A Handful of Goodness: Review of Handful Activewear Hi Five Leggings & Y-Back Bra

Ladies. If you haven’t heard of Handful Activewear, it’s time to get on board like YESTERDAY. This local women-owned company knows what women want and need. Not only do they have a program to help in the fight for breast cancer (read about that here) their quality activewear is made with a woman’s body in mind. It doesn’t hurt that it’s all really cute too!

Found online and in retail stores across the country, Handful is a community-driven female-owned force that celebrates women of all shapes, shades and ages, focusing each product on what they refer to as the Handful High Five – their favorite F Words: Fashion, Function, Feel, Fun and FIGHT, the last of which represents their survivor support in the fight against breast cancer, which is their cause.

If you’re wondering which bra is best for you, check out the different bras Handful makes here. In my case, the Y-Back Bra was a perfect choice, as is a high support option for running and high impact activities.

In addition to the Y-Back Bra, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the Hi Five Pocketed High-Waist Legging too.

I get to test a lot of gear and I’ll tell you this .. The difference between a Handful product and many of the other brands out there is evident. Spoiler Alert – Handful really is the best of the best.

Looks

So first, let’s talk about the leggings. The High Five Leggings, which I received in a pattern called Nature Daze, are so smooth and dreamy. These have a camo forest vibe and the colors in the pattern are beautiful. There’s a light green sublimation on the inside of the leggings and they are squat proof. This means there is no danger of showing the world what color your panties are every time you bend down.

The Y-Back Bra I received is a color called JunipHer, which is a forest green. It compliments the leggings perfectly. The wide straps are functional and cute and I love how they come together in the back so that the bra will sit perfectly under a racer-back tank. The ruching in the center is also stylish as well as functional, because no one likes a uni-boob.

Function

I’ve taken a stand with leggings in the last few years, and I refuse to wear them without pockets. I don’t know why it took so long for the fashion industry to realize women want pockets, but I’m glad it’s finally happened. I know some women who don’t like pockets in workout gear because they prefer a seamless look, but I am not one of those people. If you’re a runner, you want a place to keep your key or your phone or your GU. The side pockets on the High Five leggings can hold all of these things.

The Y-Back Bra is a HUGE score for a running bra. Runner’s World says it’s “the right bra for C to D cups who need a little extra support.” I feel completely secure running in this and don’t even notice it. If you’re a size C, D, or bigger, you know that not noticing your bra while running is a really big win.

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Construction

These leggings are TOUGH. My good friend Kristena said she has worn Handful’s leggings for long endurance runs and found that they are up to the challenge. I love that the leggings are thick because I sometimes fall in the dark and wet days of winter and I really want to cry when I get holes from spills on the pavement. I also can be hard on my clothes, and these are really built to last.  They are made with Recycled Polyester fabric, so good for the environment too.

As mentioned, the Y shape of the Y-Back Bra is perfect for wearing under a racer-back tank. I personally love this style because I don’t feel like the straps will ever fall off my shoulders. Like the leggings, the quality of the material is excellent and strong. The bras all come with removeable pads so you have the option of keeping those or ditching them.

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Fit

I opted for a size medium for both the leggings and the bra. I typically wear a size 8 to 10 in leggings, and the medium fit great. I was told to try the bra in the size I wear in a shirt, and the medium was perfect there too.

The leggings are compressive, but in a “gentle hug” sort of way, not in a “death grip around your body and cutting off your circulation” way. I want to pull on my leggings and have them stay where I left them, and that’s what a good pair of leggings should do. I also love that the High Five Leggings have a 5” waist because I don’t want my belly jiggling over the top of my pants when I run. I have a long torso and the leggings cover everything well.

The leggings are 7/8 length, and that will be different for everyone depending on how tall they are. I am only 5’-4” with short legs, but I find these 7/8 leggings are a bit longer on me than some other brands. I really like that, as I want my ankles covered this time of year. I’ve seen some women are even folding them over, which looks really cute with the green sublimation on the underside peeking out.

The fit of the Y-Back Bra is snug around my ribcage but not too tight. The nice wide straps don’t budge but also don’t dig into my shoulders.  10 out of 10.

Overall/For Consideration

In case you can’t tell, I’m a big Handful fan. I’m looking forward to wearing more fun patterns and trying other styles too! This is a local business that makes great quality products that make women feel good. On top of all that, they do good things for the community, and I’d rather lend my support to them vs one of the other companies that don’t.