The Thinx pair is one of the chicest and most comfortable pairs we’ve tested (the style is, as one tester put it, “a period-sex-worthy panty”). These period panties are also among the most leakproof.
The Best Period Underwear
Customers who bought a pair of Thinx period underwear between November 12, 2016, and November 28, 2022, may be eligible for compensation from a class-action settlement pertaining to the company’s marketing. Here’s what to know.
Reliable and comfortable period underwear (which is specifically designed to absorb menstrual fluid) can improve your period experience. And many styles are now as chic as they are effective. However, some menstrual-underwear styles are gorgeous but leaky, and others have Hoover Dam–level security but diaper-like silhouettes. The style that will be best for you depends on your period flow and preferences. Over four years, we’ve tried more than 40 styles of period underwear in a variety of sizes and cuts from 20 brands, and we now recommend eight styles from seven brands.
How we picked and tested
Leak prevention
We looked for period underwear that offers full coverage with multiple layers of absorbent (or leak-containing) fabrics.
Several size options
The best period underwear fits every body.
Wash- and wearability
We laundered period underwear according to the manufacturers’ instructions, monitoring how washing affected the garments over time.
Comfort (and style)
Period underwear worth the investment is as chic and comfortable as it is effective. We’ve tried more than 40 styles.
The research
- Stylish and secure: Thinx Hi-Waist
- Our favorite boxer briefs: Aisle Boost Boxer
- Beloved budget briefs: Bambody High Waist Panty
- Silky, plastic-liner-free panties: Dear Kate Ada Full Brief
- Dependable (and diaper-like): Modibodi Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini
- The best side-opening pair: Trendix Hooked On You
- Inexpensive, sleek briefs: Goat Union Overnight Briefs
- Best budget “boy short”: Goat Union Overnight Shorts
- Why you should trust us
- Who this is for
- How we picked and tested
- Is period underwear safe?
- Thinx class-action settlement: What to know
- The competition
- Sources
Stylish and secure: Thinx Hi-Waist
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Customers who bought a pair of Thinx period underwear between November 12, 2016, and November 28, 2022, may be eligible for compensation from a class-action settlement pertaining to the company’s marketing. Here’s what to know.
Our pick
Thinx Hi-Waist
Sleek yet dependable
This high-waisted period panty is flattering, forgiving, and nearly foolproof.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40 .
Why they’re great: The retro-style Thinx Hi-Waist period panties are a bloat-friendly statement, worthy of both Fashion Week and Leak Week. This pair features a highly absorbent opaque middle panel flanked by breathable mesh panels, which put the “fun” in functionality.
The Thinx pair is one of the chicest and most comfortable pairs we’ve tested (the style is, as one tester put it, “a period-sex-worthy panty”). These period panties are also among the most leakproof.
When devoid of blood, the Thinx panties feel almost like wearing regular underwear. When full, the Thinx pair feels heavier, but not soggy, and the gusset does not become puffy like on some other pairs we tested. This underwear is fairly pricey, at $35 a pair, but it’s also high-quality and long-lasting: Over two years, one of our testers ran this pair through the dryer on high heat at least 50 times after washing in cold water. And when this pair was placed next to a brand-new pair, the washed pair still looked almost new, with no color fading or snags in the mesh and very few frays to the gusset.
All Thinx underwear is Oeko-Tex–certified, meaning it has been found to be free of “harmful substances,” per the Switzerland-based independent research organization.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Thinx panties have long been a pick in this guide. Previously, our chief complaint was that they tended to run small. Up through June 2021, when the company released expanded sizing, our testers who ordered a size up were happiest with their fits.
After trying the new sizing, we recommend that you order true to your waist size to get a comfortable and secure fit, but we’ll continue to evaluate and update as necessary.
Price per pair: $35 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XXS (from 33-inch hip) to 4XL (up to 59-inch hip)
Fit: mostly true to size (as of June 2021)
Options: three colors at the time of publication (dusk, fig, and black); also available in a 20%-more-absorbent version (slightly more bulky but still supple)
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle, no softener or bleach; hang to dry. Do not iron.
Return policy: Thinx underwear can be returned within 60 days of purchase.
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to four tampons
Gusset materials: PUL (polyurethane laminate) fabric, cotton, elastane
Our favorite boxer briefs: Aisle Boost Boxer
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Aisle Boost Boxer
Ultra-comfortable, with an option to boost absorbency
These boxer briefs are worth the splurge: They’re the best of all the shorts styles we’ve tried.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $46 .
Why they’re great: The Aisle Boost Boxer is ridiculously comfortable, so much so that many testers confess to wearing their pair even when not on their periods. These boxer briefs are also extremely absorbent: They’re one of the few pairs we’ve tested that no one leaked through—even our self-proclaimed “volcano flow” tester. They are designed to look like traditional non-menstrual boxer briefs, with a wide elastic waistband and body-hugging legs. However, unlike traditional boxer briefs, these can hold a ton of menstrual fluid, especially when paired with the reusable absorbent liner (included) tucked into the gusset. Even without the liner added, this style’s gusset has generous absorbency coverage that extends from under the belly button almost to the lower back. And in our experience, these boxer briefs far exceed their “two tampon” absorbency rating in real-world testing.
At about $48 a pair at this writing, the Aisle Boost Boxer is tied with Dear Kate Ada Full Briefs for being the second-most-expensive among our recommendations. However, Aisle is the only brand we tested that says its period underwear can be machine-dried. One tester, who washed and dried the Aisle Boxer Brief on high heat more than 30 times, found that even though the Aisle pair’s color faded with time, its performance did not.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: When full, the Aisle Boost Boxer can feel heavy and soggy (especially after wearing overnight). Still, in our experience, this pair did not leak.
The reusable liner included with Aisle underwear is easy to lose (extras are $5 each), and it takes a few tries (and carefully reading the instructions) to insert the liner correctly (you need to tuck the ends into the gusset slits). The liner can also be a plumbing hazard: More than once, one of our testers had to fish their booster out of the toilet bowl. Another tester reported that the liner slipped around, occasionally giving them a mini-wedgie; they therefore found it to be more of a burden than a boost.
Aisle period underwear comes with a reusable liner you can slide into the gusset for additional absorbency. We did find that it can slide around somewhat. Video: Sarah Kobos
Price per pair: $48 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XXS (from 33-inch hip) to 5XL (up to 62-inch hip)
Fit: runs slightly large, in our experience
Options: three colors at the time of publication (black, goldenrod, and green)
Care instructions: Rinse in cool water; then machine-wash and -dry with like colors.
Return policy: New customers can use one pair of period underwear for up to 60 days and still be eligible for a refund. Existing customers can return unworn and unwashed pairs for 60 days.
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to four tampons with booster, two tampons without
Gusset materials: TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) laminate, recycled polyester, organic cotton, polyester
Beloved budget briefs: Bambody High Waist Panty
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Bambody High Waist Panty
A basic option for stocking up
This no-frills period underwear costs a fraction of the price of most of our picks, but it is just as effective.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $0 .
Why they’re great: If you’re okay with buying something that will start to look a little raggedy after about 15 washes, the Bambody High Waist Panty is a highly effective and very comfortable budget period-underwear option. We found that this style absorbs fluid just as well as many of our pricier picks. Made of soft and stretchy spandex-infused bamboo fabric, the Bambody High Waist was also one of the most comfortable pairs of panties we tried—and it’s the one many of us reached for most often on our more-bloated days.
Overall, this underwear feels like you’re wearing slightly thicker-than-average regular panties. One of our testers is still pleased with their initial pairs after three years and machine-washing them over 100 times, as well as always drying them on high heat (even though the care instructions specify to hang-dry).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The gusset’s absorbent core does “puff up” in the crotch when full, and this underwear does get a little soggy—but no more so than our other picks with visibly absorbent gussets.
This style shows wear more quickly than our other picks, fading or becoming discolored sooner. That said, the Bambody underwear costs about a third of what our other picks do. The discoloration does not hamper effectiveness.
Unlike those of our other picks, Bambody’s liner does not go all the way up to the front waistband (the absorbent core stops just north of the front of the gusset). So stomach-sleepers and those who tend to “pool” menstrual fluid at the front of a pad or pair of underwear should probably consider other options.
In our experience, Bambody pairs run small, and they shrink in the wash even more. Although some Bambody styles go up to a 6XL, the hip measurement for the 4XL is around the same as for Thinx’s 2XL (up to 49½ inches—nearly 5 inches smaller than the upper limit of Aisle’s 3X hip size).
Price per pair: starting at $10 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: partial (not quite front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XXS (from 31.5-inch hip) to 6XL (up to 56.5-inch hip)
Fit: tends to runs small, in our experience
Options: eight colors (black, dark blue, violet, light blue, white, cream, turquoise, pink) and Maasai print
Care instructions: Rinse, then machine-wash in warm water; hang to dry.
Return policy: Bought through Amazon, Bambody undies can be returned for free within 30 days.
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to two tampons
Gusset materials: PUL (polyurethane laminate) bamboo, nylon, polyester
Silky, plastic-liner-free panties: Dear Kate Ada Full Brief
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Dear Kate Ada Full Brief
Feels like regular underwear
Dear Kate underwear’s lack of a plasticky waterproof gusset lining (unique to this pair) makes them feel super-soft but also less secure.
Buying Options
Why they’re great: For those who don’t want plastic liner in their period panties, or who want a pair that’s less conspicuously “period underwear” and are comfortable with a higher probability of breakthrough leaking, we recommend the Dear Kate Ada Full Brief. This soft, silky, stretchy panty feels very much like “regular” underwear.
Because Dear Kate employs multiple layers of absorbent fabric (instead of a plasticky waterproof lining) in the gusset to prevent leaks, this pair doesn’t feel crinkly or rigid in the crotch, as some other period underwear does. Nor does the Ada Full Brief gusset become puffy or soggy when full.
We found that Dear Kate period underwear held up well after dozens of washes, and it maintained vivid hues with very little fabric pilling.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Unlike most of our other picks, whose absorbency seemed to be higher than suggested by company estimates, we’ve found it imperative to stick to Dear Kate’s “up to two regular tampons” rating to avoid leaks. Among our picks, these panties have the greatest tendency to shift around during wear, making them feel less secure overall.
At $46 per pair, these panties rank among the most expensive underwear we recommend. But we think they’re the best of their kind available.
We’ve noticed some stock issues for Dear Kate panties that the company attributed to increased demand. We consider this a flaw—but not a dealbreaker.
Dear Kate panties tend to run small, especially the leg holes. However, they do not shrink after washing, in our experience. We’ve found that ordering up a size for comfort does not affect absorption.
Price per pair: $46 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband, though there is no leak-proof plastic layer)
Sizes: XS (from 32-inch hip) to 3XL (up to 58-inch hip)
Fit: tends to run slightly small, in our experience
Options: five colors (black, beige, watermelon, green, and blue)
Care instructions: Machine-wash in cold water (no fabric softeners); hang to dry.
Return policy: Unworn Dear Kate panties can be returned within 30 days (exchanges are free, but you have to pay return shipping for refunds).
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to “up to two regular tampons”
Gusset materials: micropolyester, elastane
Dependable (and diaper-like): Modibodi Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Modibodi Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini
Ultra-absorbent for heavier flows
With a bulky yet effective merino-wool-based lining, this panty lives up to its astonishing promise of preventing leaks for up to 24 hours.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $33 .
Why they’re great: Aesthetically, Modibodi’s Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini is the antithesis of sensual. But that’s the only part of this bulky bikini’s name that is a misnomer—it miraculously lives up to its promise of leak-free wear for up to 24 hours, one intrepid tester found (on three separate occasions).
The Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini’s enormous lining is unique among any other period panties we tested because it contains a substantial amount of merino wool, which makes this panty extremely puffy. It’s the most diaper-like of any of our picks. Although its sizable silhouette may be off-putting at first (this is probably not the pair you want to wear under leggings, for example), the Modibodi panty more than makes up for its frumpy form with its phenomenal functionality.
Unlike other Modibodi styles we tried (all of which leaked and/or were uncomfortable), the Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini washes well, with very little fabric pilling. However, one tester experienced fading after 10 washes, especially in the gusset. This panty doesn’t shrink in the wash, and it is also the only one we recommend that seems to run true to size.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: When full of blood, this underwear puffs up like a wet diaper.
One of our testers, who is vegan, was unpleasantly surprised to learn that an animal product was used in these panties. Though this information is included on the product page, you have to click the fabric drop-down menu to access the materials. Modibodi does make vegan period underwear, but we haven’t tested it (and, in our experience, the brand’s underwear that does not have waistband-to-waistband absorbent panel coverage tends to leak).
The Modibodi Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini (left) is puffier than all of our other picks, including the Thinx Hi-Waist (right). Photo: Sarah Kobos
Price per pair: $35 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XS (from 35-inch hip) to 6XL (up to 58-inch hip)
Fit: true to size
Options: three colors at the time of publication (black, gray, and beige)
Care instructions: Rinse, then machine-wash in cold water, avoiding fabric softeners or stain removers; hang to dry.
Return policy: New Modibodi customers can use one pair of period underwear for 60 days and still be eligible for a refund or credit, minus shipping. Existing Modibodi customers can return unworn and unwashed pairs for 30 days.
Claimed absorbency: 10 tampons or 24 hours of bleeding, whichever comes first
Gusset materials: merino wool, polyester, polyamide
The best side-opening pair: Trendix Hooked On You
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Trendix Hooked On You
Easier on and off
This adaptive panty is the best-fitting and most secure side-opening option we’ve found. It’s ideal for people who find it difficult or prefer not to pull their underwear up and down.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40 .
Why they’re great: The Trendix Hooked On You menstrual panty is the best in terms of security and absorbency of the three side-opening styles of menstrual panties we tested, including ones from Modibodi and Period Co. People who can’t or prefer not to pull their menstrual panties up and down (like when changing underwear while wearing pants or tights, for example) are likely to appreciate this beautifully designed panty.
The panty itself has the widest and longest absorbency panel of any of the side-opening underwear we tested (absorbent from waistband to waistband). And this pair’s hook-and-eye latches are extremely secure and impossible to open without effort (unlike the Velcro fasteners on the side-opening Period Co. pair, which busted open within minutes of putting them on).
When devoid of blood, the Trendix Hooked On You panty feels like a swimsuit bottom (it looks like one, too). When full, this pair feels slightly heavy but not soggy; the gusset does not get puffy when saturated.
Trendix’s Hooked On You panty opens with bra-like clasps at both hips. Video: Sarah Kobos
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This panty is not nearly as comfortable as our other picks, due to hardware at the side openings that can dig into your skin. This slight discomfort, however, is a reasonable trade-off for security, since this pair won’t fall down unexpectedly (which is good news for people who need or want to wear underwear they don’t have to pull up and down).
Trendix panties tend to run very small, and ordering up a size—or perhaps two—may help with the side-hardware discomfort. A representative for the company told us Trendix is working to increase size options.
The Trendix underwear we tested ran very small, hip-measurement-wise. Here we show a size L of the Trendix Hooked On You Pair (black) compared with a size L of the Bambody High Waist Panty (pink), which we found also tended to run small. Be sure to check the size chart (and consider sizing up). Photo: Sarah Kobos
At $50 a pair, Trendix underwear costs two to four times more than other side-opening menstrual panties. But the higher price is reflected in the underwear’s superior craftsmanship, absorbency, and security.
Also, the style is not as flattering as that of our other picks, with multiple testers calling it a “muffin top magnet” under clothes.
People with dexterity challenges may find the hook-and-eye mechanism difficult to manage.
Price per pair: $50 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XS (from 31-inch hip) to 3XL (up to 45-inch hip)
Fit: tends to run very small, in our experience
Options: none
Care instructions: Machine-wash cold; hang to dry.
Return policy: New customers can use one pair of period underwear and still be eligible for a refund within 30 days of the order date. (Trendix does not accept returns on more than one used pair.)
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to six tampons
Gusset materials: PUL (polyurethane laminate) polyester, cotton, spandex
Inexpensive, sleek briefs: Goat Union Overnight Briefs
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Goat Union Overnight Briefs
A lower-cost Thinx alternative
These streamlined high-waisted briefs are a budget-friendly option for day or night (the “overnight” in the name refers to this pair’s claimed absorbency rating).
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $0 .
Why they’re great: Goat Union’s Overnight Briefs look and feel like a hybrid of our gorgeous Thinx pick and our Bambody budget pick. This underwear fits and performs well, is impressively comfortable, and costs just $17 per pair at the time of publication.
The Overnight Briefs are made from a soft bamboo fabric similar to that of the less-expensive Bambody High Waist Panty. But the Overnights have a wider and longer absorbent panel that reaches all the way to the brief’s Thinx-esque mesh waistband decoration.
This underwear can hold quite a lot of menstrual fluid, in our experience. And though its gusset is slightly puffy by design, it does not expand much more when full (though, like most period underwear, this pair does get a little heavy).
In our few months of testing it, the panty has performed well after 10 washes and wears, with no fading or rips to the mesh.
Goat Union underwear is Oeko-Tex–certified.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Goat Union is a new brand, so we cannot speak to the company’s or the panty’s longevity. We’ll continue to test this pick and report our findings.
Goat Union underwear runs slightly small, but we have found that ordering up a size worked well for most testers.
Price per pair: $17 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XS (from 33-inch hip) to 3XL (up to 53-inch hip)
Fit: tends to run small, in our experience
Options: none
Care instructions: Machine-wash cold on gentle cycle; hang to dry. Avoid the dryer, bleach, and fabric softener.
Return policy: Bought through Amazon, Goat Union undies can be returned for free within 30 days.
Claimed absorbency: equivalent to three tampons
Gusset materials: TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), polyester, nylon, cotton, spandex
Best budget “boy short”: Goat Union Overnight Shorts
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Photo: Sarah Kobos
Our pick
Goat Union Overnight Shorts
Somewhat bulky, great for sleeping
These shorts are bulkier than most, but they’re also highly absorptive and look like traditional black bike shorts.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $0 .
Why they’re great: Like our pick from Modibodi, Goat Union Overnight Shorts can soak up a ton of menstrual fluid. Unlike the Modibodi pair, however, this “boy shorts” style somehow mitigates the puffy silhouette caused by its extremely wide, long, and thick absorbent panel. Though these shorts feel bulky, visually they look just like regular black bike shorts both on and off the body.
At $27, these are one of the least expensive shorts-style period panties. And they are the second-most-comfortable legged style we tried (the first being our Aisle pick, which is nearly twice the price). They’re made from a bamboo fabric similar to that of our beloved budget pick, and they feel smooth, soft, and stretchy all over. These shorts have performed well after 10 washes and wears, with no rips or fading thus far.
Goat Union underwear is Oeko-Tex–certified.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: We’re continuing to long-term test this style from new brand Goat Union and will continue to report our findings.
These shorts are way too thick and bulky to wear under leggings or a rear-hugging dress. Like our Modibodi pick, this Goat Union pair is best worn under very loose, flowy clothing.
These shorts do get heavy, puffy, and soggy when full of blood, but discreetly so—they look like classic black bike shorts, even when full.
We found that the entire Goat Union line runs slightly small, but ordering up a size has worked well for most testers.
Price per pair: $27 at the time of publication
Absorbent coverage: full (front waistband to rear waistband)
Sizes: XS (from 33-inch hip) to 3XL (up to 53-inch hip)
Fit: tends to run small, in our experience
Options: none
Care instructions: Machine-wash cold on gentle cycle; hang to dry. Avoid the dryer, bleach, and fabric softener.
Return policy: Bought through Amazon, Goat Union undies can be returned for free within 30 days.
Claimed absorbency: three tampons
Gusset materials: TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), polyester, nylon, cotton, spandex
Why you should trust us
We consulted two experts who know a lot about periods and absorbent hygiene, respectively: San Francisco–based obstetrician-gynecologist Jen Gunter, MD, who used to write a column for The New York Times called The Cycle; and Mandy Fader, RN, PhD, a professor of continence technology at the University of Southampton in the UK. We also spoke with Rolf Halden, director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering at Arizona State University. And we spoke with University of Notre Dame nuclear physicist Graham Peaslee—whose lab tested period underwear sent in by a columnist for the Sierra Club magazine—about chemicals found in treated garments, including some period underwear.
Nancy Redd, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer for health, for years cycled in and out of the menstrual industry: as a spokesperson for the tampon brand UbyKotex; as the New York Times best-selling author of a photographic puberty book called Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers; and as a world-traveling speaker championing the eradication of vaginal shame.
Who this is for
Though period underwear can hold more than a tampon’s worth of fluid, if you’ve never free-bled into underwear, it may take some getting used to. Some people prefer to use period underwear as a backup method of leak control, rather than as a first line of defense in managing menstrual flow. If you find yourself experiencing or worrying about leaks during your period, or if you’re anticipating the start of your menstrual cycle but you’re not sure of the exact date, a pair of absorbent undies can provide peace of mind and will be more comfortable to wear than most pads or panty liners.
If you dislike pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup, period underwear may be right for you as a primary collection method. But because period underwear is roughly $15 to $50 a pair—and since most people would need to use two to four pairs per day—using just period underwear could get expensive (if you want to avoid having to do laundry every day of your period). And it could mean having to carry bloody underwear around with you. In 2019, menstrual products such as pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and period underwear, were reclassified as qualified medical expenses, meaning that you can now use health care flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) funds to buy them.
The Best Tampons
Most tampons are the same, but some stand out. Tampax Pearl and Pure are our favorites with applicators; O.B. Pro Comfort and Organic are the best without.
The Best Menstrual Cup
After trying 33 menstrual cups, we’ve found that the Cora is the best choice for most first-timers. Size and fit can vary widely, so we have multiple picks.
How we picked and tested
Photo: Sarah Kobos
There are more than three-dozen period underwear brands (r/PeriodUnderwear has a growing Google Sheets document highlighting most of the main players). First, we eliminated any brands or retailers that do not offer free returns (in case of poor fit or quality). We focused on absorbent underwear, specifically: no leggings or swimwear or yoga pants, for now.
From there, we considered period-underwear styles based on the following criteria:
- Leak prevention: We focused only on period underwear designed to collect (and contain) menstrual fluid, rather than just hold a menstrual pad in place. We also focused on styles with higher units of absorbance and larger absorptive panel coverage areas, generally finding styles with at least “above mons to top of buttocks” coverage to be most secure, especially while sleeping.
- Wide range of sizes: We chose brands that offer underwear in sizes XXS through 6XL, favoring brands that offer a wide size range for all their styles. Sizing varies significantly from brand to brand, and even within lines, so we used waist and hip measurements in order to compare selected styles.
- Availability: We considered underwear only from companies that had most of their offerings in stock at the time of testing.
Including the author of this guide, a total of nine testers (who wear sizes ranging from XS through 3XL) tried multiple styles of period underwear from a variety of different brands. All testers wore and laundered their pairs multiple times to evaluate comfort, fit, absorbency, and overall garment quality.
Is period underwear safe?
In short, yes. Or, period underwear is as safe as most other things we place against our skin. Despite a January 2020 report raising alarm about potentially harmful chemicals in pairs of Thinx, experts we consulted regarding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in treated garments—including the researcher whose lab identified these molecules in samples sent in by a columnist for the Sierra Club magazine—said that concerns about such substances in period underwear are largely overblown.
Almost every fabric that is designed to be water-, stain-, or wrinkle-resistant contains PFAS. And these substances aren’t just in clothing: “These chemicals are in everything from drinking water to dental floss,” said Rolf Halden, PhD, who runs Arizona State University’s Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering. “It’s virtually impossible to escape them,” agreed Graham Peaslee, PhD, whose team found PFAS in pairs of Thinx underwear that a columnist had sent in. (The results of this testing haven’t been independently verified.)
In an emailed statement, Thinx CEO Maria Molland said that “if any unregulated PFAS chemicals are ever found in our products, we will move swiftly to remove them.” The company provided Wirecutter with—and has since posted online—copies of third-party safety testing it has commissioned. (The results of this testing, too, haven’t been independently verified.) “Thinx tested for what they were told to test for, which was the list of European-regulated PFAS,” Peaslee explained. “The short-chain PFAS [we] found in the panties are not yet regulated in Europe and so were not on the testing list.”
The experts we talked with suggested that PFAS in period underwear pose less of a personal threat compared with PFAS found in food wrappers and drinking water, which may be ingested. Obstetrician-gynecologist Jen Gunter told us she’s “not concerned about the chemicals in underwear you wear a few times a month.” Singling out period underwear, she said, isn’t entirely fair—even given its proximity to genitalia. “Yoga pants, for example, are worn by millions more women on a near-daily basis. If we’re going to look at dermal absorption, something like yoga pants, which are made from similar materials as menstrual underwear, would be a better bet to scrutinize.”
Thinx class-action settlement: What to know
As part of a class-action settlement pertaining to Thinx marketing, customers who purchased any of several styles of the brand’s underwear between November 12, 2016, and November 28, 2022—including the Hi-Waist style we recommend—may be entitled to compensation.
The plaintiffs allege that Thinx misrepresented its period underwear as a “safe, healthy and sustainable choice for women, and that it is free of harmful chemicals,” whereas independent lab testing found that samples of the company’s garments contained, among other things, polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and silver and copper nanoparticles (components of the antimicrobial treatment Agion). PFAS and nanoparticles are found in many products, including textiles such as athletic apparel. Thinx denies all allegations made in the suit and says that “PFAS have never been a part of its product design.” In addition to issuing compensation, Thinx agreed in the settlement to “take measures to help ensure” that PFAS are not intentionally added to its products, to disclose its use of antimicrobial treatments, and to not “refer to the anti-microbial components of Agion as ‘non-migratory,’” as the company previously had on its website.
If you bought Thinx period underwear during the specified time period, you have through April 12, 2023, to choose to submit a claim, exclude yourself from the settlement class, or object to the settlement. (After that date, if you’ve done nothing, you are unable to receive payment or vouchers and are automatically bound to the terms of the settlement.)
Thinx is offering up to $7 per pair—for up to three pairs—of underwear purchased, provided proof of purchase. Customers who do not have a valid receipt may file a claim to request up to $3.50 per pair, for up to three pairs. At most, folks who receive any cash payment as part of the settlement agreement would get $21—which is not enough to buy a single replacement pair of regular-price original Thinx, nor more than one pair of any other brand and style of period underwear we recommend in this guide. Instead of cash, customers who file a claim can opt to receive a discount voucher (“35% off total purchases of up to $150 of Eligible Voucher Products in a single purchase transaction on the Thinx website”), worth a maximum discount of $52.50 and to be used within six months of issue; the eligible products include period underwear. Customers who file a claim for cash or a voucher become bound by the settlement.
Customers who exclude themselves from the settlement class will not receive payment and will not become bound by the settlement, meaning they retain the right “to bring any other claim against Thinx released by the settlement.”
Is Thinx period underwear safe to wear?
PFAS are virtually unavoidable in everyday life. The detection of PFAS in period underwear does not in and of itself mean the garments are unsafe. “I’m all for people saying ‘I want to buy PFAS-free products because I don’t want to contribute to the contamination of our environment,’” said obstetrician-gynecologist Jen Gunter, “but we don’t have data to support throwing out your period underwear because you’re afraid of PFAS snaking up your vagina and into your body.”
Graham Peaslee, the University of Notre Dame professor whose lab identified PFAS in Thinx underwear sent in by a Sierra Club magazine columnist in 2020, agreed. “Simply put, if you’ve already washed your period underwear a few times, you’ve probably washed the PFAS out, and now they’re poisoning everything downstream instead of you,” he said.
The competition
The various styles available from a single period-underwear brand are not created equal. Most of the brands we tested have dozens of styles that feature wildly differing absorption levels and materials.
We tried numerous other styles from Thinx, Aisle, Dear Kate, Bambody, and Modibodi, and we found that no other underwear from these companies could compare with our picks in terms of combining security with style. We will continue to test new options from all of our picks to see if they can compete with our choices.
The Thinx for All Super Absorbency High-Waist Brief fits true to size and is made of a comfortable cotton-elastane blend. However, unlike the sleek Thinx Hi-Waist pair we recommend, this pair has far less absorbent coverage. And the Super Absorbency High-Waist Brief’s gusset is far thicker, even when fully dry. (It’s not quite as padded-feeling as the gusset on the Modibodi Sensual 24-Hour Hi-Waist Bikini we recommend, though the Modibodi offers more coverage overall.) Compared with most Thinx styles, Thinx for All period underwear is less expensive. But we think that the Bambody High Waist Panty is a better budget option. People who prefer the feeling that a padded lining offers will likely prefer the Modibodi pair we recommend.
Lilova’s Second Skin High Waist period underwear look almost like a dupe for Thinx Hi-Waist, and are just as chic and comfortable. However, the absorbent lining in the Lilova pair offers far less coverage compared with the Thinx. We think most people will find the added security that the Thinx Hi-Waist offers is worth the extra spend.
The TomboyX Firstline Leakproof Trunks are well designed and comfortable. But they are much less absorbent and not as cozy as Aisle’s boxer briefs, and they did not live up to their leakproof promise, in our experience.
Evawear’s bikinis, hipsters, briefs, and shorts are more lower-cut than most period underwear we tried and generally lightweight and comfortable. But they were not leakproof, in our experience.
Proof’s “leakproof” collection was not leakproof, in our experience.
Saalt makes some of the most gorgeous period underwear we’ve seen. But most of our testers found that this underwear leaked, and the delicately stitched waistband on one tester’s pair began to unravel after about 15 washes.
The cut and fit of the Aerie Real Period Underwear felt off. And they have a thick, conspicuous lining that does not go high up enough in the front.
The Period Co. styles we tested ran extremely tight and felt like wearing a loaded diaper, even when devoid of blood. These menstrual shorts had the most padding of any brand we’ve ever tested; this caused intense heat to build up and create what one tester called a “coochie furnace.” However, at a mere $24 for sleeper shorts, these are the least-expensive high-absorbency menstrual shorts we’ve seen. If you’re on a serious budget, you may find them suitable for sleeping. Just purchase a size or two larger, and be prepared to waddle and sweat.
The period underwear we tried from Joyja, Pure Rosy, Sustain, and Hesta/Rael all felt flimsy and were less absorbent compared with our picks.
We chose not to test the new period panties from Victoria’s Secret because of middling reviews.
The following brands did not offer free returns at the time of publication: Knix, Ruby Love, Cora, and Blend. (Ruby Love offers exchanges within 30 days, but the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.)
Shannon Palus contributed reporting.
This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
Sources
- Jen Gunter, MD, obstetrician, gynecologist, and blogger, phone interviews, April 1, 2018, January 21, 2020, and January 18, 2023
- Mandy Fader, RN, PhD, professor of continence technology at the University of Southampton in the UK, phone interview , March 1, 2018
- Rolf Halden, PhD, director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, phone interview , January 16, 2020
- Graham Peaslee, PhD, professor of experimental nuclear physics at the University of Notre Dame, phone interview, January 17, 2020, and January 18, 2023
Meet your guide
Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering everything from Santa hats to bath bombs. She is also a GLAAD Award–nominated on-air host and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest picture book, The Real Santa, follows a determined little Black boy’s journey to discover what the jolly icon truly looks like.
Further reading
What We Think of Thinx’s Period Sex Blanket
by Shannon Palus
Thinx now sells a $370 period sex blanket. But you don’t need to buy anything to have period sex. And if you’re worried about stains, you have other options.
The Best Tampons
by Nancy Redd
Most tampons are the same, but some stand out. Tampax Pearl and Pure are our favorites with applicators; O.B. Pro Comfort and Organic are the best without.
The Best Menstrual Cup
by Rose Eveleth
After trying 33 menstrual cups, we’ve found that the Cora is the best choice for most first-timers. Size and fit can vary widely, so we have multiple picks.
Got an FSA Deadline Extension? These Are Some FSA-Eligible Picks We Love.
by Elissa Sanci
If you received an FSA deadline extension until March 15th, we’ve got you covered with these FSA-eligible Wirecutter picks.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
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