How to Have Your Period When Camping – What to Do and How to Be More Comfortable

Are you wondering how to have your period when camping? It can be difficult to think about how to manage your menstrual cycle when you’re out in the wilderness, and even more challenging to stay comfortable. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what to do when you get your period and are camping, as well as how to be more comfortable in nature when you have your period.

There are so many amazing products that are on the market now that make periods in general more easier to handle and less of a hassle at home (and that is when you have running water, a warm and cozy house and a tv to watch your rom-coms and a couch to chill on!). 

But when you are out in nature on a camping trip, some of the regular things at home that we often take for granted, are to no avil. Here are our top 6 ways to help when you get your period camping, hiking, rafting or out in the great outdoors. 

1. Be Prepared

When it comes to camping as a woman, being prepared is the key to making your time in nature easier and more enjoyable. Before you hit the trails, be sure to stock up on all the necessary supplies you may need.

Consider investing in a menstrual cup, which can make periods easier when you're camping. It is also wise to bring enough pads or tampons for the duration of your camping trip and a few extra just in case. This will help ensure that you won't run out during your stay in nature. I always put a few pads and tampons in the first aid kit that we carry on all trips, just in case another woman needs one or a surprise comes on the trip! Additionally, it's important to have comfortable clothing and to make sure you have easy access to all of your supplies so you can take care of yourself quickly and easily.

2. The Menstrual Cup

Menstrual cups can be a great way to make periods easier while camping as a woman with a period. A menstrual cup is a reusable cup that collects menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it like a tampon or pad. It fits inside the vagina and is held in place by suction. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time, making them an ideal choice for those who may not have access to a bathroom when camping for extended amounts of time. They are also much more eco-friendly than disposable products, as they can be washed and reused for years.

There are so many Menstrual cups on the market, and one of our favorites is the Diva Cup. Also, remember that mosts cups come in different sizes for body types, flows, etc. 

If you’re considering using a menstrual cup, it is important to read the instructions and make sure you are comfortable using it before you go camping. It is important to get to know the cup and how it works with your body before you decide to use this as your main product during your trip. It also requires sanitary cleaning during use, so make sure that you have the right products to help keep it clean and be able to clean it and reinsert it properly.

We have found that a DIY small cleaning kit works wonders:

• Nalgene Bottle (wrapped with tape and labeled as the PERIOD CUP bottle or any other words to keep it away from being used as a regular bottle)
• Sanitizing wipes or cleaning wipes 
• Biodegradable plastic bag (we recommend our Ladybitz Bag insert bags) to dispose of the dirty wipes after wiping the cup.
• Small jug of water (clean water bottle that can fit inside the Nalgene) to rinse and wash the cup

The whole idea of the kit above is to keep your cup clean. It is important to have a good place to store your cup when not in use that will not be dirty, etc. If you are using the cup in addition to other supplies, having a good storage area is extremely important. As we know from experience, during camping trips items in our bag tend to get dirty, or messy or it can be hard to keep everything organized especially on multi-day trips backpacking, rafting or kayaking where you are in your main gear bag multiple times a day, etc. 

Also, this is in regards to camping without the access to a bathroom with running water, such as backpacking, backcountry camping, dispersed or primitive camping or rafting camping. If you camping with an RV or a sweet van set up, you probably have a great system for bathroom sanitary products and cleaning. 

3. Pads and Tampons

Pads and tampons are two of the most common ways to manage your period while camping. Pads are usually less messy and make periods easier to manage while camping. Make sure you bring enough supplies to last you the duration of your trip, and also bring extra in case of emergencies. As for tampons, try to remember to change them out every few hours or after swimming, depending on the activity. I currently have been using the organic CORA tampons with the smooth applicator and the RAEL Organic pads, but whatever your typically use is what you should bring. On a camping trip is not the time to try out a new type of tampon, etc, you should bring what you know and is second nature to inserting and using. 

4. Bring Extra Supplies

When camping during your period, it’s important to bring extra supplies to make periods easier. This means packing additional menstrual products, like pads and tampons, period underware or anything you use depending on your preference. You should also consider bringing items that can help you feel more comfortable while camping, such as pain relievers, heat packs, and extra underwear. Additionally, make sure to pack some sort of body wipe, etc. This is always helpful to feel clean and fresh, but can also help to get any blood out of your underware too. Make sure to dispose of these wipes in a proper place (like the Ladybitz Bag or a trash container) and do not flush them or leave them in nature.

Bringing extra supplies will ensure that you have what you need during your camping trip and will prevent any unexpected surprises! 

5. Be Comfortable:

  Ok, ok, I know this thing looks like my Grandmas old camp chair, but I promise you that its pretty sweet. The best part about this is that the cushion comes off from the chair and you can just take the cushion with you on your trip. Yes, I know that on most backpacking trips, this will never make the cut to fit in your bag, but if you are on a rafting trip or car camping trip, TAKE THIS WITH YOU! It not only helps during your period if you have backpain, but its super sweet on those cold summer or fall nights in the mountains to heat your tush! 

Ok, these are pretty amazing. Everyone knows about the hot hands that you put in your ski gloves or boots and you shake them and then they stay warm and they are awkward in your glove but you don't want to get rid of them cause your toes are cold. Ok, anyways, the Bodywarmer StickOn by Hot hands is the Bees-nees for when you are camping, especially on your period. I have used these on multiple winter rafting trips, and it has been a game changer. The best part about these is that they are pretty large, and so it fits perfectly around your lower abdomen to target those cramps. Also, if you are wearing leggings, high waisted underware or a tank top, you can just stick it to that and it will not move around during the day or night. Fair warning, these take about 30 minutes to heat up and then another 10-15 mins to get to the maximum temp. So if you are experiencing cramps really bad, put one on right away but know that it will be a while to heat up. 

6. Dispose of your trash

When camping, it is essential to make sure you are disposing of your trash in a sanitary way. Not only is this important for the environment, but it also very important to dispose of your menstrual trash in a safe, sanitary way. 

There will be different options for disposing of menstrual trash depending on the type of camping you are doing. If you are camping in an RV, you will typically have a designated trash can to dispose of items, just like at home. However, if you are backpacking camping, rafting and camping, or primitive tent/car camping, then you want to make sure that you dispose and secure your trash correctly.

This is the biggest reason we created the Ladybitz Bag and our Ebb&Flo bag. It has a trash pocket inside of the bag, which odor-absorbs and is odor proof, so when you return from your trip you are able to dispose of the products safety, and hygienically. Our bags also come with biodegradable insert bags, so clean up is a breeze at the end of our trip. 

However, if you have not had the chance to order one of our bags, you can go the more traditional route and bring along a zip lock gallon bag to keep menstrual trash in, that way you can dispose all of it in the group trash too.

Either way, make sure to bring an extra bag that is designated for your menstrual trash. This will save a lot of headache and nervousness about what to do with this trash, when no trashcan is in sight.  

It is also important to dispose of any other items related to your period such as applicators and wrappers in the trash as well, as most of these have an odor or a perfume on them, and can attract bugs/animals. The same goes for your menstrual trash, keeping the trash away from animals is very important in campsite cleanliness, and so make sure you are aware of where you are putting your trash, compiling it with the campsite trash and securing it away from animals. Since most designated campsites have a large group trash, you have a place to dispose of your trash, however if you are primitive camping, refer to the location that you are camping as to how to tie your trash up, or secure it to make sure it is safe from animals. (This is another reason we created our bags, since they absorb trash odor and are odor-proof, it helps with any worry of attracting animals into your tent, your campsite, etc. 

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your camping trip will go smooth and you will be more comfortable overall. The best takeaway is to be prepared, which will help with any worry you may have about going out in nature while you are on your period. In general, you will be so glad that you went on your trip and with extra items to make it better, you should be good to go. 

Please let us know what you like to bring on a trip so we can add it to our list. 

Cheers and see you out on the trail or on the river!