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: Double T Air 7 Long Cut: Jordan

Review by Jordan

Product name: Double T (Double Company) Air 7 Long Cut (Slip-On/No Velcro)

Manufacturer’s website: en.mydouble.net

Chest size at time of use: 36 B

Comfort: 5/5

Effectiveness: 5/5

Discreetness: 4.5/5

Overall: 5 /5

• This binder is absolutely amazing.  I never thought I would ever say those words.  I actually enjoy wearing this!  Seriously, skip buying a binder because it’s cheaper in the short-run.  That’s what I did and I don’t regret trying it, but I know now that priority, for me, is COMFORT with my compression.  And to you other guys: Don’t lower your standards on a binder!  There is one for you and this is it.  The Air 7 is a little pricey.  90 bucks.  I felt a little guilty spending the money on this… until I received it.  Well done!  It came folded in it’s own little Double Company, screen-printed, nice zip-close bag.  Seriously, when I ordered this, I thought I was going to have to mail it back because it was going to be some cheap-ass material that’s scratchy.  I was so wrong.  It fits like a tank top, which I previously used to wear under all my shirts.  It’s SO soft, the back is like a mesh, but not like a rough, cheap mesh or a flimsy, basketball shorts mesh.  It’s tough, but it’s soft.  The material is stretchy, but takes a bit of strength to stretch by hand, similar to the Underworks material, in that way ONLY.  When I put a shirt on over this, I absolutely love the way it feels on my skin.  Let me repeat that:  It feels GREAT with a shirt over it!  So cool/icey feeling on the skin.  It’s wonderful.  Oh, and it doesn’t have any kind of ODOR to the fabric.  I recently tried to buy an UnderArmour shirt and really liked the way it felt, but there is virtually no compression in that material.  This Air 7 is a similar material, super soft, yet thicker.  This does NOT roll up, contort, anything.  It’s so refreshing to know that there are people in the world that understand what makes a great binder.  Taiwan, apparently, is in on the secret.  I absolutely know I will buy another one of these.
• Also, WARNING!
  IMPORTANT!
  Get your REAL size!  Seriously, if you know your Cup/Band size, use that.  If not, measure yourself.  Do not attempt to get this thinking you will have to buy it smaller because you want to be really flat.  It is a binder.  A REAL ONE.  So, feel completely secure in buying your size.  That’s all.
• I hope you all felt my excitement in reading this.  Also, the only reason I gave this a 4.5/5 in discreetness is because, for me, the fabric could always be thinner, but also I’m just leaving a little room for improvement in case some super miracle fabric comes along.  Other than that, this thing is PERFECT.  I have nothing negative to say about it.

Review: Underworks Tri-Top: Jordan

Reviewed by Jordan

Product name: UnderWorks 983 (Medium)

Manufacturer’s website: UnderWorks.com

Cup size at time of use: B

Comfort: 3/5:

• It’s 70% Nylon and 30% Lycra. I think the Lycra is what makes this product actually worth it. The Nylon makes a swishing noise if I rub my shirt over the binder. Reminds me of an extremely uncomfortable bathing suit. Also, I don’t care how thin/thick you are, this sucker will roll up when you bend over or need to be adjusted if you make any sudden movements. Under the arms is the most uncomfortable because the fabric gives a pinching feeling, even though it fits like it’s supposed to or there tends to be friction there because I move my arms like other human beings. Oh, and no matter how many times you wash this sucker, it still smells like rubber or something strange. I have sink-washed and hung-dry like the instructions say and that smell never leaves. However, the fabric is breathable, so if I sweat at all, it may be damp, but it doesn’t ruin the functionality of the binder itself. Also, a major note: the website sort of assumes since you are a “biological female” then you must have tiny shoulders. This creates a problem in itself because, personally, I have very broad shoulders, so since the shoulder straps are meant to sit at a certain place on an individual with a smaller frame, it causes a hump in the scoop of the neck, which is irritating because, of course, we want it to lie flat on our chests like a tank top.

Effectiveness: 4/5

• It definitely does what it says it does. Somebody else had submitted a photo of “without binder” and “with binder.” That describes it perfectly. It’s especially nice if you are like me and went from wearing a couple sports bras to this binder. The difference is amazing. For me, the less I wear, the better. I don’t like to have to prepare all my undergarments before putting clothes on. That’s just time-consuming and ridiculous. I don’t think I could ever wear a regular sports bra again because I have definitely become accustomed to the binding effect. It has also helped with my posture, although the binder is not stiff and is flexible, but I tended to hunch over without knowing it to hide my chest. It definitely could improve though because I still am not fully confident to walk around with my chest thrust outward (not that I would, but you know what I mean). Also, I adjust my chest under this binder by flattening my breasts toward each armpit. Personally, this helps me and the “shaping” process because, of course, if they aren’t perfectly positioned in the binder, there are oddly-shaped looking bumps on my chest and no, they don’t appear to be pecs, however, what I described does help with that specific effect.

Discreetness: 3/5

• Depends on the shirt you wear over it. A tighter fitting shirt is more difficult because of the hump that’s created in the neck scoop, so it protrudes outward if the shoulder straps are not positioned on the outermost part of my shoulders. No, wearing a tank over it really doesn’t help, and like I said, I am personally burnt out on layering my clothes. That was the point of the binder. Also, with a tighter fitting shirt, if it rolls up, well, you might as well be wearing a sports bra because you can totally tell which part of your upper body is confined within a fabric and what is not. You may also note that if you have *any* underarm fat tissue, it will protrude out of the binder in what I’ve seen described as “dog ears.” If you are a thinner person, it will appear to be a tank top under your shirt, but still keep in mind the size of your shoulders, as this will still affect how it fits.

Overall : 3/5

 

Review: Double Front Compression Vest: Mason

Reviewed by Mason

Product name: Underworks FTM Chest Binder (Double Front Compression Vest with Relaxed Mid-Section – model 988)

Manufacturer’s website: Underworks.com

Cup size at time of use: I’m uneven! An A and one big B (averages to around 35″)

Ratings:

Comfort: 3.5/5

• I would give the chest compression a 5/5 – more comfortable than a tight sports bra and totally awesome. However, the relaxed mid-section lowers everything to a 3.5/5 rating for cutting into my stomach. It is really uncomfortable. The two layers of chest compression stop about two inches above my belly button and squeeze my gut down like a tube of tooth paste. This might be more comfortable for someone that is skinny, has a tight stomach, or a longer torso (so the compression would stop slightly higher on the ribcage). This binder doesn’t work very well with the short torso / chubby factor.

Effectiveness: 4.5/5

• That inner-tube of gut around my midsection gives my stomach a look I don’t like, but the chest compression is great. Any more compression would seriously compromise the comfort of this binder. In a baggy shirt you can’t really tell there are boobs there, even though I’ve got that one large B cup. It also balances out the unevenness of my chest. It also really helps with posture.

Discreetness: 4.5/5

• Again, the doughnut of fat around my waist is noticeable in tight shirts, but it doesn’t necessarily present a female-bodied look, especially in a loose fitting shirt. Up top you can’t really see the seams across my shoulders and my chest looks very smooth. There’s a little fabric looseness along the collar over my bigger rogue boob that occasionally bumps out or catches my looser cotton shirts. More even chested dudes shouldn’t have a problem, though.

Overall : 4/5

• The gut cutting is a real bummer. I’m hoping to stretch out the compression around my midsection to make this binder more comfortable for day-long wear. Love the chest compression, though, so I can’t complain too much.

 

Review: Underworks Tri-Top: Diego

Reviewed by Diego

Product name: Underworks Tri-Top Chest Binder

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

Cup size at time of use: size B

• My chest measured about 34 inches so I ordered a medium according to their measurements and ended up having to exchange it for an X-small which fit well.

Ratings:

Comfort: 4.5/5

• Getting it on is TOUGH. Getting it off, is even harder. It doesn’t hurt when it’s on except for sometimes when I’m sitting in weird positions for a long time. Does chafe at the armpits a little. And also, it makes my chest and stomach make creaking noises when I breathe. But it is all worth it.

Effectiveness: 4.5/5

• I used to use t-shirt sleeves and tight spandex pants legs which I feel sometimes gave me better results because I could pull it tighter. But this is one constant fabric that conceals well and I can wear pretty tight shirts and still pull off a 97% flat chest.

Discreetness: 4.5/5

• It’s definitely passable except for the fact that you can’t wear V-necks.

Overall : 4.5/5

 

Review: Underworks Extreme Compression Vest: Greg

Reviewed by Greg

Product name: 988 tank top extreme compression vest

manufacturer website: http://ftm.underworks.com/

Cup size at time of use: B or C

Comfort: 4/5

• The under-stitching has a tendency to rub kind of hard, but overall its a very nice feeling. Wouldn’t recommend sleeping in it.

Effectiveness: 5/5

• I am completely flat chested with this shirt on.

Discreetness: 4/5

• I wouldn’t wear it with v-necks since the fabric doesn’t exactly feel like cotton, since it is spandex. Otherwise you cannot tell you have a compression vest on, looks like a regular t shit.

Overall: 4.5/5

• I say [four and a] half because the price for one single item is pretty high, but then again having my dignity and self image restored to normal is priceless. This shirt works for extreme gynecomastia.

 

Review: Underworks Double Front Compression Shirt: Kyle G.

Reviewed by Kyle G.

Product Name:  Double Front Compression Shirt

Manufacturer’s Web Site

Cup size at time of use: B (?)

Ratings:

Comfort: 3/5

• I had some trouble with running short of breath at times and some trouble eating without nausea. I had the longer version, so it also would roll up whenever it wanted and dig into my hips and stomach. Not the most comfortable feeling.

Effectiveness: 4/5

• It was good for a flat chest (and slightly flatter hips and rear) though, for me at least, it created odd bulges in my armpits from the breasts being pushed out to that area and the binder not quite catching all of the fat.

Discreetness: 4/5

• I often wore it with an undershirt over it to hide the line from the top hem, though it does kind of make it look like you’re just wearing an a-shirt. It annoyed me when I would wear tighter shirts, though with looser shirts, it’s fine.

Overall: 3/5

• Overall, it does what it’s supposed to with limited side effects, though the side effects it presents are rather uncomfortable.

Review: Underworks Double Front Compression Shirt: Nate

Reviewed by Nate

Product Name:  Double Front Compression Shirt

Manufacturer’s Web Site

Cup Size at Time of Use:  I think large B

Ratings:

Comfort:  3/5

• The newer version is very stretchy and harder to breathe in than older ones.

Effectiveness: 2/5

• Barely made a difference.  Better off with the Frog Bra.

Discreetness: 4/5

• Definitely sticks to you.  The length is the biggest problem because it can show when it rolls up.

Overall: 3/5

• I would always advocate wearing Underarmour or a similar product underneath any Underworks binder to minimize chafing and also ease putting on and taking off the binder.

Review: Underworks Double Front Compression Vest: Splatterdash

Review by Splatterdash:

Product Name: Underworks Double Front Compression Vest

Manufacturer Website

Cup size at time of use: B

Ratings:

Comfort: 4/5

• Chest doesn’t hurt in the slightest either whilst wearing it or once it’s taken off, but the bottom hem has a tendency to roll up and dig into my hips.

Effectiveness: 4/5

• Not perfect, but as good as bandages without the lasting rib-ache. Worth noting that it also slims hips a little if you wear it pulled all the way down.

Discreetness: 5/5

• Nobody can tell you’re wearing it under your shirt, and it doesn’t look much different from a normal vest. I would advise, for better passability, to wear it with a sweater or jacket over the top, since with just a t-shirt, there’s still a bit of a bump where your chest is.

Overall: 4.5/5

Review: Homemade/DIY: Neoprene Waist Trimmer: Kaden O’Reilly

Review by Kaden O’Reilly

Product name: Neoprene Waist Trimmer

Price: At a dollar store, three dollars.

Cup size at time of use: On the A/B borderline, I think

Ratings:

Comfort: 2.5/5

• I figured out really fast to wear a tight wifebeater beneath it, folded in half while ensuring the entire area the binder covered was covered, because it does not breathe. Sweating is a huge problem, so if you’re walking up a hill or standing in the sun, it can get uncomfortable really fast. And then of course when you finally get home you have the lovely job of pulling a tight sweat-soaked shirt over your head. As my current only way of binding, I’ll take the bad with the good, but almost anything would be more breathable. If I pull it up high enough the neoprene will sometimes pull on my underarm hair, and if it’s lower so that doesn’t happen it loses some of its effectiveness.

Effectiveness: Between 4 and 5, depending on where it’s sitting (4.5/5)

• When I’ve got it in the right spot, it makes me look almost completely flat in a tight shirt, and even when I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I was being intimidated for money and a fellow clapped me on the chest in mock-friendliness right over my breast he didn’t realize I wasn’t a biological male, which definitely made a bad situation not take a turn for the worse. For that, it deserves about a 10/5. For regular, everyday situations, I pass well,. When I pull it down so it’s not tugging on hair like I mentioned earlier I sort of pop up a bit on top, creating a bit of a funny bump, but in a loose shirt it’s not too much of an issue.

Discreetness: 4/5

• When I’m wearing a tighter shirt, sometimes you can see the line of the top of the binder, which looks kind of out of place but probably wouldn’t get anyone questioning too seriously. I haven’t seen anything showing in the back, though I imagine it’s a similar story to the front. If I wear a polo, I need to make sure that the button-down part doesn’t show the wifebeater. Same thing while wearing a t-shirt with a loose neck: I need to watch that the wifebeater straps aren’t visible, though it’s not completely unusual for a guy to wear an undershirt. I stays where I put it when I’m resting to slightly physically active, but as soon as I spend a day with a seven-year-old playing soccer, pushing swings, and jumping over waves, it slides down frequently and I have to try to be discreet about pulling it up and trying to make it sit where it started. I haven’t figured out if I need to bind tighter to prevent that, or find a way of fastening it to the shirt I wear underneath. One of my other big problems with it is that when I sweat a lot with it on, I can smell the sweat. I haven’t figured out if other people can, but it doesn’t make me smell appealing to myself and I can’t see other people enjoying it.

Overall: 4/5

• It does the job, and the price was right, but it has its drawbacks. I think I’m going to have to try some modifications, but they still can’t fix some problems like the breathability.