summer and binding

[firewhispers]

Summer is getting closer and closer.
What do you guys do during the summer?
Do you bind and try to just take the heat, not bind, or find alternative ways to bind?
I'm a smaller guy, 5'1'', thin, and my chest is about a 34A. I bind with gc2 compression tank tops if it isn't too hot out or if I know I won't be outside for too long. A lot of times, I'll just put band aids over my nipples and wear a Hanes X Temp t shirt (to help with sweat) under my regular shirt and it works well for me.

Comments

[firewhispers]

I keep hearing mixed reviews about gc2b binders. Are they breathable? And do they run small? I wear an extra small in gc2 (32-34 inch chest) so I'm not sure to order a size up in gc2b or stick to the same size I wear in gc2.
I might get another gc2 binder because they work pretty well for me.
Also (sorry for all these questions), but when should a binder be replaced?

[merikuru]

I find mine pretty easily breathable, both sweat-wise and tightness-wise. I am asthmatic, so that's kind of a big thing for me. But, I also quite like the pressure - if you're pressure sensitive it may be a little much for you.

My GC2B is a small I believe...I'm not sure offhand what chest size that is but considering I have a fair bit of squish there and weigh ~125, I think that size would probably be alright for you since you have less chestsquish. I do have to put it on over my head though, it's not feasible to step in and pull it up, so if that's a dealbreaker for you then do not get that kind.

I'm not honestly sure when to replace one, tbh. I've heard they can easily last a few years if you're not washing them in hot water or harsh chemicals, and if you swim in one, you should wash it immediately after to prevent the chlorine from breaking it down prematurely. I'd say, if you feel it isn't binding properly anymore, you should probably go ahead and replace it.

[diybinding]

The interesting thing about gc2b binders is that they're not completely elastic - the front side is a stiff material and the back is elastic. I haven't tried them but that's the reason why they're the best thing ever for some people and not that good for others.

If the binder is too small, you should replace it. ;) If it's too loose, you can try sewing it a bit smaller or washing it with hot water (which is usually not recommended because they can shrink too much, but if it's too big anyway you might as well try).
Otherwise you don't need to replace it at any specific time, it's up to you! (They do get smelly and gross-looking after some time and sometimes washing can't fix it.)

[maunzikation]

Sizing is a bit different for everyone because of bodies being different. For me, gc2b sizes definitely do run small. Their system places me right between L and XL, but XL is definitely too small for me. (My 2XL hasn't arrived yet so I don't know how that fits. In the past, when I gained some weight, I went from M (that was a questionable fit from the beginning) to L very quickly, and then from L to… well, apparently not XL.) And I've heard some other people tell similar stories, I know only one person who got one that was too large.

If you live in the US, exchanges are really simple so it's not as dramatic if you get the wrong size. If you don't, they also work, I tried, and the customer service is really really nice, but the high return postage and another month of waiting makes it less fun of course.