Susan's Place Transgender Resources

All right guys, I'm getting two to three binders for Christmas this year from my folks but I'm having some difficulties figuring things out. I thought I had wanted a few from Love Boat from what I had read on here, but as the models are thin and whatnot I'm being told to revisit to be sure after my ma did some research.

My biggest thing, personally, is comfort. I pass fairly well, and I don't really wear fitted tees out and about or anything (even if I were wearing a good binder, at the moment I wouldn't pass in them), so even in a tight sports bra I can pass for how I dress.

I want to be comfortable binding. I want to be able to breathe. I want the fabric to be able to breathe as well so I don't overheat. I tend to move a lot even when I'm sitting around so something that doesn't restrict overly much is preferable as well.

I know, a lot of preferences here. I guess I'm a 42" chest by measurement, but I'm not sure what cup size...not really sure what more might be helpful there.

My ma thinks I should consider the longer binders opposed to the shorter ones (I still have some weight I'm trying to work on losing), but I'm worried about roll-up...if I do order a longer binder I think I might only order one to see how I feel about them, because I can get claustrophobic at times in clothes that are tight around my stomach.

Okay, rambling a bit...I know Underworks is a major go-to company here for binders/compression shirts, but my concern with those is comfort.

I was looking primarily at these on Love Boat:

• Jersey Mesh Velcro Short Binder: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130)
• Sports Pullover Short Binder: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=123 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=123)
• Wide Coverage Short Binder: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=236 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=236)
• Wide Coverage High Performance Velcro Short Binder: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=77_66&products_id=127 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=77_66&products_id=127)
  

My ma found this site: http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com/a/no-surgery_body_shaping/breast_binders_chest_binding.htm (http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com/a/no-surgery_body_shaping/breast_binders_chest_binding.htm) It's from an M.D., Michael Bermant, but I can't find much about the binders he has on the site. This is a link to where they can be bought online: http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/1240.html (http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/1240.html). I was also looking at the zippered compression vest with arms.

They're quite a bit more than the Love Boat ones, but as I've never really used an actual binder or compression shirt I'm not sure how they might compare to others (there's pictures in the first link).

Anyone able to help me make sense of this? I've been looking at information about binders on here for...I don't even know how long. It seems any time I think I have it figured out something else comes in the mix and I'm all confused again, haha.

I can only recommend the tri-top from underworks because I have no experience with other binders except that one and the 978. It dug under the arms a lot at first but that was prevented by wearing a tank top or a mens A-shirt under it. After 2 months or so I didn't have to anymore.

I got the 978 from underworks though and it was useless. I'm a C cup (ugh I hate using womens bra sizes) and none of the compression shirts from underarmour really worked for me. 

This one that you listed http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/1240.html (http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/1240.html) seems pretty pricey because you can get 3 for that price from underworks. Also they usually have a coupon code online that gives you ten percent just look up underworks coupon code.

I hear of a few guys who use love boat and I'm sure they'll give you their opinions

Thanks, dude. The tri-top is the main one I was looking at from Underworks. Aside from the digging under the arm how would you say it is comfort-wise?

I know Underworks is highly regarded, but it's almost exclusively the tri-top and a few double compressions, and a part of me wonders if binders designed specifically for transguys and flattening are more appropriate, effective even, than medical compression shirts -- it seems that Underworks and the other one I linked to are more in the latter category.

I guess my ma is willing to pay the price, but I want to be sure they would be worth it before I change my mind. She says she's willing to pay for the best option, but using my logic above I'm wondering if it would just be paying considerably more for less. Hopefully the guys that have bought from Love Boat chime in: those are the ones I'm most interested in. My ma just isn't sure they're designed for us bigger guys, I guess is how to put it?

Quote from: Noah G. on November 28, 2010, 03:02:07 PM
My ma just isn't sure they're designed for us bigger guys, I guess is how to put it?

That was why I've been holding off and really considering whether to use Underworks or loveboat for my next binder. As far as comfort I've never had another binder. I only know that it's way better than using ace. I don't even notice it's on and I bind about 12-14 hours a day. Now I know I'm a hypocrite when I say binding for that long is not suggested. By the time I need a new one I will have had it for 1 1/2 years maybe 2, wearing it everyday and washing and drying it, which they recommend air dry so I think it's very durable too.

Hi Noah,
the sports pullover binder from love boat is really comfortable but i would not recommend it as an only binder since it is not the most effective binder. i recommend it for anyone who wants to go to the gym in a binder or sleep in a binder. however, i ordered mine in my correct size and still had to get it let in a bit because it was large on me, so don't follow their recommendation of getting a size larger, if they still say that on their site.

the high performance velcro short binder by juya is just awesome- it's super-thin and still has great binding power. plus you can choose how tight you want it since it has velcro. very nice material. it's also breathable.

so if you have like a $100 limit i would recommend these two since you'll be covered for all occasions. the medical vests as well as underworks and danae stuff bind well too but the material is a lot coarser and they are usually not adjustable (no velcro section).

the other two love boat binders you linked i haven't tried yet.

I actually ordered this one : http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130)
and it should be coming in tomorrow or tuesday. I will let you know how it is and if its worth getting. i really hope it helps,  :-X

Quote from: Michael Alexander on November 28, 2010, 04:26:06 PM
I don't even notice it's on and I bind about 12-14 hours a day.

Hmm, that seems a pretty good vote for the comfort on that one. Do you wear anything under it? I know some guys wear Under Armour or something thin beneath theirs because of the material.

Quote from: emil on November 28, 2010, 05:53:18 PM
i recommend it for anyone who wants to go to the gym in a binder or sleep in a binder.

I remember reading that about the sports one -- actually, your posts were what had me looking primarily at the ones on Love Boat, Emil -- and it caught my attention primarily for the gym, because I'd really like to get back there regularly but was always self-conscious when on the bench because of my chest. I was hoping you'd post on here for some input since you seem to have the most experience here with these binders.

I know at one point there were some questions about guys that weren't built similarly to the models and whether the binders would work just as well on them, but no one posted to give their experiences. I might e-mail the company, see what they have to say...

Quote from: Damian on November 28, 2010, 07:04:25 PM
I actually ordered this one : http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=130)
and it should be coming in tomorrow or tuesday. I will let you know how it is and if its worth getting. i really hope it helps,  :-X

Thanks, Damian! I had seen your thread earlier and was disappointed no one had posted a response. Hoping it works for you, dude!

Since I just got it a little over a week ago, I can't say how long it will last - but I'm a big guy (5'4",  260lbs) and I'm really liking the 997 from underworks. I was worried about it rolling up too, but it only rolls up if i keep moving around extensively or if i bend down too far. I was also worried about breathing, because being a big guy it is going to be a bit tighter around the gut than you average dude. It's a bit snugger than i'm used to, but nothing unmanageable. So I would say even if you went with the double front versus the tri-top you should be okay.

Me again, i got the binder in the mail today. It works, but not very well, i have the "uni boob" going on..i would definitly go with underworks if you get a binder ^_^

that sucks. you don't get the uniboob in underworks binders? cause that was what really annoyed me about the tri top and chest compression shirt :-\ do you wear anything underneath the binder?

Thanks, Gilligan. Unfortunately, I do have a habit of moving around extensively, as well as bend down -- how far is too far? I'm thinking though that my worries about roll-up may still stand. The whole "just be careful" idea only goes so far, and I'd rather not have to be careful while in a binder. I'm stubborn like that, I suppose.

Damian, dude, that sucks. :-\ If you don't mind my asking, what's your measurement?

I'm still on the fence here -- having a hard time letting go of Love Boat because they seem to be more of what I'm looking for (no hinderance in movement and such). I'll see how this conversation progresses first...if you guys experience similar things with different binders, maybe I'll just get one from each or something and see what works better.

I'm not really sure on my measurement..ive never really worn a bra before (ive only worn sports bras) and ive never measured my chest, but i weigh 140, i got the large..it fits perfectly. but i put a sports bra over the binder, and it seems to help.

Bending down too far would (for me) involve picking something up off the ground without bending my knees. And moving around too much would have to be something of a twisting movement (ya know, hips one way, shoulders the other)

Damian, just for clarification, it helps with the binding? Have you tried it under the binder?

Gilligan, I swear I have, like, ADHD or something -- even when I'm sitting down I tend to move a lot: I probably do that sort of bending and twisting just while messing around on my laptop while sitting on my futonbed. Not to mention all the messing around with my dog...and if I were to ever wear one at work? Haha! I spend at least half of my time there bending and twisting. Looks like I was on the right line of thought with the full-length binders: good in a theoretical sense, but in a practical one would probably be annoying as hell at the very least. Thanks though, it's definitely good input all the same.

I think the only way it might work is if I got compression shorts of some kind and tucked it into those...that might get really hot though.

i'm like that too, always shifting and moving about, cannot sit still. and yeah, i couldn't stand long binders if they were full compression. I actually want my binders to be as short as possible, i.e. end less than an inch below boobs, ideally...those tend to be the most comfortable

That's what I'm thinking would be most comfortable, too. I think that's part of the reason I'm having such a hard time letting go of getting one from Love Boat.

Not to mention so much conflict on the comfort of Underworks items.

Certain things have me still leaning towards Love Boat (particularly my weird claustrophobia thing), but I'm worried they won't be effective...but I have worries about Underworks as well. Bah, I suppose this is a situation where I just have to make the leap, hope for the best, and see what happens.

I don't get the uni boob with the tri top
The trip top however shows up under many shirts and does look like a bra  - so If I'm going to be wearing a shirt that I know where the edges will show throw in wrinkles or whatever I throw a wife beater on over top before putting on my T.

The double I wear - however it really accents my love handles - and pushes the boobs into a uni boob. It also rolls up unless it's tucked into my pants.

Despite the 'bra' issue I like the tri top better.

Thanks, Tad. And sounds like another reason to nix the full-length binders.

I think I know the route I want to take...I think I might talk to my ma and discuss ordering one from Love Boat and seeing how that works before ordering the two or three she plans to buy me. Finally checked out the "All About Binding" thread and found a pic of a larger-chested guy wearing a T-Kingdom binder, which I think gives me enough to convince my ma they could be worth giving a shot.

Thanks also for the tip about the beater over the tri-top, dude. I'll definitely keep that in mind if I'm not entirely satisfied with the Love Boat binders.

tried myself through my binder collection again :D

speaking strictly for myself,
the esha extra strength as well as the cheap esha binder as well as the high performance whatever juya binder are all as effective as the underworks binders i tried, the esha ones even more effective (unfortunately love boat doesn't sell them anymore).

the t-kingdom binder i bought i gave to a friend because it didn't work at all and it was already one of those with 5 stars for compression according to their chart.

the double o-neck doesn't really work either, and at the same time is not as comfortable as the juya sports pullover binder (bottom seam digs in).

the "bandage" binder from double binds well but again the bottom seam digs in a little.

love boat definitely has binders that work better on me than the underworks double and the chest only compression binder from underworks (i resold both of these because they were uncomfortable to wear....when i bought them i thought it has to be that way but that's just not true - it's just that the asian binding materials and styles haven't reached the western world yet, it seems. there's a huge tomboy scene in taiwan, korea etc., and i've ordered binders from china, taiwan and korea and they were all equally effective but made of much more skin-friendly material and they looked like a clothing item and not like a corsett or cast...)

so to sum this up, again, speaking strictly for me:
- t-kingdom: expensive, poor quality (a seam opened in the part of the shirt that wasn't even the compression section, after a day! of wearing it), not very effective
- underworks: effective, affordable, low comfort
- love boat: have some effective models, some are cheaper than others, all of them very comfortable
- i have ordered from some other people but wouldn't recommend that because i had to translate everything to chinese/korean and it was a little bit of a hassle, but their qualities were comparable to those of love boat, the prices a bit lower.

Thinking of getting this set from Loveboat: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238{6}12{2}5 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238%7B6%7D12%7B2%7D5)

Is the binder the same one you got Emil?

Dude, awesome breakdown there. Pretty informative too, and makes me feel all the more that Love Boat was the right way to go.

Just sat down and ordered them tonight. I went with the High Performance and the Jersey Mesh. I actually wanted to go High Performance and Wide Coverage, but they didn't have my size or the size below for the latter. I had to go a size below for both of the two that I did order.

I am ecstatic! I'm not really showing it, but you can bet as soon as those come in the mail I'll be trying them out! Haha, I'm getting them when they get here rather than having to wait, which is pretty awesome. These past few months are proving to be good ones, particular this month it seems.

Once again, all of you, thank you so much for the input. Thanks to a few others out there too who helped even though it wasn't right here in this thread.

Quote from: izzo on December 04, 2010, 09:29:30 PM
Thinking of getting this set from Loveboat: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238{6}12{2}5 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238%7B6%7D12%7B2%7D5)

Is the binder the same one you got Emil?

nope, this is actually a new binder as far as i know and i haven't tried it yet :( someone wrote about it in a previous post though, i believe.
i own this one : http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=127 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=127)


edit:   
awesome @noah....i'm excited for you too  :)

Izzo, I was going to get that binder I believe -- it looks like the Wide Coverage one -- but they neither had my size or the one below. I know it doesn't help you either way, but according to the chart they have on the side it's one of their better binders. Actually, in comparison to the one I did order the only difference in rating there was ventilation -- the Jersey Mesh was rated 5/5 by them in that area, whereas the Wide Coverage was rated a 4/5.

That's about all I can offer, but here's the chart if you'd like to check it out and haven't seen it already: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/compare.php (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/compare.php)

Thanks Emil. :)

Just bumping this and requesting a good review :)  I'm going to try a loveboat for my next binder and am hoping it'll be ok in the summer.  I really need something comfortable I can use just under a t-shirt.  I'm a 34DD though, I don't know how big of a guy you are, but if you could tell me if you're much smaller or about the same, it would help me decide which one to get.

Thanks in advance for any help! :)

A good review coming right up, man! Soon as I get them...

I can even try them out in some kind of heat too to give you a better idea of how they perform in that.

To be honest, I don't really know what size I am...every method of measurement I've tried puts me at an A or B (a large A or B, I suppose) but my ma swears I'm at least a C. *Shrugs* I'll admit I was confused by the A or B determination but I measured at least three times...did the math at least twice (it's not that difficult either, so). Regardless of all of that though, I don't considering myself small -- I'm built kind of stocky regardless of weight though, so perhaps that has something to do with measuring as a large A or B? I don't know...I don't know how this works. ??? Men's clothes are so much freakin' easier to figure out.

And you're welcome! Don't know how much help I'll be considering my own confusion, but, whatever help it is you're welcome!  ;D

Is there anyone with a size small short Loveboat binder who can tell me how long it is from top to bottom, if it's laid out flat? I'm thinking of getting one, but I have a pretty short torso and I don't want it pressing in at my waist... Thanks.

From what I've read, there are more problems with them being too short, since they're made in Asian sizes so I doubt you'd have a problem.  I know the tri-tops from Und's are too long for a lot of guys.  Bumping to try to get you an answer :)  Have you tried contacting them?  If you do, could you post the answer here for me as well?
Thansk!

I ended up getting the High Performance Velcro Short Binder; it just came today. It's a good length for me--it's 13 inches from the top of the strap to the bottom of the binder.

the first one on your list, the loveboat jersey mesh one. I ust got it in the mail.  it is stretchy in the back and hard and the front and it binds really well, much more comfortable then underworks, dosnt bind quite as well, but i an take deeper breaths in it.  Im not sure how well it would work on a larger chested guy, I dont think it would work as good

Okay, just got these babies just now and I'm giving them a test run!!

They seem tight -- admittedly I believe they might both be a size smaller than the site says (at the least I know that one is), but I got them on. First time really binding for me so I need to get used to them, but they do a pretty damn good job and even my ma agrees, so that's something. I might even start wearing just tee-shirts (opposed to hoodies or button-ups overtop) now I've lost some weight...

I'm gonna do some testing of sorts and I can update you guys there -- I am using a sports underneath for a little extra comfort and to keep things a bit more...organized? Haha, the binders are a bit short for me, so it's to make sure they stay in, really. I can try and get some pics too. I know those can be hugely helpful -- that might take a while though because I suck at getting pics of myself.

Wow, nearly two weeks and I haven't posted.  :-\ Sorry guys.

The Jersey Mesh I've decided is too small -- I can barely get it on and the second time it was really uncomfortable. I e-mailed the company about possibly returning it and am going to try it a third time, but hopefully I can send it back for an exchange (though I ordered the largest size this binder comes in). They suggested that I hang on to it, but given the difficulty and comfort issues I don't know as it's a good idea. I've been losing weight, but not around my ribs, so unless what I'm trying to bind diminishes (which I somehow doubt) I think it'll be useless to me.

I'm still getting used to binding from wearing one, to getting it on and feeling like I have everything right, to adjusting once it's on (I go through a while of claustrophobia and then it seems to chill). Still wearing a sports underneath to help keep things contained, and I've been wearing an A-shirt overtop to minimize (virtually eliminate, really) the feel of the velcro seam. I don't know yet how it feels when the temperature is higher. The first night I helped bring Christmas stuff from the basement -- binding seemed to affect my performance/stamina/whatever, but I don't know if that's the binder or me not being used to it. So take that with a grain of salt.

I tried to get pics the other night but my camera died...I think they sucked anyways, so, I'll try again at some point. Work's just been kind of crazy and with the holidays things have been even crazier. I tried to bind for Christmas but was having a crazy claustrophobia moment, got frustrated, and decided to forget it.