Period pants or pads?

[Wolfiefan]

I’ve been meaning for a while to trial washable alternative to sanitary towels. Too many disposable ones are scented and they’re awful for the environment.
Any recommendations? I don’t want to spend a fortune on something that doesn’t do the job.
Relevant info? Rather fat size 16 ATM!
Flow can be light but also maybe three days really heavy.
Thanks for any advice.

I trialled the pants and found them a bit grim.

They hold well, but when I go to the toilet I don't want to pull on - what feels like - a cold wet fish against my skin! I'd rather bin the old pad and have a nice fresh, warm, new one.

I thought pads might be the way to go. Means I could change more often as needed. Bleurgh to cold wet fish.

Yeah. If they could do a hybrid, like make the pad out of the pants material so it would be super light, then that might be more doable.

I use the cheeky wipes period pants and they are great, no issues.

Thanks first. I had looked at them. What is the sizing like?

A girl I follow in Instagram trialled Wuka and said they're brilliant. She did a review of them if you want me to I can send you the link to her blog post?

Hello Wolfiefan, I switched to Bloom and Nora reusable pads a while ago. Quite light flow, two heavier days. In the main I use the midi type and have a few maxi and minis too. I find them very easy to use and wish I had switched to them sooner. I'm at home most of the time, so that makes it easier too.

Used the pants, rustle when you walk, smell a bit and as pp mentioned 'wet fish' feeling. I'll stick with the cup!

Yes please Cheesy
Thanks fuzzy. I haven’t heard of them. I don’t work so I’m home a lot too.

I use washable pads. Love them!

Been using them for just over a year now

I use bamboo barn and eco lily. Both have a minky over lay so they are soft and wick away damp quickly.

I used to get really bad pad rash and would need to change it every couple of hours when I had disposables.

With these, I don’t get a rash and I only need to change 2-3 times a day.

Wouldn’t go back now

Dd 13 has only used reusables (her choice - mix of pads I've made and also bought ones including pants). I hope she will transitions to a cup at some point but, for now, she mainly uses pads - pants for sport or extra protection that she thinks she needs.

Here you go @Wolfiefan

lipstickandtrainers.com/womens-health/wuka-period-talk/

She's a marathon runner and claims they're comfy to run in.

Thanks for the info soubriquet.
Cheesy I’m no marathon runner that’s for sure!! 😆

Both my daughters 26 & 15 use the Wuka pants and love them they are expensive to buy initially but have lasted well and work even on really heavy days.

I also use the Cheeky Wipes pants along with their reusable pads on heavy days and no issues! Love the pants for overnight particularly.

With pads, on heavy days you can supplement with labial or interlabial pads - mini pads that are positioned as the name implies! Not well known about but worth trying.

See now I’m torn between pads and pants! The cost is a consideration too. Especially as
I’m old and hoping not to have too many more years of periods.

Honor your flow sell bundles by clothes size. They are really good.

Earthwisegirls.co.uk are also fab. You can select by absorbancy or buy bundles of mixed pads to try.

Some.of their stuff is pad for pad too so they donate one to a girl in india or something

Sarah that sounds great. I like the idea of helping to combat period poverty too.

All of you who say your period pants are great, don't you have a problem with pulling them up after sitting on the loo? When the wetness is against your body it's warm and you don't feel it, but in the winter if you spend long enough on the toilet it's cold and feels really dirty to be putting up back up against your skin. You might tell me it's nice and absorbent but if you touched it with your bare hand wouldn't it get soiled? Or maybe you just use them for light days when you could wear a mini pad all day without changing it?
I can see for a runner it would be good for the run but you'd need a change and a shower as soon as the run is over, or am i way off the mark

I've never experienced that. But I don't spend that long on the loo ever. I'm an efficient pooper doesn't take me much longer than a wee!

I don't recognise the 'cold fish' sensation but I don't have a super heavy flow, just average I think, and perhaps it depends on what kind of pants you are using? The CW ones I use seem plenty absorbent and I don't feel damp or uncomfortable.

I have a mix of Lunapad pads and Modibodi pants, and I am gradually replacing the pads with knickers because I find them much more comfortable and effective. So I'd suggest getting one of each for a trial run and then buying more of whichever suits you, because as the responses here show, different people have very different preferences.

Vote for pants. Cheeky wipes are the ones I use. I've never experienced the fishy smell, in fact disposables smelt worse. The wetness I've experienced when they were full that was after ten hours, wearing the same pair. Great for exerciseing in and great for overnights.

I need a selection box!

For the pads you will need to invest in some more snug underwear to help keep them in place. Bikini bottom style work best with maybe a 5/10 percent lycra content