Binding Methods: an expensive process for trans folks and butch women
For many trans folks and butch women, binding is an every day process, one that can be expensive and sometimes painful. Many folks start out binding and later have chest surgery, while others may bind for their entire lives or just for one evening. Any way you go about it, though, binders are quite an investment. I’m going to explore several different ways of binding, looking at the safety, efficiency, and price of each.
The Ace Bandage Method
Thanks to movies like Boys Don’t Cry where binding is equated to wrapping your chest in an Ace bandage, this is often the first method that many folks use when they decide that they want to bind. It’s less expensive than buying a binder and it’s definitely more comfortable than duct tape. Using a Ace bandage to bind can be extremely dangerous’”since it is meant to compress, an Ace bandage will get tighter rather than work with your body to smooth down your chest. When I’ve used an Ace bandage to bind before, I’ve felt uncomfortably short of breath. The multiple edges created by wrapping the bandage around your chest can cut into your skin and leave more edges to rub sore spots onto your chest.
However, Ace bandage binding is where many folks start off and is a lot less expensive than buying a chest binder made specifically for FTMs or compression shirts/vests made for males. The most effective way to bind with an Ace bandage is to use as wide a bandage that you can find, wrap it somewhat loosely around your chest, and secure it well with safety pins, not those claw clips that come with it. If binding it loosely doesn’t help achieve a desired effect, layering shirts can help create a flatter appearance (which actually helps with all of these different methods).
Cost: $5 to $11.
The Homemade Binder Method
I would definitely recommend that folks who are just getting started binding try this out. It can cost just about as much or less than getting an Ace bandage, and it will work so much better, particularly if you have a smaller chest. You can make a binder from control-top hose or biker shorts that will work quite well. Hudson’s FTM guide recommends taking a pair of control-top hose or shorts, cutting a hole in the crotch, and then putting it on with your arms through the legs. You can modify this to make it more comfortable. This replicates a binder, though it will not hold you in as well as one made specifically for smoothing a chest.
Cost: $8 and up for control-top hose method; $12 and up for biker shorts.
Sports Bras
For smaller-chested folks, sports bras might do the trick, and they tend to be more comfortable that full binders. Bras such as the Frog Bra by Title 9 can be very effective. A tip, though’”order a size smaller than you’ll think you’ll need. Otherwise, it will perform very well as a sports bra but perhaps not so well as a binder.
Cost: $20 and up, $35 plus shipping for the Frog Bra.
Gynocomastia Vests and Compression Shirts
Gynocomastia vests are aimed at a cisgendered (non-trans) male market that needs chest compression. Compressions shirts and vests are aimed at folks who want to smooth out their appearance for one reason or another. Since these garments are meant to be worn on a daily basis, or during exercise, they are often more comfortable and have less issues than other methods of binding (particularly binding with an Ace bandage). However, compression shirts are not always very effective unless you are very small. These are fairly simple to use’”just pull it over your head or zip it up and you’re ready to go!
Some website/companies that sell these garments:
Gynocomastia Vests
- Underworks – particularly trans friendly
- Morris Designs
- NouVelle Compression Garments
Compression Shirts
- Sweat It Out
- Underworks
- Compression shirts are also available from most athletic stores and departments.
Cost: $50 to over $100.
Binders Made Specifically for FTM Folks
One excellent option for binding is using binders made with FTM and butch folks in mind. So far, there is at least one company that makes binders specifically for FTM folks – T-Kingdom, a small company in Taiwan. With specific instructions about how to buy and fit binders, T-Kingdom binders are easy to pick and comfortable to wear. The downside is that they are quite expensive, since they must be bought in and shipped from Taiwan. Also, shipping will take 10-15 days.
Cost: $25 and up, with about $10 shipping to the United States.
Whew! There are many options for binding, some safer than others, some more affordable than others, but all are often the first steps folks take when they desire a more masculine appearance.
I have three more resources for you in relation to binding. First, YouTube has some wonderful videos about binding, such as this one with binding tips for larger guys.
Second, I would recommend to anyone Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide. This website is chock full of information, all well organized and helpful for guys looking to explore how to create a more masculine appearance. It was very helpful for writing this post!
Finally, if buying a binder is beyond your means but you are looking to bind every day, check out the Big Brothers Used Binder Program, a binder exchange program that gets binders to men who need them at a greatly reduced price.
Great article. I use Underworks since they seem to have the best stuff for a big chested guy. I might have to try T-Kingdom.
Great tips, Neil. Thanks.
This is a great post – thank you! I just wanted to add on about both ace bandages and Frog Bras though:
Ace bandages are not meant to be worn around the ribcage and are, by their very nature, extremely dangerous to use for binding. The nature of an ace bandage is to immobilise a joint. When it feels itself stretch at all, its response is to get tighter, because it thinks the joint is still able to move. When you wrap it around your ribcage, it stretches a little every time you breathe in, and gets a little tighter every time you breathe out. Multiply that by several hours and you have a serious problem. I’ve heard from enough people who couldn’t breathe and/or were coughing up blood, and at least one who broke three ribs. Wearing it very loose is better than wearing it tight, but I strongly advise against binding with ace bandages at all. Get a neoprene tummy trimmer if you need something cheap and easily accessible. It’s available wherever fitness stuff is sold.
The Frog Bra is not a sports bra like any you have ever seen before. I very strongly advise that people not buy it in a too-small size. It has 32% spandex, whereas racing swimsuits have about 25% spandex. It is made to give you maximum compression. Get a proper size. (Works best if you’re under a C, but I’ve known bigger folks who love them too.)
True to form, I forgot to mention something – http://t-vox.org/ , essentially the Trans Wikipedia. It has an incredible amount of resources, information, definitions of terms, etc., etc. And it’s a wiki, so if you find inaccurate information or something is missing, you can just edit it yourself and not wait for the site owner to get around to it!
Underworks is run by an FTM, and there are specific models of shirts that are made for FTMs (including swimsuits).
http://underworks.com/ftm/
I’m a teenage butch living in India and I use Ace bandage to bind my chest on a daily basis. I want to know whether it is very dangerous because I don’t have any other options here in India. I cannot buy any stuff online because I cannot let my parents find out about this.
I have a large chest, 37-38 inches around the breasts. I’m not sure about my cup size as I only wear sports bras. I generally have to bind tight over my sports bra and also wear layers of cloths to give my chest a masculine appearance. My breath becomes short but I can live with that.
I bind daily for durations ranging from 4-6 hours, sometimes for more.
Is it very dangerous? Please help.
Firebolt and all readers of this post: please note the disclaimer and warning Neil mentioned in regards to the Ace bandage method:
Instead, try the alternative that he suggests:
Shannon & serena: Thanks!
Michael: Yeah, Ace bandages are pretty terrible. I just wanted to throw some tips out there if people are going to wear them because they seem to be the first step of choice for many people. But I definitely recommend that folks move on to a safer option as soon as possible! The neoprene tummy binder is a better option indeed.
Re: frog bra–It might be that I have a smaller chest and it works differently for larger folks, or maybe I want a tighter level of compression. However, when I got mine in the right size it didn’t work for me at all as a binder, and I reordered it in a size smaller.
Thanks for the link to T-Vox!
Griffin: I love Underworks…I just recommended it to a friend.
Firebolt: I wouldn’t recommend binding with an Ace bandage. Have you tried layering sports bras? That can be helpful too if you can’t get ahold of much else.
I feel you about not being able to tell your parents…
Nina: Thanks for mentioning that! I was just about to…
Firebolt, maybe you can try wide cotton bandages. I’m in a similar situation; I’m from Argentina and I couldn’t find any binders over here.
I can’t swear that cotton bandages are safe, but they work for me, and they’re probably safer than Ace bandages. I just take a deep breath before safety-pinning them down, so I’m sure I can breathe well.