How To Bind

Chest binding is the practice of compressing breast mass into a more masculine shape, often done in the LGBTQ community for gender euphoria and drag, but also practiced by cis men with gynecomastia and cis women who want to reduce the appearance of their chest. 

The safest ways to bind are to use a chest binder or body tape designed for this type of compression and following instructions. It is not safe to use ace bandages, wraps, or duct tape for chest binding. Never wear a binder that is too tight or that makes it hard to breathe. Not all brands use the same sizing, so always check size charts! You should only bind for up to 8-12 hour a day depending on the level of compression, and it is important to take rest days. Never sleep in a binder. Normal binders should not be worn to exercise in, but our soft binders have some stretch that make this safer, though it can still get pretty sweaty so we have developed other options like GenderBender Body Tape and our Active Top.

When binding, nipples should press flat against the fabric - do not point downwards!! 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 - for the safest binding - as well as a quick release when necessary, even with a shirt still on!

Breathe deeply to stay present on long days :)

We make soft binders, activewear, swim tops, and even offer body tape for those who would prefer to only compress their breast tissue rather than their entire ribcage! More information on these products below:

 

Our Compression Tops

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 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 dense or perky 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 roughly the same amount of compression, but each style's features may make it more suitable for certain body types:

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 place a custom order.

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 is only half-length, so if you are the 3/4-length styles are still a better option for people with 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.

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. It can be difficult to get into and can result in an underarm buldge, so we primarily recommend this style for people with larger cup sizes who prefer to wear binders with straps due to chronic shoulder pain.

All of the styles of soft binders listed above are now also available in lightweight 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 recovery, 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 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.

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 effective for swimming in, so the following styles are all swim-safe, though they are not as flexible as the Active Top.

First we made some swim designs in a foamier compression material, the half-length Zip Compression Swim Top and full-body Unisuit. The fabric needed for these styles was unfortuantely discontinued by our textile supplier, but we recently found a similar fabric available in black! So, the nearly sold-out Zip Compression Swim Top will be restocked in black by summer 2025 and the Unisuit is now available by custom order.

Then we innovated our more 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 our next style 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 Body Tape as a safe and incredibly comfortable option for binding and packing. It is waterproof and can be worn for up to a week at a time! Softer, more skin-friendly, and easier to remove than Transtape. 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 your 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, so it is only intended for short-term use and should 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 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!