Thinking of trying these period panties? I tried them for myself, so keep reading for my honest Thinx review.
Ice cream and chocolate aside, there are actually a few ways to combat the discomfort and mess of a period (and apparently, period underwear is one). After reading some Thinx reviews and comparing other brands, I decided to try out Thinx myself.
Thinx is a brand designed to make our period easier and more waste-free. But, are they all they are made out to be? Having recently switched to menstrual cups, leakages happened occasionally, so I figured period underwear would be a convenient investment.
I also wanted to try them out as a replacement to see if they actually held as much as they say they do (i.e. some pairs claim to hold up to 4 tampons worth, which is pretty impressive if you ask me). I decided to try them out and leave my own Thinx review. Let’s get into it!
What is Thinx?
Thinx is all about making your period more manageable with absorbent underwear that doesn’t look like a diaper.
This is done through carefully crafted underwear that is absorbent and promises a mess-free period every time.
They also put importance on being more waste-free and sustainable since tampons and pads aren’t very Earth-friendly. With the average person using around 20 tampons per cycle each month, this really adds up.
Thinx’s mission started from personal experience with period mishaps among three women. After enduring embarrassment, leakage, and discomfort for years, these ladies finally said enough—they worked hard to create unique underwear for all women with different and unique flows.
Thinx Overview
One of the best things about the Thinx period panties is their variety of styles. They offer everything from classic underwear to boyshorts to thongs, as well as a variety of different fabrics. Here are a few of their most popular styles:
- Boyshort: Holds 3 regular tampons worth ($39)
- Hi-waist: Holds 2 regular tampons worth ($38)
- Hiphugger: Holds 2 regular tampons worth ($34)
- Super hiphugger: Holds 4 regular tampons worth ($39)
- Sleep shorts: Holds 4 regular tampons worth ($50)
- Cheeky: Holds 1 regular tampons worth ($30)
- Thong: Holds ½ regular tampons worth ($24)
My favorites are the cheeky and thong since they’re the most flattering and don’t show lines when wearing tight pants. The thong is great to use as a backup in case of menstrual cup leakage, but it definitely doesn’t hold much. I usually use it as a backup or on the first or last day of my cycle when I’m only bleeding a little bit.
I also LOVE their sleep shorts – I have never worried about waking up with blood-stained sheets after investing in a couple pairs of these. Thinx also features “saver sets” that are a better deal.
My Thinx Review
All this sounds pretty amazing, but do they actually live up to all this hype? Can their underwear hold as much as they claim? I own 5+ pairs of Thinx and here is my feedback:
Overall: ★★★★ 4 stars
All in all, I had a great experience with these period panties and have almost switched over to them 100%. They worked great to prevent leaking, and they didn’t smell even after wearing them all day.
The smaller pairs aren’t great for heavy-flow days, but their larger pairs are pretty impressive. They still don’t last all day, but for me, they stood strong for the majority of the day.
I will say that it’s dire to rinse them right after using and wash them ASAP. I have one pair that I forgot about and didn’t wash in a timely manner, and it’s ruined.
Also, some of their pairs that hold more liquid tend to show underwear lines. If that’s something you’re worried about, you might want to go with the pairs that hold less fluid. I don’t mind this too much – I usually live in sweatpants during my period anyway.
Price: ★★★★ 4 stars
At around $25-$35 per pair, you might think this is kind of pricey. However, I fully believe they are worth it for the quality and effectiveness of the panties. They last a long time as long as you make sure to take care of them and follow their washing instructions (I’ve had all my pairs for 2+ years now).
Plus, if you switch to period underwear, you can offset some of the cost by adding up how much you’d save on pads or tampons. Period undies could end up paying for themselves or even saving you money!
Quality: ★★★★ 4 stars
Thinx panties worked great for me and are comfortable (as long as you get the right size).
Although Thinx period panties look like regular underwear online, they feel a little bit different. They feel like regular underwear on the inside, but for many of their underwear styles, the outside of the material feels a bit similar to swimsuit material.
I tried out the Thong, Cheeky, the Boyshort, and the Sleep Shorts. They were all surprisingly comfortable (even the thong)!
Do Thinx Smell?
Wearing any type of underwear for hours and hours can feel a little gross and even start to smell, so this seems like it would be even more true when it comes to period underwear.
However, I’ve worn mine for 8+ hour days and haven’t noticed any smells. I also loved that they didn’t feel wet or uncomfortable, even when wearing them for hours (this goes for the pairs that hold more). I definitely recommend choosing one that holds 3+ tampons worth.
However, I will say that they will start to smell if you don’t rinse them right after wearing them and wash them as soon as possible after this. I had one pair that sat for a couple days and it smelled, no matter how many times I washed it, so I just threw it out.
Average Prices
We’ve listed most of their prices above. At first glance, you might think their prices are a bit steep for underwear, but it’s actually reasonable considering the quality and the money you’ll save on period products over the span of a few years. I’ve had mine for 2+ years already and they are still going strong.
All of their prices are typically between $30–$40 for their period panties, so you never have to worry about spending a fortune. They also have better deals when you buy more (3–4 saves 10%, 5–6 saves 15%, and 7+ saves 20%).
They’re also expanding to apparel with their absorbent sleep shorts and training shorts, which cost closer to $50 or $60. I’m obsessed with their sleep shorts.
On top of that, you can often find prices around $20–$25 in their sale section.
Thinx Return Policy
Thinx has one of the most lenient return policies out there (don’t abuse it)! According to their FAQ, they promise to refund all purchases (excluding final sale items) within 60 days if you do not love it, no questions asked. They will even provide you with a free prepaid return label.
Bottom Line: Is Thinx Worth It?
Although some Thinx reviews aren’t a fan of their products, I had a wonderful experience with their period undies. I’d say my flow is average and they worked great.
The thong and the cheeky did start to leak after a couple of hours when I wore them without a tampon or menstrual cup, but this is to be expected since they’re only advertised to hold ½ to 1 tampon worth. I usually go for these pairs when I first start my period and I’m just spotting a little.
The boyshorts held up for the entire day, and they’re not even the maximum hold offered by Thinx.
The Sleep Shorts are my absolute favorite – I never have to worry about waking up to blood-soaked sheets after getting these. They hold so much and make sleeping way more comfortable.
With so many mixed reviews, it’s probably best to just try one or two pairs out for yourself as it seems to be the only true test of how they work. They aren’t too spendy and Thinx has a fantastic return policy, so there’s not much you can lose.
UP NEXT: Our Knix Reviews: How Do These Period Panties Hold Up?
