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Why can't I just find some pants?!?!

164 replies

Knickerbockermisery · 19/08/2026 10:21

After a long, painstaking and expensive search I have finally found some knickers I was happy with. The right type of fabric for my preference, the right style and they fit! don't squish me in on the waist band, don't have my little belly fat sticking out at the bottom. Don't give me a wedgy. And only £22 for a pack of four (Victoria's Secret from Next).

Alas, my joy was short lived. After one day, I am back to the never ending drawing board of finding pants I can wear. All the above reasons stand, they're perfect on paper - BUT - feminine items will not stick to them! Not even a bit. It's so weird. I like to wear a daily pad, just to feel hygienic through the day in case of small leaks (thanks kids), but they will not stick to my new pants at all. OK, I thought, I'll just hold the pad in place in while I pull them up and then they'll just stay there. WRONG. Not only did they not stay there, the otherwise super comfy pants somehow turned the back half of my pad into some sort of bum floss which I was then constantly trying to unwedge. And when I went to the toilet and lowered them, the pad was nowhere to be seen. Oh wait, there it is dropped out onto the floor (thankfully not in the toilet bowl!).

There's absolutely no way I'm chancing that with with a sanitary towel when I get my period.

(btw, I did think maybe after a wash they'd stick better. Made no difference)

So that's another £22 down the toilet (pun intended) and I have to consider the perfect pants just don't exist.

Is it just me that finds buying basic every day pants so bloody hard!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Phineyj · 19/08/2026 18:47

TheBirdintheCave · 19/08/2026 17:24

That’s a great solution. I have some similar ones from Bloom and Nora.

I do too but I wouldn't wear them out of the house as they go wandering!

TiredShadows · 19/08/2026 18:17

I'm thirding the suggestion that if the issue is pads sticking, washable pads with popper buttons that you can adjust to fit your needs may be the better option than trying to find the holy grail of pants. I know I've found it very useful when I was in a similar search for comfortable enough pants.

watchingthishtread · 19/08/2026 17:31

Presumably the gusset fabric is the issue. I wonder if they would work better if worn inside out.

TheBirdintheCave · 19/08/2026 17:24

stichguru · 19/08/2026 17:19

Get yourself some nice washable pads that popper securely round the crotch of your knickers. I use Imse Visme and I get them from The Period Lady.

That’s a great solution. I have some similar ones from Bloom and Nora.

NewKnickers · 19/08/2026 17:24

Idontjetwashthefucker · 19/08/2026 11:27

Ordered these from Amazon recently after trying lots of others, they are perfect

amzn.eu/d/0diASsIo

Sorry to butt in (Scuse the pun 😁) Do these ones have "open" elastic on the legs or is it hidden by material if you see what I mean?

TheBirdintheCave · 19/08/2026 17:23

SunnyRedSnail · 19/08/2026 10:38

M&S high rise shorts with the lace bit at the top. Comfy and look good.

£12 for 5.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/5-pack-cotton-lycra-lace-midi-knickers/p/clp60437473?color=BLACK#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r14c2

Yep! This is all I wear. They actually cover the bum cheeks which you’d think would be easy to find in pants… but alas not 😆

BezelFace · 19/08/2026 17:20

Floatlikeafeather2 · 19/08/2026 11:47

Any M&S knickers I've tried recently have a really narrow gusset which isn't comfortable with any type of pad because the sticky bit is wider and sticks to parts of you it shouldn't be in contact with which can be painful.

I had a shock with my new M&S pants. They weren’t sexy ones, normal bikini ones. But I kept thinking it was the pad’s fault as it kept sticking to my inner thighs. Then I realised it was due to a narrow gusset. How infuriating to cut costs there.

stichguru · 19/08/2026 17:19

Get yourself some nice washable pads that popper securely round the crotch of your knickers. I use Imse Visme and I get them from The Period Lady.

triile · 19/08/2026 17:18

I really like these
https://british-boxers.com/collections/womens-full-briefs

limetrees32 · 19/08/2026 17:12

@Idontjetwashthefucker those Amazon ones look same as the Temu ones posted up thread.

LakieLady · 19/08/2026 17:11

myavocadoisgrowing · 19/08/2026 10:35

Asda or Sainsbury’s. Only ones I’ll buy now. They are Bridget Jones knickers but I don’t give a stuff and I have told DH if he wants me to wear attractive sexy knickers he has to too.

comfort is all now.

I agree! Sainsburys cotton high leg knickers are really comfy, don't creep up your crack and are cheap as chips.

ToffeePennie · 19/08/2026 17:02

I have taken to M&S heavy duty period knickers. Pack of 2 for £12 and there’s a decent gusset on them that doesn’t shred within a week of wear. Decent elastic and period products stick well to them (and I have the added bonus that they don’t leak even with my periods!)
Theyre also huge and cover my whole arse, don’t give me a wedgie and aren’t lacy and therefore not super itchy. They have enough elastic to hold them and actually I’ve been wearing them for 4 years now and have only very recently had to buy new because my old ones were looking a bit alarming to take on holiday.
Ok they only come in grey and blue. But they’re the absolute dream in my eyes.

SeraphinaRainbird · 19/08/2026 16:59

Have you tried Sloggi ?

Ophy83 · 19/08/2026 16:51

Instead of changing the knickers you could try changing the liners - if you get some washable cotton liners that button up under your knickers rather than stick to them like the disposable sort those might work with the comfy knickers.

Faceonthewrongfoot · 19/08/2026 16:43

I live in these - https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145717854 - so comfy, liners stick to them just fine. They do have a bit of lace, but I'm fairly certain they do a non-lace equivalent..

Allseeingallknowing · 19/08/2026 15:55

3luckystars · 19/08/2026 15:41

Wirarpa!!!!!!! Best ever.

I agree, but had the same problem as the OP, pads slid off and one DID land in the toilet! However, after a few washes they are ok now.

Globules · 19/08/2026 15:49

SabbatWheel · 19/08/2026 10:43

Seriously, the most comfortable knickers I have ever worn are these Mei Yating knickers from Temu of all places. They have a cotton gusset. Different colours and pack sizes available.

https://share.temu.com/o38QP3uDZMB

Another vote from me.

I added these pants to make up a Temu order a few months back, and have been raving about them ever since!

3luckystars · 19/08/2026 15:41

Wirarpa!!!!!!! Best ever.

Shinyhappyapple · 19/08/2026 15:21

Ponoka7 · 19/08/2026 10:27

It's a strange material a lot of suppliers are using. Also a lot of tights/leggings are shiny. I've given up and gone over to Asda cotton knickers.

I was going to recommend Asda. They have a small amount of Lycra in.

Madporpoise · 19/08/2026 15:15

Have you tried reusable sanitary pads? They aren’t sticky but instead come with poppers. It might be easier to switch to them than find another holy grail of pants! 😅

TrojanDonkey · 19/08/2026 14:58

I wear Oddballs women’s boxers.

user293948849167 · 19/08/2026 14:58

I like Boody full briefs, expensive but so worth it. They are so soft too. They might suit as they are bamboo so slightly silkier feel than cotton