I remember when the concept of "period underwear" was novel, if not slightly weird. I bought my first pairs in 2016 after already adopting a menstrual cup as my period hygiene product of choice. I didn't want to worry about leaks but at the same time, didn't want to rebuy unsustainable pads every few months. Period underwear seemed to be the perfect solution.
I bought Thinx, the brand that ruled the period underwear sphere at the time. Almost five years later, however, there's plenty of competition: Dear Kate, Ruby Love, and Bambody, to name a few.
With so many brands doing essentially the same thing, I wasn't initially interested in the Period Company's offerings. What makes this one so special? Why would I want to change from my mainstay, Thinx, to the Period Company?
What got me was their claim as "the most absorbent and affordable period underwear in the world." These are bold statements, so I wanted to test it out to see if they were really true — especially having only tried Thinx in the past.
The brand sent me the Sleeper, their "super-absorbent" overnight pair to test out.
The Sleeper retails at $14, and it's actually the Period Company's most expensive style. All the others (high waist; bikini; boxer; adaptive bikini, made especially for people with disabilities; and junior styles) are $12. This price point is lower compared to other brands. Thinx's super-absorbent sleep shorts, for example, are $50. Even Wirecutter's budget period underwear pick, Bambody, starts at $12.90 — and that is for lighter coverage underwear.
So one claim is true: They're affordable. But is the Period Company's underwear the most absorbent — and furthermore, are they even comfortable?
The Sleeper from the Period Company
Unbeknownst to me when I ordered my Sleeper, the website states that the style runs small, and to order up a size. Since I didn't see this warning, I ordered my usual size medium. While the underwear fit perfectly around the waist, the seams were tight at the thighs. One reviewer, who gave the Sleeper two stars, said, "Almost no stretch, I got my usual size and my legs barely fit through the leg holes."
I didn't have that extreme of an issue, and in fact think that besides the leg seams, the Sleeper does have some give. If you have life-saving thick thighs, however, you may want to follow what the site says and size up.
The real test, though, was whether the brand is actually "the most absorbent." On the site's FAQ page, Period says that one pair will absorb eight hours of heavy bleeding; since they don't distinguish, I assume any of their styles, then, can act as overnight pairs.
I've only tried the Sleeper, though, and the lining inside is thick. I knew it'd be absorbent from the moment I opened the package. I slept with the Sleeper without a menstrual cup in the middle of my cycle and had no leaks. I couldn't say this for my strongest pair of Thinx — but I should note that I have older pairs that Thinx claims to hold "two tampons" worth of period blood, and now the site advertises styles that absorb "up to four tampon's worth."
Still, the Sleeper has been the most absorbent pair of period underwear I've tried thus far.
The Sleeper has been the most absorbent pair of period underwear I've tried thus far.
Reviewers were mixed in terms of the thick lining. One reviewer, for example, described it as "wearing a diaper." (This reviewer also said their periods were mostly light or regular, which isn't the flow the Sleeper was made to handle.) To me, the underwear felt like a thick pad without the annoying edges and wings. It has the leak protection of a thick pad without the vexing sensations that come with wearing one, like the adhesive sticking to your body (or worse, your pubic hair). I felt both comfortable and secure.
And honestly, in the throes of my period when I don't want to bother with a menstrual cup (but don't want to free bleed, either), I don't think the "diaper feeling" is a negative. It certainly didn't look like one while I was wearing it. The Sleeper actually looked like bike shorts on me.
Caring for Period Company underwear
Another plus to the Period Company is the easy wash instructions. Thinx, the only other brand I've tried, requires you to machine wash cold without softener or bleach and hang dry (or hand wash and hang dry). The Period Company, however, says to rinse the underwear and "throw in the laundry bag until laundry day" (or, like Thinx, hand wash). The FAQ states that they recommend tumble drying on low, "but whatever happens, happens."
As someone who's ruined more than one pair of Thinx by accidentally throwing them in the dryer, this is a game-changer.
The verdict on the Period Company
There are downsides to the Period Company, but from my view it's mostly logistical. Right now, all of their underwear styles only comes in black, aside from two junior styles that are a heather grey. Thinx has over a dozen different designs and colors. This is period underwear, though, so I'm about function over looks. What's more is that Period Company does plan on releasing new styles and colors in the future, according to their spokesperson.
The Period Company also sells out of styles quickly. That's not a deterrent for some people, though; many coveted products sell-out and restock all of the time. (YouSwim's unique swimsuit comes to mind.)
Otherwise, however, I'd recommend the Period Company to anyone, new or well-versed in period underwear. I was surprised at how well the Sleeper performed at its price point, especially when other brands charge twice as much for similar products.
Price and high maintenance care have stopped me from purchasing more pairs of period underwear in the past. The Period Company solves both of those problems, and I plan on buying more…when the styles I want are in stock again, that is.
Topics Sustainability
