Help! Binder despair

[blackcat]

I took my measurements (checked and double checked, followed instructions), and ordered an Air Max velcro binder.

It took me down from a B cup to an A cup. I still have boobs. I can't wear ANY kind of shirt with it and not look like I have boobs.

A binder any smaller than this would make me feel like I'm about to throw up my lungs and my ribs are about to crumble, and any larger and it would be so spacious my boobs would fall right out.

I feel very sad and hopeless. I had a strong suspicion that I would ABSOLUTELY HATE binding - because I only wear sportsbras/bralettes without padding, I only wear comfortable stretch/drawstring pants because I HATE the feeling of constriction anywhere on my body... and... yeah.

The act of binding is horrible, and it seems like there is no way to make my boobs disappear and be comfortable. A sportsbra could have done this for 1/10th the price.

I specifically bought this brand because I read reviews about other ones being too painful.

The fabric itself is nice. I just think binding isn't for me and now I have no idea WTH I'm going to do.

Thoughts?

Like athletic shirts are right out, but I can't wear button down shirts even without looking like a girl. A big furry sweater, maybe, but it would still be suspicious. My hopes are dashed.

[Kylo]

Binders won't make them completely invisible, nothing but surgery will, the rest will have to be done with loose/baggy clothing and posture. Even wearing two binders at once doesn't eliminate them, it's a quick and partial fix for most people, surgery being the only real way to feel and look right and binders being a temporary measure until then. I guess some people can get away with binders only but I think they are rare.

[blackcat]

Alright, I dusted myself off and ordered another. I should try a few before giving up.

I've read about people of similar size to me having frustrations with some brands, but not others.

Surgery is just so far away.

[meatwagon]

different brands will work for some and not others.  it can get expensive trying out brands until you find what works best for you, but don't get too discouraged if the first one or two you try don't work out.
something to keep in mind, unfortunately, is that the softer the binder, the less binding strength it probably has.  I've only tried underworks and gc2b myself, and I found gc2b to be a good mix of compression and comfort.  it binds better than the underworks and I can wear it much longer without getting uncomfortable.  I don't think I would have any luck with a softer binder than this, though.  I am wary of trying any brand that seems to focus a lot on comfort but not say much about the compression aspect.  you have to look around and find a balance that suits your needs.

[Kylo]

Nobody much states this anywhere but binders don't give you that great a result. I mean at best they squash everything down some, but I have not seen anyone posting about how a binder achieves the exact effect they want. It's more often you see people posting that they found a binder that is "adequate" but the trade off is how uncomfortable it is. It sounds like you might have been led to believe a binder will give you a male profile... I mean it might be possible but if you are expecting a "flat chest" that looks 100% like a male's... I don't think you're going to find it in a binder. If you think you can get one with a sports bra then go for it, I used to wear both one of those AND a binder over it and I still couldn't get the profile I wanted because you just can't crush that glandular tissue inside the body, even if you are relatively small chested.

I had a couple of different kinds, the surgical compression kind and the lycra vest kind, the former has great compression but felt like wearing a straight jacket and the other less compression but felt good. But neither of them achieved the exact profile wanted, just made things stick out a bit less. I was pretty annoyed as well for a while and gave up and accepted wearing binders sometimes, other times I didn't bother with them and preferred to be comfortable. I just gave up on being that bothered about what other people could see and concentrated on whether I wanted to feel a sense of "nothing moving" on the chest instead, so I did use the appropriate one for different situations. But to be honest binding was never something I was all that impressed with.

[MeTony]

I thought this was a big chested problem. I have a very large chest. I found that Underworks binder is a bit stiffer than gc2b. It prevents anything from moving around. After a while I don't feel my binder. But it won't make the chest to completely disappear. I still pass as a guy with the binder, maybe because of my over weight. I wear t-shirts and an open hoodie or a button up shirt.

The stuff in the chest still has to go somewhere when you squish them to your torso. With gc2b binder my stuff ended up in my arm pits. It has larger holes for the arms.


Tony

[blackcat]

Well.

My gc2b came in the mail today and I couldn't even get the darn thing over my head. (Almost got stuck, as in, HELP, I am home alone with no shirt and a binder stuck halfway on my head because I'm trying to secretly crossdress, and can't even utilize scissors in this position!) So obviously I need to send that one back, the (rhetorical) question is should I go one size up or two.

Some more of my guy clothes came in the mail today, a different brand, and ironically those shirts looked fine with the other binder.

So I think this is all a MASSIVE amount of trial and error.

Unrelated to binders, but I ordered two pairs of pants from the same brand in the same size - one fit perfectly, and I couldn't get the other one over my butt because of how the pants were cut.

Everything that is too small for me fits my best friend, so I am donating everything that doesn't fit me to him He's a champ at listening to me whine about my life.

[Kylo]

First time I tried a lycra vest binder I had the same issue, could barely get in and out of it. But the 2nd try it had stretched the material enough that it became much easy to get it on and off and it had become comfortable.

[Teacherology]

Alright, I dusted myself off and ordered another. I should try a few before giving up.

I've read about people of similar size to me having frustrations with some brands, but not others.

Surgery is just so far away.

I might just depend on the fabric used. I have the same one and I am about the same measurements as you are.
Try switching up to another brand who doesn't use lycra. Also the density makes things harder to "squish".