In May, popular company Thinx, known for its unconventional take on feminine hygiene products and protection, hipped us all to their newest offering — training shorts.
After the success of their period-proof underwear, they introduced the shorts, meant to help you continue to be active without the use of bulky pads and sometimes unreliable tampons during your period. The shorts are said to be capable of holding up to two tampons worth of blood in their built-in underwear, which have a unique four-layer technology meant to keep you dry and help you avoid leaks wherever you get your workout on at.
It sounds good, but do they work?
I actually had the chance to test a pair of the $65 shorts recently, and it was a very interesting experience. I wore the black bottoms on the third day of my seven-day period to the forest preserve near my parents’ home on a particularly hot day. With it being close to 90 degrees, I was skeptical about how the shorts would hold up in the heat and with all the sweat I knew I was going to work up during my run. I walked for about 10 minutes, taking in how I felt in the shorts and getting used to them before I finally took off running for about 40 minutes.
While the underwear inside of the shorts gave me no trouble, I have to admit that the shorts’ “body flattering cut” was a little too short for me. I wore a size large, and for the record, I’m almost 6’0″ tall. When I started running, I found myself feeling a bit underdressed because the legs of the shorts kept riding up. A majority of my thigh was exposed while running, and with it being a forest preserve with older men and women present, I felt like I was doing too much. Still, many running bottoms on the market are meant to be that short, and again, I’m tall, so that’s not a knock to Thinx.
Despite all of that, the shorts didn’t disappoint when it came down to what they were made to do — prevent leaking and keep you comfortable. The underwear’s four-layer technology kept me dry inside of the shorts, which is something you just don’t get with traditional cotton panties during any workout (on your period or not). With that being said, while I did bleed in the shorts, nothing ever came through or out, this even after I stopped running, drove to the store, walked around Wal Mart, got back in the car and headed home. I say all that to state that even with all of my different types of moving (sitting, standing, walking, running), I was protected. However, all bodies and flows are made different, so if you know you bleed very heavily (which I don’t past a certain point) for the entirety of your menstrual cycle, the company understands if you want to wear their products in conjunction with whatever feminine hygiene product you’re most comfortable with.
After my test of the shorts, I came to the conclusion that they do work, but would work best for me on days when I do strength training, stationary cardio machines or yoga. Call me prudish, but I just don’t want my long legs and thick thighs stopping traffic (or thirsty men) when all I’m trying to do is get in a jog. But just because they’re not my style in terms of cut doesn’t mean they won’t be perfect for others. Overall, they are very comfy and allow you the chance to not worry about what’s going on down there when you’re being active. And any peace of mind a woman can get during her period, not to mention freedom, is worth a try.
The post She Tried It! THINX’s New Period-Proof Training Shorts appeared first on MadameNoire.