Photo by Marta Pucci
Clue Reviews: THINX Period Underwear
There is a lot of period underwear on the market. Which brand is right for you? We reviewed them.
Menstrual products are a world apart from what was available even only twenty years ago. But it can be difficult to determine which product is right for you—a decision that may be influenced by lifestyle, physical activity, comfort, fit, cost, and many other factors.
That’s why we’re publishing a series of menstrual product reviews, written by the staff here at Clue (and a few of our loved ones) to show you how we used these products, and how they worked for us. Check out the other reviews here.
Full disclosure—many of these products were sent to us free of charge, for the purpose of reviews. These are the unbiased opinions of the folks who used the products.
THINX Period Panties
“I felt like a young girl experiencing a totally new way of living with her period!”
My flow is: Medium-to-heavy
I’m looking for: something that will replace my disposable pads
I wanted to try this product because I wanted an alternative to pads in case my menstrual cup leaks. The THINX website has plenty of information on how to use and take care of their underwear. Their brand is body positive, which I really liked, but I believe there’s room for improvement by showing people with bigger bodies.
I used the boyshorts between my first and my second period day, when the flow is heavier. I used them with a menstrual cup, to feel safe despite the leaks.
I was using them as a backup, but I also wanted to test their absorbency as much as I could. I wore them for from midday through the evening, and I was positively surprised. Not only did they fit well, but there weren’t any leaks. I checked the fabric more than once to make sure. I felt like a young girl experiencing a totally new way of living with her period!
It was my first time wearing period underwear, but now that I’ve tried them, I’ll be sure to keep using my THINX panties. They’re a lifesaver!
—Ilaria, Support Agent at Clue
“I’m actually looking forward to my next period so I can wear them again.”
My flow is: apocalyptic-heavy the first couple days, then pretty average
I’m looking for: something that can contain all the blood with convenience, comfort, and style
Although I have mixed feelings about the brand, I had heard good things about Thinx underwear so I was curious to put them to the test. First up, the packaging was simple and elegant, with clear instructions about how to care for the product.
The bikini is a plain black style without lace or frills—which suits me just fine. I tried them on the first day of my period, when I had an unusually light flow. I wore the Thinx all day and felt comfortable and fresh. A few days later, I tested them again, as a backup for my menstrual cup. I found the bikini very comfortable, and it did a great job of catching the leaks from my cup.
I’m very happy with these underpants. I’m actually looking forward to my next period so I can wear them again. Actually, I’ll wear them even when I don’t have my period.
—Jen, Writer at Clue
“You can’t tell the difference between non-period panties and THINX.”
My flow is: Regular
I’m looking for: Something that I don’t have to change often, and that’s also good for my yoga practice
I finally had an opportunity to try the famous THINX period panties. I was already a big fan of their advertising campaign (REPRESENTATION MATTERS! PLUS, I LOVE ARTY ADVERTISING) but being able to actually try them on made the difference. THINX panties are designed well, and are super comfortable to wear. I personally use period panties only as a backup at night with a menstrual cup, or during the last days of my period, but I was tempted to keep on wearing them after my period as well.
They kept me dry and there wasn’t any odor. The material is soft. You cannot really tell the difference from wearing non-period panties and THINX. If you’re unsure, they offer a 60 day trial. So, if you are not happy, they will give you a refund, but I bet you will keep them and probably buy a second pair :)
—Silvia, Support Agent at Clue
“I wouldn’t feel safe enough to wear them alone during the day.”
My flow is: up to five or six days in length, with one day of spotting, one light day, two heavy days, and one day light
I’m looking for: a safe product that’s easy to use while on the run, at the gym, and at night.
I was really excited to test THINX period underwear, but I was very hesitant about wearing the panties during the day without other coverage. Because my period is quite heavy, I decided to use the panties as a backup method while sleeping at night.
Even though I was really impressed by how comfortable they were—and amazed by the fit and the fabric—I didn’t feel comfortable enough to wear them during the day by themselves. Although a pair can absorb up to two tampons worth of blood, I didn’t want to carry around a second and third pair. I would probably need up to six pairs during my heavy days, so I think they’re an expensive investment.
—Sarah, Executive Assistant
“I slept with them on the first day of my period and when I woke up I felt that they had absorbed perfectly”
My flow is: Light-to-moderate (thanks to the pill)
I’m looking for: An environmentally friendly solution that will allow me to not worry about my period
In my mind, period panties have been synonymous with THINX (in the same way that I always call paper tissues “Kleenex” ). So even though I’ve heard good things about them for awhile, I didn’t have the opportunity to test them until now.
I tried the boyshorts. At first glance, they look like black cycling shorts. They were very comfortable because they are made with breathable nylon, and they fit my body well. I didn’t feel constricted at all. I slept with them on the first day of my period, and when I woke up I felt that they had absorbed the blood perfectly overnight.
On their website, they offer not only “classic” underwear, but also leotards, training shorts, and unitards. And you can customize a set for your cycle, which I find amazing given that I believe period panties are a much more environmentally-friendly solution to managing your period. I will definitely use them again.
—Kate, Senior iOS Engineer
“The material is very soft and pleasant—almost silky! I could sleep on that material.”
My flow is: A massive, horrific, bloody nightmare
I’m looking for: An environmentally sustainable way of managing my period
Like others, I’ve always associated period panties with THINX, because they were the first company that I heard was making them. But I’ve always been dubious. I have endometriosis, fibroids, and the occasional ovarian cyst (you know, just to keep things interesting!), so my periods tend to be extremely heavy.
I tried the THINX boyshort panties. The material is very soft and pleasant—almost silky! I could sleep on that material. I wore them as a backup to my menstrual cup, and I was very pleasantly surprised at the outcome. They absorbed the blood well, without any leaks. Afterwards I applied a color-friendly stain removal spray and let them soak in cold water overnight before throwing them in the wash, and they came out as good as new.
Because I was feeling a little dangerous, I tried them again on a medium-flow day without any additional protection for freebleeding. I would not recommend this. They didn’t stain my pants, but there was some porous blood leaking through the material. When I touched the outside of the gusset, my fingers came up tinted red. It was an interesting experiment, but from now one when I wear my THINX, I’ll use them with my menstrual cup.
—Jennifer, Content Manager
If you want to explore more period underwear, then check out what Clue had to say about Rael period underwear next. You can read all about this and the rest of Clue’s period product reviews here.
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