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Aug 17, 2023

The best period pants 2023 UK: Wuka, M&S, Panyts & more tested

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. From sleek and seamless to absorbent but comfy, these are the leakproof, lab-tested undies that won’t cramp your style

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

From sleek and seamless to absorbent but comfy, these are the leakproof, lab-tested undies that won’t cramp your style

Period pants, much like reusable menstrual cups, period swimwear and period-proof activewear, have seen a boom in popularity over the past few years.

From their eco-creds to their ease and convenience versus traditional pads and tampons (hello, middle of the night emergency run to the bathroom) their star really is on the rise. In fact, over the past six months, searches for 'period knickers’ are up by a whopping 100% in the UK.

We know what you’re thinking; what about leakage? Are they comfortable? Will I feel unclean? Well, we put in the leg work at the Women’s Health Lab and tested each of these elements for you, with the help of 350 women and people who menstruate.

Scroll on for a breakdown of how period underwear actually works, plus the best period pants you can shop right now, as tested by our experts.

Period underwear is much like normal underwear in its appearance — it can range from hipster briefs to high-waisted bikini cuts and thongs. It's the design where things are different.

Able to hold anywhere from one to five tampons' worth of blood, period underwear is developed to be worn as extra-protection alongside sanitary products, or on its own. The material is formulated to be absorbent, neutralise odours, prevent leaks and wick away moisture.

This will depend on your flow, but period underwear can be worn all day if it's the right level of absorbency for your needs. Most period underwear brands suggest changing when you feel wetness — this is a sign it has absorbed all it's able to.

Also, as your period progresses, the absorbency you require will change. Where you may need maximum absorbency on the first day, the final few days may require much lighter protection.

As with anything new, it's best to try period underwear for the first time at home. You'll be more comfortable, able to gauge how you're feeling and if you want to stop and return to what you did before, you can.

Again, this is totally up to you. If you want double the insurance — if you happen to bleed heavily overnight or just want extra protection, for example — it's 100% okay to wear a pad or tampon with your period underwear. Like everything, it's about doing what you need to feel comfortable and confident.

This is a tricky one. On the one hand, the fact you're buying something reusable and washable intrinsically has a higher cost than buying single-use tampons or pads. Plus, they're designed to last for much longer.

Why they're 'so' expensive is probably a mix of design and perception. They may require you to dig deeper into your pocket at first, but in the long run (with the amount you’ll save on sanitary products) they’ll likely work out cheaper.

Every pair of period pants has been tested and approved by our panel of 350 women and people who menstruate. They tried a variety of styles, sizes and absorbencies over the course of the trial period (the length of one actual period, which varied for each tester) from 22 brands. They rated them for comfort, breathability and softness, as well as how well they protected against leaks.

In the Women’s Health Lab, our expert testers measured how much liquid each pair of pants was able to hold and timed how long they took to dry. They also washed each pair to check for shrinkage and how easy they were to clean.

These Bodyform pants claim to absorb the same amount of liquid as the brand’s go-to Ultra Normal towel, keeping you just as secure and dry. They lived up to the hype in our lab test, absorbing and drying quickly, while most of our testers reported no giveaway odours.

No one experienced any irritation while wearing these undies, which many described as soft and snug. The super-stretchy material allowed everyone to move about as normal, even when exercising for most. They also provided a close fit for almost all — no VPLs here — and were fuss-free to wash.

These seamless undies were the perfect pick for bloating and those generally bleurgh days. For many of us, feeling comfortable on our periods is no mean feat, so wearability is crucial when it comes to pulling on a pair of period pants.

Our panel was super impressed with these, with some claiming they were ‘more comfortable than a normal pair of knickers.’ Bloated bellies were hugged but not squeezed and testers said they’d forgo pads in future in favour of these wonder undies. They also wicked moisture, even for those with heavy flows. The only complaint was that the sizing came up a little small, so it may be sensible to size up.

This three-pack from good old M&S comes in a huge variety of sizes and protected our entire panel from leaks. Meanwhile, in the lab, they absorbed any wetness immediately and dried rapidly.

Even on bloated days, many testers found them comfortable and said they allowed them to exercise as normal. Soft, stretchy and breathable, almost everyone said they’d reach for these during their next period.

These pants look so good, you'd never know they’re designed for your period. Female-founded brand Ohne prides itself on banishing stigma through its plastic-free products with an empowering message. It recently collaborated with Lazy Oaf to create some look-at-me styles that say no to period shame, and every pair bought buys a pair for someone else through Choose Love.

The original Ohne Period Pants proved fully leakproof and odour-free for most of our testers, with the majority finding they could move about freely and comfortably. Even on bloated days, all our testers found them soft and stretchy, with most impressed by how breathable they felt to wear.

These briefs claim to hold as much fluid as five tampons, making them a go-to for those heavy days. They kept most of our testers leak-free and almost all found them comfortable to wear throughout the night.

You may question whether 90% sustainably-sourced materials can be comfy, but all our testers found them stretchy and soft, proving you don’t have to compromise.

A top performer in our lab test for their fast drying time and powerful absorbency, these undies kept almost all our testers protected from leaks. They helped the majority feel so secure they’d wear them out and about worry-free, including in the gym.

They were so comfy that many said they’d sleep in them, and the range of colours and styles was a bonus, with most encouraged to try them again the following month.

Need a pair that can handle your cardio days? These didn’t budge for any of our testers when exercising, with all finding them light and stretchy enough to move about freely.

They stayed leakproof for almost the whole panel, and provided a close fit under gym leggings. Everyone also appreciated how soft and comfortable they felt to wear.

Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for over 20 categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry.

Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality.

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