I Wore Period Panties While Backcountry Skiing. Would I Do It Again?

Ski-mountaineering may be new to the Olympics circuit in 2026, but I’ve been throwing skins on my skis for years. But up until now, I’ve never donned period panties while trudging through Montana’s backcountry trails—would I do it again?

A resounding yes.

Period panties have long been a product that I’ve wanted to test out in the outdoor world. I grew up in Alaska and, like many of us here at Outside, the outdoors is a major part of my personality. I am also a huge advocate for period positivity, sustainable living, and—apparently now—free-bleeding.

Ski-mountaineering, or skimo, is a snow sport that combines backcountry skiing with touring, or hiking with skis. It’s similar to backcountry skiing, which involves ditching the chair lift and instead wearing specially designed bindings. These allow your heel to lift as you summit a peak blanketed in snow. Skins, a specialized adhesive-backed material, attach to the base of your skis to create friction and prevent sliding downhill. Once at the summit, a skier transitions their setup for downhill skiing. While it’s not an official Olympic sport, snowboarders can also go backcountry touring with a splitboard. (Did we just coin the term “sno-mo”?)

The sport can be intense. The uphill climb requires cardio capacity and brute strength. The downhill portion also requires a varied level of ski skills, equipped to handle all types of conditions, from icy patches to powder stashes.

When I’m on my period and want to climb a snowy mountain, comfort and a leak-proof design are all the more important.

That’s where Saalt’s reusable period underwear comes into play. These lightweight base layers are specially designed with a layered gusset, or crotch area, that absorbs menstrual flow—and yes, they truly are leakproof. While I tried a suite of the Saalt products during my last menstruation, I opted for the cotton rib bralette and high-rise thong for my skimo adventure.

First of all, I felt cute as heck (which is very important for any outdoor experience). The seagreen color scheme is a coordinated vibe, and the breathable cotton blended comfort and style.

And yes, even the thong was totally leakproof while I slogged myself up a mountain at sunrise. Here’s a play-by-play of my panty test.

The Test: A Sunrise Skin in Missoula

6:30 A.M. I started the climb up a trail near Montana Snowbowl in Missoula. It was dark and slushy at the start of the route, and I had to boot-pack while carrying my skis for the first section. While hiking, I could barely feel the thong and felt fully supported in the bralette.

7:00 A.M. After boot-packing, I got to the lower portion of the ski run. Here, we put our skins and skis back on. Both the thong and bralette were incredibly comfortable, and I didn’t notice any leaking.

7:30 A.M. Halfway up the skin track, the morning sun was beginning to peak over the mountain ridges. Sometimes while wearing ski bibs, I’ll notice certain undies riding up, giving me a wedgie. This didn’t happen with the Saalt thong. It stayed in place.

8:00 A.M. Once I reached my destination, the sun had fully risen. I felt stoked on the base layers—I could barely feel them, and was fully supported.

8:30 A.M. The period panties held up after one run. I wasn’t able to test them on multiple laps, but I appreciated their durability and comfort. I sweated quite a bit on the way up, and the cotton got a bit wet, making for a somewhat chilly run down.

So, Do Period Panties Actually Work for Backcountry Skiing?

As anyone who menstruates knows, it can be challenging to find motivation for outdoor activities when feeling cramped and bloated.

Comfort and functionality aside, Saalt’s undergarments were breathable and stayed relatively dry, even while I sweated below my ski jacket. The material is not treated with PFAS and is machine washable. Plus, if you don’t feel the same way as I do about the panties, Saalt offers a money-back guarantee.

Saalt Cotton Rib 3-Piece Set

$90 at Saalt