Period pants

Spoonie_Turtle

If there's a more appropriate part of the forum for this, please let me know.

Does any have any experience with period pants?  I know they're not exactly the moneysaving option, but I'm fed up with pads for a few reasons and have no desire to try tampons or a cup.

Own_Worst_Enermy

Not labelled period pants as such but have started to use disposable underwear during the time of the month (well what's left of it 1 day normally)
I do prefer the below better over 'Always' equivalent which I find is scented and just an irritant and I think it cheaper then actual Tena
Tesco Free Spirit Active Underwear Small, Medium 12 Pack - Tesco Groceries

KxMx

No experience myself but I what I usually do is wear 2 pairs of full briefs (not my normal style) while on to hold the pad in place better. 

Know that might not answer your issues with them though

chanie

I’ve been using them for a few years now.  I have ones from Wuka and modibodi.  Ive also heard good things about cheeky wipes.

Cost - mine cost £20+ For each pair so they aren’t the MSE option.  They are advertised as saving money, but the figures just don’t add up for san pro alone.  I use them so to avoid land fill, so it is worth the cost for environmental reasons,

comfort - much more comfortable than pads, as they don’t move around like pads do.

absorbency - mine have leaked occasionally, but in the same way that pads have leaked.   Generally, they are pretty good.  You need to make sure you choose undies with full absorbency, as some claim to be period undies, but in the small print, they say they need to be used in conjunction with san pro.  That’s why I chose the brands that I did.

washing - you have to give them a quick rinse to get the blood out and you aren’t supposed to soak them, or tumble dry them.  I admit to drying them in a radiator and occasionally tumble drying on low.

amount - you will need more than 1 pair and coats can stock up, at £20+ a pair.  I have 4.  This means I’m constantly washing and drying them, but it’s only for a few days a month, so I put up with it. 

Replacing - my ones (both brands) say they will last for 2 years, before they need replacing, which I think is awful, given the cost.  One pair developed holes after a few months.  I’ve had mine for 2.5 years and 3 out of 4 have holes in the gusset.  They are still wearable, so I’m still using them and will do so until they fall apart.  

I don’t like to idea of walking around with soiled undies in my bag, so if I’m out for the day, I wear a disposable pad with them and remove the pad at lunchtime, using the protection of the undies for the rest of the day.  This works well for me, and I can’t remember the last time I bought any san pro.  Yes, it does make the undies really think, but I don’t find it problematic.  I only do this on office days. 

Spoonie_Turtle

chanie said:

I’ve been using them for a few years now.  I have ones from Wuka and modibodi.  Ive also heard good things about cheeky wipes.

Cost - mine cost £20+ For each pair so they aren’t the MSE option.  They are advertised as saving money, but the figures just don’t add up for san pro alone.  I use them so to avoid land fill, so it is worth the cost for environmental reasons,

comfort - much more comfortable than pads, as they don’t move around like pads do.

absorbency - mine have leaked occasionally, but in the same way that pads have leaked.   Generally, they are pretty good.  You need to make sure you choose undies with full absorbency, as some claim to be period undies, but in the small print, they say they need to be used in conjunction with san pro.  That’s why I chose the brands that I did.

washing - you have to give them a quick rinse to get the blood out and you aren’t supposed to soak them, or tumble dry them.  I admit to drying them in a radiator and occasionally tumble drying on low.

amount - you will need more than 1 pair and coats can stock up, at £20+ a pair.  I have 4.  This means I’m constantly washing and drying them, but it’s only for a few days a month, so I put up with it. 

Replacing - my ones (both brands) say they will last for 2 years, before they need replacing, which I think is awful, given the cost.  One pair developed holes after a few months.  I’ve had mine for 2.5 years and 3 out of 4 have holes in the gusset.  They are still wearable, so I’m still using them and will do so until they fall apart.  

I don’t like to idea of walking around with soiled undies in my bag, so if I’m out for the day, I wear a disposable pad with them and remove the pad at lunchtime, using the protection of the undies for the rest of the day.  This works well for me, and I can’t remember the last time I bought any san pro.  Yes, it does make the undies really think, but I don’t find it problematic.  I only do this on office days. 

Oh that's an excellent idea!  I hadn't thought of that.

Thanks for your detailed response.  I've been looking at Hey Girl which say they last up to 7 years with good care; I could probably still bear to use pads after the first 2 or 3 days so would be okay with 4-6 pairs.  For me it's partly the comfort and the most annoying part is being afraid of leaking in bed, but also I can't stand the waste when I've leaked off one end of the longest pad yet the other 2/3 is 'empty'. 

(I'm fortunate to be in the position to be able to make choices based on comfort and to be environmentally considerations, but I am loathe to make unwise decisions and end up making more waste.)

chanie

I started off with one pair as a trial and then bought one every month for a few months.  This gave me the time to see how I got on with them and how many I needed.  Like you, I have the means to buy them, but don’t like wasting money, so it was useful to slowly build up.  I’ve never heard of Hey Girl before, but they look like a good brand.  I think the key is to go for a brand that specialises in period undies, like the brands I mentioned.  I read that Primark, Sainsburys and M&S had their own versions which were cheaper and the reviews weren’t good on them. They are probably okay if you have light flow, but not so good if you are heavier.  

Its a shame that they are so expensive, at a time when period poverty exists.  I know they wouldn’t be a useful solution to everyone in poverty, because you need to be able to wash and dry them, but they could be useful to some, it’s the price that is prohibitive.  During lockdown, I was relieved to have them, particularly when we weren’t supposed to leave our homes and shelves in shops were empty.   When my DD starts her period, I’m going to get her period undies so that they become a normal option for her. 

KxMx

To guard against leaks in bed I sleep on a towel laid in the appropriate spot.
Won't stop them happening but should save the sheets & mattress. 

Spoonie_Turtle

KxMx said:

To guard against leaks in bed I sleep on a towel laid in the appropriate spot.
Won't stop them happening but should save the sheets & mattress. 

Yep, unfortunately that doesn't help save pyjama trousers (if I could guarantee just one leak, I could maybe designate a pair for that, but not 2 or 3).  Plus the energy required to deal with clothes not designed to absorb it is more than I have, especially on those days - whereas if simply rinsing were all that was needed, that might be doable.

chanie said:

I started off with one pair as a trial and then bought one every month for a few months.  This gave me the time to see how I got on with them and how many I needed.  Like you, I have the means to buy them, but don’t like wasting money, so it was useful to slowly build up.  I’ve never heard of Hey Girl before, but they look like a good brand.  I think the key is to go for a brand that specialises in period undies, like the brands I mentioned.  I read that Primark, Sainsburys and M&S had their own versions which were cheaper and the reviews weren’t good on them. They are probably okay if you have light flow, but not so good if you are heavier.  

Its a shame that they are so expensive, at a time when period poverty exists.  I know they wouldn’t be a useful solution to everyone in poverty, because you need to be able to wash and dry them, but they could be useful to some, it’s the price that is prohibitive.  During lockdown, I was relieved to have them, particularly when we weren’t supposed to leave our homes and shelves in shops were empty.   When my DD starts her period, I’m going to get her period undies so that they become a normal option for her. 

This is actually one of the things that draws me towards Hey Girls, they donate a lot of supplies to people who need them.

You make a good point about companies that specialise; I'll have to research a bit more before deciding but I would definitely not trust high street brands to be as good, not yet anyway.

chanie

I wear sweater type shorts to sleep in.  They are thick, so quite absorbent, but as they are loose, they aren’t hot. I have black ones, so they don’t show any stains.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0992103001.html?hier_id=go_cmp-12796663437_adg-126516123812_ad-516052907431_pla-875486935092_dev-m_ext-_prd-en-0992103001004_sig-EAIaIQobChMIl_iQqPSe9AIVy4FQBh0BfwhYEAQYASABEgKYjvD_BwE&utm_source=Google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl_iQqPSe9AIVy4FQBh0BfwhYEAQYASABEgKYjvD_BwE

Spoonie_Turtle

Well, as much as I was drawn to Hey Girls, Modibodi show how far the gusset extends and give a 60-day trial for one pair (Cheeky give a 90-day trial but I was put off by the mesh appearance of theirs).  I can't remember about Wuka. 

Anyway, Modibodi right now have Black Friday codes so the ones I chose work out at under £20 each (including a Maxi pair which it seems are usually excluded from discount codes) *and* 12.75% cashback (TopCashback) so I thought there's probably no better time to try them!