I am a personal trainer. I teach classes, I demonstrate exercises, I move constantly throughout my working day. I also have a heavy first day of my period that, for years, required a level of logistical planning that I resented deeply. Tampon plus pad, careful choice of clothing, mental tracking of time since last change, avoidance of certain exercises at certain moments. All of this running in the background while I was supposed to be focused on my clients.
I had tried period underwear before and found it too bulky under leggings, too visible, and not absorbent enough for my flow. I had written off the category and gone back to my previous system.
The Coni changed my mind.
What I Actually Needed
My requirements were specific and non-negotiable. Invisible under gym leggings — absolutely no VPL, no visible waistband, no bulk in the gusset that shows through tight activewear. Sufficient absorbency for a heavy first day, or at minimum for the duration of a two-hour class without needing to change. A high waist that stays in place during movement rather than rolling down during squats or lunges. And washable and reusable, because I was not interested in disposable solutions.
Why The Coni Cream
The Coni Cream Leakproof Knicker is specifically designed for active wear. The VPL-free, super high waist design is not an afterthought — it is the central design brief. The four-layer absorbent gusset holds up to 15ml (equivalent to three tampons), which covers a heavy first day for most people and certainly covers a two-hour class. The waterproof TPU layer means leaks are genuinely prevented rather than just slowed.
The fabric composition is well-considered for activewear: 75% nylon, 25% elastane on the body for stretch and recovery, 95% cotton lining for comfort against the skin, and the waterproof TPU layer for protection. The nylon-elastane outer moves with you rather than against you, which matters when you are demonstrating a deadlift or a burpee.
I found it through ALTOE's Women's Underpants collection. It also sits within the Lingerie, Clothing, and Apparel & Accessories collections if you want to browse the wider range.
The cream colourway was a deliberate choice — it works under light-coloured leggings in a way that black period underwear does not, and the neutral tone means it pairs with everything in my activewear wardrobe.
The First Class: A Test Under Pressure
I wore the Coni for the first time on a Monday morning — my heaviest day, a 90-minute HIIT class that I was teaching. I wore it alone, without any additional protection, which felt like a significant act of faith given my previous experience with period underwear.
Ninety minutes of high-intensity exercise. Jumping, squatting, lunging, demonstrating, moving constantly. The waistband stayed exactly where it was supposed to be — no rolling, no shifting, no adjusting. The gusset was not visible through my leggings. And at the end of the class, when I checked, there had been no leaks. None.
I stood in the changing room and felt something I had not felt during a period gym session in years: relief. Not the relief of having managed a situation, but the relief of not having had to manage it at all.
Three Months of Active Use
I now own four pairs of the Coni. I wear them throughout my period — the first two days as standalone protection, the lighter days as backup. They have been through more washes than I can count, following the care instructions (30 or 40 degrees, no fabric conditioner, air dry), and they have retained their shape, their absorbency, and their fit consistently.
The air-drying time is slightly longer than standard underwear due to the absorbent layers — I wash them in the evening and they are dry by morning. With four pairs, rotation is straightforward.
The mental load reduction has been the most significant change. The background tracking, the logistical planning, the avoidance of certain exercises — all of it gone. I teach my classes the same way on day one of my period as I do on any other day. That is, for me, the measure of a product that has genuinely worked.
If you are active during your period and you have been managing rather than living, the Coni Cream Leakproof Knicker is worth trying. Browse the Women's Underpants collection at ALTOE — and note the sizing advice: true to size, but size down if in doubt. I sized down and the fit is perfect.
Fiona Mackay is a personal trainer and fitness instructor based in Glasgow. She writes about active living, the products that have made her working life easier, and the small changes that have had the biggest impact on her confidence and comfort.
0 Kommentare