Binder Troubles, Please Help

[evan114]

Hi everyone,

Is there a "right way" to put on a binder that I'm missing out on? I can't get the d**n thing over both shoulders at the same time, the binder bunches up around my middle, and I'm trapped and tangled trying to get it on or off.

The Amazon reviews for my Underworks Extreme Compression Vest say to put it on from the feet up, but how are my hips and ribcage supposed to fit through the neck hole?

I have one binder that looks more like a shirt that I got from our local queer youth organization, that is easy to take on and off but doesn't compress well - I have to wear many layers over it and I'm still not sure you can't see my breasts.

[Devlyn]

Sorry you're having trouble, a lot of guys report getting stuck when they first start binding. And the resulting panic!
Just keep trying!

Hugs, Devlyn

[Wolfy]

You're just going to have to break it in. You'll need to struggle to get it on. It may take a couple minutes the first time. If you have a close friend or partner to help you that's always good as well. You'll just need to grab the bottom of it and pull it down bit by bit. That's what I have to do with my newest ones. You should probably do this when you have free time so you can work on breaking it in. and don't do it when you first get out of the shower. Once its on after your war, do a bit of stretching to try and loosen it. That's all I've got. but once you know how to put on new binders it shouldn't be as hard anymore.

[adrian]

I had similar problems with mine initially - and stepping in feet first totally doesn't work either. It does get easier, just as Wolfy said, it has to be broken in.

I also had a hard time getting it off again (that's when I got panicky), but got some really good tips on that here https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=174515.0

[Wolfy]

Oh and pulling it off, I put my hands over my head and on my back, I grab it and pull it up and like sway side to side because of my struggles. You can do it from the front as well. but I always feel the back is always a bit tighter. Mines a mid length binder.

[FTMax]

This for days.

I have pretty big shoulders to begin with. The suckiest part is that measurements-wise, I should be wearing a medium. But even when I can get a medium on, it doesn't sit right because of my shoulders. If you have the cash, I'd say go for one that's a size up from what you currently have. Wear that one regularly while you work on breaking in the smaller one. It's good to have more than one anyway.

Try putting it on both ways (from the top down, or from the bottom up). When it's at the point on your body where it's at the most stress (probably around your shoulders or around your hips), pull on it a bit. You don't want to stretch it too much, but a little loosening should help. Keep in mind that it might feel smaller after coming out of the laundry.

[pianoforte]

I find that mine slides on easier over fabric than over my skin. So I wear a thin, long sleeved shirt and then put the binder on over my head. It still bunches up sometimes, bit I can untangle it and pull it down easier.

I also try to keep at least one hand on the bottom edge of the binder, so that even if it gets tangled, I can find that bottom edge and pull straight down. It works most of the time, I guess because of the physics of rolling up.

[AdamMLP]

I put longer ones over my hips normally when I can be bothered.  If not I just try to shimmy into it, and stop it rolling as much as possible.  You just kind of develop a knack for it in the end.

[makipu]

The very first time I tried it on I was so close to calling my brother for help but I managed. It was very difficult.

[adrian]

The very first time I tried it on I was so close to calling my brother for help but I managed. It was very difficult.

I was close to asking my husband for help because I was stuck halfway. Lol. He doesn't even know I bind, I think. [emoji13]

[evan114]

Thanks everyone.