#chest binders

[transmasc-advice-blog]

Binding

Binders

I found that Spectrum Outfitters worked best for me (prices range from $50-$39). I also have binders that are older and stretched out or that don’t work as well (like gc2b) that I use when I don’t need as flat of a chest because they are easier on my rib cage lol. If you do that, do NOT count that as a break!

Practice safe binding!

Don't bind for more than 8 hours

Don't sleep in a binder

Don't exercise in a binder

Get the right size

Try to only wear a binder for 5 or 6 days a week (this one is hard, I know)

If it hurts, take it off!

If you notice bruising, something is wrong! Your binder might be too small or you may be wearing it for too long.

TransTape

Wearing binders all the time is not too good for you so I recommend using a variety of different binding techniques. One is TransTape!

The reason Ace bandages are unsafe is because as you breathe it gets tighter and tighter and can really hurt you. But TransTape doesn't do that, it's like the tape athletes use when they sprain their ankle or something. It's safe as long as it is used properly. Plus, you can wear it for up to 5 days, exercise and sleep while wearing it, and it's water proof!

TransTape isn't the only brand of course, but they do have a lot of great resources.

Learn more at their website here. I recommend starting with this page and the FAQ.

KT tape is another option if you cant afford/arent allowed to order TransTape. You can find it at most drugstores and box stores for relatively cheap. The adhesive isnt as strong as TransTape, keep that in mind when applying.

Men's Compression Shirts *I have not used these myself (yet) but I hear they work pretty well*

Made for cis men with gynecomastia but hey we can use em. Obviously will work much better for smaller chests, but could still do something for bigger chests, maybe for under a hoodie?

They won't flatten you as well as binders but the goal is more to masculinize the shape of your chest than to completely flatten it. They are also safer than binders.

Other stuff

The color black will make you look flatter

Layers! Lots of layers! (don't overheat)

Sports bras

Compression bras

Button ups <3333

Resources

Pain-Free Binding Techniques | Youtube Video by Arthur Rockwell

Binding 101 - Point of Pride

Binding Safely - Spectrum Outfitters

How to Hide Your Chest (without a binder) | Youtube Video by Iris Olympia

Binder Care - Spectrum Outfitters

Please free feel to add!

[shapeshiftersvt]

Hi look at this binder

[genderqueerdykes]

any tips on binding when you're hypermobile? i'm aware my ribs may react badly to it, so i wanna do this smartly and carefully

that's a good question, i somewhat have experience with this, but this may vary greatly from your experience depending on how your own rib cage responds

whenever i got a chest binder online, it was from a decent maker at the time, but i found myself not being able to wear it for very long without feeling extremely uncomfortable. i ended up not finding it worth it, but i had already used a strategy in the past. some folks can find success with a well fitting sports bra that doesn't have individual cups sewn in- some have a flat front that will help with compression

trans tape is also an option! this can depend on the size of your chest, but it's definitely an option:

otherwise i would say play it by ear, if you find yourself feeling very uncomfortable and especially if there's pain, it may not be worth your time to use a binder or sports bra. for some of us it's difficult or impossible because of our disabilities and that's okay. if anyone has any suggestions for anything else this anon could use, feel free to add!

[hjellacott]

But they did "nothing" wrong, yeah?

Source:

[i-am-the-doctor]

So since my former friend has no intentions to replace the binder that i had asked for from point of pride that he lost, does anyone know any free binder projects that can ship to Mississippi?

I would apply for another point of pride binder but i already ordered from them.

[smolldust]

does anyone know a good place to by good quality & affordable chest binders?

[caveat-canine]

As someone who is trans, I know how annoying it is to hear "don't overbind you'll hurt your ribs!1!1" but PLEASE be careful.

I bind with a tank binder a size too large regularly, and still the past several months I've been dealing with horrible back/side/hip pain, and after two relocations of my 5th, 7th, and 8th ribs, have now been diagnosed with slipping rib syndrome. Weeks before top surgery. I know not binding is hell on its own, but please take care of your body.

[parkakeet]

fytist shutting down is the worst. literally where am I supposed to buy a new binder now

[golgbtunicorns]

Wrap yourself in comfort, and wrap yourself in confidence.🦄️💪🌈

[rossary-of-the-rose]

when you ask your mam if you can buy a binder with your bday money after she gave you a speech about how you need to spend the money on yourself not your friends for xmas and she responds with the ‘I’m planning my mother’s funeral rn’ guilt trip card when you weren’t being a bitch to her at all like what ⁉️⁉️

obviously i get she’s busy and i respect that but i wasn’t even trying to suggest anything bad i was just asking, and she assumes that i haven’t done any research myself and that i’m implying something by asking her if i can buy one like hold up- 😭😭

[sanctus-mediator]

Binder problems or some shit.

Okay I usually never do this [and when I mean never, I mean I have never done this] but a sale just set me off and I can't talk about it to anyone so I might as well ask for advice and tell this fucked up story in the one app I have access to.

Onto my problem. I bought a binder and I never bought a binder before. For context I was born a girl and usually, generally, I don't care enough about my body to be bothered about it. My body is okay, I never care for it and I maintain it enough for it to function but I've never done anything to make it feel comfortable to me. It's just a vessel that takes me from place to place, that's it.

But after I moved out of my house for college I've gained access to my own money [as in I have a bank account that only I can access and some money sent for my living expenses.] I am very good at managing money [albeit in somewhat questionable methods, but I get by.] and I got quite a big sum to spend on myself for fun. Money that I can use to buy myself things without my family knowing.

Now I've been very absent mentally for a lot of my years [as in general, I don't know what's happening all around me I just want to survive type of deal] and never bothered to do anything that makes my body a body. It's just a vessel. Until a couple of days ago, where I was staring at my chest and thinking of slicing it off with a knife.

So, damn, fuck. I hate my chest now. No problem, I'll just buy a binder since I can't breath if I bind it with anything else. But now that just fucking caught up to me and I just realized I bought BINDER. A real binder. Not a sports bra 2 size too small or a compression shirt, or even body tape, but a BINDER.

It wasn't something I thought about doing, it was just a problem that needed to be solved and I solved it. IN A WAY THAT MADE ME PANIC FOR THE REST OF THE FUCKING DAY.

Because I don't know what I am. I don't feel present enough to know what I am. I don't know about gender and shit and most days I feel like nothing at all.

I already ordered it but I can just cancel it whenever. The problem is whether I should and if it would be a good investment if I don't. I bought it because it was on sale and I also bought a corset so it isn't like it will cause me financial strain. Just emotional.

I honestly don't know what I should do. Should I cancel it? Should I not? If I did and I like to wear it then what the fuck am I??? and if I did and I don't like wearing it what the fuck am I gonna do with it?????

[transmasc-advice-blog]

hey y’all, a reminder:

please please please SIZE UP when you order a binder, unless you are literally the smallest measurement for the given size. i just made this mistake, i was the max measurement for the size and i thought it was fine and now i have the binder and it is tight and uncomfortable. also if you are reading this how long have you had your binder on? and drink some water!!

love,

arlo

[shapeshiftersvt]

Good morning, please look at this incredible Medusa binder that I'm sending out to some Perseus today

[genderqueerdykes]

Chest dysphoria comes and goes, (mostly comes), and a lot of the time I think about getting top surgery but I'm kinda super afraid of surgery...

I'm not sure where this thought is going, it just kinda sucks that I'm afraid of it. I know binding is an option but it's not super comfortable lately, and since I'm in choir I can't/don't really want to wear them for singing purposes.

i think its really important to give yourself ample time to decide. surgery is a huge decision to make, and it's alright if you don't know right away. you kinda have to work through the minutiae of it and figure out how you feel bit by bit. there are pros and cons, and it's important to see if one side outweighs the other, or if there are important reasons like health (mental or physical) that would make it so that you may need to do it, or avoid it, depending

i'm sorry that you're feeling that fear, but it's okay. this is a huge change, and it does take a while to recover. as someone who's just recovering from laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery, it is *very* painful to recover from surgery. i'm not saying this to turn you away from it altogether, but rather, i do get why you're apprehensive. however, if you do want to go ahead with it, your surgical team should be committed to making sure you're not in pain. you won't be thrown to the wolves

it's alright to not know right away. binding is really hard, i understand. have you tried something like trans tape (if that works for you and your skin texture)? it might be an alternative to binder garments. good luck with everything, take your time, don't rush yourself into a decision, alright? it's okay to think it over. stay safe!

[darkshrimpemotions]

Congrats on deboobage! May I inquire about the brand of your new binder? Im doing some market research

Thank you, and of course! It's the Extreme series Tri-Top Chest Binder from Underworks.

I have several Underworks binders, and they've all been great, but this one gives me the kind of compression I honestly didn't even think was possible for someone of my size and chest measurements. For sizing reference, my chest measurement in a regular bra is 55.5 inches, and I typically wear a 44G bra or a 4X in Torrid's bralettes. I wear a 3X in Underworks sizing.

I will say, I don't recommend this particular one if you're going to be doing a lot of strenuous activity. Not because of compression--I can take a full, deep breath with this on, and I think it actually helps with some chronic back pain I have that normally makes that kinda difficult. But this particular model is three layers of a material that doesn't breathe much and it feels quite warm. For me it's worth it for a flat chest on a day when I'm just working at my desk or walking short distances, but YMMV on that.

Underworks does have some other models with slightly less compression that breathe more. They still give a noticeably flatter chest even without the three layers, and I wear those if I'm going to do anything strenuous!

My only gripe with these is how high the neck is. Works great if I'm wearing crew neck shirts, but otherwise shows quite a lot (I have yet to find the binder that will allow me to wear my slutty pirate shirts without showing, sadly).

I hope this helps!

[i-am-the-doctor]

LGBT UNICORNS EXPLORER PRO BINDER REVIEW!!! :3

Okay, so i'm a poor guy, right? and i was searching on amazon for a binder that would fit me since my first binder is too small for me now + ripping apart, and my 2nd one that was gifted to me is losing its tightness. (i wouldn't really reccomend searching for binders on amazon ESPECIALLY not the hook and eye ones cuz those mess your ribs up and the front zipper ones are usually reserved for top surgery binders i think.) Eventually, using the money that i had earned from doing surveys. I decided to try the LGBT Unicorns explorer pro binder. (also affectionately known on amazon as "LGBT UNICORNS Chest Binder, FTM Binder Trans, Bindfree Sizing Design"), and lemme tell yall, its pretty comfy.

I am a DD/DDD in bras the last time i ever checked, and i found that the 2X binder has made it even easier to function as a transgender individual who binds. (your body may vary, so always and forever measure before you buy a binder from anywhere!), it also has an elastic on the bottom so that nothing slips out, which was a big problem when it came to my 2 GC2Bs. i can now lift my arms up over my head without having to worry about my chest falling out.

the material is also very soft and not scratchy at all. there isn't even any tags to worry about!

one thing i will say though, is that the zippers on both sides (for taking breaks) are a pain in the butt to zip up, but thats most likely because i have a wider frame and i am chubby. It does also have a bit of a uniboob but thats actually something that i don't really have much of a problem with since i always wear a baggy jacket.

all in all, for the money, its a pretty damn good binder!