Sizing Accuracy: Your experiences?

Here’s an open question to the readers: what have your experiences been with the sizing of binders?

Someone asked me how accurate the sizing chart for Underworks binders actually was. Since I’ve never bought a binder from them, I couldn’t really answer, but it’s a really important question when you think about it.

So, of the binders you’ve bought, how have the manufacturer’s measurement guidelines worked for you? This reader is looking for specific details on Underworks, but feel free to comment on other manufacturers.

Hey

This blog isn’t going to be active any time soon, but since it’s still getting frequent visitors, I figured I might as well post a PSA for folks local to me, maybe it will save some other trans person some pain:

House of Cards Abbotsford, a local game store, is NOT a safe space. The trans employee was embracing truscum/HBSer rhetoric when I cut contact with her (also, she kinda sexually assaulted me & sent cops to my house on a bogus report in retaliation for me speaking out, so there’s also that 🤷)

(This isn’t even getting into the other terrible shit I saw while dating an employee *coughIndenturedServitudecough*)

Anyways, 0/10, do not recommend.

I think it’s time to call it…

Sorry, folks. I don’t think I have it in me to restart this blog. When I first started this project, information on binding was hard to come by. Unsafe practices were the norms, and most reviews I found were scattered across passworded forums or buried in 5000 page threads. Now, things have changed immensely, and this resource is no longer as necessary as it was then.

I’m not removing any posts (unless the submitter asks me to), as I think this blog offers an interesting snapshot into a certain period of our community’s history that is not necessarily as well-documented as it could be. But I’m not going to spend any more time wondering if it’s worth reviving. Thank you all for your contributions through the years, this never would have worked without you.

(And if you’re interested in checking out what I’m currently working on, I’m trying to organize a queer community event in my city for this November- go to https://FVQueerXmasMarket.ca for more details!)

Stay awesome ✌️

Sean/dysperdis

I’m not dead

Hello to anyone who still looks at this blog!

So, it’s been a few *cough* years since I’ve updated- the last “real” post was made shortly before I started a relationship which I finally worked up the courage to end in June after I started to realize just how abusive & manipulative my ex girlfriend had become (I’ll skip the details on this blog, but it got bad by the end- if you really want to know, I tweeted about a lot of the gory details under the same name I still use basically everywhere, but be aware that I sucked at judging what needed trigger warnings for a while after the breakup…).

Since then, I’ve been looking at projects I abandoned during the relationship (especially the ones I abandoned because they took my energy away from her, tho that wasn’t necessarily the case for my absence here), & I ran across some old email notifications for this blog & decided to try logging in.

The initial reason I took a break from this blog was because I found that maintaining it was starting to trigger my own chest dysphoria pretty badly. I always intended to come back, but I never had a good chance, even after I started T & found that my chest dysphoria was decreasing in general. I also mostly stopped bothering with binding, especially after leaving university due to burnout after a semi-famous fascist from the area decided to stir shit up there for a year before pissing off to do fashy shit on a boat with other fascists. Now that I actually have time AND energy though, I’m interested in restarting this resource in some way.

I haven’t made any definite plans yet. By the beginning of November, I’m hoping to have a better idea of how I want to proceed but in the meantime if you’re looking for what I’ve been up to lately, check out this carrd with links to my art stuff- and if you have any suggestions/requests for a reboot of the Chest Binder Review Blog, comment below!

ON STRIKE AGAINST SOPA

Today, we are striking against censorship. Join the largest online protest in history: tell Congress to stop this bill now!

Write Congress Now!

Not In The US? Petition The State Department.

I am writing to you as a voter in your district. I urge you to oppose the Senate version of S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act. The PROTECT IP Act is dangerous, ineffective, and short-sighted. The House version — just introduced by Rep. Goodlatte — is far worse.Over coming days you’ll be hearing from the many businesses, advocacy organizations, and ordinary Americans who oppose this legislation because of the myriad ways in which it will stifle free speech and innovation. We hope you’ll take our concerns to heart and oppose this legislation.

Join The Strike! and add this to your site

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Learn More:
Watch the video ·
American Censorship page ·
View the Infographic

Read SOPA on OpenCongress ·
Read PIPA on OpenCongress

The three most definitive articles on SOPA and PIPA: Free Speech, Problems, Security

(Code belongs to  Fight for the Future. Fight for the Future is a non-profit organization fighting for people’s freedoms in a new digital age.)

Review: Underworks Tri-Top Chest Binder: Jasper B

Review by Jasper B.
Product name: Underworks Tri-Top chest binder 983
Size: Medium
Price: $29.99 + shipping and whatnot
Manufacturer’s website: http://ftm.underworks.com/
Chest size at time of use: 34 B cup

Comfort: 5/5

• Doesn’t roll up (for me at least)
• Doesn’t rub under my arms, or feel to tight around my neck area
• Breathes well, great to wear in summer
• Very comfortable, doesn’t contract and restrict when worn in water

Effectiveness: 3/5

• Binds well at first, looses it’s shape but gets it back generally after a hand washing and drying.
• Hard to get on the first few times

Discreetness: 4.5/5

• Even though it’s short and sometimes people can see the line that rises to about my waist, you cannot notice it around my shoulders.

Overall : 4/5

• Recommended, especially for a basic first binder.
• Cheap, if you wanted it just for drag, etc.

Review: Underworks Tri-Top Chest Binder: Anon

Reviewed by Anon

Product name: Tri-top Chest Binder (Underworks)

Manufacturer’s website: http://www.underworks.com/983.html

Chest size at time of use: 12C (Australian measurements) – around 32.5 inches I think.

Comfort: 3/5

• This is my first binder, so I have nothing but cotton sports bras to compare it to, but I’m not finding it very comfortable. When I first put it on it made my back ache and my breathing felt constricted, these both passed within a half-hour or so, and I expect were factors of being unused to wearing something this tight. The top stops at the base of my ribs, so doesn’t compress my stomach at all, which is good. My big problem is that some of my chest tissue has been pushed out of the arm-holes and I can’t seem to adjust myself in any way to stop this happening. This looks like under-arm fat, which isn’t nice, and the arm-holes themselves are digging quite uncomfortably into these rolls of tissue, bringing overall comfort down. I won’t be able to wear this every day, and I don’t think I’ll be able to wear it while doing anything very active, it cuts in too much. According to the measurements on the Underworks website I have the right size for me, so I think it’s just a factor of the design versus my chest.

Effectiveness: 5/5

• I don’t know how it will bear out over time, but brand new this is the flattest I’ve ever been since before puberty. Brilliant.

Discreetness: 4/5

• Under dark and/or loose-fitting shirts you can’t tell I’m wearing anything at all. In v-necks or open-necked button-downs the little bit that shows just looks like I’m wearing a tank or undershirt underneath. Under white/translucent shirts however, it can easily be seen, and it’s obvious that it only covers my chest. I don’t wear tight shirts, so the shape of it showing under tight shirts is not a problem for me.

Overall : 3.5/5

• This was really, really difficult to get on. I got a small, which was the correct size for me according to the sizing on the website, and once on it fits fine, but I had a LOT of difficulty getting it on over my shoulders. It was awkward and kept bunching painfully around my upper arms and getting stuck. I eventually managed to get it on without actually straining my shoulder, but I very nearly gave up. Definitely something to have a helper on hand for if you can, and not good for anyone who is prone to dislocating their shoulders or needs to get dressed quickly.
  It’s great for flattening my chest, but being so hard to get on (and I assume off, I haven’t tried that yet), and the way it cuts around my arms really brings the rating down IMO. I can’t wear this every day, I’ll keep it for the days when my need to be as flat as possible is stronger than my need to be physically comfortable.

Review: Peecock Products V-Neck Mid Length Binder: Diahonne

Review by Diahonne
Product name: V-Neck Mid Length Binder
Manufacturer’s website: http://www.peecockproducts.com
Price: $29.00 + shipping and handling
Cup & band size & chest measurements in inches at time of use: 40C or 42 chest

Comfort: 5/5

• Very comfortable, can go the whole day with it and completely forget I was binding. The bottom of the binder doesn’t dig in my sides or armpit. It’s like wearing a high compression bra. It has Velcro fasteners so putting it on is easier the over-the-head binders. I can eat as much as I want and there is no pressure on my stomach.

Effectiveness: 5/5

• I could never be flatter. No lumps, seamless binding effect.

Discreetness: 5/5

• You will never notice. I wear v-necks the majority of the time and you would just believe I was wearing an undershirt.

Overall : 5/5

• Product is incredible and never been happier. Easy to put on, comfortable, Binds incredibly flat with zero lumps, and unnoticeable. And I wear a normal compression shirt not because I want to be flatter its just because I have curves that like to come out over binders when no one asked for it. Which is good advice for the bigger guys. Before and After pics down below

Without Binder

With Binder

ETA: Check out a better before and after here and here, respectively.

Review: Underworks Tri-top Chest Binder: Alix

Review by Alix
Product name: Underworks Tritop Chest Binder (Model 983)
Manufacturer’s website:http://www.underworks.com/987.html
Chest measurements in inches at time of use: Bust 37″, chest 44″ (mean 40.5″)

Comfort: 4/5

• 2 for the initial 3 days of wear, but soon much more comfortable as I got used to the feel and it gained a bit more give.

Effectiveness: 4/5

• Gives a fairly good bind, perfect for under loose clothing, but the shape of them is still somewhat visible in tight clothes.

Discreetness: 3.5/5

• Looks like a sports bra, if that’s okay for you; high neck line so visible under shirts with a low neck.

Overall : 4/5

• A good binder for those with larger chest, as folding to get an effective bind is not necessary(or possible-preventing you from going too tight) as it is with a double front.
• Be warned that getting in and out of it is a pain, but once you find a method for it, it’s possible.
• Also, you may have to move things around in there to get the best bind. I do up and out to the sides, but my friend who is also large chested prefers ‘down and out’.

The CBRB is now on Facebook!

You can find our new Facebook page through that little badge on the top of the sidebar to the right, or by clicking this link. The wall is wide open, so feel free to add comments, links, or whatnot. Hopefully, it will remind me to update a little more often as well.

You might notice that the current user pic for the page is a little… well, rough. If anyone has a better suggestion for a logo design, I’m all ears. =)

Review: Underworks Double Front Compression Shirt: Kim

Review by Kim

Product name: Underworks Double Front Compression Shirt

Manufacturer’s website: http://ftm.underworks.com/
Chest Size at time of use: 38DDD (37″ under bust/45.5″ bust)
Comfort: 3.5/5

• It’s not ultra comfortable, but it’s not super uncomfortable for the most part either. Sometimes it hurt a little in the armpit, but it seemed to be dealt with when I adjusted myself some.

Effectiveness: 4/5

• You could still tell I had breasts, but not by more than an inch or inch and a half.

Discreetness: 5/5

• You don’t even notice it under a t-shirt.

Overall: 4/5

• It’s hard to get on, but once you do and mess with the arrangement of your breasts some, it goes a long way to flattening out a chest.

With (left) and without binder- front

With (left) and without binder- side