Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Has anyone here used a back brace for binding? If so, what size are you and how well did it work for you?

I tried this years ago, but it doesn't work that great for a big reason which is downward slippage. Nothing over the shoulders to help hold it up. I was dancing like crazy at a party and, well, you can imagine, stuff started busting out all over!  :o

I have. I got a futuro abdominal support binder in medium. It also fit my friend who has a very very small frame. I usually wear a medium 997, my friend was too small for a small tri top. It worked pretty well for me, it wasn't as good as an underworks binder and felt more constricting but it got me fairly flat. My friend was used to wearing ace bandages, when I gave them the support binder they were wow'd, thought it was very comfortable and way easier to use than ace bandages.

I have a back brace I got from eBay for 20 bucks. I actually got it for my back but I have tried using it as a binder, along with another brace I got off a friend. They work in a pinch but a binder just works all round better it most cases. I've got a big chest so there was a lot of slippage and not everything got...covered.

Perhaps they would work better on someone with a small chest, like a tight sports bra.

Quote from: Andy on June 02, 2013, 11:38:40 AM
I tried this years ago, but it doesn't work that great for a big reason which is downward slippage. Nothing over the shoulders to help hold it up. I was dancing like crazy at a party and, well, you can imagine, stuff started busting out all over!  :o

LoL, that is an epic story. It must have sucked at the time but thank you for telling me. :laugh:
Someone should write about that contains funny stories about transitioning.

Quote from: Nygeel on June 02, 2013, 12:40:53 PM
I have. I got a futuro abdominal support binder in medium. It also fit my friend who has a very very small frame. I usually wear a medium 997, my friend was too small for a small tri top. It worked pretty well for me, it wasn't as good as an underworks binder and felt more constricting but it got me fairly flat. My friend was used to wearing ace bandages, when I gave them the support binder they were wow'd, thought it was very comfortable and way easier to use than ace bandages.

O,0! Perspective is everything. I have some chest-icles so I will see what happens.

I used this for a while > http://www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-neo-back-support-761364 (http://www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-neo-back-support-761364)

It served its purpose and got me flat enough for my satisfaction, the only downside was that it kind of gave off a tire chest look so I always had to layer.

i used a neoprene back brace for a binder it worked well in the cooler months but sucked in the summer as neoprene isn't breathable so a perforated one would be better. it didn't slip very much because it was neoprene. it bound me very well for not being a binder and was comfy as hell when it wasn't hot out.

this is what i had. i got it from my local rite aid
http://www.docortho.com/ace-contoured-back-support.html (http://www.docortho.com/ace-contoured-back-support.html)

by the way i was pretty small at the time.

A normal back brace doesn't seem like a good solution, or at least, not the ones I've seen in stores. I have terrible scoliosis, and now that I've decided to transition, I thought a back brace would be a better solution to my problem than my regular corset. Unfortunately, the only ones they had were of pretty universal sizes, and so it was a bit big on my waist, and had a lot of extra wrap-around velcro. It would have been tighter on my chest, but I still don't think it would have been tight enough to work well. Plus is was pretty bulky and awkward.

I use my neoprene waist belt when I'm working. I usually wear cocoa butter under it, which helps me to burn off breast fat while I'm moving. :) I think I've lost almost a cup size so far. But the cocoa butter also makes it slide around more (as does the sweat it causes), so I need to wear a sports bra overtop of it (which sucks, but I find it better overall for appearance, as it keeps the velcro part from popping up and looking tumorous). I wore it on my bike ride yesterday and literally dripped sweat all down my body when I took it off (it didn't hinder my workout, either, so I like it). Of course, the neoprene even by itself will make you sweat in the right conditions (as mentioned above me), so this is something to consider if you're trying to stay clean. That's why I want to make my own, just without the neoprene. Also, that way I can make it to better fit me. Of course, I'm putting it off because I just hate having to sew things.

I bought a back brace binder by Mueller and tried it on. It flattens my chest but I still have...perky pecs??? IDK but I became really excited. I wore it for a few moments and then played with it to see what it could do. I noticed that it better my posture, yay for standing proud.  We will see how it holds up to work.