We Tried 5 Period Undies to See Which Ones Are Actually Worth Investing In

We Tried 5 Period Undies to See Which Ones Are Actually Worth Investing In
Contributor: Lifehacker Australia
At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Whether you’re someone who has a period or not, you’ve likely heard of period undies. Understandably, you probably have a million different questions like ‘how do they work‘ and ‘are they really better for the environment?’

If you’ve been curious to give them a try yourself but want to be armed with all the information first, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we explain everything you need to know about period underwear — including where to buy the best pairs.

What are period undies, and how do they work?

Put simply, period undies are reusable, leak-proof underwear, which replaces the need for single-use products like pads and tampons. Layers of material within the underwear work to wick moisture and absorb fluid into their protective lining.

Most brands have a bunch of absorbency levels depending stage of the cycle you’re in. Beloved Aussie period underwear brands Modibodi and Bonds have a range of products starting at super light and going all the way to a heavy and maxi-24 hour, so you’re quite literally covered for every stage.

How long you wear them is up to personal preference. You could wear them for a full day or change them after a few hours — whatever feels right for you.

When it comes to washing your period undies, the care instructions are super straightforward as well. First, rinse them in cold water, then throw them in the washing machine on a cold wash cycle and hang them out to dry! It’s as simple as that.

How do they differ from regular underwear?

Despite their magical qualities, period undies look and feel like regular underwear, and you’ll barely notice the difference while wearing a pair. Besides holding a pair and feeling the crotch, there’s no way to tell period undies and regular undies apart.

In fact, many brands have taken extra special care to ensure their underwear isn’t just effective but also fun. With a range of different styles and fun colours, it’s levelling up your underwear game in a whole new way.

period undies

Are period undies better for the environment?

According to Kristy Chong, founder of Modibodi, people are shocked to learn that the average woman will use 11,000 disposable feminine hygiene products in her lifetime.

“The energy and water of the raw materials, plus production and carbon emissions used in shipping these products, are unacceptable. At Modibodi, we put sustainability first, and so do our customers, and we thank them for choosing to reuse,” she said.

Alice Forrest, a passionate conservationist and biologist, explained just how detrimental the impact of single-use period products are. “Many pads and tampons are often made of plastic and are not biodegradable, which means they can’t be broken down in our environment like natural products. Usually, they end up in landfills, where they may outlive our grandchildren’s grandchildren. Every pad we’ve ever used is still in existence. In fact, the first pad any woman ever used is still in existence.”

Many of us adopt an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality when it comes to period products. Once we throw them away and we can’t see them, they’re not doing any damage, right? Wrong. It’s not just our individual impact we need to worry about either. It’s the collective impact of people worldwide contributing to the same problem. Imagine the difference we’d make if everyone switched to reusable, sustainable solutions like period undies.

“As women, we have an awesome opportunity to reduce this waste, to make a simple switch and create a healthier planet for ourselves and for future generations,” Alice said.

Where do I start?

If you’re feeling more informed and ready to make the switch, we’re right there with you. Try small at first and ease into it. Grab a light-absorbency pair for your lighter days and see how it goes for you. Once you’ve built up some confidence, you can experiment further.

Making the switch to period undies is just a little thing we can all do to play our part. So let’s make a commitment to lean into the movement and feel better about the choices we’re making.

So, where should you start? We asked three uterus-havers about their favourite period undies brands, so you can make the most informed decision before you fork out your cold hard cash…

Here are the front runners:

Bella — Boody Classic Bikini

I feel like I’m a late convert to the period undies movement, but I’ve embraced it with open arms. I’ve tried a couple of different brands now, but the one that stood out to me the most was this one made by Boody. These babies are made from bamboo, which is a natural fibre that’s very breathable and super comfy. I do think that a lot of women never address the smell that can come from wearing a pair of period undies all day, but I’m pleased to report bamboo fibre does a great job at minimising odours.

  • Leak-proof: 5/5
  • Comfort: 6/5
  • Design: 5/5
  • Overall performance: 5/5

Where to buy: Boody ($22.95)

Tiff — AWWA Tencel Period Boxer Briefs

I hate wearing bunchy pads to bed because a) they’re not comfortable, and b) I swear when I wake up, they’ve moved to an entirely different spot, which means half my undies and white sheets are stained red. That’s why I decided to give period undies a crack in the last few months, and I’ve been really enjoying using these period boxer briefs as a good reusable alternative (especially since I can’t hack a period cup). They feel so soft on – almost like a second skin — and don’t leak because the spongy insert goes right up the back of the briefs to collect any blood that might try to make an escape as you switch positions throughout the night.

  • Leak-proof: 5/5
  • Comfort: 5/5
  • Design: 4/5
  • Overall performance: 5/5

Where to buy: AWWA ($39)

Jas – ModiBodi Period Undies

period undies

I like the Modibodi Classic bikini. It feels like I’m just wearing regular undies, and I don’t have to think about changing a pad or tampon throughout the day! It’s reduced my plastic waste so much around the time of my period. I just wash them out at the end of the day and pop them in the washing machine with other dark clothes! So handy and comfortable. On the days when I have a heavier flow, I may alternate with a pad or tampon when I leave the house, but if it’s a WFH day, I feel comfortable wearing them for a few hours. They have heaps of different cuts as well!

  • Leak-proof: 5/5
  • Comfort: 5/5
  • Design: 3/5
  • Overall performance: 4/5

Where to buy: ModiBodi ($24.50), Amazon ($24.50)

Hannah – Bonds Period Undies

Bonds Bloody Comfy period undies have totally transformed my monthly bleed. Making the switch from wearing bulky, nappy-esque nighttime pads to sleeping sound in the heavy bleed briefs has been a game-changer for both my comfort and convenience. Plus, swapping out bunchy pads for reusable undies has also allowed me to align my period care with my efforts to be more sustainable in my day-to-day activities. It’s a win-win!

  • Leak-proof: 5/5
  • Comfort: 5/5
  • Design: 5/5
  • Overall performance: 4/5

Where to buy: Amazon ($25), The ICONIC ($29.95), Bonds ($29.99)

Save on a life-changing pair of period undies by grabbing a Bonds promo code before you go to checkout. 

Maggie – Scarlet Period Undies

period undies

Scarlet takes the cake for the coolest period underwear brand, in my opinion. With sleek branding and design, the Australian-based brand creates period underwear that seamlessly fits in with the rest of your underwear drawer. My personal favourite is its G-string — it’s ultra cute and comfy, perfect for lighter days.

  • Leak-proof: 5/5
  • Comfort: 5/5
  • Design: 5/5
  • Overall performance: 5/5

Where to buy: Scarlet Period ($32)


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.

At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Comments


Leave a Reply