I think Champion and underarmour are international brands. Underarmour is really big in hiking and backpackers groups. I actually found out about them when I was doing a lot of hiking. Champion is all over the place here, not sure where to tell you to look for it there.

--Jay J

I'm going to look for some champion ones next time i'm in town. They do them in my local sports shop so all is good. Thank you all
Joey

Thank you for linking to the Champion product geoangelcandybutch. If you order from Amazon, it's only about $11 and should just come in a basic brown Amazon store box since certain styles ship from them. This is a great alternative to the expensive les loveboat and underworks binders. The picture looks like it really flattens things out.

I used a back brace.  Couldn't tolerate the pressure/constriction from normal binders, and the braces worked with my build.

Something like http://www.easyliner.com/back-brace2.php or the top one at http://www.pushstore.com/listproducts-L0001/Lower_Back_orthopedic_braces.html only simpler and cheaper from a drug store.

If I could ask oozol, how big is your chest? I am having a lot of sensory problems with binding (I have Asperger's). This might be a good solution for me. I wear layers which has it's limitations.

--Jay J

Jay J, I couldn't tell you for sure, but I think I was a 32C at one point, might have been bigger by the time I had surgery.  It probably worked well because the tissue was softer and not fibrous.  I did wear it over an undershirt, though, to keep velcro and the edges of the brace from rubbing against my skin (probably similar sensory issues to yours), and a shirt over that, so it was still 3 layers all told

Not a problem about posting links. Wish I thought of Amazon when looking up the type of sports bras though! If I was on my computer currently I would link to some. Though with Amazon make sure you're  buying directly from Amazon and not a different seller because packaging may be different that way.

About back braces: I've heard that if you're going to use them that you have to be super careful. I've heard from folks that they're not supposed to be used for binding. So just be careful.

Folks should also be aware: what may work for one person won't always work for another.

Geo, whoever told you that was probably thinking of a different type of back brace. The ones I'm referring to have more "give" than traditional, made-for-the-purpose binders, despite being made of a thicker elastic and softer material, and simply wrap once around the body, and are fastened with velcro at the overlap in front (with additional velcro sewn in if the end flap doesn't have enough to hold it fully in place).  Most importantly, you can take the full, deep breaths that you aren't able to in many of the usual binders -- it's like wearing a T-shirt compared to the Tri-top (and the riding up and pinching that happens with the Double Front never happens), for instance.  It still constricts (it IS a binder) and it does get hot and uncomfortable eventually, but it's not dangerous.  And yes,  whether or not it will work for you depends on your body structure (as I described).

ETA: Also, easy to take off. If you're having any kind of issue, you can just reach under your shirt, detach the velcro, and remove it in seconds.

Quote from: ozoozol on November 30, 2012, 07:50:46 PM
Geo, whoever told you that was probably thinking of a different type of back brace. The ones I'm referring to have more "give" than traditional, made-for-the-purpose binders, despite being made of a thicker elastic and softer material, and simply wrap once around the body, and are fastened with velcro at the overlap in front (with additional velcro sewn in if the end flap doesn't have enough to hold it fully in place).  Most importantly, you can take the full, deep breaths that you aren't able to in many of the usual binders -- it's like wearing a T-shirt compared to the Tri-top (and the riding up and pinching that happens with the Double Front never happens), for instance.  It still constricts (it IS a binder) and it does get hot and uncomfortable eventually, but it's not dangerous.  And yes,  whether or not it will work for you depends on your body structure (as I described).

ETA: Also, easy to take off. If you're having any kind of issue, you can just reach under your shirt, detach the velcro, and remove it in seconds.

I just wanted to say what I've heard! I've learnt it's better to tell folks information you've heard just in case.

My statement of "remember not everything works the same for everyone" wasn't in regards to what you said! I just wanted any one reading to just remember everyone is different and everyone's bodies are different and stuff. Some folks do tend to forget that and think "oh this works for them, maybe it'll work for me too" (I used to think that and realized it doesn't work that way).

Understood carry on!

Quote from: ozoozol on November 30, 2012, 06:42:45 PM
Jay J, I couldn't tell you for sure, but I think I was a 32C at one point, might have been bigger by the time I had surgery.  It probably worked well because the tissue was softer and not fibrous.  I did wear it over an undershirt, though, to keep velcro and the edges of the brace from rubbing against my skin (probably similar sensory issues to yours), and a shirt over that, so it was still 3 layers all told

Well you might have been a similar size. I just was wondering if it work with someone who didn't have a very very small chest. Sounds like it is worth a try. Might try the cheap ones first. They are made of Neo, which gets hot, but if they work nicely I could try the more expensive one. Sensory stuff does sound similar. Sounds like we were twins switched at birth.

--Jay J