I wonder if some kind of "shaper" is possible without looking rediculous? And a lot of guys have big pecs, often without huge arms just some muscle on the arms.

Me, I'm not gonna give up my bench press, and I don't like wearing stuff that hurts! I'll stick to my sports bras or the Speedo swimsuit top I have now, and I may just go to woven as opposed to knit shirts or something.

Swimsuits designed for performance instead of looks tend to flatten quite well keep that in mind. A one-piecer made for speed could work very well as long as you don't mind the hassles involved like having to take your shirt off and it down to have a good old sit down bathroom visit, and the pinching in the crotch.

Quote from: Teknoir on October 12, 2009, 11:43:50 PM
It's love-hate, and the lesser of two evils.

^Couldn't have said it better...^

To elaborate though, I'd say that I absolutely love the *result* of wearing a binder, while I hate the *feeling* of wearing it. I prefer the physical comfort of walking around the house without a binder, but I prefer the emotional comfort of having a flat chest. And I HATE looking down and seeing "them" (or even the contour of them beneath clothing), and I will *not* leave the house without a binder on for ANY reason (possibly save evacuating a burning building in the middle of the night, but even then I might just throw it on as I run out the door).

I have a binder questions, but I am coming from the MtF perspective.  As I progress with HRT, I will need to eventually bind my new self at work until I fully transition.  I am told that sports bras will work for quite a while, but I will ultimately need binding.

Do you have any good sources for binders, please?  And I am open to any other advice for hiding the girls that you might have.

I figure who better to ask than a FtM?  Thank you for your help!!

Tia
 

Tia, the Frog Bra from Title Nine works well if you have A or small B size cups.

Underworks has really nice binders. I use the Double Front Compression Shirts which I love and the Extreme Chest Concealer FTM Chest Binder which works O.K. but not as well as the Double Front Compression Shirt for me. Many guys wear the Tri-Tops too. They have many different style of binders to choose from.

Many guys also wear binders from T Kingdom. I haven't so I have no review on them. I have heard that their sizes run smaller so get them one size up from what you think you'll need.

www.titlenine.com/product/sports-bras-and-undies/medium-high-impact-sports-bras/310900.do?search=basic&keyword=frog+bra&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

www.underworks.com/ftm

www.t-kingdom.com

I actually think my binder is really comfortable. I have an Underworks double-front, and I  wear it all the time. I know it's not healthy, but a lot of times I just forget I'm wearing it. I've always hated the feeling of my boobs bouncing or anything - i sometimes have to sleep wearing a sports bra, that's how bad it is - and binding feels way more natural.

Aaron & Radar -  Thank you both for the ideas.  Those resources look perfect for me.  Right now I am at an B, but I will have to handle a C very shortly.  These should work well.

I am a DD and I refuse to come out of my room without my binder on. I dont get flat like i wish but it makes them smaller and flatter. One I first got my binder it worked amazingly still not flat but better but i couldnt breathe. Give it time and it will allow breathing room. I need a new binder but am saving my money for appointments and getting health insurance. So I guess I gotta live with the one i have if I wanna keep moving forward. Once I start T i will buy a new one but hopefully by then I have lost wieght. Any ideas on a good binder for the bigger guys?

I know exactly how you feel

They are so tight and uncomfortable, and sometimes they don't make you flat enough.. and it makes you think.. "I shouldn't even have to wear this!"

one tip i would give you though.. is put it on when you are in a good mood.. I know it sounds silly, but when I put mine on when I am cranky.. it makes me even more irritable

I agree. when i am feeling real down or irritated or highly dysmorphic i get worse when i put it on. it just adds to the pain mentally.

Binding is actually comforting to me.
Sure, it's hot, pinches at the shoulders and under the arms, gets dirty quick, feels like it needs constant adjustment, and I'm probably flirting with infection where it rolls up and has rubbed sores into my hips right below the belt-line... but it makes me feel more like -myself-. I only have to look in a mirror to remind myself why it's worth putting it on.

Although; that's my underworks binder (double front). I have a t-kingdom (zip-front) binder I wear around the house and when I'm being lazy just to keep them from moving around much. It doesn't do me much more good than that now that's it's stretched out.

Cody, here are some tips about the Underworks Double Front. Wear a long tank top (like an A frame) under your binder. Pull the sides of the tank top up under the armpits so that the binder doesn't touch the skin at all there. This will prevent the chaffing at the armpits (which I know hurts).

If the tank top is long enough to go down to your underwear that helps keep the binder from rolling up some- as well as wearing a belt. These things prevent chaffing for me. Really keep an eye on those sores- they can become big trouble.

I have never had a problem with a binder rolling up, I don't understand how so many people have this problem, I dunno if its my binders or my body shape

I have a double compression binder.. it is tight at the top and then no binding at the bottom, and then I have a hook eye vest, which is one layer.. I cut it in half so it only binds my boobs

maybe you guys should cut yours shorter

My binder definately rolls up. I will have to try the tank top thing. I have tried the tuck it in the belt think and it helps if you pants fit properly. I wear my pants too big so it really doesnt help me.

I was wearing a 'skin' shirt under my binder at first (because it was way too small to get on by myself without it), but I found it rolled up more with that on under than without it. I'll dig through my tank-tops and see if a different material will work better.

I don't know about the rest of the guys, but i know my binder rolls up to just under my hip-bones because my ass is huge I can't wear the half-size binders, they make my gut stick out so far it looks absurd.

I just tugged the bottom edge up over my binder so it's folded double over my chest and pin it there with a safety pin.
No rolling up and a little extra compression to boost.

I never thought of that. And this here is why we have susans... Thanks for the info. Any more tricks you know?