Are period pants any good?

Period pants have been around for a while now, and I got my first pair about two years ago, so I finally feel adequately qualified to make some comments about them. That said, period protection is such an individual thing. What does and doesn't work for me, could be the total opposite of what does and doesn't work for someone else. In fact, I'm sure of it, because its been a topic of much debate between the SS ladies over the years.

I can then only report back my own, and a few other opinions, but hopefully there will be something useful here for anyone currently wondering whether period pants might suit them.

I use them as a back up to *tampons for the first couple of days/nights, then use them on their own after that, when my flow is much lighter. Prior to buying my first pair of pants, before pants were a thing, I tried washable pads used in the same way, and although I didn't have any performance issues, I did come to the conclusion that if I had to wear special big knickers to hold them in place, wouldn't washable pants be better? Well, yes, they are.

Over the last two years my collection of period pants has grown, and below I review each brand I have bought, but I also have some thoughts in general about them, which are common to them all.

Firstly, the performance. I honestly can't fault any of them on performance. You can see my notes on fit and style below, but overall I'd say they do the job they're supposed to. I have a range of absorbency levels, and that makes a difference. By wearing the right ones, on the right day, I've had no issues. I was worried about how they would feel, but aside from a slightly cold feeling when pulling them back on after going to the loo, I don't feel anything. Like pads, there's a little more cleaning up to do than with tampons, but if you're used to pads, it's no different.

Front sleepers beware though, most brands don't provide total coverage at the front, and it can lead to some 'overtopping' at night. Modibodi is the only brand I've found so far offering full front coverage, and it's only on its 24hour range. It would be great to see brands adding another couple of inches of protection at the front as standard, as well as Modibodi offering full coverage at lower absorbencies.

What about practicality? On this I'm not totally convinced if used as your only protection. For the majority of the time I've been using period pants, I've been working from home, or if I have left the house, it's only been for a few hours at a time. This means if I've needed to change pairs during the day, I have been able to do so comfortably, and to put the used pair straight in the wash (or rinse and on a radiator). If I'd have been in the office for 8 hours and then gone straight out (pre-pandemic normal), would I have wanted to change and carry a dirty pair around with me? Probably not. But given that convenience is often the sacrifice for going green, I guess I probably would get a 'wet bag' and do it.

Now, the price. Before the fast fashion retailers got wind of the trend they were prohibitively expensive, and I think for many people they still are, even Primark's pants are £6 a pair. They're certainly not for everyone then, but if you want to invest in them, there's something you should know, that I only recently discovered...they don't actually last very long!

Yes, it says it in the description, but in my head I've been investing my money in a 'lifetime' of sustainable protection, and that's just not the case. How long they last will depend on the brand, and how closely you follow the washing instructions, but the first pair I bought, I estimate I wore 12-18 times before they just stopped working. And by that I mean what was meant to stay on the inside, made its way to the outside, and so they made their way to the bin.

So, are period pants sustainable?

This realisation, and the failure of another pair a couple of months later, has thrown me. These are fabric garments, made with multiple layers and often nice lacy trim, but I dispose of them quicker than my normal pants! Can that really be sustainable? I know better now than to try and work the answer out, because there's a million mathematical calculations to be made, so I hope someone else will, but it's certainly food for thought.

Period Pants Brand Review

Modibodi period pants review Modibodi were the first brand I bought, mostly because at the time they were actually one of the cheapest, but also because the range of styles is pretty wide. My first pair were the High Waist Bikini's and I've since bought more in this style, because they're really comfortable and I like the fit the best, but I also have a pair of regular Bikini, and a seam free brief. They fit true to size I find, and they wash and hold their shape and colour well. They state you'll get 6-24 washes/wears out of a pair, and I think I got 12-18. They have regular sales, which I usually take advantage of, so as long as you don't care what colour they are, there are savings to be made. Prices range from £18-£25.

Innesey period pants review Bought via Amazon in multi-packs Innesey period pants are good value, but I found the fit to be small (I recommend sizing up), and the cut (low-rise) not at all comfortable. The absorbency wasn't great either, nor is the front coverage, but they are ok for those last few days when you're unsure whether it's really finished or not. The ones I bought have been relegated to emergencies only, and I won't repurchase, so at least they'll last. Price £17.99 for 3 pairs.

Cheeky Wipes period pants review

Cheeky Wipes was one of the forerunners I think and I bought early on to see if they were better than Modibodi, as many reviews stated. For me, they're not. I bought a Mid-Rise Lace Top pant, because I think that was the only style at that point or the only one in stock. I prefer a high rise, so for me they're not comfortable. I also found the fabric a little 'rustley'. I also found the fit too tight, so I'd size up. I've tried a couple of times to purchase one of the newer styles, but stock has been an issue. No problems with absorbency though, so if you find the right style, they're probably great. Price £12.49

WUKA period pants review

The last brand I bought was WUKA (stands for 'Wake Up Kick Ass' apparently) and I did so because I was convinced that I could see full front coverage in the picture, but I was wrong. They are however, really comfortable and true to size. I bought the midi brief and they cover my whole tummy. Absorbency is good, no problems there, so I'd certainly re-buy from them. Prices from £21.99-£26.99

And that's all the ones I own. 13 pairs bought in total (over 2 years), 3 now in the bin, 4 on the subs bench, and 6 pairs currently in general circulation.

(*I'm a Hey Girls plant based applicator tampon user, and I love them.)