Comfort: 3/5 It rides up a lot. It's actually kind of hard to keep it
to stay down. Also it only has one compression layer, so it doesn't
really bind as well as model 997.
Effectiveness: 3/5 I can pass easily in it, but if I lean back or lie on my back my
breasts make a little bulge. It binds about as well as a compression bra
does.
Discreetness: 5/5 It looks just like a normal tank. Great for sleeping in.
Comfort: 5/5 This make and model is very soft and comfortable to wear. The
shirt itself is like a shirt within a shirt. It has two layers to it:
the first layer is nylon spandex covered by a layer of cotton. The hem
is extremely long and can be pulled down to comfortably reach past the
thighs. Because of the single layer of binding and length of the hem
there is no bunch or ride up. This shirt tends to trap heat I think
because of the cotton layer so I end up sweating more in this shirt
than in others. This shirt really does stretch and recoil with my body
making it the least intrusive binder. Unlike some other binders who are
made with an athletic or tapered look in mind, this muscle shirt does
not impose any shape to squeeze into nor does it have any pressure
points. The best way to put on this shirt is to pull it overhead, it is
impossible to pull up from the floor which makes putting it on a little
harder. Make sure your skin is completely dry when pulling this binder
on and it will go easier.
Effectiveness: 3.5/5 I decided to go with a size smaller for this particular binder
because the shirt utilizes only one layer of nylon spandex to bind. I
found that this binder was not any more effective with a smaller size
of achieving a flatter chest than my previous binder. It did in fact
conform more to the contours of my chest and accentuate my breasts too
much. I'd recommend wearing two layers of tees to counter out the
accentuation factor.
Discreetness: 4/5 Due to the cut style of the muscle shirt sometimes the top of
the collar would be visible. The collar sits higher on the neck than
the cut of a regular tee so it is often peeking out; in order to pull
down the collar I had to pull out from the sleeves instead of down the
front. There really isn't any discreetness problems when this shirt is
worn under clothing but I would not trust it enough to wear it on the
outside because of the accentuation factor even though it is made for
both under and outside wear.
Overall: 4/5
Other information:
Time of purchase: 2/29/08 I received this product three days after purchase.
Reviewed by Kyle G.
Product Name: The Concealer FTM Chest Binder (#998)
Cup size at time of use: B (?)
Ratings
Comfort: 4/5 I can forget that I'm wearing it, except for when the sleeves dig into my armpits. Easier to get on and off than my previous binders (#997) and easier to breath and move in when active. It also doesn't roll up uncomfortably the way my old ones did and doesn't require constant re-tucking.
Effectiveness: 4/5 It doesn't have the double layer of compression that I became used to from the Double Front Compression Shirt (#997), so there is a bit of a bump in the chest area. But, for me, since I'm a bit overweight, it kind of blends in.
Discreetness: 5/5 When wearing it, it appears just like a regular undershirt and I wear it as such. It doesn't look out of place if seen underneath your shirt. To compensate for the slight bump, it is probably the best idea to stay away from skin tight clothing, which I do anyway, so it works out great for me.
Overall: 4/5 Overall, it's comfortable, except for digging sleeves, it doesn't stand out much since it looks like a regular undershirt, and it allows you to breath and be active. It's my favorite one so far.