Binders for Heat and Humidity

[Nygeel]

IT'S SUMMER TIME! At least it is here, which means today the humidity reached the 90s while humidity was around 70%. If you're from the east coast of the US, you know what I'm talking about. It's hot, sticky, humid, and makes you stinky with sweat. I love my underworks binder to death. It does exactly what I need it to do in terms of binding...but it's really really really way too hot and humid for this mess.

Are there any binders out there that are full length in binding (like the 997) and wick away moisture? Are there any modifications that can be done to make me feel less gross?

[Darrin Scott]

I know that Love Boat is supposed to be more breathable. I don't know if that's an option for you, though.

[Nygeel]

I know that Love Boat is supposed to be more breathable. I don't know if that's an option for you, though.

It's not really. They don't bind my belly and I kinda need full length.

[Nygeel]

Scratch that, what the heck. I'll try LLB. Any guys out there with "larger builds" that have used LLB? Is wide coverage significantly better than regular coverage?
One of the things that I hated about my T Kingdom binder (besides everything) is that the armpit holes are way too big. Do these have narrow arm holes?

[aleon515]

The problem I can see with LLB is the sizing. I don't know that they wouldn't *bind* a bigger guy but that it would be a challenge finding a size to fit. I would suggest that grey is a bit bigger for some reason. Anyway, I am on the autism spectrum and had to go to XL. I am 34C in the chest. They don't do a over the chest under the chest measure but I think that actually works out to their medium. I am really skeptical even if I weren't autistic that that would actually fit me. But maybe so.

They do have models with mesh backs.

BTW, I think they have 3 manufacturers. Maybe some run in different ways a bit. I have a Air M pullover made by Double T.
I notice a few of them run into the 5XL. How well they bind at this size-- I have no idea. I think it binds well but I am not that big.


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGfTMB8f1nYAvOcFRe4P5TA   (Perpetual tomboy) on youtube does LLB and other binder reviews, and perhaps her response may be more typical than mine. She's not trans, at least not typically, has more serious chest dysphoria.  She doesn't like the long ones, but I do. She also likes velcro, drives me nuts.


--Jay

[Nygeel]

I think my last measurement was around 37 underneath and 45 around the widest part of my chest. But my chest is also nowhere near firm. I usually wear a medium 997 from underworks, and I have a medium tri-top that's a better fit for my chest (tri top runs a half size smaller than 997). With the T-kingom binder (the long one) I can only bind in one specific way, pulling my chest up, which leads to falling out of the top and sides.

[notyouraverageguy]

I use the llb high performance. I have the short one but they have them long.
Also if you search here for juya high performance you'll find a very old post of mine giving a semi review compared to underworks. I'm not sure if the panels run all the way down though.

http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=125

[aleon515]

The Air Max long has compression on the lower part but it's not as strong, kind of like a compression undershirt or something. The upper part has the stronger compression. I have no idea re: sizing of course as I said. But as they go the Air Max is comfortable.

--Jay

[Arch]

I used to use Underworks' Cotton Concealer and turn it inside out so that the cotton exterior was against my skin. It absorbed my sweat pretty well, but the CC apparently doesn't get people as flat as some of the other binders. I was doubling for a while, and then I had top surgery and wore a surgical binder for a few weeks.

I didn't have to wear the two CCs through summer...only through the end of June. So I don't know how hot I would have been.