Whether you’re hitting the gym, the netball court or the school field for a lunchtime kick-around, having your period shouldn’t bench you. But let’s be real: playing sport on your period can be a whole different ball game (if you’ll pardon the pun).

If you’ve popped to the supermarket recently, you’ll know there are so many different kinds of period products to choose from. Regular or super, wings or no wings, reusables, disposables, sports, maternity... the list goes on.

We’ve had a few questions recently about sports period products: Are sports pads actually different? Do I need a special tampon for PE class? Is this just a marketing gimmick? Well - let’s talk about it!

What’s the deal with sports pads?

At first glance, a pad is a pad, right? But sports pads are designed a little differently.

Here’s the difference with sports pads:

● Slimmer, more flexible design: These pads are designed to move with you.

● Stronger adhesive grip: Sports pads stay put. Less shifting around = less chafing = less worrying about leaks while you're sprinting for the try line.

● More absorbent cores: Many are built to handle sweat and period flow.

● Breathable materials: Good sports pads are less plasticky and more breathable, helping you feel fresher through a whole training session.

Basically, they’re the MVPs for active bods. We love including these in our donation packs when we know they’re going to wāhine in sport.

What about sports tampons?

Sports tampons? Yep, they’re a thing too. They’re often:

●  More compact and discrete, perfect for slipping into your gym bag - some even come with their own little storage bag. Cute!

●  Designed for movement - the design of sports tampons is slightly different, and are meant for active, moving bodies.

So, do I need sports products while playing sport?Short answer? Not necessarily. You can absolutely play sport wearing regular pads, tampons, cups or undies - whatever feels best for your body. But if you:

●  Do a lot of high-movement activities and are finding your current pads or tampons just aren’t cutting it

●  Struggle with leaks or shifting pads during sport

●  Feel self-conscious exercising on your period...

... then sports-specific products could be your new best friend. They’re worth a go!

We back wāhine in sport

We’re teaming up with sports teams across Aotearoa to supply period products for their wāhine - making sure they’re comfortable and confident on the field. When we deliver period products to sports clubs and teams, we always think about what actually works for real people living real lives. That means options; providing a range of products to try, so people can find the product (or products) that work best for them. How good, right?