Binding Masterpost

Alright so I’m putting these links down for anyone who’s binding for whatever reasons (cosplay, dysphoria, what have you). I tried my best to format this in an easy to read way, with different sections, but the tips section isn’t organised quite as well as I would have liked. Unfortunately I just don’t have the energy to do something like that. However, I have given a fairly good description of what’s in each link and what the posts look like. If any of these links die in the future please let me know. I used to know where a binding masterpost was but I can no longer find it so I made my own, hopefully it’s of use to others as well.

Binding Tips:

• General tips (comic format, easy to read)
• Binding tips masterpost (long, text format, a bit word heavy, the paragraphs aren’t completely separated just as a warning) 
• Is my binder too tight (short, text post, spacey and easy to read)
• Is it normal, binding edition (medium, text post, spaced out, bullet points)
• Safety PSA for binding with sports bras (long, text post, nicely spaced out paragraphs)
• How to put on a binder (short comic, easy to read handwriting)
• Stretching while binding (pictures only)
• How to bind with sports bras (two parts, pictures included, link to part two is at the bottom of part one)
• If you think you injured yourself while binding (short, text post, letter format)
• How to wash your binder (long post, pictures before text, step by step guide)
• Binding in summer safety tips (long post, comic, easy to read)
• Summer tips/sweaty binder tips (medium, spaced out, easy to read, letter format)
• Healing back pain from binding (medium, numbered, spaced out well enough)
• Can I bind while doing [activity]? (medium, sections, bullet points, easy to read)
• Dysphoria masterpost (mostly links to other posts, also has links to places you can get free binders if you can’t acquire one due to money or other struggles)
• Where to get binders (long, sections, text post, spaced out, includes more companies than I have below though I don’t recommend buying from them before doing some research on them, also includes non reputable companies, spaced out well, same links for getting free binders if you’re struggling to get one)
• How to buy a binder without a credit card (numbered steps, short, spaced out well)
• Buying a binder while not out to your parents (numbered steps, long, spaced out well, a bit more detailed than the previous link)
• Binding as a plus sized person (long, not a tumblr post, pictures, well spaced out, easy to read)

Reputable companies to buy binders from:

• Underworks (compression shirts, binders, white/black only, mostly full length, $15-$55 most staying around the $20-$35 range)
• gc2b (Binders, white/black, RGB, Nude for a variety of skin tones, $35 full length and $33 half length)
• Shapeshifters (Binders, sports bras, binder built into a dress, wide variety of colors and patterns, variety of shades of nude, custom fit, $50 crop top/$55 full length/$75 extra long)
• Flavnt (binders, half length only, skin tone only, 4 tones, $50)
• Spectrum Outfitters (UK based, half length, white/black/grey/green is limited/blue may be coming afterwards, £35.00, supposed to be like GC2B but for the UK)

Binder reviews:

• Comparison of Underworks vs gc2b vs Shapeshifters (short, text post, spaced out paragraphs)
• Flavnt (medium, one picture, spaced out nicely, pros/cons list)
• Spectrum Outfitters (pictures, long, spaced out well, pros/cons list)
• Underworks tri-top (pictures, short)
• Underworks tri-top vs gc2b half binder (pictures, short, spaced out paragraphs)
• Yet another underworks vs gc2b (pictures, medium, spaced out paragraphs, warning for a yellow background that’s a bit eye strain-y)
• Shapeshifters (one long paragraph, short text post, not spaced out the best but easy enough to read)
• gc2b vs Shapeshifters (pictures, short, spaced out well)
• Shapeshifters again (pictures, short, spaced out well)

Companies you should never get binders from:

• LesLoveBoat
• Lesbinders
• Ebay
• binders that are sold on Amazon (besides Underworks)
• Wish
• The Discriminant
• Ancient Fish King

And, Just a small reminder, never bind with:

• TransTape
• Ace bandages
• duct tape
• Unsafe binders
• Brands that you are unsure are safe

Edit: If you bind with kt Tape use caution, read up on it, listen to your body etc.

Binder brands on tumblr:

• gc2b: @gc2b-apparel​
• Shapeshifters: @shapeshiftersinc
• Flavnt: @flavntstreetwear
• Spectrum Outfitters: @spectrumoutfitters 

Final notes:

• So this should be all of the stuff you’ll ever need for dealing with binders
• If you’re a cis female using binders for cosplay purposes please don’t enter the free binder giveaway things
• Don’t bind for more than 8 hours
• Stretch when you bind
• Don’t sleep in a binder
• gc2b, Shapeshifters, Flavnt and Spectrum Outfitters binders are safe to swim in, Underworks has swimming specific binders
• gc2b is one of the most popular brands and very much recommended
• Underworks isn’t the best from what I’ve heard
• I have experience with gc2b and Shapeshifters and I love both of them
• If the brand is a lesser known brand the things to look for are clasps, fabric material, how much information they give you, that sort of thing. Clasps mean it’s automatically unsafe, the more information the better, and it needs to be a breathable fabric for your chest, nylon and spandex is the fabric to look for. 
• Other than Underworks I’ve heard very good things about all the brands
• There are ways to make a diy (do it yourself) binder but I don’t recommend doing so because it can be dangerous, and often it doesn’t work unless you have a very small chest
• If you sweat a lot in your binder putting baby powder or talc powder on your chest beforehand can help