GC2B Binder Review

[CursedFireDean]

So this is copied and pasted from my post on Tumblr:

Ok so I finally got my GC2B binder in a larger size. I've got mixed feelings about this binder and this company.

My measurements are 29 under bust and 30 over bust. I measured and remeasured myself several times to make sure. My bra band size was 32 last time I was measured. Their sizes are as follows: XXS 27-30, XS 30-32, S 32-34, M 34-36, etc. My important point here is I SHOULD be a small, MAX. I emailed them for advice about my sizing and they told me to go with an XS.

So I ordered an XS a while ago. Got it. There was no way in hell it was ever going to stretch past my shoulders. Ever. Not gonna happen, end of story. So I decided to exchange it. I emailed them about an exchange however I was slow in shipping it out. Once I finally shipped it out their exchange policy had changed, and essentially, I was given a store credit equal to the cost of a binder minus shipping. Here's the first thing that frustrated me- I had to reorder and put in this coupon code. That means that on top of all this waiting I've already done the first time around, I once again have to wait for them to process and ship it like any other order, despite the fact that it's an exchange. Normally I wouldn't care, but this took over a week just for my exchange to be shipped out. That's entirely too long for an exchange if you ask me. Exchanges need to be processed quicker than new orders in my opinion, this person has enough faith in your company to try a new size rather than just give up.

The second thing that bothers me- So this XS wasn't going to fit over my shoulders, right? So I decided to play it safe, I'd rather have too large of a binder than too small, plus I don't want a repeat of the XS situation, so I decided to exchange for a Medium rather than the recommended Small. Note, a medium is several inches larger than my measurements. So it should definitely be able to fit over my head/shoulders. But guess what? THE MEDIUM BARELY FIT OVER MY SHOULDERS TOO. To the point that I KNOW a small would not have fit over my shoulders either. And with how long it took to get an exchange, plus the cost of shipping AGAIN, I'm not going to bother getting a Large. I'd rather deal with this or give it away to someone in the Queers and Allies club here at my school. I tried for close to 20 minutes before I finally succeeded in getting this devil on. It's much harder for me to breath than with underworks, which is worrisome since I have mild asthma. It may not be a problem for others, but breathing is super important to me since it can be difficult anyways.

The thing is though, it is HELLA comfortable ONCE IT'S ON and it is the most flat I've ever been able to get. I've NEVER gotten quite this flat with underworks, though I got close with my first binder from them a long time ago. I don't want to take it off now because it feels so comfy. It does not dig into my armpit like my underworks, and that digging in is why I have not gotten any new underworks binders recently. They're not worth it to me. GC2B pinches a tad, but not NEARLY as underworks did. Comfort is the main thing I look at when I want to bind- as much as I like being flat, sometimes, I am simply too uncomfortable. Since I am blessed with a smaller (albeit dense and harder to bind) chest, I can afford to be picky about comfort. This binder is definitely the balance between binding and comfort that I've been looking for.

I cannot decide how I feel about this binder and the company. I am very angry about the sizing issues (and that nobody else seemed to have this issue) and I don't think their handling of exchanges is good enough. Their customer service is friendly and quick, however, I am torn by the fact that I was given bad advice that ended up costing me more money. However, once you find the right size, the binders are great. Comfy and bind well, which is a rare combination.

I really cannot decide how I feel about this company. I do not know if I will order from them in the future, but if I do, I will probably order a large, which is entirely unreasonable given my measurements, but with my experience with the medium, I would really need to. I probably wouldn't recommend them unless you are SURE of your size and/or can try a few on.
Also, this thing was HELL to get off. Hell. Absolute hell. But putting it back on a second time wasn't QUITE as hard as before.

[FTMax]

Good review Dean. I personally never owned one of these, but had my top surgery date not come so quickly, I probably would've invested in one. They seem to be well received when they're sized correctly. Like you though, I probably would've ended up with the wrong size.

I know it would require a bit of additional programming on the part of the websites, but I really wish binder manufacturers would have you input your measurements and let the programming pick your size instead of you making a manual selection. If you were between sizes (as I am with Underworks), it would prompt you with a message saying as much and have a link to email or chat with customer service.

[CursedFireDean]

Good review Dean. I personally never owned one of these, but had my top surgery date not come so quickly, I probably would've invested in one. They seem to be well received when they're sized correctly. Like you though, I probably would've ended up with the wrong size.

I know it would require a bit of additional programming on the part of the websites, but I really wish binder manufacturers would have you input your measurements and let the programming pick your size instead of you making a manual selection. If you were between sizes (as I am with Underworks), it would prompt you with a message saying as much and have a link to email or chat with customer service.

Yes, if this were the proper size on the first try, I would have given it a perfect review, but sadly they seem to be hard to size for some people :C
That would make a wonderful addition to the sites, then you could take into account your shoulder size and things like that. I think that may be the problem with GC2B is the binders literally do not stretch at all once you reach a certain point, and that point isn't always wide enough to accommodate the shoulders. It doesn't have to be as big as the shoulders at all, but it does need to be able to stretch over them.

[zero.cool.crash.override]

Thanks for the honest and detailed review, Dean.  I know these reviews take time and thought.

I measured and ordered according to their guidelines, and the binder I received fits.  So I don't think their sizing is completely out of whack to the point of company negligence.  I think the issue is that people do not come in standard, cookie-cutter dimensions.  I like your idea about incorporating shoulder size, since that seems to be a recurring obstacle for binders. 

I also agree with you about it being super difficult to get off.  I think it is because it is so stretchy that there is nothing solid upon which to tug. 

[CursedFireDean]

I also agree with you about it being super difficult to get off.  I think it is because it is so stretchy that there is nothing solid upon which to tug.

I agree, I think you are right about that. My trying to get it off mostly consisted of me grabbing the soft stretchy part, pulling it as far as I could, and wiggling until the actual binding part started to slip over my shoulders. But unless you get a very solid grip on the stretchy fabric, and bunch a lot of it up in your hand, it doesnt budge the binder part. I think I've figured out a system pretty quickly, but it was terrifying at first.

[TheGrayWolf]

I ordered one of these as well and have the same problem. I got an X-Small based on the size chart and it is WAY too small. I could tell just looking at it that I wouldn't be able to put it on. It looks like a child-size shirt. I'm going to try to exchange it (though I don't know if they'll take it since I got it over a week ago), and going by your review I'm not sure if I should get a medium or even a large. I'm worried that a large will be too big, but since you said even a medium is pretty tight I'm not sure what to do. For reference my measurements are just about an inch larger than yours.

Honestly at this point I think the company would be better off posting actual dimensional measurements of the binders rather than chest measurements, since those obviously don't work for some people.

[CursedFireDean]

I ordered one of these as well and have the same problem. I got an X-Small based on the size chart and it is WAY too small. I could tell just looking at it that I wouldn't be able to put it on. It looks like a child-size shirt. I'm going to try to exchange it (though I don't know if they'll take it since I got it over a week ago), and going by your review I'm not sure if I should get a medium or even a large. I'm worried that a large will be too big, but since you said even a medium is pretty tight I'm not sure what to do. For reference my measurements are just about an inch larger than yours.

Honestly at this point I think the company would be better off posting actual dimensional measurements of the binders rather than chest measurements, since those obviously don't work for some people.

Hey, glad to hear I'm not alone, but I'm sorry you've having this issue too. :C I might consider a large then. Even though I got the medium and I work with it, the binder is actually ripping from the soft material because it really is too small. When I get one in the future it will probably be a large, because even though the medium works, it isn't going to last as long as I would like. How much too small is the XS for you? For me, it absolutely under no circumstances would go past about midway between my elbows and shoulders.

[TheGrayWolf]

Same here, there is absolutely no way for me to put it on. I got it about halfway down one arm and I could barely get part of my other arm in. No way it could even get near my shoulders.

Thanks for the advice, I'll go for a large then instead of medium. Hopefully it works out and I really hope the company works on their sizing issues, because it really makes buying from them a hassle, not to mention the extra time and money the exchange process costs.

[adrian]

I wonder if we could create a small "database" where we write down our measurements (anonymously), the product and sizing we got and how well it fit and bound?

[Maleth]

I wonder if we could create a small "database" where we write down our measurements (anonymously), the product and sizing we got and how well it fit and bound?

This sounds like a cool idea. I own one myself (a size S) but haven't had any sizing issues with them. I'll probably write a review once school isn't as crazy.

[adrian]

This sounds like a cool idea. I own one myself (a size S) but haven't had any sizing issues with them. I'll probably write a review once school isn't as crazy.

Thanks! I'll think about how we can swing this and will open a new thread for it

[TheGrayWolf]

Just wanted to update that I finally sent in my exchange and I just ordered a large, so when that comes I'll post here again and let you all know how it is. CursedFireDean, thanks again for the sizing advice.

[CursedFireDean]

I'd love hear how it works out man!