Binders and visible seams

[Nygeel]

I've got a question for you all. I have a number of different binders (that number being three). Of them, one appears "seamless" when I wear it. The other two have visible seams or endings which can be seen and felt under at least one layer. The 997 is the one I have that looks seamless. The bottom of the tri top rolls up for me and unless I'm wearing a really starched shirt or many layers, it is visible. The t-kingdom long binder I have has a similar problem. The bottom of the binding material and the top of the binding material sticks out. Granted, the t-kingdom binder is also lower in cut, doesn't bind well, is very uncomfortable BUT! It shows my chest hair.

I've gotten a few bucks from work...most of it will be going towards a new car, some will go towards fixing my phone, and some I was hoping could go towards a new binder (something with a lower cut like the t-kingdom one so I can wear v necks that show my chest hair). I know that the LLB (not to be confused with LL Bean) binders are short, but do they have the same problems with seams? Are they made of binding material through the whole thing or is there a small bump around the top? What about the bottom, is that visible under clothes, too?

It's just something I've been thinking about since I do have some pretty sweet lookin' chest hair that's been crawling its way out.

[dylanjakoby]

the binder that i have used that is the best is the relaxed middle from underworks, i love it, i had a try top at first and it rolled up so i got that one. i right now have a t kingdom short and it works just the same if i just put a tank top over it it makes me flat and looks like nothing is under it. as for LLB this is a review i saw maybe it will help you out? http://perpetualtomboy.me/2012/04/17/quick-review-of-llb-binder/

[Nygeel]

Yea, that review doesn't really help me. I was thinking of visible seams. I'll show an example...or will try to.


This is the t-kingdom binder. It's very low cut and the binding material in the shirt is in the wrong place. The armpit holes are also much too big to the point where a large portion of my chest sticks out of the hole. You can sort of see where the seam is for the binding material and the strap in this picture. There's draping/wrinkles at the top that just stop all of the sudden on both sides. That's from this seam and how thick the binding material is. It also just...doesn't bind well.

This picture (semi nsfw) is just the binder where you can see it's just not a good fit for my body at all. And you can see the seams that I'm talking about.

I don't really care that much about comfort. I've worn my 997 almost all day without a worry. I just want to see if there are other binders out there that can do what I need/want.

[AdamMLP]

From that photo I can't really see any obvious seams, it just looks like the fabric of your Tshirt is sticking to the binder.  Does that happen with all types of cloth?  There's nothing that would make me think that you were wearing a binder if I wasn't looking for it though, probably just that you were wearing a tank top.

From your nsfw photo I can see your problem with the low cut and I think that's a general problem of most low cut binders, they just need that extra material there because that where it needs to bind.

[Nygeel]

Hmmm lemme try to take something that shows it better...

[Nygeel]

That shows things a bit better. The fold that goes straight across at the top is where there's a seam, and where it sorta folds in is a bump at the bottom of my chest, and a bump at the seam for the end of the binding material.

[henrytwob]

Ok now I see the seams. You what you may want to consider. I've gotten stuff from www.lesloveboat.com and they are very helpful. I bet if you explained the problem and included the above photos they may be able to suggest what binder ( and they have many different styles) would work best for you.  I wish I could give some advise, but I have no idea. I got from them that I really like, the sports pull over short binder, but i don't know if that would work for you. One advantage is that there is no bottom seam to constrict you or to show.

[Noah G.]

I can only speak from my own experience with the Love Boat binders, but I figured that was better than nothing.

In my experience, the seams mostly tend to show up when worn under thin or tighter/more clingy shirts (except, sometimes, if you're wearing one of the thicker binders, or one that is a velcro-style binder). Unfortunately, they're not necessarily seems that could be passed off as a simple undershirt very easily, so that may be a consideration.

The binding material covers the entire front -- basically half of the binder if you were to cut it into a front and a back, give or take in some instance. If by the top you mean the top of the chest, I haven't really noticed a "bump" that forms, mine had laid pretty flat there; if you mean the top of the shoulder straps, then it's no more than an A-shirt would give.

As for the bottom being visible under clothes, I haven't had that problem.

I have, however, being wearing sport pullover style binders exclusively for more than a year now, so if you wanted something more comprehensive I would have to pull out my velcro ones to be sure on everything as far as the two that I have go.

[Nygeel]

@Noah G. With the bottom of the binder, where does it sit? is it up on the ribs? More around the waist? I'm trying to figure it out. I know where I would need to bind on my body but it seems like there could be a gap between my body and where the binder is like what happens in the front of my tritop. Also, how high is it cut in the armpit area? I do like that the arm hole for the tritop is kinda tight. I know a lot of people are annoyed by it, but I feel pretty covered.

[Darrin Scott]

LLB binders seem to be more for smaller breasted people. I bought one and it did nothing. It looked like a sports bra. I don't think they bind real well at all.

[Noah G.]

Again, speaking for the sport pullover (which is a short binder), I've found that the bottom tends to sit a little above the bottom of my ribcage, if that makes sense.

I will admit, the arm holes could be tighter, though from what I can tell of your linked-to picture, they are tighter than your T-Kingdom binder. My best description would be that, for me, the bottom of the arm hole is pretty perfectly matched to that of an A-shirt, so I guess not real high, but not real low either. It is sort of wide though.

Are you considering pull-over style binders? Full-length? Love Boat does seem to offer a number of different styles, which is the good thing. Also, as Henry said, their customer service is good when it comes to answering questions and helping out if you're not able to get the answers you're looking for in your thread.

As for Darrin's point: I'm not exactly small-chested, not really (by measurement it seems it, but I actually have a fair deal of tissue to deal with, albeit not very dense tissue), and I've found Love Boat binders to work really well for me. It can also depend from binder model to binder model and positioning and all of that. Of course, that is not to say that it will work the same for others as there's so many factors when it comes to binding and which binders work for each individual and which ones don't. Of course, I know that a lot of us already know all of this (though it doesn't hurt to remind).

[Nygeel]

I was actually considering a velcro one because I had a period of shoulder problems that could've been easier to deal with if I used a velcro binder. I guess it might be hard to determine what binder to get unless somebody has a body shape like mine. I'm short, with a short torso, large chest. So far the 997 has worked the best for me of all the binders I own. For me, the t-kingdom binder doesn't have a long enough binding material area. I worry that I won't feel secure in a short length LLB binder because they don't really seem like they would hold things in (especially when lifting my arms up).

[Noah G.]

Have you noticed this page on Love Boat's site: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/compare.php ?

I will say that from my own experience, the sports pullover binder has felt more secure than my velcro binders have because it is a more flexible fabric and there is some stretch to it (that does not impede binding capabilities in the least) and so it seems to have more coverage. That said, if you want a longer binding area and are looking at the velcro binders, then your best bet would definitely probably be the long binders.

The toughest thing is whether the neckline on the binders will be low enough for what you're looking for (to be able to wear a v-neck with them); the sports pullover has a lower neckline for me compared to the model they use on the website.

[henrytwob]

like Noan I have a short pullover sports style. I love it and pln on getting another as soon as I can afford it. I and pretty small with not too much to cover though. I have seen posted on another sute that as the sports pull over has no bottom binding, large folks feel that they 'slide' out of it, or there is not enough room and the girls slpillout the bottom. I have not had that issue and as there is no bottom seem the binder is amazinglu comfortable. I also have the velco one. I will nevr get another one. i find it hard to get the velcro lined up properly as  I cannot have anyone help me. Also they are cut low in front at the arms.  But they do bond excellently. I have also worn tight shirts with it (I'm not trying to llok like I am not wearing anything ) and you can not see the velco, it looks light an industrial strength sports bra.

[Nygeel]

Actually, now that I'm looking at a few of the binders and see the sort of problems that I've been having.
This one for example: http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=212
When the arm hole is too large the binding isn't very tight. The cut in the front is low which is awesome but it doesn't bind high enough. I think the razorback binders seem like they would have less binding power.

[dylanjakoby]

now that i see what you are talking about i understand a lot better. i found that none of the binders i have had so far has fixed that issue. the main one being right under my chest it would aggravate me greatly. the one that showed it the least was the relaxed middle from underworks. i found that layering up was easier and better. a nice flannel, nothing too tight or wearing a muscle shirt under helped as well. i currently am using a t kingdom velcro and it makes me look like someone slammed a board to my chest but only half way. the seems are horrible so i just don't bind very much, which i know for some guys is unbearable.

i don't really think i helped what so ever but i really hope you find a binder that does help you out, so you can spread the word to other guys as well.

[insideontheoutside]

I've tried 3 different velcro winders from lesloveboat. The thing with them though is they're made for smaller dudes. I'm not that big but when I started working out more I couldn't even fit into the medium one I originally bought of this one http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=98 (which I liked because it was V-neck, but I will say you'll see lines if you wear a t-shirt with it). I sewed on velcro extensions but it fit all kind of lopsided after that so I don't wear it at all anymore.

I use this one now http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=281 I like it because the back is mesh. Still see some lines if you're wearing a tighter t-shirt though. And I have to buy XL so they fit without feeling too constricting. I wish they made this one in a v-neck because I do notice some bunching of fabric at the top front as well.

I just saw they added these http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=328 Although I wonder how hot those would be?

[Felix]

The only binder I've used (of four I've tried over different phases of my body shape/size) that showed seams was the tritop, which is also the one I found most comfortable. I'm fortunate enough to have a tiny chest even when I'm chubby, so I'm able to be blasé about it and just assume that people don't notice or don't infer anything from it if they do. My torso does look like that second picture sometimes. It makes me uncomfortable, but people don't look that close unless they are interested in being close with you. I get really lazy and still haven't had any problems with compression or contours yet.