Camping while on your period is NOT something that any of us want to happen or talk about. Yet, it’s not worth postponing an adventure, so let’s buckle up and discuss some tried and true strategies for having your period while camping.
If you’re like me, Murphy’s Law states that you will almost ALWAYS have a backpacking or canoe camping trip planned near your cycle date. So, over the years, I’ve developed a pretty simple system of camping on your period hacks. If you’re worried about backpacking on your period, feel free to message me to discuss any of the details. I’m trying to keep the post informative, but appropriate for all readers 🙂
Table of Contents
Here are my top tips for how to handle your period while camping:
Menstrual Cup
If you haven’t used a menstrual cup while camping, this is me telling you to TRY IT PRONTO! They work really well, but they do take some getting used to!
At home, I don’t always opt for this method, but for camping when on your period, this is the only solution! Note: I aim to follow Leave No Trace Principles which means that if I pack it in, I pack it out. I refuse to pack out used feminie hygiene products!
There are so many perks to a menstrual cup, but for backpacking, it’s a tiny and light weight option that solves the problem of what to do if you get your period while camping. This cup should ALWAYS be in your pack!
A few tips: if you’ve had children, you should opt for the larger size. After you insert the cup, twist it to help ensure that it’s unfolded completely. When it’s inserted correctly, I do not feel the cup and it doesn’t leak.
Period Underwear
Where were these for the past 2+ decades! I’m such a fan of these period underwear, that my husband (a school nurse in a High School) now recommends them when consulting with parents and female students! They are my top period essentials and are particularly helpful if you will be going camping on your period.
On our most recent backcountry trip, I packed only one pair of menstrual underwear. That was a mistake! If there is the slightest chance that you will be camping on your period, 2 or 3 pairs of these undies should go with you.
I always wear these during the days and nights prior to a period. Then I definitely need them during the heavy flow part of my cycle.
When I’m using a menstrual cup, I have experienced heavy flow nights when the cup fills. When that happens, leaks occur. These underwear are essential for me to have a worry free night of sleep!
When you are camping on your period, it’s really helpful to have at least 2 pairs of these menstrual underwear so that you can wash/rinse one pair when wearing the other. Due to the absorbent design, it can take a full day to dry. I hang them on a line if I am base camp camping or clip them to the outside of a backpack if I’m moving around. Honestly, I don’t think people notice (opt for solid black). Perhaps your hiking partners will notice, but good hygiene while backpacking requires some clothes washing, so this shouldn’t be too shocking. Remember, these look just like any ole pair of black underwear!
Feminine Hygiene and Washing When Camping
This is one time when a squirt of hand sanitizer just won’t do the job! On our last paddling trip in the Boundary Waters, I fell in love with these SeaToSummit Pocket Body Wash Leaves!
I DO NOT willingly subject myself to cold water, so I don’t typically take a camp-style bath. However, my husband insists on nightly scrubs and he prefers this body wash.
Another key to my hygiene when camping is a Norwex Body Cloth. Now, I don’t sell Norwex, but I am a Norwex convert. (here’s a link to a friend’s Norwex biz if you’re interested) In fact, these cloths are the ONLY thing that I use to clean my face even at home. No soap, just a Norwex body cloth and warm water!
To keep lakes and rivers pristine, it’s important to keep even biodegradable soaps out of the bodies of water. Using any kind of soap will harm aquatic life, so you need to wash up at least 300ft from any water source. This SeaToSummit Kitchen Sink is one of our most surprisingly convenient items in our camp kitchen. It’s nice to have a “bucket” of water to use for cleaning that isn’t just the pot you will be cooking in!
When my husband first purchased our backpacking “kitchen sink” I admit to feeling “meh” about adding it to our packs. However, now I can’t fathom camping without it! It packs small and is lightweight, but also has sturdy handles for dipping into water and carrying up to camp.
How to deal with your period while camping // Putting it all together
- Wear absorbent menstrual underwear if you predict your period will arrive during your adventure. Pack at least 2 pairs!
- Always keep a menstrual cup in your pack and use it at least occasionally at home to be familiar and comfortable with it.
- Carry a Norwex body cloth and/or a Kula cloth. Both cloths have the silver ion-infused antimicrobial MAGIC that I don’t understand, but really appreciate!
- Carry a water bottle. Any water bottle will do.
The PROCESS:
- Have the kitchen sink (or bowl) full of clean water and your soap leaf out (or open and ready to squirt. Everything will need to be accessible using ONE hand!)
- Dig a cathole, open your water bottle, have a wet cloth near you.
- Think of this part as a CAMPING BIDET.
- Speaking of a bidet, my husband just reminded me of this thorough backcountry bidet post and video.
- Do your business, empty the cup into the hole. One hand has the menstrual cup = dirty. Your clean hand now pours water over the cup and dirty hand to rinse.
- Use your wet cloth to clean/ freshen.
- Cover your cathole.
- With your CLEAN hand, carry your water bottle. Dirty hand can have the cloth.
- Wash your hands in the kitchen sink. Before rinsing your hands, transfer all the suds to your cloth and wash out your cloth thoroughly.
- The bidet cloth doesn’t need to dry before the next use. I typically keep the freshly washed cloth near the soap leaves so when I go to prep the washing area for the next bathroom trip, it’s easy to remember and grab.
Please share any of your tips for what to do if you get your period at camp! We gotta help each other out 😉
