Vanlife Periods: Tips for an Easier, Less Wasteful Period on the Road
Periods are annoying. Period. So we're here to talk about how to make "that time of the month" a little more footless and fancy-free... just like your lifestyle!
Amber here. Normally we talk in the “we” but that feels inappropriate for this particular topic.
It’s time we talk about that time of the month that most of us don’t like to even think about. More specifically, I’m here to talk about how I make it more bearable when living in a van.
Without further ado, let’s get down and dirty with vanlife period essentials.
*This post contains affiliate links.
NAVIGATION FOR BEST STANLEY VANLIFE PRODUCTS
Menstrual Cups for Vanlife
Period Panties for Vanlife
Vanlife Period Hygiene
Other Vanlife Period Survival Tips
Menstrual Cups for Vanlife
I’d always heard the menstrual cup was life-changing, but I hesitated to switch to one for years. Why mess with something that worked?
Then the time came to move into the van and I looked at the boxes of pads and tampons in every size and absorbency littering the cabinet below my bathroom sink. No way that was all coming into the van with me, so I made the somewhat terrifying leap.
And I’ve never looked back.
If you’re on the fence about switching to a menstrual cup (whether you’re about to move into a van or not), my advice is DO IT and here’s why:
Pros of Menstrual Cups
$$$: Have you ever added up the amount of money you spend on disposable feminine products in a year? If not, just keep it that way, because it’s not a pretty number. A high-quality menstrual cup should cost you somewhere in the range of $20 and, if properly cared for, will last a lifetime. That’s basically the boat of one giant box of tampons that will last (maybe) three months.
Less Waste: For those who have read our zero waste vanlife and eco-friendly vanlife guides, you know we try to have a little impact on the planet as we can. We’re by no means perfect but one way I personally reduce a TON of plastic waste is by not using tampons.
Require Little Storage Space: No more boxes upon boxes of feminine hygiene products. Just a palm-sized menstrual cup that can easily stash in the smallest of places.
Usually Last All Day (for Me): I have a confession that might border on TMI but in the name of transparency… I have historically always had a pretty easy period, by which I mean a light flow. So for me, I can put in my cup in the morning and not have to dump it until that night. Sooooo handy for adventuring! While this likely won’t be the case for all women, it still takes longer for a cup to fill than a tampon to get totally saturated.
No Risk of TSS: Anyone else’s mom drill into their heads as a young girl that you should never sleep in a tampon because it can give you toxic shock syndrome? Maybe it’s just me, but it was never something I wanted to risk. Thankfully, menstrual cups do not pose the same dangers. Just make sure you’re getting one made of medical-grade silicone.
Keeps YOU Cleaner: Because you can sleep in your cup, you don’t need to sleep in a bloody diaper. Which, I don’t know about you, always made me feel extra gross. Without regular access to showers, anything I could do to curb those gross period feels was critical and a cup definitely makes me feel cleaner overall.
No smelly trash can waste: Just dump your cup in a toilet, cat hole, etc. and you don’t need to worry about stinking up your trash can if you’re out in the wilderness boondocking for a few days.
Cons of Menstrual Cups:
Learning Curve: Learning how to put in and take out your menstrual cup is not an easy task. The instructions make it sound super simple but it truly is something that takes practice. The first time I had one in, it (and I still for the life of me don’t know how this happened) worked its way sideways and was hard to get out. It’s never happened since. It’s worth noting that mine has a simple pinch tab for pulling out but if it’s something that concerns you, they do make cups with a full ring to help you pull it out.
More Mess Involved When Taking Out: The benefit of tampons is that they’re pretty low-mess when it comes to taking out and changing. The cup, not so. See, you have the dump all its contents so where you choose to do this matters a little more.
Peeing Takes Forever: Cups can commonly push a little on a bladder and urethra which makes you feel like you have to pee a little more frequently and slows down the stream when you do. After some research, this is supposedly the result of having a stiffer cup but having never used anything different, I don’t have a metric by which to compare. It’s not a huge inconvenience, but it is slightly annoying.
Can Leak If Too Full: But hey, so do tampons, and cups definitely last longer without leaks than even the most Super tampon out there.
Sometimes Can Worsen Cramps: Sometimes, during more severe cramping episodes, I notice the cup feels more uncomfortable and I’ll take it out in favor of some period panties.
Sanitation is Even More Important: Tampons suck in a lot of ways, but they are clean and wrapped in plastic. When it comes to anything reusable (especially something that’s going into such a bacterial-sensitive area), really make sure you clean and disinfect it (as well as your hand every time you take it out or put it in). Whenever I dump my cup, I wash it with soap and water. Then, once I’m done with it for the month, I fully sanitize it in boiling water. You can get specialized cup washes and a portable menstrual cup steamer but I’m a fan of the old fashion pot-on-the-stove method.
What are the Best Menstrual Cups?
Image by Pixie Cup
There are TONS of brands of menstrual cups out there these days. And as with any market that gets saturated, you want to be skeptical and ensure you’re getting something safe for your most sensitive area.
That means shopping for a cup that is made of 100% medical-grade silicone. NOT plastic.
Some of the more popular, vetted brands include:
DivaCup: The OG cup
Pixie Cup: What I use and I really like it. The silicone is a little on the firmer side but aside from stretches of occasional cramping, I don’t even feel it.
Saalt Cup: For every purchase, Saalt donated to women and girls in need
All of these come in several size options and a lot of them are available in either single or two packs (in case you want to keep one in your purse and one in your van/house) but I get by with one just fine. It just depends on how forgetful of that impending date you are!
Period Panties
Your period cup can reduce many of the 11,000 tampons the average woman will throw away during her life, but what about the 20 billion pads that get thrown away annually in North America?
That’s where period panties come into play.
Period panties are essentially just super-absorbent underwear that takes the place of needing to wear a disposable pad.
It took me even longer to switch to these than it did to switch to a cup (considering I already had a bunch of liner pads I wanted to use through rather than just throw away). Getting sent a pair of sample panties by Proof was the push I finally needed, and I only wish I had done so sooner.
Proof Period Panty Review
Image by Proof
Proof was kind enough to send me their Leakproof Brief, which holds the equivalent of 3 regular tampons, making it more than enough for all-day or all-night wear for me. Bear in mind this is only their moderate absorbency underwear, so if you have a heavy flow, they also make ones that hold up to 5 regular tampons, making Proof panties some of the most absorbent on the market.
Despite how absorbent they are, they are not nearly as bulky as I assumed period panties would be.
I hardly know I’m wearing them! Definitely better than feeling like you’re sitting in a diaper. In fact, when I got it, I said, “Surely this can’t hold as much liquid as they claim”, but it does!
Because they’re so light and stretchy, Proof panties were voted “Best for Working Out” by another period product review site, and I have to agree. Being a highly active person myself, they truly are the perfect fit for my lifestyle. Plus, I love that they decrease odor, are certified body-safe, and are machine washable.
I still don’t wear it during my heaviest flow days (though I certainly could). I prefer to save these for the last few days when my flow isn’t heavy enough to need a cup but is still enough to ruin my favorite pair of underwear.
One last major pro for Proof: they give back! By teaming up with a range of organizations, they strive to bring more menstrual equity to the world.
The best period panties for vanlife:
Proof: Again, what I use and I can’t recommend them enough.
Thinx: One of the first (and still most well-known) brands of period panties with many styles and needs.
Knix: Offer all kinds of cuts and styles, including lacy leakproof lingerie underwear.
Bambody: Made of bamboo, these are both budget-friendly and eco-friendly.
Reusable menstrual pads are another option, but I like the simplicity of having everything combined into one simple product. Plus, from someone who has tried reusable pads, period panties feel much less bulky. You hardly even know you’re wearing anything besides regular underwear!
What to Do With Dirty Period Panties/Reusable Pads
When I’m done with my Proof panties, I put them in a wet bag (which is just to say a reusable bag lined with a waterproof liner). Even though I’ve tested them and they don’t leak blood into the rest of the hamper, I just prefer to keep these soiled items separate from the rest of my laundry.
Since vanlife laundry day only comes about once a month, we’ve made it so that we try to then have this day shortly after my period has come and gone.
Vanlife Period Hygiene
Again, if you use reusable products, just make sure they get properly washed and sanitized. For period panties, that means a good hot wash with the rest of your underwear and ten minutes in boiling water for your cup.
But what about keeping yourself clean?
Vanlife showers are not always the most consistent things, especially if you’re like us and don’t actually have a permanent shower in the van. We normally rely on Planet Fitness-type facilities or a solar shower bag and typically only fully shower once (maybe twice, if we’re lucky) a week. During my period, that feels like a really long week.
Baby wipes are a lifesaver here. While not totally waste free, I’ve made the choice to try to be a little more sustainable with these disposable wipes by using Natracare Organic Cotton Biodegradable Baby Wipes. Plus, they don’t have any nasty chemicals you don’t really want down there. Instead, just soothing essential oils, chamomile, and linden.
While I use baby wipes every morning and night during my period, I’ll also heat up some water on the stove and use a hot washcloth near the end of my cycle (then just wash this along with the period panties).
How to Deal with Other Parts of Your Period Living in a Van
Cramps:
Cramps have got to be THE worst part of the period, and living in a van can make it even harder on those days when you just want to curl in a ball and hide away from the world.
If there is one thing that helps me deal with this symptom of my period more than anything else, it’s a hot water bottle (I use this one specifically). Heat is one of the best ways to soothe cramps, and a hot water bottle doesn’t require electricity (like heating pads) or a microwave (like hot rice bags). Just boil some water, pour it in, and curl up with it until it feels less like your body is eating itself from the inside out.
Plus, having a hot water bottle around doubles usefulness by keeping your bed warm on chilly winter vanlife nights.
Crankiness:
Any of you couple vanlifers probably already know that living in such a small space doesn’t leave a lot of room for ill feelings. Which can make PMS downright terrible. If I’m feeling a little hormonal, we try to organize a little space for ourselves. This might mean Chris goes on a hike while I snuggle in bed with a book… or vice versa!
The biggest key is to be open and honest. Don’t hide that you’re feeling a little more emotional than normal. Be upfront and honest about it so you can both work through it all without any undue fights coming from it.
Before You Drive Away…
Having a period is tough no matter where you live, but I hope this guide has been helpful for all my fellow vanlife ladies out there. As always, feel free to comment or reach out with suggestions and questions.
And remember, these are just tips based on my experiences that I hope will make that time of the month easier, but if not, will hopefully lead you to discover what does.
It’s all about what works for you… period!
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase something from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.