Aisle (Period Underwear) Review - Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Review
One of the ways that I’ve incorporated sustainable practices into my everyday life has been in opting out of disposable menstrual products. Whether you use liners, pads, or tampons, conventional period products generate a lot of waste over the course of a cycle, a year, or even a lifetime.
Last year, I bought my first pair of period underwear from Aisle and they’ve completely changed the way I deal with menstruation. Aisle, previously Lunapads, is a period underwear brand that offers reusable pads, liners, underwear, menstrual cups, and more.
Below are my honest thoughts on the brand and their period underwear.
Sustainability:
Aisle’s products are typically made up of multiple layers of different materials. Because they strive for functionality, the underwear and pads consist of a top layer of mesh or cotton; a TrueTek or polyester core; and then Tencel or cotton for the surrounding body. All the different materials are cited on their website and you can easily learn more about the environmental impacts of each individual material.
Ethics:
Aisle makes their pads in Vancouver, Canada, and their underwear in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Both factories are women owned and operated and all workers are paid a living wage and treated fairly and with dignity. You can read about each of their factories here.
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Aisle Period Underwear Review:
I’ve actually only tried their period underwear and have two pairs with different cuts in the same color.
Briefs:
These are probably some of my favorite underwear--not even accounting for the fact that they’re period panties. I love that they’re high-waisted and supportive. They adhere well to the body and are really comfortable all around.
Hipster:
Similar in feel to any other bikini-cut underwear that you would come across. They sit on the hips and provide a good amount of butt coverage.
Common Problems:
I’ve found that the gusset area is actually a little too wide for me. It sometimes rubs against my inner thighs and the friction is not the most comfortable. I understand that the construction is that way so that there’s no leakage, but it’s the one thing stopping me from wearing them on really light/normal days.
On heavier days, the liner portion of the underwear will feel a little damp. It never gets as wet as a pad does, but it still feels a little stickier than wearing a tampon.
Additionally, as I’ve had the underwear for a few years now, the front edge of the gusset sometimes doesn’t sit flat against the rest of the underwear and sometimes can cause a little irritation.
Period Absorbency:
I’ve had these for almost a year now and I really like them! They’re an easy alternative to liners, tampons, or pads and I never have to think about changing the disposable products out. My flow is pretty light so the fact that each underwear holds up to 2 tampons worth of fluid without the booster and up to 4 with the booster makes it a really practical zero-waste menstrual product for me.
Since I’ve removed my IUD, my flow has gotten a little heavier and there have been one or two minor occurrences of leaking through.
Cleaning:
The cleaning process is really easy. I just soak them in cool water to remove any blood and then wash them with my normal clothes.
Overall:
Aisle is one of my favorite period panties brands and I’m definitely interested in trying a few more of their products out. They’re extremely inclusive all around and feature products that support people with different identities and sizes. I haven’t come across any issues with their products yet but will let you know if/when their underwear starts losing its absorbency.
Would you wear period underwear? Have you tried any other brands? Leave any questions that you have down below!
