Binders 101

My binder came!!! :D

sociopath-ina-sweatervest:

boisandgrrls:

Super Strength Velcro Short Binder from LesLoveBoat :D The velcro was tricky to deal with at first, but I figured it out. :D

View without a sports bra.

View with a sports bra, almost completely flat :D

Can’t tell under a shirt :D

Aaaaaand that’s what packing underwear looks like if you don’t pack xD

Overall so far I rate this 5/5. It’s super comfy and compresses well. :D

Zev says: here’s a great example of somebody using a sports bra under their binder. It’s a method that works well for some people, and definitely worth experimenting with!

Anonymous asked: I'm going to attempt to make my own binder over the weekend, and I need to go shopping for fabrics to make it with. The problem is, I don't know what to use, and I was wondering if you could suggest anything?

You should probably just go with the types of materials that binders are usually made with:

Spandex (what Underworks uses) does a good job of binding, but wears out more quickly.

Lycra (what most of Lesloveboat products are) doesn’t bind as well in the beginning, but lasts longer.

Tactel (Lesloveboat’s High Performance Binder is made of this) is more firm and binds well, but is less comfortable. 

Since you’re making your own, you have the freedom to mix the materials, maybe try a layer of one thing, and then a layer of something else. Let us know how it goes!
-Codie 

So this isn’t a review, but I thought it might be something you/your followers should be aware of. :)

You can donate binders or apply for a binder.

http://inabind.transactiveonline.org/ 

Cotton Concealer Compression Series OH MY!

Anonymous asked: I think I’m gonna get the underwork’s The Cotton Concealer Compression Tank, but I’m worried that my chest will squish out over the top of it, and I’m worried about compression. Any advice?

Zev says: This one time I reviewed that binder. So check that out. I reviews the Muscle Shirt, not the tank. The tank is shaped similarly to the 997, if you’re looking to avoid top and armpit overflow, I’d skip to the muscle shirt or the t-shirt. They make good “undershirts” and can be a stealthy way of getting a layer between your binder and your shirt.

But the thing about the Cotton Concealer series is that there’s NOT VERY MUCH COMPRESSION. On the lesloveboat scale, I’d give it a 1.5 out of 5. It’s a binder that I’d recommend for layering. It does a good job smoothing the lumps leftover from other binders. The muscle shirt goes all the way up to your collarbones, so you won’t squish over the top. The v-neck might show minimal cleavage on big dudes, but for anybody, it’s a great way to completely eliminate the armpit overflow. The crew-neck t-shirt does both. However, I very much wouldn’t recommend this as an on-its-own binder. It’s a layering piece for sure.

Here’s a link to the whole series at underworks. 

 Stay excellent!

Anonymous asked: I want to start chest binding because I want smaller breasts but I know nothing about it. Can you refer me to a page or tell me where to start?

http://binders101.tumblr.com/links 

Is where we’ve posted some stuff we find helpful. The ones labeled “the basics” are a good call. Once you read through that stuff, go way back in our archive and start seeing the specific stuff we’ve reviewed.

SUBMISSION: thanks for the advice!

i asked you about layering on top of my high strength binder from the boat a few weeks ago.  you told me not to try the tritop (underworks) or the sports bandage (the boat) on top of the high strength binder unless i wanted to injure myself— so i decided to try something else.

i chopped the legs off a new pair of nylon tights and put the resulting nylon tube around my chest.  and it totally works!  my lumps are pretty much smoothed out and i’m confident enough to forgo the giant hoodies this summer!  thanks, guys!  i’m soooo not going to get heat stroke this summer from wearing hoodies in august.  yay!

you also advised me to try binding more loosely so i don’t spill over the top of the binder— and it helps a lot.  so, thanks again!

thanks for the image advice, too.  it helps to know that i’m not the only person who can never get flat enough.

so, basically, you rock hard!  i’m making internet cupcakes with sprinkles and sending them to you AS I TYPE.  they’re rainbow and they might have blueberries in them.  cuz, THANK YOU!

ZEV SAYS:  asdfgghklkjh thank you.

Binders for Smaller Chests

Anonymous asked: I am a small-chested guy and I haven’t been able to find many recommendations for binders? I currently have the tri-top from Underworks, but I would like to try different binders. I have heard that T-Kingdom is good for smaller chested guys, but I haven’t had any specific recommendations? help please?

Codie says: So there’s a difference between just being small-chested and being small all around. You can be 6 feet tall with an A chest, and you can be 5 feet tall, 90 lbs and have an A chest. Or you can be like me and have a small chest, tiny torso and super long legs. All of this is going to have an effect on what type of binder works best for you.

T-Kingdom is good for smaller guys (A-B) who have small frames and whose bodies are proportionate. If you are going to go for a T-Kingdom binder, it seems as though the only one with overwhelmingly positive responses across the board is the 801, which I had. You can get more information/purchase that one here. 

Lesloveboat is also good for smaller chested people. Lesloveboat, as we’ve said before, gets products from a number of different distributors including Juya, Double Collection, etc. If you’re small chested, you have the luxury of being able to use the binders that are not as long, and not as wide. 

Double Collection’s High Strength Velcro Short Binder has a five-star compression rating, and works best for small chested individuals.

Juya’s Strapless Velcro Binder is also great for smaller chested individuals that want a super stealthy bind. 

I, as a smaller chested person, have also recently had a really good experience with the 2nd. Gen Jersey Mesh Short Binder. Because the interior is mesh, this binder is also good for the heat, now that it’s summer and all.

Best of luck!

Anonymous asked: do you know if there are any long binders that help to compress your hips? Any suggestions?

Zev says: There are a few long binders that people talk about using for hip compression. I’ll list some here and then go on to give you a couple other suggestions/ideas.

When people use the underworks 997, a lot of them suggest pulling it down over the hips to the mid-butt area, then buckling your pants over that. Not only does this keep the binder securely from rolling up, it also does a decent job of compression in the belly/hip area. The blog on The Boat’s site says that the High Performance Velcro Long  is made extra-long so that it doesn’t roll up/effectively binds the belly and hips. In general, we at Binders101 recommend long binders for folks with big hips and bellies for the very reason that they tend to smooth that area over.

The other option is to go over to underworks and peruse their section of butt-binders. Click on the little button on the top bar of their home page that says “girdles” and see if anything strikes your fancy. We talked about the 967 before, and that’s been positively reviewed.

Anything from underworks will compress you pretty well. It’s definitely worth a peruse if you have the cash.

Stay excellent,

Zev