So I am looking for a binder that I can wear to work. I am a Groundskeeper. I live in the southeastern USA. Is there a binder I can wear that will allow me to do the work I need to do, without over heating? Temps in the summer regularly reach the high 90's and sometimes above 100 Fahrenheit.

Thanks in advance.

I live in the southeast and work in all kinds of conditions. I wore an Underworks binder for years and it went just fine.

Quote from: Pao on April 16, 2017, 06:35:47 PM
So I am looking for a binder that I can wear to work. I am a Groundskeeper. I live in the southeastern USA. Is there a binder I can wear that will allow me to do the work I need to do, without over heating? Temps in the summer regularly reach the high 90's and sometimes above 100 Fahrenheit.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know what 90s/100s Fahrenheit converts to in Celsius but before I had surgery I was often working outdoors or indoors without air conditioning with temperatures sometimes up to 40-45 degrees Celsius (humidity rather than dry heat). I only ever used Underworks tri-tops and they worked well for me. I don't think a binder will ever be as comfortable in heat as no binder, but for me that was the best option. I found the tri-tops were better suited for physical work in high heat than the full-length binder because it gave more room for my torso to breathe instead of feeling like my whole torso was wrapped in the binder. Hope that helps.

My two Under-works binders are way to hot. Maybe I am too sensitive to the heat. I was hoping to find one specifically made for high heat and humidity. I have the magicotton and the tri-top long. even the cotton one, that is just a binder at the top makes me experience early heat exhaustion symptoms, even when I am fully hydrated. maybe I just can't take the heat.

Binder and heat is going to suck no matter what you do. Get a job indoors.

I prefer a GC2B binder to an Underworks. It's softer; not scratchy, completely painless to wear even after wearing it all day, can breathe properly when wearing it and it binds better. I use a tri top as I find it cooler to wear. Any binder you use isn't going to be totally comfortable when worn on a hot day because it's tight but GC2B binders are the most comfortable binders you can buy IMO

So this one doesn't exactly have a brand name and its not one of the best, super great ones out there, but it was one of my first ones and it's still the one I use when we do FTX's and for PT in the morning.

You sacrifice some of the compression that other binders give, and it doesn't make you totally flat, just depending on what you have, but the comfort of it for physical activity far exceeds any other binder I've worn. It lets me keep my flexibility a bit more, and its not as hot because of the material.

It feels kind of like a sports bra that compresses more. If you're set on being 100% flat, it's not the one to go for. But if you're willing to sacrifice a little, it's definitely one I would suggest at least trying out.
The bad part is that I don't think you'll be able to find a physical location to try it on, but for me, I took the measurements and corresponded and it fit pretty well.
There are some comments at the bottom too that talk about the sizing, and they helped me pick the right one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VGGIMZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

This is just my experience with this particular binder, there may be a better one out there. Let us all know if you find one!

Quote from: dusty97 on April 18, 2017, 01:20:54 PM
So this one doesn't exactly have a brand name and its not one of the best, super great ones out there, but it was one of my first ones and it's still the one I use when we do FTX's and for PT in the morning.

You sacrifice some of the compression that other binders give, and it doesn't make you totally flat, just depending on what you have, but the comfort of it for physical activity far exceeds any other binder I've worn. It lets me keep my flexibility a bit more, and its not as hot because of the material.

It feels kind of like a sports bra that compresses more. If you're set on being 100% flat, it's not the one to go for. But if you're willing to sacrifice a little, it's definitely one I would suggest at least trying out.
The bad part is that I don't think you'll be able to find a physical location to try it on, but for me, I took the measurements and corresponded and it fit pretty well.
There are some comments at the bottom too that talk about the sizing, and they helped me pick the right one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VGGIMZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

This is just my experience with this particular binder, there may be a better one out there. Let us all know if you find one!

Er binders with clasps are unsafe. The material is in flexible causing you unable to breathe properly or take full lungfuls of air in serious cases causing fluid to build up in your lungs. They also crush your ribs.

I've never noticed that issue with it and I've been wearing it in the field and for exercise for two years.
Maybe its just because this one is a bit looser than others. *shrugs*
Whatever the case may be, my request still stands that if you find a better one for physically demanding work, share with us, it'd be good to know.

There is always the good old Frog Bra.  Trans men and non-gender identifying/male identifying Butches have worn these for literally decades.  Having a full back makes it feels less like a sport bra (less psychologically too).

I was wearing these since the 1990's until top surgery.  After binders came out I switched to them, but I would grab one of these whenever I worked out.

https://www.titlenine.com/product/320927.do?code=CSENX&utm_source=Nextag&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchAdv&zmam=95613444&zmas=1&zmac=3&zmap=320927%20DMB%20%204&cvosrc=cse.nextag.320927%20DMB%20%204

You can buy one on Amazon, too.

Thanks for the tips. I may just be a wuss. lol. I don't bind much, due to scoliosis and other back issues. I also have some lung issues. I just keep getting sir/ma'am'ed at work, and it is crushing. My voice is still a give away, but I was hoping to add a little bit to the masculine look.

I don't need super flat. I wear regular sports bras now. I tried my tritop again, the other day and had to take it off for breathing issues about 10ish. I felt like I was betraying myself, but I suppose breathing is good.

Just trying to deal pre-T is getting on my nerves.

Quote from: dusty97 on April 18, 2017, 01:20:54 PM
So this one doesn't exactly have a brand name and its not one of the best, super great ones out there, but it was one of my first ones and it's still the one I use when we do FTX's and for PT in the morning.

You sacrifice some of the compression that other binders give, and it doesn't make you totally flat, just depending on what you have, but the comfort of it for physical activity far exceeds any other binder I've worn. It lets me keep my flexibility a bit more, and its not as hot because of the material.

It feels kind of like a sports bra that compresses more. If you're set on being 100% flat, it's not the one to go for. But if you're willing to sacrifice a little, it's definitely one I would suggest at least trying out.
The bad part is that I don't think you'll be able to find a physical location to try it on, but for me, I took the measurements and corresponded and it fit pretty well.
There are some comments at the bottom too that talk about the sizing, and they helped me pick the right one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VGGIMZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

This is just my experience with this particular binder, there may be a better one out there. Let us all know if you find one!

I used a full length front clasp binder for FTXs too. it's way easier to unclasp the front a little bit whenever you need a break. Plus you could just unclasp it to sleep without having to remove it. I hadn't heard anything about them being bad for you. My first binder that I got from a binder exchange program was a clasp one. It was made out of underworks material and had plenty of stretch

http://www.underworks.com/compression-post-surgical-vest

I think the ones that had clasps and we're unsafe were the strapless cosplay kind from China. I got one of those and never used it because it had no stretch. but a lot of people were buying them in the early 2010s because you could get them on ebay for 5 dollars including shipping.

Otherwise the GC2B binders work pretty great. I'm from Florida and I've used them during PT, workouts, and swimming. they don't tend to impact your mobility too much. The fabric is closer to sports compression shirts so it feels way cooler. I used to get really bad chafing in the heat from the underworks fabric. It all depends on how flat you want to get. But I'd definitely recommend GC2B.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

Quote from: Pao on April 21, 2017, 06:27:34 PM
Thanks for the tips. I may just be a wuss. lol. I don't bind much, due to scoliosis and other back issues. I also have some lung issues. I just keep getting sir/ma'am'ed at work, and it is crushing. My voice is still a give away, but I was hoping to add a little bit to the masculine look.

I don't need super flat. I wear regular sports bras now. I tried my tritop again, the other day and had to take it off for breathing issues about 10ish. I felt like I was betraying myself, but I suppose breathing is good.

Just trying to deal pre-T is getting on my nerves.

I would strongly suggest buying a Frog Bra.  You may really, really find it to be enough and have the plus of not hurting your lungs/back, etc.  You are not a wuss.  I really can't encourage you enough to get this sports bra.  It really flattens and it doesn't effect breathing or hurt.  It doesn't cut into your shoulders/neck like the usual sports bras because it has a full back.  Really, dude.  Try it before you buy another binder.  Binding sounds like a really bad idea for you.

OR, try this one:

http://www.underworks.com/extreme-magicotton-sports-and-binding-bra

It looks like they have the same amount of lycra/spandex (32%)

Quote from: green27 on April 21, 2017, 07:03:11 PM
I used a full length front clasp binder for FTXs too. it's way easier to unclasp the front a little bit whenever you need a break. Plus you could just unclasp it to sleep without having to remove it. I hadn't heard anything about them being bad for you. My first binder that I got from a binder exchange program was a clasp one. It was made out of underworks material and had plenty of stretch

I think the ones that had clasps and we're unsafe were the strapless cosplay kind from China. I got one of those and never used it because it had no stretch. but a lot of people were buying them in the early 2010s because you could get them on ebay for 5 dollars including shipping.

I can see that. The straps probably make a big difference- changing where the weight sits. I've never tried a strapless and don't have any intent to- it seems like it would be too much strain on your back.

After Pao replied to me, I did a short session of curious research (not alot by any stretch of the imagination) and couldn't find anything, so it may just be a body type/ preference thing.

The key is, as we've all undoubtedly heard a million times, if it doesn't feel right, it isn't. If it hurts, take it off.

Just throwing another manufacturer out there, in case it helps: Morris Designs out of Virginia.  They were recommended to me by g2cb when I couldn't find anything in my size.  Morris Designs does custom work as well as off the rack stuff.  (The custom binders are not cheap, and I had to save up for a couple of months, but there was literally nothing else out there for me.)  I don't know how well the material would stand up to the heat, but the lady on the phone was at least nice, and willing to work with me. 

Given that they're in the southeast and you can't be the only person in the world having this problem, it might be worth checking them out:

http://morrisdesigns.com/