10 Best Pads [Tested and Reviewed]

The Always Maxi Long Super Pads With Wings (Unscented) from Procter & Gamble boasts a Leak Guard and claims to prevent almost 100% of all leaks.

During our tests, this pad absorbed up to 12.5mL of fluids without leakage. Assuming a flow of 2.5mL per hour, that means it can potentially absorb up to 5 hours' worth of menstrual blood. However, when there’s pressure applied, the liquid will backflow, resulting in some stickiness.

The main advantage of its winged design and wide tape is that it’s less likely to shift during your daily activities. Although it is somewhat thick, it gradually molds to the shape of your body over time so you may forget you’re wearing it at all.

With a soft touch, you won’t experience as much friction against your skin when you walk or sit down. On the flip side, one of the testers said, "It would have been better if it was thinner." If you like thinner pads, this one may be too thick for your liking.

With excellent absorption and resistance to shifting, this Always daytime sanitary pad could be your number one ally during your cycle.

Bodywise's natracare Ultra Extra Regular Period Pads are designed for those who want to avoid chemicals that could cause allergies or other health issues. It has a certified organic cotton cover and doesn’t contain artificial fragrances, dyes, or chlorine.

During our tests, we found that it can hold approximately 4.5 hours' worth of menstrual blood totalling 12mL (or 2.5mL per hour). Additionally, its broad wings and wide tape will help keep it attached to your underwear.

According to one tester who wore this pad, "I was so unconcerned about the thickness, I would forget that I had it on". The surface of the pad didn’t cause much discomfort and felt pleasant to touch.

However, the natracare pad doesn’t include a water-absorbent polymer. This led moisture to backflow under pressure. If you're bothered by stickiness, you’ll need to change this pad more often.

Generally speaking, this product is a good fit for those who want a pad made from organic fibers, and thin enough to wear without being conscious of it.

The AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Pads with Flexi-Wings for Periods is sold exclusively by Amazon. One of its highlights is its affordability. It costs about $5 for a pack of 36 pads, which amounts to less than 15 cents per pad.

During our absorption capacity tests, it absorbed 10.5mL of liquid. If we assume a flow of 2.5mL per hour, this equates to roughly 4 hours’ worth of absorption. The wings and wide main tape result in less shifting.

However, when weight is put on the pad, a large amount of moisture tends to seep back out. When a gush of menstrual blood occurs, you’ll want to wipe the surface or change the pad promptly.

Although it’s thin, it’s also not the softest pad we’ve tested. The surface feels hard, almost like it’s been laminated. You may be prone to noticing it when you walk, sit, or fidget.

With a rough texture, it’s not the best choice for those with sensitivities. However, if you’re looking to save money, it’s a good value for an otherwise comfortable pad with sufficient absorbency.

The Seventh Generation Ultra-Thin Pads with Wings promises leak protection and comfort without rayon, dyes, deodorants, or artificial fragrances. It’s an ideal choice if you want to avoid potentially dangerous chemicals.

It’s thin and soft, with minimal friction against the skin. Positive feedback from our testers includes, "It's so comfortable to wear, I forgot I even had a pad on."

During our tests, it absorbed 10mL of liquid. Assuming a flow rate of 2.5mL per hour, this pad can absorb about 4 hours' worth of menstrual blood. However, when pressure is applied due to body weight, a lot of moisture returns, so it’ll probably feel sticky if you don’t change it right away.

Although it has wings, the main tape is narrow, so there is a possibility that it may peel off your underwear. It’s prone to getting sticky but it otherwise feels good against the skin. We think it’s best suited for those who are able to change their pads more frequently. It’s also good for lighter flow days.

Genial Day's ECO-certified Regular Flow Pads with Anion Strip does not contain dyes, fragrances, chlorine-based bleach, or heavy metals. It boasts a patented anion strip to prevent odors and bacterial growth.

During our tests, it absorbed 10mL of liquid, which is roughly 4 hours’ worth of protection.

Even when we applied weight, we hardly noticed any backflow. So even if you have to wear it for an extended period, you likely won’t have to worry about it feeling sticky against your butt.

It’s also thin and fits easily against the curve of your body, so you can move around and not notice you’re wearing it. You’ll need some time to break it in when you first put it on as it won’t immediately feel soft and contouring, but eventually you’ll enjoy comfortable, friction-free wear.

It has wings, but the main tape is narrow so the ends may peel off. There are concerns about it slipping, so we recommend this pad for days when you’re less active.

Lyv Life's Cora The Peace-of-Mind Pad doesn’t contain chlorine, fragrances, or dyes. The top sheet is made of 100% organic cotton. If you’re concerned with coming into contact with harmful chemicals, you won’t have to worry here.

During our tests, it absorbed 10.5 mL of liquid, which is roughly 4 hours’ worth of menstrual blood. However, when you apply pressure (when sitting, for instance), the moisture will backflow, resulting in an unpleasant, sticky feeling.

On the other hand, the wings and wide main tape make it less likely to shift. It’s also quite soft, and our testers didn’t find it unpleasant to wear.

Comments from our testers include, "This pad was so thin that I hardly felt it was there," and "It fit well on my butt." As long as you’re able to change it frequently, you’ll be comfortable wearing this pad.

The Honey Pot Company's Organic Cotton Cover Regular Pads with Wings uses organic cotton for the top sheet and a highly absorbent pulp core on the inside. It’s infused with mint, lavender, and aloe for a calm, soothing sensation.

Per our tests, it absorbed up to 12.5mL of liquid, which equates to roughly 5 hours’ worth of menstrual blood. Even when we applied pressure, only a small amount of moisture backflowed so it’s unlikely to feel sticky. Thus, it’s a good choice for active days when you can’t use the toilet as frequently.

It’s thin and conforms to the curves of your bottom. It’s also soft and won’t lead to much friction or irritation.

On the other hand, although it has wings, it has a narrow strip of tape, so it could peel off easily. Also, it contains essential oils, which some people are allergic to. A few of our testers didn’t like the cooling sensation from the mint and had to stop using it. That said, everyone is different, so we recommend trying this pad for a short amount of time first.

The L. Regular Pad is made with a top layer of pure cotton and a 100% plant-based absorbent core. You won’t find dyes, fragrances, or synthetic pesticides here.

This pad is quite thin and will conform to the shape of your bottom nicely. Our testers were pleased, saying, "From the moment I put it on, it fit my butt, and I didn't feel any discomfort at all." Although it's not fluffy, it doesn’t cause much friction thanks to its smooth finish.

During our tests, we measured 10mL of absorption, which is about 4 hours’ worth of period protection. Unfortunately, applying pressure to the pad brings back a lot of that moisture, so it’s bound to feel sticky if you don’t change it often. Despite having wings, the narrow tape won’t prevent this pad from shifting.

Its drawbacks aside, this pad is otherwise comfortable. We recommend it for light flow days.

Rael's Organic Cotton Cover Pads use a chlorine-free pulp combined with a super-absorbent polymer for the absorbent core. The top sheet is made with 100% certified organic cotton sourced from Texas.

Its soft, smooth touch against the skin received positive reviews from our testers. Whether they walked or sat, our testers barely noticed the pad was there at all. We measured an absorbency capacity of 11.5mL, which is very good.

On the other hand, this pad could feel sticky long-term due to the slight backflow under pressure. It has wings, but the narrow tape strip doesn’t stick firmly to the edges of the underwear.

Stickiness aside, it otherwise feels good against the skin. We recommend it for days you’re able to replace your pads frequently.

Stayfree's Maxi Regular Pads advertise Tri-Block Odor Protection. In other words, it contains odor neutralizers to keep you smelling and feeling fresh.

During our absorption tests, we measured 10mL of liquid or 4 hours' worth of menstrual blood. Furthermore, when we applied pressure, there was minimal backflow. This suggests that it won’t feel sticky, even after long-term use.

At first, our testers felt this pad was heavy against their bottom, but over time it contoured to their body. They were also impressed with how soft it felt against their skin.

However, the lack of wings and a narrow strip of tape make it likely to shift. Even with its excellent absorption, this design turned off most of our testers, with one of them commenting, "Just the fact that it doesn't have wings makes me feel uneasy."

U by Kotex Clean & Secure Maxi Pads are hypoallergenic, as they don’t contain fragrances, lotions, or natural rubber latex. They also have a blue-lined design on the top of the pad.

We measured an absorption capacity of 11.5mL, but when we applied pressure, we noticed a small amount of backflow. This could make you feel sticky with long-term wear.

A major downside is that it tends to slip due to a lack of wings and a thin adhesive strip. Comments from our testers include, "I feel uneasy because it doesn't have wings," and "It was uncomfortable because it moved around on top of my underwear."