Problems:
Underwire bras hurt my ribs if I wear them all day. This has no wires.
Sports bras squash me flat and give me uniboob. This supports well and, while it doesn't not give separation and lift like an underwire, it's much better than sports bras. I actually look better in clothes with this bra on.
Sports bras are hard to get into, a real struggle as I get older. This has hook fasteners in the back band so putting it on and taking it off is a breeze.
Sports bras often have soft cups that are inserted through tiny openings in the underarm area, and if you machine-wash the bra with the cups in place, they will fold in half and rotate inside the bra so that you have to adjust them after washing, which is a pain. The cups in this bra are integral, sewn in place, and do not shift or move at all. They are able to offer real support instead of just keeping your headlights from showing, although they do that, too.
Some of my sports bras have extra straps that look cute and help to keep all straps from sliding off my shoulders, but they have started to irritate my back between my shoulder blades. This has straps that are wide and comfortable and do not slide off my sloping shoulders, plus they end up seated on my shoulders in a place that manages to stay hidden under T-shirts and tank shirts alike.
Soft bras with wide bands should fit smoothly across my ribs, and they do -- for about 30 seconds, after which they roll up and dig into my ribs. The band on this is just right, just wide enough to get a grip, and just strong enough to stay put, but narrow enough to stay flat and not roll up.
Oh, how I love this bra! When they say you can put it on and wear it all day and forget that you're wearing anything, they are right. I love how it looks when it peeks out from under the too-low tops and dresses that are really pretty but too low for anybody who was raised to keep her cleavage covered. It has a nice binding along the neckline that helps it look like a camisole. I love that it comes in lots of colors, because now I'm going to get several to wear under said low-cut tops and dresses instead of just black. I'm tempted to donate all of my other bras and just replace them with these. It could well happen.