Period Knickers

I mean, I’ve got time for this right now. I’m on lockdown (I’m not interested in your anti-NSW rhetoric), alone again, and I haven’t been able to see anyone I know in close to 3 weeks. Could be worse, of course, but could always be better. 

Anyway, in my effort to find new ways to try to be sustainable I decided on period knickers (underwear/undies/panties - whatever your vernacular). 

Full disclosure - I have never really done tampons. I’m not against them, but I have always found that I just can’t get them right - both before and after I had sex for the first time. I have, on the odd occasion, managed to achieve comfort-ability and been able to go about my day with a tampon but more often than not after I take it out the effort of replacing it is too much and i always revert to pads. Both pads and tampons can leak - we’ve all been there - but whilst tampons can sit wrong and be uncomfortable or even painful, pads are pretty difficult to actually get wrong. You just stick them to your knickers and your good to go. Change them every couple of hours or when you need to. Pads aren’t as sophisticated as tampons to me, but they don’t insult my intelligence. 

So pads, being my go-to, still come with their issues. They can leak, they can be uncomfortable if they’re thick, they crinkle loudly if you’re trying to change them in a public bathroom. Once first thing in the morning I put one on only to have my flat mate ask me hours later what was I doing rustling around in the bathroom so early. Pads can be conspicuous and embarrassing. Ever start getting down and dirty when you’ve got a pad on? Not sexy. 

The other thing about pads is that they can be expensive and they create plastic waste. During a period you may use anywhere from 10-50 pads (give or take) depending on how heavy you are along with all the other issues that come with having a monthly. That in mind on average a packet of pads (of 20-25 pads) can cost anywhere between $3-7 AUD (depending on the brand/shop/etc). For many of us that price point might not be such a big deal and we can pick and choose which brands we prefer - but for many women that’s not the case. If you can, especially during times like this, it might be worth considering donating to charities like Share the Dignity whose aim is to provide essential products, like pads and tampons, to women in need. 

The other side of things, as I said, is the environmental impact. Pads and tampons, for the most part, aren’t biodegradable- they go to landfill and as they’re often made of plastic and synthetics they take years and years to break down (much more than our life times). This is a huge problem and can’t go on forever - we’re already running out of space in cemeteries, you don’t think we’re going to run out of space for garbage and landfill? 

So this week since its Code Red and I’m at home (with literally no where I can go except to take my dog for a walk) it seemed like a good time to test out a few different brands of period knickers. So let’s go.

1. Unarmed Amazon brand 

I don’t have a link to these ones as they weren’t good and they were a gift (don’t worry, this is not me being a snob). I tried these out for about 6 months before now and found that the lining wasn’t actually designed to stop anything. They were black, plain and high waisted and comfortable but without the thick lining the only way these weren’t leaking was with the use of a tampon or pad anyway - thereby defeating the actual purpose. I think these were more intended as ‘knickers to wear during your period’ rather than as period knickers - if you know what I mean? 

Cost: ??

1/10

Not recommended (for this purpose)

2. Bonds ‘Bloody Comfy’ Period Undies

You might have seen these advertised on TV, but you can get them in a few places these days including Coles, Big W and the Bonds stores themselves. These are high waisted with a thick waistband and thick, odour-controlled lining (5 layers on average) ideal for light, moderate or heavy flow dependent on what you need. Like most of Bonds knickers they’re comfortable and come in various colours, cuts including full brief and bikini, relatively inclusive sizes (AU 6-20), and even have matching bras of the same style to jazz it up during shark week. I didn’t have any leakage with these and they were comfortable for the whole day (they are designed to replace a full days worth of pads/tampons) without feeling like a nappy, like I was stewing in my own juices or generally gross at all. Not the cheapest, but you do get a good quality product that will definitely average its initial cost out pretty quickly. 

Cost: $20~ per pair

8/10

Recommend

Get them here: https://www.bonds.com.au/womens/bloody-comfy-undies.html

3. Tom Organic Period Brief Undies

As organic cotton briefs these have a little less give than the Bonds ones and the waistband is more of a thicker elastic. I recommend considering sizing up for additional comfort, but these weren’t bad. I did find the leg holes had no elastic though and my movement was a little impacted until they wore. The undies themselves come in traditional brief and bikini brief with sizes ranging from XXS (AU 6) to XXL (AU 16) but don’t have much in the way of colour options outside of the generic black. They are designed for 8~ hour comfort with 4 layer leak-free layers to absorb up to 3~ tampon/pads worth. I tried the full brief and bikini options and found the bikini a little more comfortable personally, but didn’t have any leakage with either. I got mine from Coles but they’re also available on the Tom Organic website directly. 

Cost: $15~

6/10

Recommend 

Get them here: 

4. Libra Period Proof Underwear

I actually really liked these. Unlike Tom and Bonds, these were a more stretchy, shinny and moveable material with a cute strip of lace around the top to make them feel a little bit cute. They were comfortable for the whole day despite probably having the most nappy-like feel of all the brands I tried. The Libra underwear only come in black hipster briefs, with size options of XS (AU 8) to XL (AU 16), and one of the more expensive options per piece of the brands I tried. They have 10~ hours wear time with anti-odour tech, 3-4 leak-proof layers and can hold 4~ tampon/pads worth. I would definitely wear these again since I loved the material and the lace and am a sucker for lingerie. I got mine at Coles, but from the looks of it they’re also available on the Libra website.

Cost: $25~

7/10 

Recommended 

Get them here: https://lovelibra.com/au/product/period-underwear/period-proof-hipster-underwear/

5. Love Luna Period Briefs

I have to say, I think that among the options I tried these were maybe my favourite. They were made of that same shiny, moveable microfibres material as the Libra ones. They have a lot of cut, style and colour options available though the ones I tried were the black, bikini briefs with the lace (top and bottom lace!). These have 2-3 layers and absorb 3~ tampons worth but don’t feel bulky or nappy-like at all. Of all the brands I tried, these felt the most like regular underwear and still didn’t feel like they’d leak at all. They have pretty inclusive sizing from 8-10 to 16-18 and are the cheapest brand I tried - currently available at Woolworths and (possibly, at least at the time of writing, at some Aldi stores on special). Definitely loved these. 

Cost: $10-15~

9/10

Recommended

Get them here: https://www.loveluna.com/collections/period-briefs/products/bikini-brief

Of the 5 brands I tried there was a variety of prices, materials, absorbency, size inclusivity, cuts, styles and colours available. Whilst more expensive at initial cost than a packet of pads or tampons, the amount of use you’d get from any one pair of period knickers will far outweigh their initial cost within one or two period cycles depending on how often you wear them. You could have a collection of options (like me, now), one for each day of your period or more, or even survive off as little as two pairs if you wash them straight away (a pair and a spare, if you will). 

All of the options I tried recommended a cold rise before chucking them in the washing machine and allowing them to air dry, the upkeep is very simple. They’d be great for travelling (when we eventually can again) and I’d even recommend them for people with incontinence, higher rates of vaginal discharge and a little extra comfort when you need it especially if you go for a light flow pair. I think I’d have lived in them during high school for sure. 

Overall, I’d say this was a pretty positive outcome and I will be continuing with them. I know there’s plenty of push back out there - ‘sitting in your own blood all day’ was one I saw online - but its not like that at all. You can change them out halfway through the day if you like or, if you’re lazy like me, wear them all day and you won’t feel as gross as if you overwore a pad or tampon. Give it a try, especially if you’re more of a pad girl like me - it’ll give you comfort, help the planet and save you some money over time. 

Sam xox

*I am not sponsored by any of these companies, FYI.