bread boy (2.0)

side blog of @stal3bread | binder reviews (obviously lol) | he/him | autistic

[binderreviews]

Amor Sensory first impressions review

Disclaimer: I was on the cusp of needing a full chest reversible racerback from Amor (my under and full chest measurements were about 5.5” apart), but I opted for the regular reversible racerback because I have broad shoulders (and also because it’s cheaper lmao). Also, I am an autistic person with pretty bad sensory issues, but my sensory issues may not be the same as other people’s, so take this as MY opinion.

Binding ability:

Pretty good. Not amazing, but it’s pretty acceptable. Note, I have only had this binder about a week, but the binding ability so far is not bad.

I’ve heard that this binder does not stretch out much, which I really hope will be the case for me.

Comfort and sensory friendliness:

This binder has a very good level of pressure. It’s comforting, but not suffocating, and it’s tight enough to actually compress. It also has a pretty even pattern of pressure, which I definitely like.

The back and shoulders are very soft, I like to run my hands on the stretchy parts of the binder just to feel them because I like the texture.

The seams are great, and there are no labels except for an ironed on logo on the back. As for washing instructions, they come on a fully detachable label (which does not leave that horrible tiny label when cut off).

The front panel is quite rough and is honestly one of the least sensory-friendly I’ve tried, which is a real shame. It can be worn reversed (i.e. inside-out), which is definitely how I prefer to wear it, but if you wear it like that, your shirt catches on the cotton of the panel. I really hope the front panel softens over time because I really do not like it currently.

Miscellaneous:

This binder is EXPENSIVE. I was only able to get it because it was a birthday gift for me. It is definitely not a cheap binder.

This binder is very ethically and sustainably made, which is a big reason for why I wanted to get it. Of course, this comes at a price, but I am in a position where I can afford it and I don’t want my gender euphoria to come at a cost to the people making my binder, if I can avoid it.

The straps come a bit closer together than I would like. They can be positioned to sit a bit further away from the neck, and they don’t sit super close to the neck, but they show through shirt necklines more than I’d like.

Overall opinion:

Given the price, I was expecting a bit better. It’s still a good binder, but that front panel really lets it down. It is otherwise one of the best binders I’ve tried, but for a binder that is that expensive and is advertised as being sensory friendly, I would expect a softer front panel. I’m speaking as someone who usually is able to tolerate having the front panel of binders against my skin, but has a lot of trouble tolerating this front panel.

[binderreviews]

Update: I don’t like this binder lol

The front panel did soften with wear, so it’s much more sensory friendly now. However, it’s stretched out a very concerning amount in not even 2 weeks. It doesn’t bind much anymore, which sucks given the amount it cost. I didnt expect it to be super compressive, but I was expecting better than what I got.

[binderreviews]

Amor Sensory first impressions review

Disclaimer: I was on the cusp of needing a full chest reversible racerback from Amor (my under and full chest measurements were about 5.5” apart), but I opted for the regular reversible racerback because I have broad shoulders (and also because it’s cheaper lmao). Also, I am an autistic person with pretty bad sensory issues, but my sensory issues may not be the same as other people’s, so take this as MY opinion.

Binding ability:

Pretty good. Not amazing, but it’s pretty acceptable. Note, I have only had this binder about a week, but the binding ability so far is not bad.

I’ve heard that this binder does not stretch out much, which I really hope will be the case for me.

Comfort and sensory friendliness:

This binder has a very good level of pressure. It’s comforting, but not suffocating, and it’s tight enough to actually compress. It also has a pretty even pattern of pressure, which I definitely like.

The back and shoulders are very soft, I like to run my hands on the stretchy parts of the binder just to feel them because I like the texture.

The seams are great, and there are no labels except for an ironed on logo on the back. As for washing instructions, they come on a fully detachable label (which does not leave that horrible tiny label when cut off).

The front panel is quite rough and is honestly one of the least sensory-friendly I’ve tried, which is a real shame. It can be worn reversed (i.e. inside-out), which is definitely how I prefer to wear it, but if you wear it like that, your shirt catches on the cotton of the panel. I really hope the front panel softens over time because I really do not like it currently.

Miscellaneous:

This binder is EXPENSIVE. I was only able to get it because it was a birthday gift for me. It is definitely not a cheap binder.

This binder is very ethically and sustainably made, which is a big reason for why I wanted to get it. Of course, this comes at a price, but I am in a position where I can afford it and I don’t want my gender euphoria to come at a cost to the people making my binder, if I can avoid it.

The straps come a bit closer together than I would like. They can be positioned to sit a bit further away from the neck, and they don’t sit super close to the neck, but they show through shirt necklines more than I’d like.

Overall opinion:

Given the price, I was expecting a bit better. It’s still a good binder, but that front panel really lets it down. It is otherwise one of the best binders I’ve tried, but for a binder that is that expensive and is advertised as being sensory friendly, I would expect a softer front panel. I’m speaking as someone who usually is able to tolerate having the front panel of binders against my skin, but has a lot of trouble tolerating this front panel.

[binderreviews]

Long Spectrum Outfitters binder review

Binding ability:

The best I’ve ever had. When I first put it on, I was genuinely shocked at how flat I was.

It has stretched out quite a bit since I got it, but it still does the job well.

Comfort:

It’s not too tight which I like.

The front panel is kind of a weird texture, so I don’t like that much.

The back is a meshy texture, which is not the best sensory wise but is still acceptable for me.

Because it’s a long binder, it doesn’t have that huge gap between the binder and my ribs like the short Spectrum binder does, so in that regard it’s much more sensory friendly for me.

Miscellaneous:

The price is definitely not low, but it’s not terrible either, especially given how ethically made Spectrum binders are.

The binder is hell to get on for the first few days or so. It gets a lot easier after a few times though.

I love the anti-slip silicone strip at the bottom, it really does stop the binder from rolling up.

It will definitely be very warm in the summer months because it is a full length spandex binder.

Overall: I love this binder for dysphoric days, but not so much for extra sensory sensitive days. Definitely a good investment, especially if you don't have sensory issues.

[binderreviews]

Shapeshifters binder review

The specifications of the binder I got were:

Colour: Poplar (skin tone) with a mesh back (do not recommend getting a mesh back for reasons I will explain)

Length: 16 inches

Measurements: chest of 40 inches and underbust of 33 inches

Other add-ons: narrow straps (highly recommend), stiff insert

Overall, I was kind of unhappy with this binder given how much it cost me. It was too small even though I gave the right measurements and I don’t like the seams or texture much as an autistic person.

Sizing:

When I ordered it, it was too small. It would leave these marks under my armpits and hurt my back like crazy, which confused me given I gave the right measurements. Maybe it’s because I naturally have broader shoulders, but they didn’t ask for my shoulder measurements so I didn’t think that would affect it.

I then sent it to get made bigger and to widen the armholes at the back, and that worked pretty well, but it’s still a bit too small I think because I don’t find I can wear it comfortably as long as I can my other binders. I’m losing some weight though, so hopefully the binder should fit me properly soon.

Binding ability:

It’s pretty good, but not the best I’ve gotten. I still have a bit of a chest bump, but it’s to be expected given I don’t have a small chest (which is why I got a custom-made binder in the first place). The stiff insert is good for creating a smoother line down from under the chest to your stomach.

Comfort:

The seams are covered, which is good for my sensory issues

The binder is made of a few layers of mesh. It’s not super rough, but I still don’t find it very sensory friendly. If you have sensory issues that require soft fabrics, I wouldn’t recommend this binder to you because of the meshy inner lining.

Miscellaneous:

The binder is pretty visible under clothes. This is because the seams are quite thick and kind of stick out, so their outline is visible under t-shirts. Also, there is a clear line where the stiff insert ends, making that visible under clothes too.

Also, the mesh back is white which kind of defeats the purpose of getting a skin tone binder because the back doesn't match my skin tone. This is not something wrong with Shapeshifters though since I made that specification when ordering the binder

[binderreviews]

Wivov binder review

Binding ability:

At first it was really, really impressive. However, within about a month, it stretched out so much that it became very average. Now, about 3 months on, I have to wash it relatively often so that it tightens up again.

Comfort:

It’s made of a nylon-Lycra blend, giving it probably the nicest feeling texture on a binder I’ve ever felt. The side seams are also covered, which is amazing. Overall, very sensory friendly.

The bottom is quite tight, which for me is a big pro because I don’t like wearing binders that are loose on the ribs. I know not everyone will like that though. I also have a large chest compared to my rib measurement, so what is only moderately tight for me may be very tight for someone else.

The front panel is ok, not great but it’s not bad at all.

Miscellaneous:

It takes forever to dry unless you dry it in a hot place. In winter, it takes about 24 hours to dry on a drying rack.

The price is very reasonable, but I’m not sure how ethically made these binders are, since they have no ethics or sustainability information on their website (that I can find at least).

[binderreviews]

You've mentioned wivov can you do a review on theirs? I wanted to make an informed choice

(No pressure tho)

Yeah sure thing! I'll post it in a few mins!

[binderreviews]

The Fluxion binder review (first impressions)

I ordered this binder after seeing a few positive reviews on it. Chest binding is my special interest (I have autism) and so I decided to try it out. It arrived yesterday and here is my (first impressions) review on it.

Binding ability:

It's... fine? It's not particularly impressive binding, I won't lie. It's better than a sports bra, but I definitely get nowhere near flat in it. For reference, I got an XL and my rib measurement is 84cm/33".

Comfort:

This is a big one for me since I have autism, so I'm including sensory-friendliness in this. Its supposed sensory-friendliness was the main reason I wanted to buy it.

Overall, I do like the fabric. It's not the best fabric from a binder I've ever tried (that one I would say is Wivov) but it's pretty good.

The seams are fine. I don't particularly like the bottom and side seams as they feel a little plasticky, but they're at least covered, so they are better than gc2b, and they aren't rough, so they are better than Untag in my opinion

A big sensory issue is my chest tissue touching my ribs, so I was hoping this binder would keep everything in place well (which is difficult for me to find in a binder with a larger chest). This binder (so far) does keep everything in place and gives relatively even pressure (so it doesn't feel looser on my ribs than my chest tissue, which some brands such as Spectrum do) so I like it for that.

Overall:

It's an ok binder. Not very good at flattening, but it is comfortable. This will probably be a good binder for extra sensitive sensory days for me, but not very good for extremely dysphoric days.