One of the most annoying things about getting your period — you know, aside from cramps and hormones and bloating — is the constant worrying about whether or not you're going to stain your underwear.
Dear Kate and Thinx are two companies that make underwear designed to be worn during your period. They both promise comfortable, stain-resistant underwear that look and feel great.
But don't take their word for it — take mine. I tried out both last month to see which one held up better to my least favorite force of nature.
Here are the two side-by-side. We've got Dear Kate on the left (with the rhinestones) and Thinx on the right.
For consistency, I ordered the black thong from each company. The rhinestones have no impact on the product's ability to perform.
The Dear Kate thong retails for $32; the Thinx thong retails for $24.
Dear Kates are made from special Underlux fabric — the inner layers absorb fluids, and the outer layers trap them and prevent them from leaking.
Dear Kates are manufactured in the US (New York City, to be precise), which is a plus.
Thinx underwear is made of QuadTECH fabric — four thin layers that work together to be antimicrobial, moisture-wicking, leak-resistant, and absorbent.
Thinx underwear is manufactured overseas in a family-run factory in Sri Lanka. Thinx also trains its female workers to be leaders in their communities.
The fabric on the Dear Kate pair is shiny and looks great, but is a bit stiff; the label, while small and discreet, was a bit annoying in the back.
The company says that the full-lined underwear can hold up to 3 tsp. of liquid (about one super tampon's worth), but these are designed to be used as a backup to pads and tampons, and aren't really meant to replace them.
When I washed them, the stains had come out completely.
The Thinx fabric is really soft, and the label is printed on the front so you don't feel it.
Some Thinx products can hold up to two tampons' worth of blood — like, you don't need to wear a tampon at all while wearing Thinx. The smaller products, like thongs, are intended for light days, but you can wear the briefs on heavier days.
When I washed them, the stains had also come out completely.
So, how do they stack up? Thinx was the clear winner, in my opinion.
