Looking for the best bras for seniors with arthritis? Trust me when I say I know how frustrating that can be. Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – like I have for the last ten years means changing everything – including your wardrobe. Even if you have osteoarthritis, these bras will be a game changer.
Those traditional back-fastening clasps you get on virtually every standard bra – they’re just impossible to work when your fingers don’t cooperate. Luckily, there are some better options out there – some more impressive than others.
Here’s my guide to some the best options for my fellow RA warriors.
The Best Bras for Seniors with Arthritis: 5 Picks
First up, I’m going to give you one top tip: forget (almost) everything else: focus on the clasp.
Yes, you still want your bra to be comfortable, breathable, and maybe even supportive – but if you can’t work the clasp – nothing else matters.
Anything with a closure that’s easy to manage should go to the top of your list. Bonus points for front-opening bras for seniors – they’re particularly handy.
With that out of the way – let’s dive into some top picks, from first to last.
The 1st Bra I tried: The Harper Wilde Bliss Bra
★★☆☆☆
After countless months trying to just “power through” with traditional bras – my fingers couldn’t take it anymore. I was sick of the sight of clasps and clips – so I decided to try something different. After searching through a few options advertised as “comfort bras for seniors”, I found the Bliss bralette.
This wasn’t my first adventure with “pull-on” bralettes. I’d tried the much cheaper “Bali” bra from Amazon in the past – but I wasn’t particularly impressed.
Still, Harper Wilde’s option seemed a lot more luxurious – and comfortable. It comes in various great colors (I have it in pink), and it’s double layered – so there’s a bit of extra support.
I couldn’t rate this bra too highly from a personal perspective – because the sizing is tricky to navigate, and the design doesn’t give me the “lift” it promises. I also had a lot of trouble pulling it over my head (I sometimes struggle with shoulder pain).
Still, I can see this bra being a good option for a lot of people with arthritis – if you’re just tired of clasps and want something simple.
The 2nd Bra I Tried: Silverts Adaptive Front Snap Bra
★★★☆☆
At this point, I figured I’d have to look for an arthritis bra with some kind of closure if I didn’t want basic “sports bra-level” support, or the hassle of tugging the garment over my head. But there was no-way I was going for a standard clasp.
After googling a few things, like “arthritis bra” and “easy-open bra”, Silverts kept popping up in the results – so I decided to give them a try. The “adaptive front snap closure” bra was listed as a best seller – and it seemed to offer everything I needed – so it was an easy purchase.
Again, I found there are a few things to like about this bra. It has wide straps, which is great for my shoulder pain, it’s padding and wire-free, and it closes with buttons, rather than hooks.
Those buttons seemed revolutionary at first – but I had some problems. First, pushing the buttons together takes a little effort (not great if you have painful fingers). Secondly, once you’ve got them closed – they don’t always stay that way.
I lost count of the number of times the closure just popped open when I was bending over, or turning around. This might not be an issue for you if you have a smaller bust, but if you’re looking for bras for seniors with arthritis that aren’t going to give you anxiety – skip this one.
The 3rd Bra I tried: Fruit of the Loom Front-Close Sports Bra
★★★☆☆
Going back to the drawing board, I headed over to Amazon. I’d already spent a good chunk of my budget, so I was looking for front opening bras for seniors, like me, that didn’t cost a fortune. The Fruit of the Loom front-close sport bras seemed like a bargain.
You get a pack of three for less than $30 – and you can choose from a bunch of colors. There’s even an option with a pretty flower pattern. Again these bras don’t have any wires, so you don’t have to worry about anything pinching or prodding you through the day.
I actually liked these bras just as much as the Silverts bra in terms of overall comfort – and I did think the closure was a lot better – it wasn’t just pinging open at the worst times.
The trouble is- although this bra is front-closing, it still has hooks – a lot of them – even more than your average bra. They’re reasonably easy to put together on a good day – but when you’re suffering from a lot of knuckle pain – you’ll want to leave this bra in the closet.
The 4th Bra I tried: YIANNA Zip front Bra
★★★☆☆
By now, I was looking for something totally different – forget the clips and buttons – surely there had to be another way to close a bra – I thought. Instead of looking for comfort bras for older ladies, I started searching for “zip” closures, and found the YIANNA sports bra.
This still seemed like a pretty comfortable option, with breathable material, and no wires. It also comes with a little bit of padding to give you coverage and shape. The reviews were mostly good, so I gave it a try. When it arrived, I realized my mistake.
Yes, this bra has a handy zip front – which is easier to use than hooks – but there are still two hooks you’ll need to fasten. You could ignore them – but there’s a good chance the zip will just fall down as you move around (that happened a lot for me).
The material isn’t brilliant either – it’s scratchy and tight – not great for older ladies with sensitive skin. You also need to fasten the back of the bra with an annoying Velcro strap.
The Best Bra I Tried: Liberare Everyday Easy-On Bra
For moment, I considered giving up. I almost decided that great bras for seniors with arthritis were a myth – like anti-wrinkle cream that actually gets rid of wrinkles.
Fortunately a good friend of mine (shout-out to Jen), told me about Liberare. She said she’d read about their front-opening bras on a Vogue blog, and recommended giving them a try.
So I did. I got myself the “Everyday Easy-On Bra” – because that’s exactly what I was looking for – something simple. When it arrived, I immediately thought “great more clips” – but then I tried it on.
This bra is magic! It has built-in magnets that help guide the clips into place (so you’re not doing all the work). There are even finger loops for those of us with slightly shaky hands.
The clips lock into place (and stay there) all day long – but that’s just the start. This bra is genuinely one of the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn. It’s so soft and breathable it feels like a treat to wear – and while there are no wires, there are strategically placed seams that keep you supported without rubbing or causing annoying friction.
Discovering this bra almost had me in tears (in a good way). I threw a bunch of my old staples in the trash, and stocked up on a few extras (now I have the Comfort Sculpt and Smooth-on T-shirt bra too – both just as incredible!)
The Best Bra for Seniors with Arthritis: Found
It was a bumpy road – but I finally found the bra that really makes a difference to my life – in fact, now I have a few! That’s not to say that the other bras I mentioned above won’t work for you – you might find them to be excellent.
But if you want my honest recommendation – skip the rest and go straight to Liberare. They really know what ladies like us need – comfort, support, and an easy life.
