“I bought just one of these to try out and fell in love! Tight, very flattening across my chest, but not too tight or uncomfortable for extended periods. The first bra I've ever had to actually make me feel comfortable with my chest. My only complaint is that I can't buy more! Please restock soon!”
“This top fits just right! It's not as compressive as a binder, but still much more compressive than any sports bra I've ever had. It gives me a flatter (but not completely flat) silhouette, which is fine for my needs because honestly, even a binder can't even completely flatten me. Best yet, it is so comfortable! I can wear it all day without the back pain my binder gives me after a while. I also love the fact that this compression top works in a way that I can't physically feel my boobs pressing against my chest. I have very dense, painful cystic breasts so regular binders pressing on them make me hyper aware that my breasts are still attached to my body and being squished. With this compression top, there is no worry about cleavage. I can even wear it while working out. Also, the bottom band falls a little lower on the ribs than a normal sports bra, so it looks cute as a crop top by itself in my opinion! I came back online to order 2 more so that I have extras when this one is in the wash, but they're already sold out again! Please restock soon!”
“This is a good "binder" in that it flattens the chest more than a sports bra and is much more comfortable and less restrictive than a binder. That said, it will not bind as flat as a proper binder will. However, it's a good alternative for people who are uncomfortable while binding/can't bind/just want an alternative option some days. I would definitely recommend this to someone who wants a binder-type compression top that is more comfortable than a traditional binder.”
“I have been binding with gc2b binders for about three years now. I recently got an injury of the ribs that requires time to heal, so while it's healing, I needed to find something alternative that I can use that won't interfere with the healing process.
The pros:
- The fabric is great!! It is very comfortable, I could genuinely see myself wearing it for hours without any troubles whatsoever. It is soft and breathable without causing discomfort.
- It does compress. If you're in a phobic household and can't get a binder, this is a good choice. The size of your chest will factor in the effectiveness of how much it compresses, but it does cause a difference. As one review said, it will be enough for you yourself to notice, but it will also be subtle enough without raising suspicion in a phobic household.
The cons:
- THE STRAPS!!!! Every time I move my arms, the straps fall off my shoulders. They shift with every little movement of my shoulders instead of staying in their place. The shifting is awful. I CONSTANTLY need to readjust, and it becomes very irritating very quickly. This is because of where they are placed design-wise. The back is a very low cut and the straps are far from the center. They fall roughly at the end of the shoulder-blades, closer to the armpit than the center of your back. (Similar to a lot of bras it seems...) This by design has a poor tendency to push and slide the staps off. I feel like it ruins the point of having a discrete compression top when it becomes noticeable that I'm readjusting. It is the biggest offender for me. It's like they were going towards having it move with you, but it just ends up moving way too much.
- The band at the bottom pushes in on the end of my ribs a bit too hard. As mentioned, my ribs are healing, and that just so happens to be the area in question that needs to heal. The top itself is longer than a gc2b half binder, so it can be pulled down a bit further than that area of my ribs in question. The band makes the compression top feel very snug and secure, but in my instance, it needs to be pulled down farther. If someone has any rib issues and/or lung issues, this may be worth taking into consideration.
- The packaging when sent out is all black, but at the bottom, it says TOMBOYX in large letters. While it is listed on the back of the package itself, this can potentially become an issue for those who need discrete packaging. I'm unsure if they have a way to have discrete packaging. It isn't the biggest issue, but it is noteworthy if people are ordering for the first time and don't want their housemates to be alerted.
I personally had to return the product. It was incredibly difficult because I do honestly like this product a lot in terms of feel and breathability, but the straps became the biggest offender when I tried to wear it. If the straps were redesigned to mimic the ones on a gc2b binder or generally moved towards the middle so they would not continuously slip and fall off my shoulders, this would be a much better and much more enjoyable product to wear continuously.
With all of that said, I genuinely like this product. I would recommend it to others if the strap issue doesn't bother them. It is a great place to start a binding adventure, and it is a great middle-ground if you are unable to use a binder for safety/medical reasons.”
“This is NOT a binder (I use gc2b binders and LOVE them), but it is a decently compressive crop-top/bra that is super comfortable and a good balance between "control my dysphoria" and "I wanna spend the day lounging on the couch".
I absolutely hope that TomboyX continues to make this top, especially in more fun colors/prints (bring back the books-and-octopus print!)! I would buy this in every one!”
“I have 2 binders from a really great place, but my breasts would slide out the bottom and it was really annoying. Since this compression top has a band on the bottom, my breasts don't slip out and it is so great! Takes some getting used to (especially if you're prone to heartburn like me) but like all binders, it will get more comfy with wear.”
