Period swimwear
Hitting the pool or beach while on your period can be far from ideal. Here, three writers, with high standards and a fear of becoming a legend down at the local leisure centre (for all the wrong reasons), put the latest cossie innovations to the test
It seems that, somehow, periods just innately know the worst possible time to kick in – usually on the first day of your long-awaited trip to Greece. But, luckily, clever tech could make things so much easier.
Several leading brands, which have already got the fine art of period-proof underwear down, have now turned their attentions to swimwear, which they’re so confident about they say you’ll supposedly not need any other sort of flow protector in place while wearing. But, do the resulting bikinis and one-pieces actually work?
1. CHEEKY WIPES PERIOD SWIMSUIT
Price: £39.99 (from size 4 to 24)
Flow type: Cheeky Wipes says its swimming costume can hold up to two tampons’ worth of blood, making it ‘perfect for a light period’.
Verdict: I’ve been wearing period pants and reusable pads for a while now, so I was keen to try Cheeky Wipes’ period swimsuit (side note: yes, the name is a bit ick and mismatched – the brand started out making reusable baby wipes). While I sadly didn’t quite get to the Maldives to test this costume, I did head to my local pool. I loved that the swimsuit was true to size, with adjustable straps to cater for bust size (I’m on the larger end of the breast scale), and I loved the design. I genuinely felt good about the way I looked in it, too, which isn’t always the case in swimwear, and I liked the increased coverage with the lower cut around the thighs.
As for the absorbency, I felt incredibly comfortable during even my most vigorous front crawl. There were no leaks during my swim, with my flow actually being on the heavier side the day I put it to the test. The only downside? My crotch felt quite heavy and loaded with water as I headed to the shower and I was reluctant to wring out the costume in the way that I typically would do with other swimwear, because of the blood. Overall, though, I loved this piece and will definitely be packing it for my summer break.
2. MODIBODI RECYCLED SWIMWEAR BRAZILIAN BRIEF
Price: £28 (from size 8 to 18; a high-waisted option (pictured) and a matching top are also available)
Flow type: Light to moderate (two teaspoons of blood).
Verdict: As a ModiBodi fan, I was excited about these briefs – the designs feel elevated in comparison with other brands (which only seem to have black options). Prior to getting in the water, I wore them around the house for a couple of hours to check if they could withstand leakage on dry land, too – and I’m happy to confirm they did. But things took a turn whe
