Most period underwear isn’t cheap, but you can save money in the long run by not having to stock up on as many tampons or pads. Start with a pair to find out which styles you like. Eventually, you can get enough of it to last your entire cycle. Period underwear is rated for its absorbency. Some brands list this in teaspoons of liquid or compare it to the number of tampons it replaces. we have noted them here.
Our favorite couple
Of all the period underwear in my dresser drawer, the first thing I reach for is Knix. Pair prices range from $20 to $42, and there are many packages available. The nylon pairs are as silky smooth and cool as if you were wearing fancy underwear, and they don’t pinch anywhere. If you prefer cotton, the brand offers that too. Even the super absorbent pairs don’t feel bulky – they don’t even feel like a pad. I wear the Dream Shorts ($42) to bed regularly, even when I’m not on my period.
Knix has five absorbency levels: Light (0.5-1 tampon), Light (1-3 tampons), Medium (2-3 Super tampons), Heavy (3-6 Super tampons) and Ultra (7-9 Super -tampons). . There is a maternity and postpartum collection as well as kits for teenagers. I also tried a swimsuit ($55). The workmanship is good, but I recommend consulting the size chart carefully (the brand also does virtual fittings) as the sizes run much smaller than Knix underwear. A large size, which is the same size as all my other swimsuits, was uncomfortable to wear as it dug into my skin.
The cheapest pair
The problem with most period underwear is that they are not affordable due to the price. You’ll need multiple pairs to last through a cycle, and since our favorite pair from Knix costs $34 alone, that adds up very quickly. Hanes now has its own low-absorbency period underwear (1-2 tampons worth), and you can get a three-pack for around $16 to $20. The brand also offers backpacks specifically for younger girls. They’re the cheapest we’ve ever tried, but they’re not the best.
They’re designed to keep you dry and safe, but the material is noticeably rougher than anything else on this list, and the seam running across the back makes it feel like your underwear has slid down to the middle of your buttocks.
More affordable underwear
Goat Union also makes solid, affordable underwear, particularly this “Boyleg ($16)” style. The organic cotton is soft and comfortable, making it feel like regular underwear. Unlike other models, you can’t really feel the seam of the padded gusset area that runs across the bottom of your buttocks.
The Boyleg is slightly absorbent and holds one to two tampons of blood. The brand also offers boyshorts ($27) and overnight briefs ($17) for three to four tampons. They are not particularly expensive and can be ordered from Amazon.
An even cheaper brand is The Period Company. The brand’s standard underwear is just $9 and $12 (the boxers are $22 and the sleeper shorts are $24). For this price, you can outfit your entire week without spending nearly as much as some of the other brands on this list.
I tried the highly absorbent versions, which hold the liquid from nine tampons. This is the thickest pair I’ve tried and it feels the most obviously like I’m wearing a really thick pad. If you’re used to it, it won’t feel strange, but if you wear it under tight clothing it will probably be uncomfortable (and look a little weird). They are great for sleeping on busy days. There’s a Sporty line with the same absorbency, but made with stretchier, moisture-wicking material to wick away sweat as well. There are also light versions with one less absorbent layer, which are therefore thinner all around, and juniors.
If you are not ready to commit
We like that period underwear is washable and reusable. However, if you don’t want to spend on a full cycle of underwear or you’re just not sure if it’s right for you yet, consider Always disposable period underwear.
WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar hates tampons and always slept with two bulky night pads during her period. “Every morning I wake up and pray to the period gods that my pads don’t leak and ruin my sheets,” she says. “But the blood usually finds a way to seep through my pads, underwear, sweatpants and onto my sheets.” She didn’t want to bother with changing and washing her sheets or period underwear multiple times a week, so she tried Always period underwear ZZZ after seeing her on TikTok. Stolyar says she will never go back to the double pad combination.
While some of the underwear on this list may look cute and pass as regular underwear, this is clearly not the case. Unfortunately, they resemble adult diapers. Although they are a bit bulky, they are soft, stretchy and breathable. On the inside, you’ll find what looks like a night pad built into the underwear, which Always says can hold up to five of their ultra-thin pads. Stolyar was skeptical of the claims, but not a drop of blood seeped onto her bedsheets that night. And more importantly, they don’t feel gross and mushy.