Period pants: Bonds and Love Luna put to the test

To find out we gathered over 30 triallists and put period pants from two popular brands through their paces. While only one pair didn’t earn our recommendation, all the underwear had their own unique pros and cons.

Triallists tried out two pairs of pants from the Bonds Bloody Comfy and Love Luna range – one for daytime use (moderate absorbency) and another pair for overnight (heavy absorbency). They then rated the pants on performance, comfort, and absorbency.

Bonds Bloody Comfy

Bonds Bloody Comfy Period full brief heavy absorbency ($32.99) full brief pants were the best overall performers. They scored 79% for performance, and 73% for comfort.

These pants were worn by triallists overnight and had the best absorbency of the four products (88%).

One triallist said: “These would probably be my first choice for night-time use on heavy days due to the excellent absorbency and comfort.”

However, these pants weren’t a great fit for all our triallists. Some said the high-waisted style and thin elastic waistband were uncomfortable and made cramps even more painful. Others noted that the padding in the gusset felt like a bulky pad.

Some participants had issues with the length of the gusset. While the padding extended back to the tag of the pants, it didn’t reach up far enough at the front. This meant when some triallists woke in the morning, they came close to leaking.

Of the 35 triallists who wore the pants, three experienced leaks from the front of the pants.

Three-quarters of our triallists would happily wear these pants as a stand-alone period product at night.

Bonds Bloody Comfy Period Undies full brief moderate absorbency pants ($26.99) scored 76% for performance and comfort.

Our triallists wore these pants during the day and gave them the highest score for fit –held jointly with Love Luna’s bamboo brief – and second highest score for comfort (76%).

“Amazing product and very comfortable to wear. I would be happy to wear this instead of using pads from now on.”

While some triallists found the gusset just right, others thought “it doesn’t go up very far at the front” and “felt bulky like a pad”.

Four out of 35 triallists experienced a leak with these pants.

Both Bonds products scored the highest for absorbency speed with our triallists.

Three-quarters of our triallists would be happy to wear these pants as a stand-alone period product.

Love Luna

The Love Luna Period Bamboo Brief ($20.00) medium/heavy absorbency pants scored 73% for performance.

Our triallists wore these pants overnight and gave them the top score for comfort, and fit – an honour shared with Bonds moderate absorbency briefs.

While the Love Luna undies didn’t feel bulky, other triallists found the absorbency a problem.

“Just two hours in wearing this, the edges and the outside of the gusset felt damp. The absorbency must be really bad as in the morning when I woke up, I could feel a layer of blood dried up on my pelvic floor sticking to the undies.”

Two-thirds (67%) of our triallists would be happy to use these pants as a stand-alone product at night.

The Love Luna Period Midi Brief ($17.00) light/medium absorbency scored 62% for performance. These were the only pants that didn’t earn our recommendation.

Some triallists found them comfortable, while others said the pants had poor absorbency and odour control. These undies scored the lowest for absorbency and odour.

One triallist said, “I did notice a bit of an odour … but I don’t think it would be so noticeable to other people.”

There were also a few reports of leaks.

Nearly half of our triallists would be happy to wear these pants as a stand-alone product during the day.

How do they work?

While the design of period pants varies between brands, period underwear generally has a moisture-wicking top layer, over one or more absorbent layers in the gusset, and a leak-resistant top layer.

Fabric used in the underwear is generally a combination of cotton and synthetic fibres like elastane and nylon.

How to wash period pants

While care instructions may vary between brands, generally you need to rinse the undies after use, until the water runs clear. Then wash the pants in a cold cycle and dry them on the line or in the hot water cupboard. They can’t be put in the dryer.

Some of our triallists found rinsing the pants annoying. While others noted it took longer for the pants to dry, compared to other underwear.

Buying tips

How many pairs you need depends on how heavy your menstrual flow is, and whether you use them in conjunction with other period products.

If you plan on only wearing the pants during your period, you’ll need to account for how long they take to wash, and dry on the line.

Unless you have a particularly heavy flow, you can usually wear one pair all day, and another at night

The claimed absorption of the pants can vary from brand to brand, so be sure to check.

Check the gusset length, too. A longer gusset may provide more protection, but can add bulk to the pants.

How we test

Our test results are derived from user trials.

Triallists tested two pairs of pants for each brand – one for daytime (moderate absorbency) and another pair for overnight (heavy absorbency). They wore the pants on a moderate flow day during their menstrual cycle. On average, each pair was worn for 9.4 hours.

They washed and dried the pants according to the care instructions on the garment.

All scores are based on the triallists filling out a post-trial survey.