Our team members received complimentary products in exchange for honest reviews as part of a FOLX partnership with GC2B.
For many trans guys, nonbinary people, genderqueers, and trans mascs, chest dysphoria can be overwhelming familiar. Fortunately, a chest binder flattens the chest without needing top surgery, which can still be preferable even for those who don’t feel so dysphoric. Binding isn’t just for transgender men! Many trans people feel the need or want to bind their chests for gender affirmation or aesthetics. Any gender (including trans people who are femme of center) may have the desire to have a flat chest for whatever reason.
If you’re looking for a new binder and are researching different binder brands, check out reviews below on GC2B binders from some FOLX team members.
Adryan (they/them)
I haven’t binded in over two years since the pandemic began. (Coincidentally, my first binder happened to be a GC2B tank binder since I heard about them on Tumblr, although that has since been donated.) Being at home, I’ve gotten more comfortable in my own body. Though as parts of pre-pandemic life open back up, I do have a desire to bind again. However, a barrier to binding has been sizing. Much like the gender binary, my body has always fit outside standard sizing measurements, falling in between sizes, which has made online shopping a total nightmare.
Fortunately, when invited to review a GC2B half binder, I was able to communicate directly with GC2B’s customer care team to help specify my chest size. Though I could’ve done this as a customer, I likely would have guessed based on their sizing chart. It turns out that I’ve been wearing binders too tight all along. During my first time binding years ago, I wore a tank top binder that in hindsight was far too tight. Without the care team’s help, I would’ve absolutely picked the wrong size and continued to wear a chest binder a size too small.
I’m someone who opts for comfort nowadays, but as I learned in the sizing process, comfort doesn’t need to necessarily be sacrificed when binding. Thankfully, I can have both with my GC2B binder. However, it’s important to note that more than one of our team members had to size up. Typically, I’m a size 2XL, and I also don’t have a large chest, but I ended up needing a 4X GC2B binder. I’m conscious that if I were a size 4XL rather than 2XL in clothes or had a larger chest with a larger cup size, I could potentially be sized out, especially since these binders require you to size up. I also understand that all bodies are different, independent of their sizes, and the limitations that size charts have in accommodating all types of larger bodies.
Fox (they/he)
I’ve been binding for about 15 years, and like Adryan, I quickly quit binding once the pandemic started, and working from home allowed me to feel a little more comfortable with giving my body a break. As a bigger-bodied person, I’ve always used full-length, full compression tank-style binders. Switching to a half-tank style, I was hoping for more of a sports bra/compression tank feel, as I’ve been living in my Nike sports bras pretty religiously these days unless I have to leave the house for more than an hour.
Unfortunately, the fit was a bit too snug for my liking. As someone with sensory issues and anxiety, the tight fit on my chest made me feel like I couldn’t take a proper breath. I think these binders are definitely a good fit for folks who are within the sizing range—I’d much rather own a binder made by members of the community! I’m just built super wide, especially in my chest area, so ultimately, I couldn’t make the GC2B binders work for me.
Definitely reach out to the GC2B team if you’re unsure about your sizing/maybe haven’t worn a binder from this company before, as your sizing might be different from company to company!
Mud (he/him)
When I began binding nearly eight years ago, the GC2B binder came recommended to me by a friend, and somehow it’s become the only binder I’ve ever worn! Sizing is super important though. Obviously, when I first started binding I wanted the flattest chest possible (read: the smallest, tightest binder ever in my shopping cart). But this is not the ticket. Wearing a binder for extended periods of time in the wrong size can lead to all types of health issues, trouble breathing, injured ribs, and don’t even get me started on trying to breathe and/or move in the summertime.
Eventually, I learned to ask a friend to help me do measurements to purchase the correct size based on gc2b’s size chart (don’t skip this step!), and ever since, I felt super comfortable and supported in my GC2B binder, even though the weight changes I experienced after going on T.
My personal favorite is the Nude Half binder, and I’m able to wear it comfortably all day, without any pinching or digging in, and the lines of the binder are nearly imperceptible under a fresh white tee. When I ordered my first one, I did also order the tank version and didn’t love it–perhaps for those of us with dad bellies, it’s not a great fit, as it rolls up awkwardly around the stomach, even when tucked into pants. I personally love GC2B as my go-to binder and recommend it for people who are binding for long periods of time and need a comfortable and flexible option.
Kai (she/they)
Okay girls and all girl-adjacents, this review is for you. I've never worn a binder before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Truthfully, I was hoping for a compression sports bra-like feel but quickly discovered that binders are way tighter. Like, mashing your chest into your body tight. After this experience, I have a newfound respect for all the butches and trans-masc guys out there who have done this for years. Props to y'all for doing the most for masculinity. Binding is borderline torture for me, though some would call tucking the same thing. No pain, no gain when it comes to trans-gender euphoria. But if it actually hurts maybe try another size.
That's what happened to me when I ordered a medium-sized racerback tank from GC2B. I'm on the petite end when it comes to a boy's body and usually am a small or XS depending on the brand. When I shop in the women's section, which is almost exclusively where I spend my time now, I'm a medium. So when I tried on the GC2B binder, I was surprised that it was extremely tight. I was able to get it on because of the slight give due to the spandex, but once on it felt like my heart was going to shoot out of my throat. There's no way these things are this tight, I thought. I ended up ordering a large to try a bigger size. The large was a better fit, still tight, but didn't make me feel like I was wearing a straightjacket. I'm also someone who usually like tighter-fitting garments because I'm a proud femme body queen, but I wouldn't call this binder comfortable.
I've been on estrogen HRT for 8 months now so my breasts are barely an A-cup and even then, it didn't feel like any more boobage could fit in between the stiff cardboard-like breastplate and my body. I don't have a point of comparison because this was my first time wearing a binder, but I wonder if there are others out there that have more give? If you're considering GC2B I would recommend going a couple of sizes up to give yourself some more breathing room, literally. Even though wearing the binder was slightly painful, I did feel euphoric in a mixed-gender kind of way. It was giving Jules in Euphoria wearing a binder because she's "navigating a largely straight, binary world". I've always been conscious about my mixed race, but in wearing a binder I discovered a whole new playset in the playground known as gender.
Existing FOLX members with questions about binding can message their clinician in their Athenahealth PatientPortal. For non-FOLX members who have any questions on this topic, please reach out to support.folxhealth.com. We’re happy to help!
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