# Sports bras for men: Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001 "2023-10-02T12:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/1 "2023-10-02T12:51:11Z")
I watch a lot of soccer. It’s an old tradition that soccer players often take off their shirts, sometimes enthusiastically after scoring, often after a game to give fans a souvenir or exchange jerseys with their opponents. Anyway, in the last few years I noticed that numerous players are wearing what I can only describe as sports bras instead of undershirts or nothing at all, which had been the norm for all of my life watching soccer (and playing myself). Why is that? I’ve also have seen it in other sports. These are athletes with well-defined bodies and no man-boobs. My first theory is that it’s for protection of the nipples for those who don’t want to wear a regular undershirt. I’ve heard that long distance runners encounter problems with abrasion caused by friction with their shirts in that area and use to cover their nipples with protective tape. Is this the same concern for soccer players wearing bras? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/2 "2023-10-02T12:54:30Z")
I think they contain GPS trackers to gather performance data. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/3 "2023-10-02T12:55:27Z")
Ah, that’s an aspect that wouldn’t have come to my mind. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/4 "2023-10-02T13:00:18Z")
From [Slate](https://slate.com/culture/2022/12/mens-soccer-sports-bra-south-korea-gps-harness-vest.html) > [@](#): > > Why are men’s soccer players wearing what appear to be sports bras under their jerseys at the World Cup? > > or science! Specifically, for the collection of individualized player GPS data. These harnesses—officially, they’re called “GPS tracker vests,” though there is nothing vest-like about them—contain, in a small pouch on the back, a small GPS tracking device. Team managers and trainers collect that data to learn precisely how far and how fast players have run in practice and during matches. This information can help managers make decisions about how hard to push a player, whether to let someone take a day off, and the like. Presumably, teams can also use the data to see who’s _actually_ running a lot on the pitch and who only runs when the manager’s looking at them. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/5 "2023-10-02T13:00:44Z")
Some data gathered: - The athletes’ positions on the field and in relation to other athletes - The distances they have covered - How fast they are running (speed) and accelerating, turning, jumping - How often they are sprinting at various speeds - If they had any impacts/clashes and how often - The athletes’ heart rate in relation to all that is happening throughout a training session or game ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/6 "2023-10-02T13:10:09Z")
In the 21st century, it figures that the answer is “data collection” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/7 "2023-10-02T13:48:53Z")
Runners will sometimes put a band aid on their nipples to keep them from chaffing against the shirt in long distance races. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/8 "2023-10-02T14:59:36Z")
I’m curious what kind of band-aid would stick that well under those sweaty circumstances? I wish I could find a good one (not for running, and not for nipples, but for normal usage most band-aids I have tried either don’t stick well to my skin or don’t stick well to the other end of the band-aid, i.e. when wrapping around a finger). ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/9 "2023-10-02T15:08:10Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I’m curious what kind of band-aid would stick that well under those sweaty circumstances? Not a runner. I was my wifes sherpa. She, of course just wore a sports bra. IronMan stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/10 "2023-10-02T15:37:52Z")
Just regular circular band-aids work fine, although they sell special covers for it as well. I used the special covers for marathons and ultras, they never fell off and I sweat a lot. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/11 "2023-10-02T16:09:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > although they sell special covers for it as well. According to [Nip Guards - 4RUN3](https://www.4run3.com/nip-guards.html) the fact that they stick directly to the nipple (rather than the more sweat-producing skin around it) is an important part of them staying on. (But the gps thing is more likely what the soccer thing is for). ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/12 "2023-10-02T16:18:13Z")
I’ve used waterproof band-aids that don’t come loose even while being submerged in water for long periods of time. I don’t know why those wouldn’t work with a little sweat. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/13 "2023-10-02T16:47:32Z")
The circle bandages always worked fine for me, too. I would make sure to put them on well ahead of starting a run to give the adhesive some time to do it’s thing before starting to get sweaty. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/14 "2023-10-02T18:52:47Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > they stick directly to the nipple… I didn’t click on the link, but I’m picturing alligator clips? mmm ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/15 "2023-10-02T19:30:34Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I didn’t click on the link, but I’m picturing alligator clips? I assure you they are a very conventional product. It’s just a matter of what skin the adhesive attaches to. I remember seeing these in a running store, and thinking, “runners will buy anything”. Then I ran a 5k in a cotton shirt when there was a slight mist of rain… ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/16 "2023-10-02T20:00:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Runners will sometimes put a band aid on their nipples to keep them from chaffing against the shirt… Cyclists too. Well this cyclist, anyway. Three hours on rubbish British roads = serious wear and tear. j ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/17 "2023-10-02T21:21:51Z")
How do burlesques performers keep the pasties in place? Wig tape, toupee tape ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/18 "2023-10-03T13:20:53Z")
I bet the folk who make computer football gamed will pay a lot for that data. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/19 "2023-10-03T22:20:39Z")
They put the Band-Aids on BEFORE the race. The first time my local town had a marathon, a man at my church ran it (RIP Bryan) and his wife saw a man at the finish line who had not done this, and almost lost her lunch. She was just shocked to see a man with a big bloody mess all over the front of his shirt. I agree, possibly medical data collection. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001/20 "2023-10-03T23:29:23Z")
That’s a bro. Or possibly a manssiere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-bras-for-men-why/991001.md?page=2)