How much discomfort is normal with a binder?

[STRM]

I have the double-front from Underworks and today is the second day I've worn it, not all day but for about 8 hours. I can breathe in and out all the way, but it's quite uncomfortable around the bottom of the sternum and for about six inches either side on the lowest ribs. I don't want to go up a size because of the return costs and because I don't think it would bind effectively. I can already get it on and off by myself while wearing an Under Armour top, and I really like the effect.

So will this go away in a few weeks as the top reshapes a little and I start standing up straight? Over the last couple of weeks I've been more self-conscious than when I wasn't binding and now my shoulder muscles feel like lumps of rock.

[Kareil]

I haven't worn any Underworks one longer than a couple hours, and that was the Tri-Top, not the Double Front.  But I've had bras that started hurting faster, and this is considered "normal" in the world of women, for some bizarre reason.  The T-Kingdom binders I've been wearing are more comfortable than bras, period.  They don't bind as well as the Underworks, though. 

If it's your ribcage and not where it's binding, then that part might stretch as you wear it more, with putting it on and taking it off?  I think some of the other guys have mentioned doubling it up, too, so you've got the bottom part binding as well, but I guess that depends on what you're wearing, you could try that if it starts to get uncomfortable?

May as well stand up straight as soon as you put your binder on - once it's on, you're not going to poke anyone's eye out with anything, so walk tall!

[kyril]

It improves quite a lot with continued wear. I'd suggest wearing it for shorter intervals at first, and putting it on/taking it off a lot, to stretch it out. 8 hours is quite a long time for the first extended wearing - 3-4 hours is about as long as I like to wear mine when they're brand new.

[Farm Boy]

It improves quite a lot with continued wear. I'd suggest wearing it for shorter intervals at first, and putting it on/taking it off a lot, to stretch it out. 8 hours is quite a long time for the first extended wearing - 3-4 hours is about as long as I like to wear mine when they're brand new.

Agreed.  You also have to get used to the feeling, too, because mine was already used when I got it so it hasn't stretched.  At first I felt like I was being crushed all the time, but after a few times of wearing it for about 4 hours at a time it doesn't really bother me any more.  Now it just bugs me by rolling up.

[notyouraverageguy]

I have the double-front from Underworks and today is the second day I've worn it, not all day but for about 8 hours. I can breathe in and out all the way, but it's quite uncomfortable around the bottom of the sternum and for about six inches either side on the lowest ribs.

That's pretty normal for the doublr front, imo the tritop is more comfortable.
By the end of the day id be really bugged by the double front &would just want to take it off so my body could breath &it would really dig in where itd bunch up.

[emil]

in my very personal opinion the double front is the most uncomfortable binder in existence.....one thing you could do would be to trim it to the actual length you need to bind with it. that won't really help you with the back pain though. there are a lot way more comfortable alternatives to the double front, so if you decide to get another binder, you can look for the threads in this forum on binders and comfort. the binder will get somewhat wider with time, but really the fiber is designed to remember its original shape, so it takes at least a dozen washing cycles to break the fiber down to a point where it actually feels softer and of course this also affects the binding effect a bit.

[STRM]

The eight hours wasn't intended, but I wandered off after work to go plant shopping.

It was far more comfortable today, maybe because I was keeping moving and making the effort to stand up straight and roll my shoulders back. It may not be the most comfortable, but it binds tightly and has a smooth line when it's not rolled up. I really will need to get the needle and thread out.

Thanks everyone, this stuff is a pain to work out when everyone's a different shape.