Hi, I'm trying to support a teen trans friend of mine who's just stepping out, and he wants to get a binder. He has a very small frame, and says he thinks he's probably smaller than a Small size. Can anyone recommend a brand that does XS sizes? And does anyone have one that size they've outgrown and would be happy to sell or give away? I can cover postage, and a small price too.

Underworks has extra small, but their sizes run smaller than those at T-Kingdom.

http://www.underworks.com/

http://www.t-kingdom.com/

For free binders, try this site: http://www.thetransitionalmale.com/BBUB.html

Quote from: Arch on December 18, 2012, 06:44:34 PM
Underworks has extra small, but their sizes run smaller than those at T-Kingdom.

http://www.underworks.com/

http://www.t-kingdom.com/

For free binders, try this site: http://www.thetransitionalmale.com/BBUB.html

Thanks, will check those out. BBUB won't supply people under 18 without parent/guardian consent, so that's out.

Well if someone is really small I'd recommend Loveboat binders. The only thing is the shipping is very high. Too bad I gave one away. Maybe someone has one??
Because I think this brand is ideal.

I think one thing they should try first is underarmour compression shirts. (Actually tried out the Starter brand and might like these as well). Anyway, they are just a compression shirt worn for athletics. If he is SUPER small it might be all he needs and would be super comfortable too. He can just go to something like Sportsmart and try them on.
I've seen people with A or AA cup who do well with these.

--Jay

Some sport bras work very well, and a few guys have had success with waist cinchers from Wal-Mart--maybe K-Mart or Target has something similar.

P.S. Big Brother has some pretty stringent guidelines, a few of which I question. Parental consent for minors...I'm not sure why he requires that. But he's been doing this for a long time and has found ways to weed out the scammers and moochers.

I'm guessing the parental thing is as a result of getting trouble from unsupportive parents.

And this one of those situations, so I have to be careful myself. I don't want to get into a "Who are you, and why are you buying clothes for my kid?" situation! But he's in some eentsy Illinois town, and I'm his only real trans buddy for the moment, until he comes out more.

I'm pretty small, but I wouldn't say that I was slightly built.  I'm about a B I think in chest and 5'1" in height if that helps.  I can't remember my exact chest measurement but I think I was at the lower limit of an XS underworks 997 a year ago which is an average of 29" around the chest, and that does a great job.  I could imagine it doing a decent job on people a little smaller as well, I've got a second hand XS tritop that's much loser and that works pretty well too.  I've never tried any of the other manufactures like T-Kingdom or Lesloveboat though.  T-Kingdom might be worth looking at as they seem to be more designed for smaller guys and their small goes down to 28".  His best bet it to probably get some measurements (they're really easy to do) and have a look around some sites or get someone else to.

Here's a photograph of me so you can gauge my build a little better. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mefc89R4yz1rk3vxuo1_1280.jpg (Warning: Everything's covered but it might not be deemed completely NSFW)  I can get some photos of me in the binder if you think it would be helpful.

Thanks - the T-Kingdom ones are pricy compared to Underworks. Unless I can track down a used one, it's probably going to be a 997. It's kind of weird doing all this at long distance - plus he doesn't know his bra size, so we're kind of winging it .

Quote from: Padma on December 18, 2012, 07:28:11 PM
Thanks - the T-Kingdom ones are pricy compared to Underworks. Unless I can track down a used one, it's probably going to be a 997. It's kind of weird doing all this at long distance - plus he doesn't know his bra size, so we're kind of winging it .

Bra sizes aren't that great to go off, it's best to do measurements yourself for the binders.  As far as I remember underworks is done by the average of underneath the moobs and the largest part around.  One thing to note is the 997 does have a habit of rolling up which some people find painful, I just found it irritating, so cut it down to the size of a tritop.  If he think that might be a problem then I'd just go for the tritop straight off, just seems a bit daft to buy something that you're not going to use half of again.

Oh, okay, I'd got it in my head it was the other way round with the rolling up. I'm pestering him to track down a tape measure right now (in between us ogling photos of Tilda Swinton...)

I'm guessing cup size is over the chest and under them-- something like that anyway. I think that there is some kind of chart somewhere about that. Champion sports bras are really excellent and cheap. They should look for somehting that is "compression".

--Jay

If he can't find one that's small enough, I am going to be cutting my binder down sometime between Thursday and this weekend to make it smaller and will be posting directions on how to do it. I don't think it'll be too hard for someone to alter it to be smaller. And, he can always just hem the extra in so it can be let out later once he grows more.

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Also, if he can't get a tape measure, he can just use something else that can go around his chest that's not stretchy (like a yarn is stretchy, so something like a wire or twine would be better), and then just measure the amount used with a straight ruler.

Quote from: Padma on December 18, 2012, 07:07:07 PM
I'm guessing the parental thing is as a result of getting trouble from unsupportive parents.

And this one of those situations, so I have to be careful myself. I don't want to get into a "Who are you, and why are you buying clothes for my kid?" situation! But he's in some eentsy Illinois town, and I'm his only real trans buddy for the moment, until he comes out more.

I live in Illinois, and I'm in dire need of trans buddies. PM me if you want to give him my e-mail or something.

Anyone have experience with youth-size underarmour? They don't do "compression" shirts for kids, but they do have "fitted", I don't know whether a tight top like that would perform the same way? (The smallest adult size is too big for my friend.)

Quote from: Padma on December 19, 2012, 04:40:03 PM
Anyone have experience with youth-size underarmour? They don't do "compression" shirts for kids, but they do have "fitted", I don't know whether a tight top like that would perform the same way? (The smallest adult size is too big for my friend.)

I think it might depend on the size of his tissue if a fitted shirt would be adequate. If it's really small, then just layering, wearing button ups, and choosing paterns that will distract from the shap of the chest might help hide anything.

Thanks - I'm discretely enquiring as to cup size, it's embarrassing for him. I think he may need something more for the symbolism of it than anything, because I don't think he has much to bind - and that's a very valid reason to have something, but a fitted tee may be enough (and cheaper).

I just found this: http://www.urimate.com/Boys.html

Though they don't sell binders, there's kid-sized packing briefs. I am not sure if you'd feel comfortable getting him those, but maybe he could check them out on his own. He might be too old for these anyways but I just thought it was kind of cool.

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Though, I wonder if these would work. You could easily move the velcro over to make it smaller: http://www.urimate.com/Binders.html

Thanks, I think packing is waaaay further down the line for him . We went through all the options, and then I ordered him a UA compression tee for xmas, while we wait to see if anyone has a used binder through one of the projects. I'm enjoying the buzz of subverting a little corner of Illinois .

Quote from: Padma on December 19, 2012, 07:38:34 PM
Thanks, I think packing is waaaay further down the line for him . We went through all the options, and then I ordered him a UA compression tee for xmas, while we wait to see if anyone has a used binder through one of the projects. I'm enjoying the buzz of subverting a little corner of Illinois .

Sounds like that will probably be just fine for him. I'm guessing though he may have little or nothing to bind, that he is self-conscious re: puberty in general and any development at all. I know most of us can understand this.

Very happy that you are subverting a little corner of Illinois! This is so awesome.

BTW, don't worry re: cup size, it's a relationship I am pretty sure. You might have a little more luck talking about "chest" versus other terms. Over the chest vs under for instance?
But right now the UA shirt sounds super.



--Jay

Good point, chest is best.