Vulvas require some additional care while traveling or camping. My list is inspired by my Kilimanjaro trek, but applicable to situations where you may not have access to running water or a fully stocked big box store. You don’t necessarily need to be in the woods. The list is an overview of major considerations like underwear, bleeding products, peeing devices, and cleaning/drying the vulva.

Many folks around the world face barriers to accessing these items on a daily basis. Specifically, billions of folks face period poverty, or limited access to period products. And period products are not a luxury item.

Maybe there are groups in your local area that accept period product donations or where you can access products if you need them. The local food pantry *might. Badass organizations exist worldwide, like Indigenous-led Moon Time Sisters in Canada, who are working towards menstrual equity. They focus on:

Really honoring people’s journey — I think that is at our core. Because of the personal nature of menstruation, we prioritize body autonomy in asking communities, “what do you need?” Saying “this is the only product we’re going to send to you because we know best,” that’s paternalistic and colonial in nature. -Nicole White, Moon Time Sisters

I love that quote & reminder not just in the context of menstrual equity, but beyond. But before I go completely off topic…

This post is from my own privileged lens focusing on travel and voluntary camping. What works for me may not work for you.

And without further ado, to underwear & beyond!

1.Underwear

Underwear is a popular topic of discussion when camping or traveling. Consider what underwear will be most…(a) comfortable for you—don’t normally wear a thong? Now isn’t the time to try! (b) Easy to hand wash & line dry. (c) Compact to pack. (d) Made of quality materials that keep your vulva dry.

I personally encourage bringing one pair of underwear per day during your travels because access to washing isn’t a guarantee. The whole “bring two pairs” and wash the other results in obsessive daily underwear washing, although this is the most economical & compact option. Keep in mind that “quick-dry” underwear at 15,000 feet elevation in a rainstorm isn’t exactly quick-dry. And if you are staying in an area with high-humidity, same dilemma.

Just like the rest of your gear, make sure to test underwear out for a day. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable down there on a multi-day trip. I’ll include a few general types of underwear & specific examples that I’ve tested out. As always, I’m not selling anything.

Merino wool granny panties for the win?! Kind of?

Underwear Menu

Wool. Not the itchy, hot, & restrictive type. Fortunately, a handful of well-known outdoor retailers make merino wool-blended underwear that is intended to keep you dry & non-stinky. The biggest downside to wool is the steep price-tag. I’m newer to the world of wool underwear, so haven’t tried many options…

REI Co-Op Merino wool. Pros: Breathable. Sweat-wicking, odor-resistant, thin enough to hand-wash & dry easily. Cons: Sizing is gigantic, resulting in some epic granny panties. Quality is meh, they aren’t the most durable. I’d try a few other brand options, but overall merino wool is ideal material.

“Period” underwear. Period underwear comes in all style variations & absorbency needs. You don’t need to bleed to use this underwear, as it could also work for those with incontinence issues or simply for sweat. And if you do bleed “heavily” (talk to a medical provider!), but consider you may need a backup. Bring an extra ziploc or stuff sack for separating your laundry. Thicker absorbency options will be a bit slower to hang dry.

Thinx bikini. Pros: Durable, well-made. Comfortable fit in general. Cons: Felt a bit hotter than other options even with the “barely there” absorbency. I also received $7 back in their class-action lawsuit so, hmm, there’s that. I’m not sold on this company, so can’t fully recommend.
Knix bikini. Pros: Very light absorbency available, lightweight, breathable. Cons: All period underwear is a little pricey but that’s the only con. Recommended! Plus: Knix partners with organizations like Moon Time Sisters. Although I’m skeptical of corporate philanthropy in general, Knix seems to make a genuine effort to give back.

Synthetic. ExOfficio-brand travel underwear has been out for years, but there are numerous (less expensive) athletic brand options. Synthetic-only materials aren’t breathable, which can lead to moist & sweaty conditions that equal a suitable environment for fungal (aka yeast) infections. Solution? Cotton gets a bad rap, but a cotton-lined gusset is preferable for your vulva.

ExOfficio 2.0 Give-N-Go bikini. I’ll be honest, I bought these years ago with the “bring two pairs only” ethos and only ever used them for camping or travel. Pros: Quick-dry as advertised, the most compact to pack on the list. Cons: Sizing runs large, stretches out, & fabric is malodorous no matter what. No cotton-lined gusset=death. Hard pass.
ExOfficio Modern Collection bikini underwear (often a sale item at REI). Pros: This is the updated version of #1 and fits true to size while containing a thin cotton pantyliner. Cons: Pricey without a sale.

Cotton. Fully cotton underwear isn’t ideal while being active & getting sweaty. However, cotton is perfect for around-camp or low impact days. Plus, inexpensive! Hello Target underwear packs. P.S. Target or other big box stores also have plenty of “athletic” underwear for lower prices. Kind of hit or miss quality-wise…
None. To each their own!

2. Bleeding products.

Always be prepared for bleeds when back in the woods or traveling. I’ve doled out extra tampons to fellow travelers who had a “surprise” bleed on a trek/backpack/bus. Menstrual cycles can get wonky, especially with travel or other stressors on the body.

I advocate for bleeding/menstruation to be an open, non-shameful conversation; however, cultural considerations take precedence. Discretion is often required, especially in cultures/communities where menstruation may be taboo. I definitely concealed bleeding products and associated conversation from our all-male crews in Nepal & Tanzania!

A note on trash: When trekking with a tour operator of any kind, you will likely have access to some type of trash so you can add your trash to the mix (ask ahead if you aren’t sure). But otherwise you will need a plan to pack it out yourself! I always carry ziplocks or dog bags in my daypack for trash.

Here’s a very pretty stock photo arrangement of period products. You’re welcome.

Bleeding Product Menu

Birth control options that suppress bleeding. Talk to a medical provider if you can, preferably one that is versed in birth control options. Whether or not you require contraception, bleeding suppression is safe & decreases hassle. You want to try out new birth control options far in advance of a camping or international trip so you aren’t dealing with unwanted side effects on your trip! Always bring a back-up option as suppression isn’t a guarantee & breakthrough bleeds can occur.

If you don’t have insurance or are underinsured, make sure to ask local clinics about options. Some LARC (long acting reversible contraceptives) like hormonal IUDs have programs to cover the device cost for those without insurance. There are birth control pills on the $4 list too. Just ask your prescriber how to take pills to stop your bleeds.

Tampons and pads. In the case of international travel, make sure to bring sufficient stock as some countries do not have easy access to tampons. Backpacking? Obviously you’ll need enough for the trip. Also make sure to plan for disposal with dog bags or ziplocks. I prefer dog bags to hide your trash. Tampons without applicators are more compact with less waste, but some folks struggle to insert without an applicator. Friendly reminder that it isn’t pleasant to find used menstrual products in the woods thank-you-very-much.
Period underwear. See #1. But make sure to have a backup.
Menstrual cups or dics. Many folks swear by reusable cups or discs while camping or traveling. Disposable disc options exist, but you’ll still need to plan for the trash similar to pads/tampons. You can pour blood into a toilet (if available) or 6 inch cat-hole. Ideally you want to clean the device with soap & water. If you don’t have running water, you can use drinking water. Please don’t use hand sanitizer as it could break down the device, plus hand sanitizer in your vag isn’t a great idea. Boiling the device in water after your cycle is recommended, so you’ll need to store the device until that option is available.

Note: It is essential to be comfortable and experienced with this method before relying on it for travel! The cups or discs can’t “get lost” in your body because the cervix, or “ceiling” of the vagina, prevents that from happening. As a medical provider, however, I’ve removed more than a few ill-fitting cups from first-time users struggling to self-remove…Don’t let that deter you, just do your research if this method appeals to you.

A note on bleeding in bear country: Periods do not attract bears. You can still hike & camp. That said, it is best to hang anything with strong odors & that includes all of your trash. Plan ahead to bring a separate trash and/or laundry bag for bleeding products as needed—add your trash to a separate stuff sack for hanging as needed.

3. Peeing devices.

Peeing devices (aka “stand to pee” or STP devices) can be handy for anyone with a vulva. Some trans & non-binary folks may prefer these devices to pee. As far as STP device type (or underwear or period products), every body is different! Most “one size fits all” do not fit all!

Some folks cannot physically squat down. There will be areas where privacy is scarce & pulling aside hiking pants and facing a rock pile is the best bet. Or maybe you need to use a filthy public toilet where you don’t want to sit down. Needless to say, I’m a STP convert & these come in handy. For camping/travel: Just get a cute carrier & a carabiner to attach to your backpack.

Regardless of device, the common wisdom is to practice once or twice in the shower to get the hang of use…it does feel a little weird at first. After use, shake the STP vigorously & store in pouch. When you have access to a little privacy & water, wash the device with soap & water. There is talk that STP can “cause” urinary tract infections or vaginal infections—I can only see that happening if you aren’t cleaning the device properly or you are placing it too far posterior near the anus.

If you don’t have soap, just rinse out until you have access to some!

Pro-tip: These are easiest to use with hiking pants/shorts that have a zipper. Athletic shorts are a bit tricky, but do-able. As for leggings, there is no way to use an STP without pulling them down and exposing your butt.

A group of multi-colored P-styles arranged like a flower. Hmm.

Limited Peeing Device Menu

P-style. My friend convinced me of the P-style brand. This device is very easy to “cup” around the vulva as it is rigid plastic. It costs roughly $12 and is simple! It is hard plastic, so you can’t collapse the device. That said, P-style was small enough for travel. The only con is the “spout” is open, so you do need to be careful not to splash. I never had an issue with this, but I was paranoid!
Freshette. The freshette is a funnel type device and costs twice as much as P-style. You must attach the extension tube to the funnel each time, so it does require minor assembly although some may appreciate the tubing for aim. I found this device to be a bit more bulky and challenging to use versus the P-style. Plus it is a very dull brown color. But, hey, it also works with practice!
Other brands I didn’t try: SheWee. This one is apparently pretty similar to Freshette except it comes in fun colors! GoGirl is pink and you may have seen it displayed awkwardly in a retail pharmacy. GoGirl is squishy and you can pack it down. That said, the GoGirl may be a challenge to get a good “seal” on the vulva without making a mess. These brands are both a bit more pricey.

Of course an STP is totally optional. I wasn’t planning on purchasing one, but in the end, I’m glad I added it to my packing list.

I’ve even heard of people purchasing a (new!) oil funnel although that seems bulkier than STP-made devices. Of course you can MacGyver a funnel from whatever you have available, but…be mindful of hygiene.

4. Cleaning & drying.

Last but not least. You will need to keep your vulva as dry as possible to avoid contributing to urinary, bacterial & yeast infections.

Kula cloth rainbow outside & black inside.

Cleaning the Vulva Menu

Toilet paper. Well, you will need this one way or another but it isn’t ideal to dry just for urination & creates more trash for you to carry. There are some toilet situations where you can discard TP & some where you cannot. Ask your operator if applicable and/or do your research. In some cases you will need to pack out all TP. I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of how to poop in the woods as there are plenty of other posts that address the topic. Side note: In many countries (regardless of camping or not), TP is disposed of in a bin near the toilet (not flushed).
Wipes. I never recommend “feminine wipes” as they contain all sorts of questionable “crap” and tend to cause vulvar irritation. There are entire posts on biodegradable body wipe options (yes I read a few). Surviveware body wipes worked great for my Kili trek. Again, plan for how to manage your trash. Wipes are more useful for a day after hiking/sweating/travel, and not so practical for use every time you pee! That said, I would recommend carrying a few even for a day hike (just in case).
Kula cloth or similar. If you see a colorful cloth snapped to a backpack, this is probably a peeing cloth. The idea is to dry yourself with the inner portion, fold, and clip the colorful portion to an outer pack so it can dry. The cloth is supposed to be absorbent enough not to drip & decrease waste. It is re-usable, although I would obviously recommend hand washing frequently with soap & water. The material is intended to be quick-dry. I have mixed feelings. My cloth became so dusty on the Kili trek that I didn’t want to use it…
Use your STP device. You can use a device like the P-style to kind of “wipe” any excess urine. Again, be careful not to contaminate yourself—don’t place the STP device too far back but otherwise this method works really well!
Drip-dry. I mean, this isn’t ideal but sometimes you don’t have a choice. This option couples best when you are using period underwear.

Well, that’s that.

Vulva Care in the Woods: Underwear, Bleeding Products, Peeing Devices, & Cleaning.