#binding guide

[trans-survival-guide]

Buying the Right Binder for Me

One of the more safe ways to bind is with a binder that you can buy online. There are, however, two basic types of binders. One type is the half tank binder, pictured below.

Another type of binder is the full tank binder, also pictured below.

These pictures, both taken from the GC2B website, are the way the safest binders on the market look. There are multiple different colors of binders to chose from depending on the websites you look at but they should all give the same affect.

Choosing the website to buy your binder from can be a challenge. The most common websites are GC2B, Underworks, T-Kingdom, ForThem, and many other places. Generally, many people buy GC2B and there are many videos comparing GC2B binders to others and they generally tend to give a better bind. (EDIT: there has been a lot of debate about the quality of GC2B going down in recent years. Personally, I haven’t noticed much but the last one I bought was 2 or so years ago) But, ultimately, where you buy your binder is up to you.

Once you have your website chosen, now you need to decide what type of binder you want. Here are questions to ask yourself before you chose the type of binder.

Do I want a full tank or a half tank? 

There really isn’t much difference between the full tank binder and the half tank binder. They accomplish the same thing the best they can except one is slightly more expensive and has more fabric. Personally, I have found that the full tank binder rides up and does not act like a tank top no matter what you do. Even if it is tucked in. So, because of my experience, I recommend the half tank binder. But, in my research I have found that full tanks seem to fit people with larger chests better than half tanks. 

If you buy a full tank, you can always cut off the bottom half to make it a half tank. I did this with mine because the the rolling up problem it had.

Do I want a binder that has a zipper?

No, you do not. These binders tend to be more unsafe and cause more health problems. Don’t buy a binder with a zipper. 

Do I want a binder that clasps together?

Just like the answer to the previous question, no you do not. These binders are also more unsafe. Don’t buy a binder with clasps.

What color do I want?

There are many colors to chose from on some sites. If you want to be more discreet about your binder, I would recommend a nude binder that you think will be closer to your skin tone or a plain black or white one. I am not sure what websites do and don’t have skin tones but I know for a fact that GC2B has these. You may also want a colorful binder if you are not worried about discreetness. It all depends on your personal preference.

Should I buy a more expensive/cheaper binder?

Just because a binder is more expensive does not mean it is better for you. Be careful. Don’t buy a cheaper binder either because cheaper binders tend to be ones with zippers or clasps and, once again, those are not safe! Think about safety, not price.

Now that you have chosen your website and type of binder, you must find your size. For this, you will need some type of tape measure and, preferably, a mirror. To measure your chest you should take off any clothing on the upper part of your body for the most accurate measurement. (disclaimer: this measurement system is taken from GC2B. If you can’t tell I really support them.)

To measure your chest, you should measure around the part with the most breast tissue. Usually this is around the nipples, so you should most likely be measuring this over your nipples. Make sure you wrap the tape measure all the way around your chest (DO NOT WRAP IT TOO TIGHTLY! This will result in a binder that is too small. Make sure it is not too loose either, it should be straight around the chest and should not curve.) and look in the mirror to take not of how many inches/centimeters your chest all the way around is. If this measurement has a fraction greater than 1/4″ then you should round up. (EX: if your measurement is 37 1/2″ round up to 38″)

Depending on the website this may be the ending of your sizing adventure and all you need to do is check the sizing chart. If you are in between sizes, it may be safer to buy the bigger size.

Some websites recommend taking more measurements than just this- ones that will double check your size. Make sure you check the websites sizing chart and/or guide just to make sure your are getting the right size.

And there you have it! Here is a guide to finding the right type of binder for you. I hope this helped!

[useless-bisaster]

Phoenix's Big Binding Guide! (Revised Edition)

I've learned a lot about binding from reading and from my own experience, and I've seen a lot of questions about binding floating around the interwebs, so I thought I would share some of my knowledge. Remember, safety is key! The reason I've edited this is for readability purposes. I also added one bullet point that I had forgotten to include. If you reblogged the other post, please reblog this new version as well. - Don't bind improperly. Pretty simple, don't use ace bandages, duct tape, or anything similar. Duct tape will irritate your skin terribly, possibly even removing a layer or two when you peel it off. Both ace and duct tape won't allow for proper expansion of the lungs/ribcage when breathing and can lead to collapsed lungs and broken ribs, as well as potentially damaging breast tissue to the point where you may be ineligible for top surgery later in life. - Don't buy a cheap or low quality binder. In general, it's a bad idea to buy a binder that costs less than $20. - Don't buy a binder from Amazon or Wish. - Don't buy a binder that is marketed to lesbians, tomboys, or cosplayers/stage performers. - Don't buy a binder from Les Love Boat, Les Lesbian, or T Kingdom. In general, these brands make low quality binders. Some trans people swear by T Kingdom, but I've heard from a lot of sources that their binders don't bind well, are not high quality, and fall apart very quickly. - Don't buy a binder with clasps, Velcro, or zippers. There's a good reason for this, trust me. Everyone I've ever known with these kinds of binders says they are uncomfortable or difficult to wear because they dig into the skin, they come undone easily, or both. Think about it, something that's really tight against your skin having a metal or plastic piece on it is not going to be super comfortable. - Read reviews on binders before you buy. - Don't wear a binder for more than 8 hours if at all avoidable. 10 hours is okay as long as you're not doing it every day. 12 hours is pretty much the high high limit, but if you do wear a binder for 12 hours straight, try not to wear a binder for a couple days following. If you wear a binder for more than 12 hours, you will be in bad pain for days, trust me. You will bruise the muscles around your ribcage, and binding (and breathing) will hurt pretty bad. After more than 12 hours of continuous wear, I would recommend not binding for 5-7 days minimum. - Don't continue wearing a binder if you are in pain or having trouble breathing. I suggesting keeping a sports bra with you when you're binding so that you can change if you need to. - If you're uncomfortable, take breaks. Go to the bathroom, take it off for a couple minutes, then put it back on. - Don't exercise while binding. Even when you're binding with an actual binder, your breathing will be restricted. Exercising while binding could potentially cause you to pass out due to lack of oxygen. The general rule is that if you're doing activity that will cause you to breathe heavily, don't bind. - Don't bind if you're going to be doing any heavy lifting. - Don't sleep in a binder. This applies to naps too. I learned that the hard way. I originally thought that you shouldn't sleep in your binder because you'd potentially be wearing it for more than 8 hours. The actual reason is that the pressure of the binder combined with the additional pressure of your body weight on the mattress/couch/floor/whatever means more risk of bruising, lung damage, breathing constriction, and rib fractures. - Don't wear a binder if you are sick with a respiratory illness. If you are coughing or having trouble breathing, binding can aggravate these issues. - If you have severe asthma, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to bind, and if they say yes, be very careful when binding. - Don't expect a binder to get you completely flat. Especially if you have a larger chest, the odds of even the best binder getting you completely flat is slim to none. Binders will compress a little or a lot depending on the material they're made of, and will likely smooth your chest, but unless you're less than a B cup, you're probably not going to be completely flat with a binder. - Take your measurements before you buy. Just guessing your size or basing it on your t-shirt size is not a reliable indicator. Measure yourself according to the method in the sizing chart of the company you're buying from and compare it to the chart. If you're in between two sizes, round up (unless you're really, really close to the lower size, I'm talking a small fraction of an inch). - There are a couple of ways to bind without a binder. One is to stack sports bras. Try putting one on backward and one on forward (note: this only works with compression sports bras). Another method is to use shapewear like Spanx. Most shapewear is made out of the same material as a lot of binders (I know this is true of Spanx and Underworks binders because I've owned both of them). Take shapewear (the kind that's like underwear and doesn't have thigh portions) and cut a slit in the crotch part. You can then pull it on just like you would a normal binder. Generally, the size you would typically wear if you were wearing the shapewear as intended is the size you will need to bind with. - There are two binder brands that you will generally hear recommended; they are Underworks and GC2B. I have bought binders from both. My first was from Underworks, and I was quickly dissatisfied with it. I then ordered a binder from GC2B, which I have found to be much more comfortable and to bind much more effectively. GC2B is generally a little cheaper than Underworks as well. - Half vs. full binder: half binders are more breathable and work just as well in the chest as a full binder. They occasionally will ride up and your breasts may hang out the bottom; in this case, you will find yourself compulsively pulling your binder down. A full binder has the added bonus of smoothing your hips. I've never owned a full binder, so I don't know personally if they ride up or not. However, I have read that these can be really tight in the tummy area, especially if you've got some pudge there. Read reviews to help you make your decision. - There are a lot of tutorials to make your own binder, and also shops online that make custom binders. These are good resources if you are unable to find a binder in your size. Just make sure you buy from a reputable shop, and again, read reviews. - In my experience, it's okay to put a binder in the washing machine on cold, but do not under any circumstances put it in the dryer. If you want to be extra careful, hand wash your binder. A lot of people say that you should only hand wash binders, and I don't think that's bad advice, I'm just really lazy and don't want to so I put mine in the wash. Remember, safety is very important when binding, and you should always listen to your body. Happy binding!