"I went a week on my period with no pads or tampons - just period-proof clothing."

It was a Thursday afternoon when a particularly unassuming package landed on my desk.

Inside was six pairs of Modibodi period-proof undies and a pair of their activewear three-quarter leggings. I had volunteered myself to go for an entire period without tampons, pads or a period cup. *GULP*

If you’re of the environmentally-conscious type, then you’re probably well-aware of the revolutionary invention of period underwear, with Aussie company Modibodi leading the movement.

They produce zero-waste undie and clothing alternatives to your classic pads and tampon situation, and because you can wash and re-wear their pieces time and time again, nothing goes into landfill. Thanks to technological advancements in fabric science (yes, such a thing exists), they also use their super thin, 3mm, patented Modifier Technology™ and Modifier Air Technology™ to keep you feeling dry, fresh and positively odour-free all day.

Now, to the products. To get each other on the same (period) page, here's what you need to know about my time of the month. This is the point where I’d apologise for going into ‘too much information’ territory, but I think we're past that.

I normally have a light to medium flow which lasts five to six days. Days two and three are the heaviest, before things taper off, and my normal period routine is to use a period cup or tampon with a pad or liner.

However this cycle would be a different rodeo. Instead I'd be using a selection of Modibodi pieces which included the following:

• Modibodi, Seamfree Full Brief, $35.50. Moderate to heavy absorbency.
• Modibodi, Vegan Bikini, $30.50. Heavy to overnight absorbency.
• Modibodi, Classic Full Brief, $27. Light to moderate absorbency.
• Modibodi, Classic Thong, $23.50. Superlight absorbency.
• Modibodi, Sensual Hi-Waist Bikini, $29. Light to moderate absorbency.
• Modibodi,Sensual Boyleg, $26. Light to moderate absorbency.
• Modibodi, Active Gym Pants, $80. Light to moderate absorbency. 

Also, as a size reference, I'm generally a size 8-10 in bottoms and I wore a Size 10 / S in Modibodi underwear. I'd describe their fit as 'true to size'.

Now, on with the experiment.

Day 1

Day:

To match my light flow I go for the Classic Thong. It sits seamlessly and comfortable underneath my clothing and I don't have any issues with leakage. I love the soft fabric feel of this pair and go about my day as normal.

Night: 

I decide to switch up my undies from day to night in order to keep things fresh. Because my period doesn't really get heavy until the second to third day, I go for the Sensual Boyleg. I love the lace detailing on this one and although it has a light to moderate absorbency, I feel like the higher waistline gives me more coverage.

Day 2

Day: 

Today I gave the Sensual Hi-Waist Bikini a wear and so far, so good. Again, the lace detailing give the undies a lovely feminine touch, and it makes you feel a bit 'nicer' while combatting bloating and the sudden urge to snap at slow walkers on the street. The bamboo, Merino Wool and Microfire fabric mix feels lovely on the skin and again I didn't feel any unwanted wetness down there. In fact, I barely noticed I was even wearing period underwear.

Night:

Because my period is a bit heavier, I went for the Seamfree Full Brief. I like that the absorbency layer has a more coverage to prevent spillage and because the fit of the seam-free style is tighter, I don't have to worry about things moving in my sleep.

It's a win.

Day 3

Today was also wash day for the four pairs of undies I had already gone through. I followed Modibodi's instructions, rinsed them in cold water until the water ran clear, before putting them on a delicate, cold wash cycle in the washing machine.

Just note that because of the absorbency layer, AKA the bit that soaks up the blood, you do need to leave them on the line to dry a bit longer.

Day: 

I wanted to save the Vegan Bikini for the night of my third day so the Classic Full Brief it was. Although they're made with bamboo and spandex, they have a soft cotton sensation about them which feels great to wear.

Since they were marked as 'light to moderate absorbency' I did worry that I might need to switch out my undies or use a tampon, but because I was working from home, it wasn't too much of a worry.

 

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A post shared by Modibodi (@modibodi) on Jun 3, 2019 at 3:14am PDT

I ended up finishing work at 5pm and switching into the Vegan Bikini for a cosy night in.

Side note: there's an understated, vintage, sexiness that comes from wearing high-waisted undies that I think we need to bring back. I feel like Marilyn Monroe in the 21st century would have worn these.

Night: 

It was time to bust out the big guns with the Vegan Bikini and I loved that the absorbency layer covered the entirety of the 'bum' bit of the undies, which stopped leakage. I slept through the night leak free, with my period staying firmly inside my undies and not on my sheets.

Needless to say, I'm so impressed. If I could have a period-wardrobe comprised of these pants solely, I would.

Day 4

Day:

Truthfully, I was a bit nervous about this one. I could get behind period-proof underwear, but period-proof leggings were a whole new ball park. That being said, the Active Gym Pants held their own. It was a Sunday so I went for a light morning jog around the block, emphasis on the word light, and then stayed in these pants during the afternoon for a few hours.

My period was noticeably less heavy, so I didn't need anything too heavy, and because I wasn't wearing any panties, I didn't have to worry about VPL.

I don't struggle with this myself (yet), but if you're prone to incontinence when exercising, I'm sure these would give you the extra confidence and security you need.

Night:

I re-wore the Seamfree Full Brief, and once again had no dramas.

Days 5 and 6

I re-wore the Sensual Boyleg and Sensual Hi-Waist Bikini on the fifth day, and the Classic Thong on the sixth since there was just that little bit of post-period spotting left over.

And bam, another period was done and dusted.

The verdict on Modibodi's period-proof clothing?

In short, I loved it. The undies were incredibly well made and at no point did I feel 'wet' or 'stuffy' down there. To be honest, most of the time, I completely forgot I was wearing 'period underwear' and the sensation felt very similar to wearing a pad.

While it was great being able to match the absorbency needs of my undies with the day's flow, if you were to just invest in one piece from Modibodi, I would recommend the Classic Thong for light days when you just need protection from spotting or the Vegan Bikini which gives you enough coverage and protection, day or night, however heavy your flow might be.

 

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A post shared by Modibodi (@modibodi) on May 26, 2019 at 2:04am PDT

If you're still unsure about getting into the zero-waste period action, Modibodi also let you try their undies and clothing risk free for 30 days, with a 10 per cent discount for your first purchase. If you decide they're not for you, they'll gladly refund your first product purchase, but I have a feeling you won't want to.

Have you tried period-proof underwear and clothing? Tell us in a comment below.