First time using reusable pads this week. My period just ended... 5 days long. I have a moderate flow, not really that heavy. I am totally sold. I bought this set and one other 6 piece 10in. set here on amazon, received them quickly just in time for my period (I do have google prime), washed them that morning, and ironically my period came that afternoon. I am totally sold on reusable pads now. They absorbed everything. The only mishap I had was sleeping on my heaviest day for 8 hours and blood only got on the wing of the pad. My panties were safe the whole time! I did go and purchase a set of night time pads yesterday, just to complete my set. I noticed I had less cramping, no smell, and no painful pulling out of a tampon. I chose to soak them for about a day in a mini trash can with oxidizer, empty the water, rinse cycle them in the washer, then wash them in the washer like normal, and tumble them on low heat.

I highly recommend these reusable pads for anyone looking for a more environmentally friendly period. I've been using the diva cup for about 5 years, but the past year or so, I've started having serious pains when using it so I started going back to old fashioned disposable pads. Last month, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and it turns out that menstrual cups and tampons can make your endometriosis pains worse (depending on where your lesions are), so it looked like I needed to switch to pads long term. I hated filling up the bathroom trashcan twice over every time that time of the month came around, so I started looking for an alternative way to keep me comfortable and the landfills a tiny bit emptier. I purchased these, and after my first month using them I could not be happier. Like someone else mentioned - at first it didn't seem like anything was absorbing because I didn't see it, but when I pre-rinsed them before putting them in the laundry, I saw how much they actually absorbed without realizing it.

Yeah, they slide around a little bit, but I haven't had any issues with leakage (even on these medium sizes - and I have a heavy flow), and yeah they smell a little bit on my heaviest day (but waaaaay less than a normal pad). I was told to pre-rinse them out in the sink with cold water, and then put them in the normal wash with other dark clothes with cold water. I line dry them (as I would do with any delicates), and they looked like new.

Overall, so happy with this purchase - though I did get a second "large" set just to be on the safe side so I don't run out on my heavier days. I also purchased a set of 2 small wet bags so that I can keep one discreetly in my purse and one in my backpack at all times for those 'just in case' moments.

so positives>. Cute pattern, love the bag they come with: the loop has a snap so you can hang it on a towel bar! I also love that you can fold them up, so they don't take up a lot of space. The fabric is really soft and cozy.

Negative>. Working out with theses was a nightmare. I had to stop ever 15 mins to go to the bathroom and adjust. They are also not very absorbent. They didn't leak.. but they didn't pull the moisture in either. It was like they were just a barrier and the blood stayed thr until I went to the bathroom.

These would be ok if your not very active. I would also recommend wearing snug fitting underwear to hold them in place better.

I will keep them for lazy cramp days. Fabric is nice and soft and kind of comforting.

Bulkier than I expected, so when they slide around, it can look and feel like you are carrying a load in your pants until you can adjust them. It is quite inconvenient to find a place or a discreet way to do that multiple times per day. Aside from that, these immediately developed a foul odor that I cannot remove with soaking overnight, hand washing directly after use, or even a double cycle through the washing machine. I requested cleaning guidance/recommendations from the seller but got no response. They are very well made, but longevity isn't going to matter if they smell too unpleasant to use, even when they are technically clean. Ultimately these fall short of meeting my expectations and will probably end up being tossed...so much for trying to avoid using a disposable product!
Update: So they didn't work out for me, but at least the seller stood behind the product. I am guessing a contributing factor is that I currently live in a tropical climate and things just don't dry very well here during the rainy season. Bacteria or mold could be causing the problem so I won't continue to use them. And by the way, I never kept them in the storage bag they included, so lack of ventilation was not the issue. In any case, I did want to accurately report my experience, and commend the seller for following up and resolving the situation to my satisfaction.

My personal experience of these are awesome!!!!!

Absorbency: I'm shocked I could compare this pretty equaly to an overnight pad I usually wear. I had read reviews that these are more of a liner than a pad but my flow was handled just fine and I wouldn't say I'm light.
Scent: I'd heard these have foul smell but menstrual fluid itself isn't necessarily perfume. Mine didn't smell as long as they were on. If I take it off, yes there's a smell unless I wrap it up and put it away.
Feel: Fleece is super comfy to wear. Normal pads feel like diapers but these reusable pads feel less bulky.

Overall I'm impressed and so happy I'm making moves towards reusable products like this. I also have the diva cup and love it too. This is a step towards a cleaner earth and healthier body!