How to put on a trip top binder without humiliating myself?

[FullThrottleMalehem]

Thanks to an awesome person, I don't want to post username for their privacy, I now have a small Tri Top binder from Underworks. My problem now is getting the binder on without humiliating myself. My partner is frequently gone for medical reasons and so having my partner help isn't an option. I have no understanding friends that would help, my only option would to recruit the one family member I know who is OK with me being FTM. But that would still be quite embarrassing, even though we were the family growing up who until puberty hit would just walk around in our underwear. It's different as an adult obviously. Am I just screwed, or is there any way to do this without completely humiliating myself and feeling really dysphoric in front of another person? I'm feeling pretty crushed and defeated right now.

When I try to pull if over my head, it bunches all up right under the arms and because it restricts arm movements that way and is so stuck all bunched up, I can't pull it down. There's no way I can just step into it, I tried. I'm not even obese so this frustrates me to no end, but my hips are stupid big thanks to every female assigned at birth on both of my parents' sides pretty much.

[Devlyn]

Did you check out this? http://ftm.underworks.com/

Also, I found this:

I've been using the tri-tops and the double-fronts for years. They both work very well, and which one a person likes better is entirely a matter of personal preference. I like the tri-top better, my roommate likes the double-front.

There's no zipper, you just pull it on over your heard. Which means that the first time you try to put it on, it will feel like you're going to need the jaws of life to get out. Everyone learns their own tricks for it, but for the first couple times be prepared to get stuck for 15 minutes. Once it's on it's quite comfortable, though.

[FullThrottleMalehem]

Thank you. The stepping into didn't work due to my hips. I hope it becomes easier with time. I had to have help getting it on to make sure it fit, I just couldn't get the thing on myself, and will probably need help taking it off as well. The tri top was recommended so I went with that, I didn't even see the vest style but I wanted something that didn't compress the whole chest and stomach, full back since it's the first time I've used anything to bind other than a basic sports bra.

[Squirrel698]

It does become easier with time.  You'll learn the tricks it takes to get it on right.  You do not need any help, just twist and turn until you have it done.  Pinching, random pain and muscle aches are to be expected. 

Full disclosure, I actually hate Underworks.  They are such a pain to get on and they always bunch under the bottom while I'm wearing it.

So I get http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=188 this beauty because it has a little something called velcro which eliminates the calisthenics. 

[Jeatyn]

I gave up on my underworks for this reason  among others. I had to have my partner help me in an out of it and I swear it was like trying to shut an overfilled suitcase xD

I really don't have any advice for you I'm afraid. I couldn't step in to mine either. I did manage to get it on over my head by myself once, but it took me a good 20 minutes and I was freakin exhausted and chaffed xD more often than not I would end up stuck with my arms over my head feeling like shoulders were going to dislocate.

I did consider sewing some loops on to the bottom of it, to make it easier to grip and pull down, maybe you could try that?

In fact, to expand upon that idea. You could sew small loops on to the bottom, and then have a much larger loops to attach to the small loops. When you need to put it on, pull it over your head and crouch down...then hook the longer loops with your feet....then as you stand up it would be dragged down. Then remove the large loops and rearrange everything and you're good to go

[DriftingCrow]

I just got my first tri top in the mail today, and just tried putting it on about 5 minutes ago. It's a little more difficult than the other binder that I had, but I found that if I stick my head in and then just put my arms up through the arm holes, I could wiggle around some and it came down to about my shoulders. Once I lowered my arms, it kind of pushed it further down my shoulder, and I was able to bring one of my arms over to the back and pull the binder down that was bunched up and then fixed it over the front.

Yay! It's on!  (Though my nipples don't like it too much, it seems more scratchy than the other underworks binder I have)

[ford]

I think with a little practice you'll figure it out.

When I first got mine, I was putting it on and got stuck in that same awkward position you describe, with it bunched at the shoulders and under the arms and with my arms stuck in the air. I managed to wiggle it a little lower, and then I had this sudden instant of total panic: what if I can't get it off. I won't be able to dial a phone for help...I'll die here halfway in my binder, ha

In the end it was fine, and each time I put it on it's a little easier, probably a combination of it stretching a tiny bit and me figuring out exactly what grimacing faces to make and how many times I have to hop up and down whilst tugging

[FullThrottleMalehem]

Thank you for the responses. ford, that was my panic as well that I would just be stuck like that. I had a serious panic attack trying to put it on and just felt exhausted trying. I had to have my trusted family member help me take it off.

Unfortunately those Love Boat binders are twice as much as the Underworks binders, located outside the US so I'm expecting high shipping cost, and money is extremely tight right now.

I wonder if I could modify the current binder to have velcro, cut it down the front or back and sew the velcro strips to each side? Obviously I don't want to ruin the binder, but I also want to be able to wear it even if my partner is gone if I'm out of the house and not have to ask a relative to help me.

[DriftingCrow]

I cut my other binder (didn't put in velcro though) and the material seems really resistant/durable, and doesn't unravel or anything. It shouldn't be too difficult I would imagine to put in the velcro without ruining the binder. If you're afraid of completely ruining it, it might be less scary to just cut a bit of the bottom on one side going a few inches up, maybe 3 or 4, and putting the velcro in that slit. Just having that slit to open and close will make it easier to put on without possibly ruining any of the fabric's ability to bind your chest down.

[aleon515]

I don't know what's with binder material. It doesn't seem to unravel, in my experience anyway.

--Jay

[Robert Scott]

I have the same problem ever time I get a new binder -- my wife always has to help me put it on and get it off for the first couple times.

If it helps you feel better ... while traveling I had an allergic reaction to some medication that caused my fingers and nails to peel real bad -- my wife had to put and take off the binder completely for me because I could not do it at all

[John Smith]

I use underworks, and had the same panick with my first two attempts. XD  I got the hang of it after a bit though. For me what worked best was to first put it over my head, then the right arm, and them fight the left one in. By now my binders are so worn out, slipping them on and off is easy peasy. Thankfully they still bind well enough.

[FullThrottleMalehem]

Thank you all. That's good to hear the material is resistant. I know they make one that has velcro but it's up the front and covers the entire top half. I went with a tri top because I've never done binding before and was afraid of having too many breathing problems if I bound my entire front and back half.

Robert Scott, that sucks sorry to hear that happened. What a peculiar allergic reaction.

[Felix]

I don't really like what I've tried with velcro because I always feel like it's too lumpy or something even when people said it wasn't noticeable. I will say that it is pure panic for me to adjust to a new binder, because of that being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor thing. It loosens up eventually.

[FullThrottleMalehem]

Thank you Felix. That's a huge relief to hear it eventually loosens up a bit! It fits well, a tiny bit restrictive but that was partly just feeling panicked I think, I could breathe and it didn't hurt really.

[ford]

I don't really like what I've tried with velcro because I always feel like it's too lumpy or something even when people said it wasn't noticeable. I will say that it is pure panic for me to adjust to a new binder, because of that being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor thing. It loosens up eventually.

Such an accurate comparison  . Perfect and hilarious.

[aleon515]

I've tried the velcro ones and I don't really like them as I can feel velcro against my skin. It's better if I put a shirt on underneath but it somewhat defeats the purpose of this binder as it is supposed to be cool (and is).

I like the whole eaten by a boa constrictor thing. Great image.

--Jay