published on July 01, 2024 in blog

WUKA period pants review: they'll keep you dry but are they worth it?

PERIOD pants aren't just a fad. Period. So if you've been intrigued to try out a pair or are switching brands, check out our WUKA period pants review.

Plastic-made tampons and sanitary towels are a monthly nuisance that cost us money and aren't exactly great for the planet: but could the UK's 'first ever reusable and leak-proof period wear' be the best on the market? We put them to the test to see how they hold up.

Over the past few years, plenty of brands specialising in period pants have emerged – but as the UK's first, WUKA certainly comes with a strong reputation.

Priding itself on sustainability, it promises that its pants have a carbon footprint five times smaller than single-use menstrual products – not bad going when you consider that the UK gets through a reported 200,000 tonnes of waste per year in disposable tampons and pads.

Pros

Keeps you dry
Comfortable fit
Inclusive choice of sizing (up to 6XL)
Choice of flows to suit your period (super heavy, heavy, medium and light)
High rise cut keeps your belly comfortable and supported
No nasty plastics, unlike pads and tampons
Eco credentials include the Better Cotton Initiative, Organic Certified to Vegan and Carbon Neutral

Cons

Expensive initially: you'll need to buy a few pairs upfront i.e. enough to last you for your entire period (packs of three and five are available)
Although comfy, you'll definitely be aware of the absorbent layers which feel like wearing cushioned pants
Like all period pants, they require maintenance. You'll need to rinse after each wear and run them in a wash with no fabric softener

Wuka period pants review: quick summary

Save 25% off WUKA Stretch - use code: STRETCH25 - buy here

We ordered the WUKA Ultimate High Waist pants in medium flow and were also given the chance to try the brand's period leggings – a product we never knew we needed but certainly sounded interesting.

True to WUKA's environmental promise, our order arrived in a cardboard box, with compostable packaging protecting our items.

Having never tried period pants before (or leggings for that matter – more on that later), we were impressed that the absorbent layers of the underwear were relatively discreet: we had visions of a nappy-esque VPL but thankfully the gusset felt no thicker than a standard pad.

In terms of performance, these pants really do keep you dry. We were able to wear them all day long without leaking whatsoever, while the fit of the high waist style was super comfortable. Wearing a pant that 'hugs' our belly is definitely a plus when we're on our period.

After we'd worn them for the day, it was simple enough to give them a rinse and then pop them in the machine once we'd worn the leggings too. Our only concern is that to maximise the shelf-life of these pants, WUKA recommends skipping on fabric conditioner when putting them in the machine – so you could find yourself doing more washes than usual.

WUKA Ultimate High Waist - Medium Flow, £24.99 from WUKA - buy here

Unboxing and first impressions

Our parcel was delivered by Royal Mail and arrived within a few days of ordering – handily, WUKA offers free 2nd class shipping to the UK. We liked that it was packaged in a slimline box, so there was no annoyingly excessive cardboard to dispose of.

On first impressions, the period pants looked of good quality with a stretchy waistband and fabric. The gusset felt really soft too: lightly cushioned without being overly bulky. In fact, because of how sleek the pants looked, we were slightly nervous as to whether we should have ordered 'heavy flow' instead of 'medium' but our doubts were put to rest when we stayed dry all day. Result.

Performance

WUKA recommends that its medium flow pants can be worn for up to eight hours – which is roughly 15ml of period flow, or two to three tampons worth.

We'll be honest: we didn't read this until after and assumed we'd be good to wear them to bed too. Thankfully this wasn't a problem for us. If anything, our flow is pretty light so we stayed dry and leak-free throughout the day and night. Phew!

Being new to period pants, we were initially checking for leaks every time we went to the toilet. A few times, we noticed the blood hadn't yet absorbed so we gave the gusset a quick dab, but other than that we had no issues and stayed completely dry.

Overall, we were really impressed by how comfortable and breathable the pants are. However, if we had to think of a critique, then similar to pads – we did feel that the gusset bunched up ever so slightly at times. But luckily, this wasn't an issue and didn't result in any leakage.

Features and Design

WUKA's period pants feature absorbent and leakproof layers integrated into the gusset, which sits high in the front and back. The top layer is moisture-wicking so it draws your flow away and locks it into the mid-layers which are leakproof.

Depending on the design you choose, each pair of pants holds from 5 to 60ml of period blood. They're also designed to be reused for over two years: WUKA calculates that you'll save over 200 pads and tampons in this time.

In terms of sustainability, the underwear is made from soft tencel, organic cotton and upcycled nylon. The range is approved by the Vegan Society and certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard.

Design-wise, there are six cuts to choose between: from hipsters and boxer shorts to even a thong style. The designs mostly stick to the practical, but if you're after something that feels a bit prettier, the lace high waist pants and hipster briefs might catch your eye.

WUKA leggings review

We were also sent a pair of WUKA's period leggings to try, which were released earlier this year.

Squat-proof and period-proof, they feature seamless period pants integrated into the leggings for a comfortable and leak-free workout.

We loved the buttery soft look of the leggings, which are made from recycled polyester and have a matte finish (rather than a shiny effect which we find unflattering). There's also a handy pocket for your phone or keys while you work out.

Getting onto the exercise bike on day two of our period, it felt slightly strange to be wearing only a pair of leggings for a half-hour cycle. But just like WUKA's period pants, our flow was completely absorbed during our workout and it was a relief to exercise while feeling dry and protected.

At just under £50, we're not sure if we'd personally fork out for these leggings if we weren't reviewing them – simply because we'd want a few pairs if we were going to wear them for daily workouts on our period.

But if you don't mind investing (or using your washing machine frequently) then they're definitely worth a try – especially as they're super comfy and breathable, with no tell-tale outlines.

WUKA Perform Leggings - Medium Flow, £49.99 from WUKA - buy here

How to wash WUKA pants

When you've finished wearing them, give your period pants a quick rinse with cold water. You then just need to put them in the machine as you would normally with similar, dark coloured garments on a 30 to 40 degrees cycle. Just remember not to use fabric conditioner, as this can reduce the absorbency of the pants over time.

Can you wear WUKA pants for swimming?

WUKA's standard period pants aren't suitable for swimming, but it does have a specific swim brief for light flow days. The water repellent outer fabric is quick-drying, just like a bikini, while the absorbancy will hold around two small tampons' worth.

Plus with a high leg cut and thin material, you can even wear them under your favourite swimwear.

WUKA Swim Bikini Brief - Light Flow, £21.99 from WUKA - buy here

How much are WUKA period pants?

WUKA's period pants start from £9.99 for a thong, with super heavy flow briefs costing £25.99.

If you're looking to invest in a few pairs, you can save by shopping the multi-packs of three or five. For example, a five-pack of the super heavy flow midi briefs costs £110 – a current saving of £19.95.

Where to buy WUKA pants

As well as being available to shop online at www.wuka.co.uk, WUKA pants have over 400 stockists in the UK including Sainsburys and Superdrug, as well as a handful of stockists worldwide.

To find your local stockist, head to the WUKA Store Locator.

WUKA period pants review: the verdict

As our first foray into the world of period pants, we were really impressed by the WUKA pants we tried.

The sizing was spot-on and easy to figure out thanks to the size guide on the product page, while the cut of the high waist pants was super comfy – especially on the first day of our period when our belly is in need of support without feeling restricted.

As promised, we stayed leak-free, dry and odourless while wearing our pants: a breath of fresh air compared to pads which can leave you feeling er 'sticky', shall we say.

In terms of comfort, we'll admit we were aware we were wearing period pants: the absorbent layers feel like what we can only describe as a soft cushion on your bum (so certainly not unpleasant), while the seam at the back where the layers end could be felt when we wore our pants with jeans. It wasn't uncomfortable, but again: just an awareness of the product we were wearing, as opposed to tampons where you all but forget.

We wore our pants just for one day of our period, as we didn't want to run a washing machine cycle every day. Therefore if we were going to truly wear WUKA as an alternative to our usual menstrual products, we'd have to buy the five-pack.

At a cost of £99, this admittedly feels like a lot upfront, but with two years of reusable wear in them, it's a saving in the long term. Plus, being safe in the knowledge that you're wearing a sanitary product that's chemical, perfume and plastic-free is a great feeling.

With all of that in mind, it's a big thumbs up from us for WUKA's period pants. They're definitely worth trying, so long as you're prepared to invest in enough pairs to last you the length of your period.

WUKA Ultimate High Waist - Medium Flow, £24.99 from WUKA - buy here

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