SECTIONS
Introduction
Before you begin: General tips for all binding methods
Binding Methods
The T-Male Big Brothers Binder Program
Appendix: Determining bra and cup size
The term "binding" refers to the process of flattening one's breast tissue in order to create a male-appearing chest. The type of materials and methods used for successful binding will vary depending on the size of a guy's chest and the overall build of his body.
Some guys don't bind at all. Some slump or hunch over to hide their chests (which can be very effective, but can also cause posture problems over time). Some use different methods of layering clothing to help hide their chests. Some bind only on certain occasions; some bind all the time. For those who do choose to bind, a number of binding methods and tips are described below, along with contact information for custom-made binding products.
Keep in mind that other trans men are great resources when it comes to sharing binding tips and tricks. They may also be able to guide you to used binder exchange programs--many guys who have chest surgery often pass on their old binders to others at minimal or no cost.
Pain and discomfort
Certain methods of binding can be sweaty, uncomfortable, or even painful, as
well as restrictive to your movement and even your breathing if done too tightly.
Please use caution and common sense when binding--if it hurts, cuts your
skin, or prevents you from breathing, it is too tight.
Sweating and skin irritation
If a binder's material doesn't breathe or wick away sweat, you can end up with
sores or rashes on your skin. One way of minimizing this risk is to apply corn
starch or Gold Bond powder to your skin before binding. Another is to wear a
thin cotton undershirt (or one made of special fabric that wicks away sweat) beneath your binder to help absorb moisture and prevent
irritation that may arise from scratchy binding materials. Remember to allow
your skin time off from binding so that it can breathe.
Do not use tape to bind, especially directly on your skin, as it can cut your skin, cause painful rashes, and can pull off layers of skin when removed. It also tends to be too rigid, making it difficult to breathe and move.
Binder adjustment
You might find that the binder you choose will tend to roll up in certain areas,
particularly around the waist. If this is a problem for you, try sewing
an extra length of fabric all the way around the bottom of the binder, and tuck
that extra material snugly into your pants.
If you find that you have areas of chafing or bulging around the armpit area, you might want to try trimming and/or otherwise altering that area with a needle and thread. You can often find inexpensive solutions, such as spandex, lycra, velcro, and other materials at your local fabric store, using trial and error to make alterations that suit your specific frame.
It is worth checking with FTM organizations, FTM internet groups, and FTM web pages for advice on common binding challenges and problems; many guys have come up with brilliant do-it-yourself adaptations to various types of binders that involve minimal cost and a few sewing skills.
Other tips
If economically feasible, try to experiment with binding methods to find something
as comfortable and breathable as possible while still maintaining a look for
your chest that you can live with. If a binder doesn't work well for you, consider donating it or selling it to another trans man who might have better luck with it.
Finally, give yourself a break from binding now and then to let your skin breathe and to ease up on any aches and pains the binder may cause.
Layering of shirts
If you don't want to wear any type of binding device, or if you are taking a
day off from binding to give your chest a breather, you might be able to get
away with layering your clothes in a way that hides your breasts. Try wearing
a tight fitting a-shirt (sleeveless undershirt) or sports bra as a bottom layer
to keep things from moving around a lot, then a loose t-shirt (or two loose
t-shirts) over that). Each successive layer should be looser than the one underneath.
A button down shirt as the top layer can help hide not only the chest but also
some of other more female-looking body features that some guys deal with, such
as wider hips or narrow shoulders. Of course, wearing lots of shirts can get
quite uncomfortable in warm weather; breathable white cotton shirts can help
combat this problem.
Ace bandage method
The advantage of this method is that it is fairly inexpensive, but it can be
very uncomfortable and even cause injury if the bandages are wrapped too tightly.
Tight bandages can restrict breathing and movement, and their edges can cut at the skin; thus, this method is not generally recommended, as safer methods are now available. If you feel you must use bandages, try to choose the widest you can find, and do not wrap them so tightly as to cause injury or difficulty breathing. Push the breasts away
from the center of your chest (squishing them toward the armpit area) to try
to flatten the area around the breastbone. Depending on the size and consistency of your chest, you might have better luck pushing the breasts up and to the side, or down and to the side. Wrap the bandages around your chest (remember to
to bind in a way that allows you to move reasonably and breathe), and secure with a few safety pins.
Make sure to wrap the bandages up high enough to keep the whole binding from slipping
or rolling down. You might want to wear an extra t-shirt or an a-shirt underneath
your clothing to help hide the contours of the bandages and help the chest look
more natural.
Control-top hose/biker shorts method
This method is also inexpensive, but really only effective for guys with small
chests. Using a pair of women's control-top panty hose, cut off the legs, and
carefully make a hole in the crotch area for your head to go through. Pull the
binder on upside-down over your head, slipping your arms through the leg holes.
You can also try this method with a pair of spandex "biking" shorts
(without the padded crotch found in real biker's shorts), or a pair of baseball "sliding shorts" or other compression-type athletic shorts, but those items will be a bit more
expensive than panty hose (unless you happen to have a used pair that you feel okay about cutting up). Remember, as with any other binding method, to avoid binding that is too tight, chafes, or otherwise hurts.
Sports bra, "Frog Bra," or "The
Bro"
A tight-fitting sports bra works well for some guys, while others sometimes
use a combination of two or three sports bras in layers to accomplish the desired
look. You might want to use a sports bra in combination with a layering of shirts
as described above. Many companies make sports bras, and it may be worth the
effort to go to a sporting goods store and try on several brands to see which
one binds the best for your shape.
The Frog Bra by Title 9 Sports ($32.00) is recommended by many guys for its 32% lycra content which provides better compression than sports bras with a lower lyrca content.
Title 9 Sports
www.titlenine.com
6201 Doyle St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
800-342-4448The Enell Sports Bra Company makes a product called The Enell Male Support Vest (formerly called "The Bro") which is designed specifically for men with gynecomastia (a condition of enlarged breast tissue in men--see more on this condition in the section "Gynecomastia vests/compression shirts" below). The product is not shown on the web site, but it is listed under the "for men" section. It is custom-made, and you should contact Enell directly for pricing and more information, as they will make it to fit your specifications.
Enell
www.enell.com
800-828-7661
info@enell.com
Neoprene waist/abdominal trimmers or back support
devices
Neoprene is a thick, rubbery material--if you've ever seen a wet suit, that's
neoprene. It is often used for things such as knee, elbow, or other athletic braces.
The advantages of neoprene and rubber-type devices are that they flatten the
chest very effectively, are fairly inexpensive (between $7 and $20), and are
easily found in drug stores or large chain discount stores. The bad thing about
them is that the material doesn't breathe at all, which means that sweat, heat,
chafing, and even blisters can be a serious problem. They can also smell a bit
rubbery. Some guys wear an a-shirt with cornstarch or Gold Bond powder underneath
such binding to help absorb moisture and prevent chafing.
Neoprene waist trimmers and back supports are usually red or blue on one side and black on the other side, with some kind of velcro closure. Wrap the binder around your chest tightly, and fasten so that the velcro closure is placed along your side, underneath your arm, so it is less visible through your clothes. You may need to carefully trim the binder to fit your size. If the velcro closure loses its effectiveness over time, you might try sewing on new fasteners to get more life out of the binder.
Gynecomastia vests/compression shirts
There are a number of products on the market made for non-trans males who have large
chests due to excessive body weight or due to gynecomastia (a condition of enlarged
breast tissue in men). The web site www.gynecomastia.org lists numerous resources
for men living with this condition. These products tend to be a little more
expensive than the binding solutions listed above, and usually require going
to a specialty supplier, but they typically provide more comfortable and breathable
solutions.
"Compression shirts" are made for a variety of uses: for men with gynecomastia, for people recovering from liposuction or cosmetic surgery, for people who want to smooth out bulges in their physique, and for athletes who are looking for better performance (compression shirts have been shown to reduce muscle fatigue). Each of the companies listed below focuses on a different application for their compression products, but all can be used effectively for binding, depending on your body type and needs.
Underworks
www.underworks.com
7170 S.W. 47th St.
Miami, Fl 33155
800-242-4224
Int'l: 305-668-5151
Fax: 305-668-1770
info@underworks.com
Underworks makes a few different products that serve well as binders: the Double Front Compression Shirt ($29.99), the Tri-Top Chest Binder ($29.99), the Power Compression Post-Surgical Gynecomastia Vest ($29.99), and the Power Compression Post-Surgical Gynecomastia Vest (Double Layer) ($36.99) are all made with 30% spandex and are recommended by Underworks as chest binders. The Double Front Compression Shirt is longer than the Vest and may be tucked into pants to prevent roll-up.Underworks also makes two styles of Body Shirt ($19.99 and $24.99), the All-In-One Body Shirt ($24.99), the Cotton Spandex Support Tank ($26.99), the Cotton Concealer Compression Muscle Shirt ($29.99), the Nylon Concealer Compression Crew Neck T-shirt ($32.99), the Cotton Concealer Compression V-Neck T-shirt ($32.99), and the Cotton Concealer Compression Tank ($39.99), which are designed to provide support and smooth bulges throughout the upper body. These shirts may be effective for guys with smaller chests, or possibly effective in layering.
Finally, you might want to check out some of the other Underworks products that might aid in achieving a more male-looking physique. They make male girdles that can help tuck in the stomach and reduce the appearance of the hips. They also make a couple of different "posture support" devices that help correct and improve your posture. These might be particularly helpful to trans men who are post-chest surgery—since many of us spend much of our lives slumping to hide our chests, it can take a while to learn to stand up straight again!
Underworks is FTM-friendly, so don't be afraid to call and ask questions specific to your needs.
Morris Designs
www.morrisdesigns.com
2216 Commerce Pkwy
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
800-766-5578
Fax: 1-757-463-9349
morrisdesigns@aol.com
Morris Designs specializes in durable compression wear. They make three versions of their Gynecomastia Vest (each costs $56.00) and a model called the Zippered Male Vest with reinforced chest panels ($70.00). They also make a simple velcro wrap-around binder called the Dale Binder ($40.00–$54.00, depending on size) which could be used for chest binding, though perhaps not as comfortably or effectively as the vests.Morris Designs does custom orders for people who might need a special size; check their web site or call them for details.
NouVelle Compression Garments
www.nouvelleinc.com
552 Central Drive
Suite 103
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
866-578-4733
NouVelle offers a variety of compression garments, including male compression vests. They offer 4 products that could be used for binding: the Adjustable Tank-Unisex ($40.00) and the Zippered Tank ($55.00) are more traditional binders, while the Pull-On Shirt ($40.00) and T-Shirt Tank ($35.00) might be better for those with smaller chests.Advanced Bio-Technologies
www.advancedbiotech.com
3100 Bucklin Hill Road, Suite 220
P.O. Box 3099
Silverdale, WA 98383-3099
800-240-8227 toll-free in USA and Canada
360-698-2266
fax: 360-698-2195
info@compressiongarments.net
Advanced Bio-Tech's Male Compression Vest ($32.00) is made with "soft-flex" spandex and has an adjustable front closure. Look under "products" and "compression garments" in their web site.Enell
www.enell.com
800-828-7661
info@enell.com
Enell makes a product called The Enell Male Support Vest (formerly called "The Bro") which is designed specifically for men with gynecomastia. The product is not shown on the web site, but it is listed under the "for men" section. It is custom-made, and you should contact Enell directly for pricing and more information, as they will make it to fit your specifications.Wear-With-All
wear-with-all.com
P.O. Box 8276
Longboat Key, FL 34228
888-808-4888
Wear-With-All's Men's Sleeveless Vest ($99.99) is made of soft-Lycra spandex with a nylon spandex liner and a front-zip closure. It is designed for compression-wear after surgery, but can be used as a binding device. The full waist length allows you to tuck in the vest to prevent roll-up.Underarmour
www.underarmour.com
1020 Hull Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
888-4-ARMOUR
Underarmour makes clothing for athletes. Their clothing is not designed specifically for gynecomastia, though some guys with smaller chests have found their "compression shirts" to be effective for binding purposes. The material is flexible, breathable and has the added benefit of wicking away sweat, which can make these shirts a good option when exercising, or for wearing underneath other binding methods.A number of sporting good retail stores carry Underarmour shirts, so you might be able to find a place near you to try them on. Recommended compression shirts are the 1000039 Full T ($24.99), the 1000038 Sleeveless T ($24.99), as well as updated models such as the 1100187 UA Metal Full T ($49.99) and the 1100188 UA Metal Sleeveless T ($44.99). On the Underarmour web site, these items are cataloged under "heat gear compression." Underarmour also has youth sizes if you need something smaller.
Sweat It Out
www.sweatitout.com
Lontex Corporation
8 DeKalb Street
4th Floor
Norristown, PA 19401
800-343-8960
fax: 610-272-5490
sales@sweatitout.com
Sweat it Out is a brand of athletic performance apparel. Their Maximum Performance Compression Shirts contain 70% CoolMax (a fabric that helps wick away moisture and helps keep body temperature from overheating) and 30% Lycra for compression. They come in 3 models: the Performance Compression Sleeveless Shirt ($62.95), the Performance Compression Short Sleeve Shirt ($69.95), and the Performance Compression Long Sleeve Shirt ($77.95).Like Underarmour, the material in these shirts is flexible, breathable and has the added benefit of wicking away sweat. They are not specifically designed for binding, though some with smaller chests may find them to be effective.
International Male
www.internationalmale.com
741 F Street
San Diego, CA 92101
800-293-9333
fax: 1-800-757-9997
service@internationalmale.com
International Male features a "shape enhancing" undergarment called the Body Trimmer Top ($27.00) that might work reasonably well for small-chested guys. Another design called the Body Shaper Top ($23.00) is similar, but is very low cut (like a men's tank top) and thus may not be as effective for binding purposes. These products are not specifically designed for gynecomastia.
Products designed specifically for FTM binding
Mango Products
www.mangoproducts.net
Mango Products
P.O. Box 5496
Wakefield, RI 02880
info@mangoproducts.net
Mango offers binding products manufactured specifically for transmen by an FTM-owned company in Taiwan (Mango indicated via email that these products are not the same as those sold by T-Kingdom). Available in three models: Air vent pullover long cut ($78.80), Air vent zipper short cut ($75.80), and Lycra velcro long cut ($87.90). All vests are available in S, M, L, XL, and XXL, though it is noted that they run small. Check the site's recommendations for sizing before ordering.T-Kingdom
www.t-kingdom.com
No.6 Alley 1 Lane 52 CHUNG-HSING Street
YUNG-HO CITY, TAIPEI COUNTY 234, TAIWAN
Telephone: +886-955-580-595
service@t-kingdom.com
The T-Kingdom company of Taiwan sells 10 different styles of binding solutions that are specifically designed for trans men and other female-bodied people who are trying to flatten their chests. T-Kingdom features designs that vary in length and appearance-- some binders resemble long tank tops, some extend to mid-stomach, and others look more like a sports bra. The prices range from about $30–$70 U.S. dollars (be sure to check the exchange rate when calculating prices). The web site has tips for first time buyers on which binder to purchase, ranking them based on binding effect, durability, comfort, and appearance.Prices can be converted to U.S. Dollars at the following web site: www.xe.com/ucc.
The T-Male Big Brothers Binder Program
www.thetransitionalmale.com/Binders
For those who may not be able to afford new, full-price chest binders, check out the T-Male
Big Brothers Binder Program. Binders are donated to the program by guys who
have had their chest surgery, or whose binders may no longer fit. The selection
varies depending on recent donations, so check the site frequently.
Chest Binder Reviews Site
binderreviews.googlepages.com
The Chest Binder Reviews web site was started in the fall of 2007, and contains written reviews of various binding products. Binders are rated by on effectiveness, comfort, and discreetness, and include descriptive text. Some reviews also include photos.
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Perhaps ironically, it can sometimes be helpful to know your bra and cup size when comparing notes with other trans men on binding solutions, or when speaking to a store like Title 9 Sports when ordering an item such as the Frog Bra. However, many of us have never known this information.
Described below are two popular ways to calculate your bra and cup size should you need this information for binding. Keep in mind that each bra company may come up with its measurements in a slightly different way, such that a 32 B in one company might fit slightly differently than another company's 32 B. These methods should get you started-- whenever possible, check with the company you are buying from to see if they have a recommended measuring/sizing guide.
For both measuring methods described below, you'll need two measurements: your frame size and your frame + breast size.
METHOD ONE:
Frame size
Your frame size is obtained by measuring the diameter around your ribcage (in
inches) just below your breasts (i.e. no breast tissue should be part of the
measurement) and then adding 5 inches to that number. Why? That is just the
standard that many bra companies profess to use. So, if your frame measurement
is 27, then you would wear a size 32 bra (27 + 5 = 32).
Frame + breast size
Next, measure (in inches) around the chest, over and including the largest part
of the breast (usually around the level of the nipples). If your breast tissue
droops a lot, it might be best to do this measurement in a comfortable sports
bra if you have one.
Subtract the first measurement from the second measurement, and use the table below to determine your cup size.
Example: If your frame measurement is 27, add 5 to get 32. If your frame plus breast measurement is 34, then 34 minus 32 is 2 inches, or a "B" cup. Your bra size is therefore 32 B.
Difference = Cup Size
0 to 1/2 inch: AA
1/2 to 1 inch: A
1 to 2 1/2 inches: B
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches: C
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches: D
4 1/2 to 6 inches: DD (E)
6 to 7 inches: DDD (F)
7 to 8 inches: G
Keep in mind that these measurements are just general standards. Like many women's clothing measurements, they sometimes vary depending on the manufacturer or style. That being said, these measurements should give you enough information for a good idea of bra and cup size if you need them.
METHOD TWO:
Frame size
Your frame size is obtained by measuring the diameter around your upper chest (in inches) at the area just below your armpits and above your breasts. If this measurement is an even number, this is your frame size. If an odd number, add 1 inch to determine your frame size.
Frame + breast size
Next, measure (in inches) around the chest, over and including the largest part of the breast (usually around the level of the nipples). If your breast tissue droops a lot, it might be best to do this measurement in a comfortable sports bra if you have one.
Subtract the first measurement from the second measurement, and use the table below to determine your cup size.
Example: If your frame measurement is 32, and your frame plus breast measurement is 34, then 34 minus 32 is 2 inches, or a "B" cup. Your bra size is therefore 32 B.
Difference = Cup Size
less than 1 inch: AA
1 inch: A
2 inches: B
3 inches: C
4 inches: D
5 inches: DD (E)
6 inches: DDD (F)
7 inches: DDDD (G)
8 inches: FF
Keep in mind that these measurements are just general standards. Like many women's clothing measurements, they sometimes vary depending on the manufacturer or style. That being said, these measurements should give you enough information for a good idea of bra and cup size if you need them.
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