I'm always out wilderness hiking/camping and being trans can definitely add its hindrances to trips. I'm so glad to have found your channel, it helps out a lot :) thanks for these videos !
+Lvx Xvl In my experience, I was binding up until I went to bed, and by that time it was dark. So, depending on your sleeping/set up situation, removing your binder stealthily will be different. When I was sleeping solo in my hammock, I had a tarp as shelter and had it tied low so when I stepped under, it was blocking view. So then I could take it off quickly and put on a shirt to sleep in that wasn't too clingy. If I were sleeping in a tent with other people, I'd wait until it was darker and then just taken an opportunity before everyone heads to bed to get to the tent first, take off your binder and change into whatever clothes you are going to sleep in, again maybe something baggy with a thinner breathable layer under perhaps. People won't suspect anything if you just need to go to the tent to change before bed. Then once you are sleeping you'd be in your sleeping bag and covered up. In the morning maybe just wait till everyone is up and out of the tent to change, or you could always bring it into any woods/outhouse/bathroom/covering that you can find before other people are up. That's what I would do in that situation :)
I think it is different for everyone based on what they are doing and their body size and preferences. I have the gc2b and underworks binders. I binded on a canoe trip this August and it was mostly horrible. I tried wearing the size I normally wear and a size larger than I normally wear (but that I sometimes double bind with or work out with) and both were horrible. I felt like with the binder plus my shirt plus the lifejacket was too much... like a straight-jacket. With the heat and sweating then the movement cut into me under my arms and my chest broke out from being all sweat nastily trapped in there. And it just felt hard to get a full breath (some studies being done now about folks developing respiratory issues because of binding). So it felt horrible. And because it was not my normal size it didn't contain my giant chest well. So while it felt less dangerous being noticed as trans, I felt like I hated my body and was constantly reminded that it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. I guess I feel all these things to a lesser extent all the time. Binding is hurting me and I have to constantly adjust so that I have a somewhat normal chest shape. I wish I didn't have to bind, but society sucks. And I don't think I want top surgery nor with the whole Trump/Pence thing, doubt I'd be able to in the next 4 years. So mostly I just don't leave home much. Especially to gym or in the heat and yeah.
Also have a GC2B binder and wore it to the beach a few weeks ago. It was just fine. Worked as is supposed to and did dry fairly quickly. Only wore a thin muscle shirt over it.
I haven't gone swimming in just about 3 years but I have two GC2B binders, one has lost thread so its looser. After watching this I may consider swimming in it before it gets too cold.
I did an activity week in 32+ degrees C recently and ended up doing an impromptu swim in my tri top Underworks black binder in a lake. It didn't seem to damage the binder and thankfully did dry off quick and didn't tighten. I have a swim binder from Underworks which I usually wear under a loose extra large rash vest but it looks quite bulky and difficult to get on and off. I wore the tri top white water rafting, mountain biking and hiking and it was fine for all of that. I usually wear it jogging though so yes, if you are used to wearing it for exercise first and it feels ok, it will probably be ok for other aerobic stuff.
idk how I found your Channel but I am sure glad I did!
I'm always out wilderness hiking/camping and being trans can definitely add its hindrances to trips. I'm so glad to have found your channel, it helps out a lot :) thanks for these videos !
Im just a backpacking guy. LOVE you two. Your killing it!
ya I use the full body underworks binder right now. I'm hopping to get top surgery soon. I have a consultation with Dr. Hugh McLean who you went to.
+Lvx Xvl In my experience, I was binding up until I went to bed, and by that time it was dark. So, depending on your sleeping/set up situation, removing your binder stealthily will be different. When I was sleeping solo in my hammock, I had a tarp as shelter and had it tied low so when I stepped under, it was blocking view. So then I could take it off quickly and put on a shirt to sleep in that wasn't too clingy. If I were sleeping in a tent with other people, I'd wait until it was darker and then just taken an opportunity before everyone heads to bed to get to the tent first, take off your binder and change into whatever clothes you are going to sleep in, again maybe something baggy with a thinner breathable layer under perhaps. People won't suspect anything if you just need to go to the tent to change before bed. Then once you are sleeping you'd be in your sleeping bag and covered up. In the morning maybe just wait till everyone is up and out of the tent to change, or you could always bring it into any woods/outhouse/bathroom/covering that you can find before other people are up. That's what I would do in that situation :)
I think it is different for everyone based on what they are doing and their body size and preferences. I have the gc2b and underworks binders. I binded on a canoe trip this August and it was mostly horrible. I tried wearing the size I normally wear and a size larger than I normally wear (but that I sometimes double bind with or work out with) and both were horrible. I felt like with the binder plus my shirt plus the lifejacket was too much... like a straight-jacket. With the heat and sweating then the movement cut into me under my arms and my chest broke out from being all sweat nastily trapped in there. And it just felt hard to get a full breath (some studies being done now about folks developing respiratory issues because of binding). So it felt horrible. And because it was not my normal size it didn't contain my giant chest well. So while it felt less dangerous being noticed as trans, I felt like I hated my body and was constantly reminded that it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. I guess I feel all these things to a lesser extent all the time. Binding is hurting me and I have to constantly adjust so that I have a somewhat normal chest shape. I wish I didn't have to bind, but society sucks. And I don't think I want top surgery nor with the whole Trump/Pence thing, doubt I'd be able to in the next 4 years. So mostly I just don't leave home much. Especially to gym or in the heat and yeah.
Also have a GC2B binder and wore it to the beach a few weeks ago. It was just fine. Worked as is supposed to and did dry fairly quickly. Only wore a thin muscle shirt over it.
Jai L. yeah I keep hearing great things about them!
I haven't gone swimming in just about 3 years but I have two GC2B binders, one has lost thread so its looser. After watching this I may consider swimming in it before it gets too cold.
I did an activity week in 32+ degrees C recently and ended up doing an impromptu swim in my tri top Underworks black binder in a lake. It didn't seem to damage the binder and thankfully did dry off quick and didn't tighten. I have a swim binder from Underworks which I usually wear under a loose extra large rash vest but it looks quite bulky and difficult to get on and off. I wore the tri top white water rafting, mountain biking and hiking and it was fine for all of that. I usually wear it jogging though so yes, if you are used to wearing it for exercise first and it feels ok, it will probably be ok for other aerobic stuff.
marmaladeatkins thanks a lot for the info! glad it worked out for you :)
I know people who wore a gc2b for swimming and they said it was just fine even in the sea. So you should be okay :-)
Felix Ferdinand awesome thanks man
I have underworks and I'm really worried about it :/ not binding would be horrible but i don't know if it would be safe