The short answer is, it depends.

There are 4 key things to consider when talking about chest binder safety:

1. The design of the chest binder
2. The fit of the chest binder
3. Binding practices (such as frequency)
4. The psychological effect of wearing the chest binder

There is little doubt that poor design and/or poor fit may contribute to negative physical outcomes such as rib damage and skin scarring. And we know that frequency of chest binding plays a large part in contributing to any negative outcomes.

But a lot more research needs to be done not just into chest binding generally, but into the various methods of binding and their long term effects.

The current (and most comprehensive) research suggests that whilst chest binding in general may lead to negative physical effects, these need to be balanced with the positive psychological effects of feeling affirmed in your gender. And to the extent possible, we can mitigate some of the risks by engaging on good chest binding practices, such as:

• taking regular breaks from chest binding (such as taking days off)
• wearing a good quality and good fitting chest binder.

For more information see our Tips for Safe Chest Binding.

Not all chest binders are created equal.

A garment such as a chest binder may seem simple, but can have very complicated construction, and the construction does vary greatly on the binders currently available in the market.

Most 'traditional' chest binders incorporate a piece of rigid fabric covering the chest area as a means of flattening the chest. As you can imagine, that rigidity can cause a number of problems such as decreased mobility and restricted breathing, which is why we at Transform don’t recommend these types of chest binder.

We spent 3 years developing our designs specifically to ensure safety and comfort. Our compression comes from the compression fabric itself, not a rigid flattening panel.

Our chest binders use multiple layers of soft compression fabric to achieve a ‘bind’ which means you shouldn’t experience any restricted breathing or movement. We also use a soft lining to prevent skin irritation or chaffing.

As mentioned earlier, the fit of the chest binder is also key, which is why we offer free chest binder fittings to help educate the community about safe binding practices, and to help fit them into a chest binder that will feel comfortable and not cause long-lasting damage.

Despite the online chatter, there is no current research pointing specifically to hook binders as being any more or less safe than any other chest binder.

NOTE: We've included links to the most current comprehensive chest binder research below.

Hooks on their own aren't an issue (as explained above), and they're used on bras, sports bras, and even medical grade compression wear. 

The hooks on our crop binders are merely a means of putting the binder on more easily. And we've included hooks on both sides to ensure the compression is distributed evenly. The uneven distribution caused by one-sided openings has been one of the problems raised with hook binders in the past (albeit anecdotally).

When following our size chart, the chest binder should feel comfortable and you shouldn't experience any discomfort. You should be able to move and breathe freely. If you can't, then it's a very good indication that the chest binder is too small, or just doesn't fit to your body correctly.

You should always follow our Tips For Safe Binding and if in doubt, book a free chest binder fitting.