Men's Girdles
a.k.a.
Support Briefs
Having read numerous comments at the Girdles and More Forum, it is clear that some men have great success with Men's Girdles, while others find them nearly worthless. They are less expensive than women's girdles and in most cases, require no alterations. So, if you are interested in male girdles, please give them a try. I invite you to try all available models to see if they work for you or not. I also solicit your input if you find one that is not listed here.
A catalog of men's girdles resides below this text.
Pros and Cons of Men's Girdles (a comparison of men's and women's girdles)
- Proper fit. Since men's girdles were designed for the male anatomy, they usually fit a man "as is". Women's girdles, on the other hand, were designed for the female body, and a woman's girdle purchased off-the-shelf seldom fits a man properly and will usually require alterations.
- Cost. Male girdles, in general, cost less than
female girdles, and since they do not need alterations as mentioned
above, they cost even less.
- Comfort. Many men report that they find a man's
girdle uncomfortable compared to a lady's girdle. For example,
the waistband on my Manshape dug painfully into my skin and left
deep grooves that stayed for several hours. You can tuck your
T shirt in to alleviate this situation, but that only works if
you are wearing an outer shirt. My male girdle also rose uncomfortably
up on my derriere.
- Control. Men's girdles are generally too light to be beneficial to the lower abdomen. They do compress the love handles somewhat, but do nothing for the lower stomach. Both of the models that I own reduced my waist size by 1", but they compressed my love handles downward, which actually increased my lower abdomen (across my hips) by 1". But, I am not a big guy; it is very possible that these garments would offer more control on a man with a bigger belly.
- Masculine/Feminine. Girdles designed for men are
masculine, emulating jockey shorts somewhat. Many men shy away
from women's girdles because they look feminine. I have read a
number of negative comments about the laced cuff, "pretty"
tummy panel, or the satin panels on women's girdles. Also, to
many men, wearing a garment designed for a woman is strictly taboo,
and they shy away from them altogether.
- The wife. There are many wives out there who
maintain a strong influence over what their husbands wear, and
they prefer them to wear girdles designed exclusively for men.
Some have a very negative opinion of a man wearing anything that
seems feminine.
- Crotch room. Men's girdles have ample room for
the male genitalia; women's girdles do not. Men need to wear a
woman's girdle a few inches lower than a female counterpart in
order to accommodate their privates. This is one reason why men
generally need a longer girdle than women (details in another
section).
- Bathroom facilities. Men's girdles have an anatomically correct opening in front to facilitate urination. Women's girdles have an almost useless opening under the crotch, or no opening at all. Men have to roll the girdle at least half way down in order to urinate, which means they have to use a stall rather than a urinal. Some find this a bother, others do not.
- Selection and variety. There are very few male girdles available on the market today; choices are very limited. Women's girdles, on the other hand, are available in a number of styles, models, colors, and degrees of firmness.
- Sizing. Men's girdles generally come in 3 or 5
sizes. Woman's girdles are available in 7 or 8 sizes.
- Availability. Men's girdles are often available
in men's clothing stores and thus, can be tried on before making
a purchase. Women's girdles are not generally available to men
in retail stores except for a few liberal corsetieres scattered
around the globe.
| How
to measure for a man's girdle
Measure your waist just above, or directly across the belly button. This measurement should be the same as your trouser size, and this is the size you should use when ordering a man's girdle. It is not the same for women's girdles. |
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Men's Girdles Product Review
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http://www.bodyinacinch.com/ 10/14/04 - Although I haven't tried this garment, it looks as though it should provide good back support and tummy control. Other girdle selections are also available at this site. |
Lumbo Men
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This girdle is located at:
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Full Body Girdle
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This girdle comes in two models; one with a 3" waistband, the other with a 6" band |
Zip n' Trim
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Manshape
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http://www.undergear.com/parent.asp?pf%5Fid=A173x&dept%5Fid=550 This item is available in white or tan. |
Undergear
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This is not a girdle; it is a compression garment called a Support Brief. It was designed to supply gentle compression after recent surgery. It is made of surgical material similar to a compression bandage. It does not offer firm tummy support. The crotch is actually open but the gentleman here is wearing briefs. There are two models at the Morris site. I tried and returned both. |
Morris Designs
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http://www.caromedintl.com/catalog.htm Another compression garment for post-surgery patients. On 5/7/03 I could not navigate their site to inspect their girdle and email to them was returned as undelivered.
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Caromed
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Venusa Men's Girdle I grabbed this photo from the Venusa web site in August of 2001. I would enjoy trying this girdle, but I was never able to contact the seller or manufacturer. One reader commented that he had made contact with Venusa and that the girdle cost about $200 (ouch!). Further, they could only be purchased in a Venusa salon which only exist in a few countries in the East. The beauty of this garment is that is has a high waistband and the legs extend to just below the quadriceps, excellent engineering. However, all of this is moot since Venusa can no longer be contacted, and it appears they may no longer exist. |
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