Tri-top Sizing

[windowlicker]

Ay up, guys 🙂
I'm new, I'm stuck (yeah, literally) and I need your advice.

My Tri-top (a black XS) arrived today. I couldn't for the life of mine get the soddin' thing on! Not over my head, not over my arse either. My measurements are 70/80 cm (27.5/31.4 inches), so technically, I'm still within XS range, if on the larger side, but it doesn't look like it's going to stretch a lot.

Should I exchange for S, or for M? Guys of similar proportions, what size do you wear? Specifically re. the black ones (I hear they're smaller than the white ones). In T-Kingdom, I wear an M.

I knew these things were generally a bugger to put on, and was prepared to celebrate its arrival with the traditional wiggle and flail dance, but this is a tad much.

Slightly bruised and bemused,
R.

[Revel]

I'm about the same measurements ... 29/30" and I've always worn the XS tritop (I do both the black and the white, although, yes, the black ones tend to be smaller/more stiff). 

I know that the getting-into-the-binder process is individual for a lot of folks, but this is how I do mine: I get mine over my head--I'll put one arm in and hook all of the fabric up to the armpit on the one side over my upper arm, then stick the other arm in--hooking it over the shoulder.  Then you can use your arms to stretch the binder a bit more than it would otherwise do on it's own.  I then grab the back of the binder and stretch it over my head, shunt the binder down the shoulders a bit by shrugging into it, then I'm able to wriggle it the rest of the way by grabbing the sides or back with my hands.

I also recall that doing it this way you may initially get some rubbing from the edge of the binder as it moves back and forth at the armpit area.

If you do manage to get it on and off, after about two weeks use the fabric becomes a lot less stiff, and more stretchy, which makes it easier to use, however, if you really, absolutely cannot get it on/hurts to do so I'd definitely try to exchange it for a larger size.

[Carson]

I have no other pertinent information to add to this except to tell you to make sure you are wearing a shirt underneath. That makes it a lot easier to put on.

I personally wear the double-front in a size small.

[windowlicker]

Alright, thank you.
I get annoying sternum pain even with t-kingdom, and the tritop is way stiffer indeed. Pulled it over the ironing board - shall see how it goes after it sits there for a day of two.