Binding and skydiving

[AdamMLP]

Anyone had any experience with skydiving? I can't see how it would be a problem, but I'm paranoid about these things. I can't risk not being able to bind at the moment, not even for a day, so... There shouldn't be an issue right?

[echo_artist]

I would suggest wearing a sports bra. Being compressed at that altitude and dropping from that height, your rib cage...may snap.
Better safe than sorry. ^_=;
Tell me how it goes though.

[AdamMLP]

Nothing makes me more dysphoric as wearing one of those. It's not an option for me at all, within seconds of putting it on my mental state is in tatters.

[Sebryn]

I agree that the risks of binding and skydiving outweigh any other option. It's sort of like binding and scuba diving. Just a bad idea. Your lungs are compressed already with a binder. A compression shirt maybe? The ones by underarmor work decently well. With a binding at an altitude you won't be able to get as much oxygen, no matter how well fitting the binder is. I asked a dive instructor about it when I was binding and he said that he wouldn't let any clients dive knowing they had a binder on because of the risks of things like passing out, fracturing ribs, and such. So I didn't sky dive. I have been indoor sky diving which is pretty fun though. Sky diving is on my list now that I've had surgery. I have been BASE jumping and bundgy cord jumping prior to surgery. Both could be an alternative activity for you to consider.

You can ask the dive instructor/coordinator about it. I do not recommend just going anyway or not telling them you are binding, it is definitely something that they need to know prior to allowing you on the dive.

[AdamMLP]

Just brilliant.  I only considered this today, and I'm going on Sunday.  I can't not do it, the deposit's been paid, money's already gone to charity and it's my 18th birthday present.

Fortunately it's only work people that I'll be around, and they all know that I'm trans, so I'll just have to stomach wearing my loosest binder (which really is less restrictive than the sports thing I own (I can't bring myself to say that word)).  It basically does nothing, but it makes it just about bearable when I've got a couple of layers on.  Any ideas how covering the jumpsuits are?

[Polo]

 I don't like sports bras either, too feminizing ptbth. Even my loosest binder (with zero ribcage compression) gives me a better shape than those.

I'm sure your loosest binder should be fine, the danger comes from when guys bind so much as to compromise their ribcage flexibility (which we really shouldn't ever be doing, but I digress). If you can take a super deep breath with it on I think you'll be just fine

[AdamMLP]

I don't think I can bind as tight as most people can anyway, I've heard of people wearing binders the size smaller, but correctly sized binders often are too much for me.  I'll go with the loosest one that I've got, even if I have to wear another one to stand the journey there and back I'll change it just before.  I've had to miss out on so much already this year through binding, I'm not going to miss out on this too.

[aleon515]

I wore a looser binder than maybe average. I could take full breaths and even exercise in it. I think you would be fine as long as you can move and breathe. Though actually what would I know? I never did this. But have fun.

--Jay

[Sebryn]

Make sure to inform the dive instructor/coordinator that you are wearing a compression garment and it should be alright, but still not something I would recommend because your ribcage is still compressed if the binder compresses the....chesticles. Compressed much more than any compression bra ever could since the material is very ridged in comparison. Letting the dive coordinator know you are wearing a compression/body shaping garment will help them to know what's going on if you happen to faint on the dive.

[harlee]

I went skydiving for my 18th birthday and it was AWESOME! I'm jealous and wish I was jumping too! You will love it I was wearing an everyday Underworks tri top binder and I was just fine. I felt no difference in pressure or tightness when falling at all, nothing! You wont even be thinking about it! I'd say wear it, you will be fine! On another note, packing can be important. It can be extremely obvious whether you are packing or not, more obvious than a harness for rock climbing. So whether you want to pack or not, just remember that either way, it is noticeable   Have fun!