How To Bind

Chest binding is the practice of temporarily shifting breast mass into a flatter or more masculine shape for one's aesthetic preferences or social safety. Chest binding is often done in the LGBTQ community for more control over one's gender presentation or for drag, but is also practiced by cis men with unwanted breast tissue and cis women who want to visually reduce the appearance of their chest or fit better in their clothing. 

Chest binders and body-safe tapes developed for this use are generally considered the best options for chest binding. That is because they are designed to evenly distribute mass into the desired shape, as well as having enough flexibility in their material to move with the body. While it is common to refer to products for chest binding as "compressing," the practice of chest binding does not actually change the volume or density of chest tissues. The "reduction" is only in the perception of chest size, and is basically an optical illusion. We see this distinction as important, not just to people's understanding of and expectations for chest binding products, but also in addressing how these products are NOT intended to alter the real structure or function of the body. 

We will often refer to the "level of compression" based on the amount of stretch in the materials used, though, because of how standard that terminology is in the construction of clothing and shapewear. We consider it necessary to have SOME stretch in these products for comfortable use and advise against using any binding products without stretch for regular binding - regular binding being the frequent or prolonged use of a binding technique or product to flatten the appearance of the chest. However, especially for people with firm breast tissue, lower amounts of stretch do correlate to how well a product tends to "flatten" the chest as well as how boxy the garment will fit instead of conforming to an individual's curves. A little bit of stretch is needed to allow the body to move comfortably, and also aids in achieving a more natural-looking chest shape, but something with too much stretch might not do the job well enough. We can help people find the style and level of "compression" that works for them based on their desired flatness, physical tolerances, general preferences, and the activities they intend on doing in the garments. People with disabilities may need a style with a zipper, a lower level of compression, or some other special feature. We pride ourselves in offering a lot of options for people's various needs.

Safety often comes up when discussing chest binding, because using the wrong products/techniques or even the improper use of the correct products can potentially be damaging - just like the poor use of any garment can be harmful. For example, finding the proper fit in shoes is important, because using ill-fitting shoes can cause pain and health issues. In regards to unsafe binding practices, ace bandages and duct tape are famously recommended against because they do not bind evenly or have the flexibility to allow the skin or body to move and breath as it should - and thus can easily cause harm. Then, if using a product that IS designed for binding, it is still important to use it the right way. Following size charts before purchase and exchanging for a different size or product if the fit feels wrong is very important, like with any other garment. Every body is unique, so finding the right fit for one's individual needs is essential. When correctly using a chest binder or chest tape as directed, it should feel relatively comfortable and not too tight. Never wear a binder that is so small it causes immediate pain or difficulty breathing. The same should be said for other binding alternatives like sports bras or folded up tank tops - people should be careful not to bind too tightly with anything. Similarly, body-safe tape should never be tightly wrapped around the entire ribcage or overstretched onto the skin so much that it pulls or blisters. Not all brands or products use the same sizing, so always check individual listings' size charts and details, and most importantly - listen to your body!

When binding, nipples should press flat against the fabric - do not point downwards! Pulling of the skin and other tissues in an unnatural direction rather than flattening them in this way can cause discomfort or damage over time. It is often best to adjust tissue to where it would naturally shift when you lay naked on your back. Our zippered styles offer the unique option of putting your binder on while actually laying back this way, as well as a quick release when necessary - even with a shirt still on!

When using a chest binder or compression top, you should only bind for up to 8-12 hour a day, depending on the level of compression: 8 hours max for traditional (more rigid) binders, 10 for soft binders (mid-level-compression garments like our Original, Vers, and Thick binders), or 12 hours for low-compression tops (like our Lightweight, Flex, and Active Top). If you are feeling sensitive, bind for shorter periods of time, take breaks throughout the day (easy to do with our zippered options), or consider trying a larger size or a different style that might be better suited for your needs - tape might even be a better option for you! Take rest days as needed to give yourself a break. Do not sleep in a binder.

As with any other undergarment, binder hygeine is important. Regularly wash garments according to their care instructions. Not everyone agrees on how frequent "regular" is, but you can search "how frequently should a bra be washed" to get a good idea - frequency should correlate with how sweaty it gets! While many of our products have antimicrobial or DWR finishes, letting any garment sit with a lot of sweat and antiperspirant for a prolonged period can damage the materials over time. As with a bra, washing and drying on low heat or delicate, and rotating between compression tops so that they don't get worn multiple days in a row, can extend the life of your garments by reducing heat and strain on elastomeric fibers in the fabric. Aggressive scrubbing or wringing can damage the fabric as well. Washing the body is also important in maintaining healthy skin. We've even put together a page on how to use GenderBender Extra Soft Body Tape that includes tips on how to shower without deteriorating the tape too much.

The products offered on our website are designed for aesthetic use only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or physical health condition. We do however pay close attention to what people say in our community and are careful to avoid any design elements we consider to be problematic. 

We are known for our comfortable chest binders, activewear, swim tops, and even offer an amazing body tape for those who would prefer to only compress their breast tissue rather than their entire chest and ribcage. More information on these products below:

 

Our Compression Tops and Chest Binders

We get lots of questions about which type of binder is more effective and of course the answer is - that depends! Every individual is unique, so no chart can be 100% accurate for everyone, but we've created this page to help narrow it down for you. We offer free domestic exchanges so you can find the best fit! Feel free to contact us for recommendations. 

GenderBender started out only making what we call soft binders that are flexible, breathable, and more sensory-friendly than traditional binders. We now offer a couple more rigid styles that are likely to be more flattening, as well as lighter-weight options, that are mentioned later in this section. Regardless of cup size, people with very soft chest tissue tend to do well with softer binders, and people with more firm chest tissue might need a more rigid style to get to their desired level of flatness.

All our original level compression tops / soft binders are made of the same soft-but-effective compression fabric and offer the same amount of compression, but each style's features may make it more suitable for certain body types. We will also soon be making all our most popular binders with the new Vers(atile) fabric, to offer roughly the original level of compression in a faster-drying material.

Our half-length Zip Binder and Half Binder have basically the same cut, but the zipper on the Zip Binder allows for easier dressing and undressing, as well as allowing those with very broad shoulders or physical disabilities to wear a better fitting binder than they would otherwise be able to get into. People who's waist measurement is significantly larger than their bust measurement will probably be more comfortable wearing a half-length binder than the 3/4 or full-length binders, or may want to contact us to discuss alterations.

The 3/4 Length Zip Plus Compression Top is specifically designed for those with very large cup sizes or low-sitting chests. Sizes 2X-6X come with a dressing hook to help the user close the binder on their own, or it can be put on overhead with the zipper closed and unzipped once ready to take it off. The straight sizes XS-XL, once sold in a separate listing called the 3/4 Length Zip Compression Top for Large Cup Sizes, have now been combined with the Zip Plus listing - the same product is sold in both those listings now. The extra length allows people who would otherwise not be able to wear a half-length style to bind without needing a full-length binder.

The Full Length Binder is a long tank top style that can tuck into the pants, provide extra support, and prevent spillage. The binding panel inside is only half-length, so the 3/4-length styles may be a better option for people with very low-sitting chest tissue. If you prefer this tank style, but full-length binders tend to roll up on you, we recommend trying our Shirt-Tuck Garters to keep it secure and tucked in.

After seeing how many people are looking for strapless binders, we decided to design the Strapess Compression Top. This may come as a surprise to y'all, but it works a lot better for people with large cup size, rather than those with smaller cup sizes who may find this fit painful or unappealing due to the compression being focused on the ribcage area. Though we added a grip elastic to keep this bandeau style well-situated, it can be difficult to get into and can result in an underarm buldge as a result of not having straps, so we primarily recommend this style for people with larger cup sizes who prefer to wear binders without straps due to chronic shoulder pain.

All of the styles of soft binders listed above are now also available in lightweight and flex versions, which will offer the same level compression as the Active Top described below, but in our original binder cuts that offer lower necklines, different lengths, and zippers if desired. The lightweight fabric is stretchier and extra comfortable for active swimming, exercise, post-op use, and people with either low compression needs or a very low tolerance to compression. Since the extra stretch did impact the size more than expected, and they feel significantly looser than our original compression level binders, we have compiled all the lightweight binders with straps in one listing and then a separate listing for the lightweight strapless compression tops that both have their own size charts to follow. Always be sure to check individual listings for their specific size charts and fit notes, as sizing may vary depending on the style. Keep in mind, our original level compression soft binders are already softer and lower impact than traditional binders, so the lightweight version is extra lightweight.

Our Active Top is a great option for people looking for light, swim and exercise-safe compression or those who want to be extra careful due to health concerns. This may feel like a sports bra, but with a less gendered design and fit! Since the Active Top is stretchier, it may feel looser than our original level compression binders. It also has a higher neckline and smaller armholes for better containment and active coverage. The lightweight fabric will dry faster than our original binders, making it great for sweating and swimming in.

We also offer a few more rigid options for people who want a firmer bind than our soft binders can give them. Rigid styles are especially useful for swim, because they maintain their shape and ability to flatten the chest when wet, so the following styles are great for use in and out of the water!

First we made some swim designs in a foamier compression material, the half-length Thick Zip Compression Swim Top and full-body Unisuit. The fabric needed for these styles was unfortuantely discontinued by our textile supplier a long time ago, but we found a similar fabric that is only available in black. So, the nearly sold-out Zip Compression Swim Top was restocked in all sizes in black, and the Unisuit is now available by custom order only.

Then we innovated our popular Rigid Binder and Attachable Swim Tank, which is our most rigid binding option. While the rigid binder is available on its own, the full set offers more stealth when existing in public, because the tank and binder can snap together to prevent the binder from poking out whether or not you are swimming! Because of how simple the construction of the binder itself is, and the lower cost of the fabric, we are able to sell this binder at a lower price than our other more smoothly constructed binders. While the full set works very well for most who can handle rigid binding, there's one big issue some people may run into when wearing the binder by itself. For the tank to be able to fully cover the binder, the armholes on the binder had to be made fairly large. This isn't typically an issue for people with broad or muscular shoulders, who will find the larger armholes more comfortable. But spillage may occur for other people who's body types require smaller armholes. Check out the 2 styles above and below if you think you'll need something with smaller armholes!

Our newest design, the 3/4-Length Deluxe Semi-Rigid Binder, is a hybrid design available up to size 7X. We wanted to combine the best features of the Active Top and Rigid Binder, while also creating a plus size swim style for our bustrier customers who like our 3/4-Length Zip Plus Compression Top. We used 2 layers of the rigid swim material for the chest panel and 2 layers of the lightweight compression material in the back, neckline, and armholes for flexibility. This resulted in a much more structured style than the Active Top that can still comfortably offer the smaller armholes and neckhole. The deluxe construction is cleaner than the Rigid Binder's and provides better shaping and support without being too restrictive. This beautiful design also has our smoothest and strongest safety hook, not currently on any other style, placed inside the binder near the bottom of the zipper to help zip the binder closed and keep it from unzipping itself. People with fairly large cup sizes find this style easiest to get closed by themselves. If the extra length is not ideal for you, consider having it hemmed to a better length.

 

Our Binder Customizations

Though we pride ourselves in having a wide bredth of styles for various body types and preferences, we also offer custom-made binders when needed. We typically charge a minimum of $99 for fully custom orders, but may be able to offer made-to-order items for less when re-creating past orders or making multiples. We can also charge less for customizations that simply require existing garments to be altered rather than made from scratch. Prices will be higher for items that require more detailed construction or more material. Our capacity is exemplified by, but not limited to, the lists below.

Examples of easy alterations, with approximate charges, not including shipping:

• Hemming garments without zippers to make them shorter ($10-15)
• Hemming garments with downwards zippers to make them shorter ($15-25)
• Shortening shoulder straps to lift the arm and neck holes ($10-20)
• Bringing in the chest or waist ($20+)
• Making a zip binder with upwards zipper a V-neck ($20-30)
• Adding a zipper ($20+)
  
• Adding dressing hooks ($10+)

Examples of the types of garments we can make to order, with approximate prices:

• Larger sizes than what is in stock or on our size chart ($120+)
• Custom fit to individual measurements ($120+)
• Colors or prints that are out of stock but the fabric is available ($99+)
• V-neck binders or other neckline customizations ($99+)
  
• Shorter binders with zippers ($120+)
• Longer binders with zippers ($150+)
• Binders with extra binding panels or additional layers of fabric ($120+)
  
• Binders with flared armholes for people who experience spillage ($99+)
• Unisuit ($170+)
• New styles of binder or swimsuit ($150+)

 

Our Chest Tape

We also offer binding tape and tape accessories like nipple covers in our Tape Collection.

For those who can't wear a binder or prefer not to, we have developed  GenderBender Extra Soft Nylon Body Tape as an incredibly comfortable option for binding and packing. It is waterproof and can be worn for up to a week at a time! This nylon tape is softer, more skin-friendly, and easier to remove than the cotton or polyester body tapes available elsewhere. Great for swimming or going to festivals! See more detailed instructions here.

Though it can last up to a week, we recommend using it 3-5 days at a time for better personal hygeine. We still suggest wearing it for more than 1 day at a time as the adhesive gets weaker over time and removal will be easier after a couple days - especially after excercising, sweating, or bathing. Days off between uses is recommended to let the skin breath and prevent clogged pores and acne!

We also sell Drag Tape that can be used the same way, but the adhesive is incredibly strong for good performance in drag, and it has no stretch, so it is only intended for short-term use and should always be carefully removed with oil.

For those who have had allergic reactions to tape in the past, we offer small sample test strips of the GenderBender Extra Soft Nylon Body Tape. We do not recommend Drag Tape to anyone with sensitive skin.

More info & directions in each product listing! 

 

Can't choose which size to get?

Please check the official size chart and fit tab of each style you're considering. The size charts or details may be different! We put lots of details about sizing and whether certain styles are well-suited for certain body types in the "Fit" tab of the product description. If you're still unsure, feel free to reach out!

 

Still haven't found something that solves your issue?

Please reach out and describe what you need, so we might be able to develop more solutions for the community!