Riding while on your period can be tough; the last thing you want to be worrying about is leaking or discomfort from the likes of tampon strings.
The market has recently seen more brands trying to find a solution to bleeding and riding. The answer? Menstrual cycling shorts. These are essentially shorts with an adapted chamois designed for absorbing blood, they work a lot like period pants, which are now so commonplace you’ll find them in your local supermarket clothing aisle.
Van Rysel, Decathlon‘s in-house high-performance cycling brand, has now produced its first range of menstrual cycling shorts, offering both a bibless model (which we have on test) and a bib short version. I’ve got the bibless model on test, which retails at £34.99/€39.99. The ‘Ultra’ bib short model retails at £99.99/€119.99.
Latest Videos FromCycling Weekly
Design details
The pockets on the shorts are a nice detail
(Image credit: Charlotte Broughton)
On first look, I noticed straight away that the material was buttery soft (main fabric being 32% Elastane, 68% Polyamide). I was also pleasantly surprised to see the use of zig-zag style stitching for the chamois.
Zig-zag stitching is often seen on more expensive cycling shorts and from my experience, is a lot more comfortable than a conventional stitch as it doesn’t cause irritation.
The chamois is also soft and Van Rysel says it can absorb ‘up to 12 ml of liquid per use.’ That’s about the same as a super absorbency tampon, a Mooncup can hold 29 to 30ml.
The chamois is made of 6 layers, a base of traditional foam designed to offer comfort in the saddle, with a top layer made from two fabrics that absorb liquids; in the core is a membrane that traps liquid inside it. Whilst studies have shown high levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) within some period underwear, Van Rysel confirmed that its shorts do not use PFAS and that toxicological tests have been carried out.
There’s also useful stretchy mesh pockets on the side of both legs.
I used the ‘Find My Size’ feature on the Decathlon website which suggested I go for size M. These felt a bit of a squeeze at first, but they fitted well after the first use. Therefore, I’d say they fit a touch on the small side as a size M is my usual go to.
Performance
The absorbency was impressive, and the shorts washed well
(Image credit: Charlotte Broughton)
During the testing phase I used the shorts both pre-menstruation and, of course, during.
The first test was carried out on the turbo, for a 3-hour session, when I wasn’t on my period. I find testing chamois when riding indoors to be a great determinant for how comfy they are due to the constant pressure and lack of movement.
What I found most noticeable was how well my sit bones were supported. The chamois towards the trunk is very well padded. Likewise, the zig-zag style stitching also sat flush to my body and skin: ensuring no irritation occurred.
Another design feature I appreciate is the length of the shorts. They are not short-shorts, sitting more than midway down my thighs. However, I do have very long thighs so this may not be the length everyone likes.
The absence of irritating silicone grippers was also very welcome. The shorts didn’t dig into my thighs nor ride up my leg. I have muscular thighs and often have to loosen off M size shorts if the elastic is particularly tight.
When riding outside, I thought the pockets were great, storing items (in my case, a jam filled brioche) very securely. Unfortunately, I did find the waist rolled down, I expect a higher waistline would avoid this. The problem was exacerbated when paired with short ‘women’s fit’ jerseys (for reference I have a medium length body and I’m 173cm tall).
I would also like more padding towards the front to protect the vulva and soft tissue better. However, given the entry-level price point, the level of support was not too disappointing. The material also shows sweat patches very visibly, which doesn’t bother me, however, it may do for others.
When used whilst cycling during my period I really experienced the benefit of these shorts. I found the chamois very absorbent. During my second day, I have a very heavy flow, one that has often soaked through other period products in the past if I’ve done a long ride.
At first, it did feel a little weird to “free bleed” into the shorts. But even after wearing the shorts for a long ride, the chamois had no issue in absorbing the blood. I didn’t feel wet or damp in the crotch either. If you struggle with sensory experiences, this will be great news.
After this ride I decided to see roughly how much blood was absorbed after wearing them for 3 hours and 25 minutes in total. So I ran them under the shower head and rinsed them out. A lot of blood came out. So I was very impressed with this main design feature.
I washed these shorts with my other cycling kit, using a normal detergent with a laundry sanitiser at 30 degrees C. They washed well, and continued to work as expected. I did ring the blood out before washing when my period was heavy, as a pre rinse, out of personal choice.
Value
All in all, I feel these shorts are impressive for the price point and are fantastic for use when menstruating. The shorts do the job of absorbing blood really well.
However, for me personally, I would far favour the bib shorts over the waist option. This is because the digging in and rolling up of the waist band was just too annoying for me to want to use them normally.
I also feel that if you are someone who likes to use a cup or tampon, this basically ‘free bleed’ system might not be for you. Instead I suggest you take a look at the best women’s cycling shorts guide to find something more suitable.
Scoring breakdown
|
Design |
These shorts are well designed in terms of the absorbency: I was blown away by how much blood they took in. However, the material showed sweat patches and the padding at the front wasn’t very thick: somethingI know many women complain about. |
6/10 |
|
Fit |
I used the “Find My Size” function on Decathlon’s website to choose my size which came out as an M. But when I first got them they were a squeeze, after washing and wearing they were a good fit, but small at first. The waist was also pretty tight and could be uncomfortable however. |
7/10 |
|
Aethetics |
I just don’t like the look of pockets on the side or waist shorts. Yes I understand the pockets are useful but purely from an aesthetic standpoint I don’t like them and bib shorts are more flattering on my body. |
6/10 |
|
Performance |
For the absorbency alone these menstrual shorts are very good. But they would need thicker padding in the front and not to be waist shorts that roll down for me to feel the performance was worthy of a higher score. |
7/10 |
|
Value |
Impressive value and thus accessibility coming in at only £34.99. Especially given you also save money by not using pads or tampons and opting for this pair of shorts instead. So in the long run, they pay for themselves! |
9/10 |
|
Overall |
Row 5 – Cell 1 |
35/50 |
