few wears down the road that they were actually incredibly uncomfortable to wear for more than 20 minutes at a time. What a bummer, right?
Honestly, I have an entire drawer filled with discarded bras all in really good shape. They just weren't meant for my body.
Why I like this seamless wireless bra
Let me introduce the game-changing bra: the Bali Women's Comfort Revolution Easylite Seamless Wireless Bra. As a person living with RA, I feel like this bra has everything I want and nothing I don't.
No discomfort with underwire
Let me tell you more. This bra is 60 percent nylon and 40 percent spandex, meaning that it is stretchy but maintains its shape. It gives a contoured comfort but isn't too tight, and has no extra elastic or underwire to cause discomfort.
Gentle on my RA hands
There is no closure, meaning it's a pull-over, over-the-head bra. No clasps, no zippers, no hassle. Additional side flex panels offer additional stretch for easy on, easy off. A dream for my RA hands, right?
Lightweight and sweat-wicking
They are seamless, meaning no lines under your clothes. And they come with foam cups which I choose to utilize, but they're completely removable if they're not your style. And my favorite part? The material is lightweight, and sweat-wicking which means it never feels sticky, thick, or uncomfortable.
This has been a game-changer
A bra may just be an accessory or a part of an outfit for others but, for me, it was causing serious challenges and anxieties about getting dressed.
This bra has made me much less frustrated with getting dressed and honestly more willing to leave my house. It has given me some freedom and some confidence and doesn't require me to come home and immediately change due to discomfort.
If you've found any game-changing bras you've appreciated as well, drop the links below! Sharing is caring, and these tips are super helpful!
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