I remember my first period in the backcountry like it was yesterday. I was20 years old and I was camping on the north shore of Minnesota. I didn’t think much of it and packed what I normally used: a couple tampons perday and some toilet paper to clean up.I didn’t take into consideration that I wouldn’t have access to running water, a toilet, or a trash can to dispose of my waste. What followed was a week ofscrambling to figure it outand a couple of ruined shorts. Since then, I’ve greatly changed how I handle my period in the woods, all while being a better steward of our environment.
, you must pack out all toilet paper and hygiene products, which includes tampons and pads. These items because they’re typically made from synthetic materials or contain plastic, so it’s very important to follow LNT principles with those. I came acrossAnimosa’s in early2017 and since then it’s been on nearly every backcountry trip with me. From a 12-day Boundary Waters paddle to a seven-day float on the Green River in Utah, this pack has given me peaceof mind when camping during my time of the month. Thekit makes it easy to carry out waste until I get home and keeps everything organized and in one place.
Go With Your Flow packs come in three sizes: the($24) for single-day excursions, the ($34), which is larger for multi-daytrips, and the($54), which is a bundle of both the Mini and the Clutch. I use the Mini most frequently—it stays in my work bag and gets transferred to my daypack for hikes on the weekends.Included in every pack is everything you need to have a clean, safe period in the woods. The only difference between the different kitsis the amount of product included and the size of the pack itself. Here’s what comes in the Mini size:
- Waterproofcarrying case with button closure
- Three hypoallergenicpersonal wipes that don’t contain any chemicals that will affect your pH balance
- Three sealable disposal bags made from Biofilm, a biodegradablematerial made to contain odors
- One reusabledisposal pouch to store allyour waste in
The system is intuitive to use. I use the pocketmethod with the disposal bags to keep my hands and gear clean. With this method, the bagacts like a hand puppet, allowing you to remove your tampon and pick up waste without getting your fingers dirty. Onceeverything is contained in the bag, you simply fold over the end and remove the plastic covering on the adhesive strip, seal, and place in the disposal pouch. I haven’t had any issues with smell and have found that the disposal pouch does a great job at eliminating leaks and spills.
The Clutch size isbig enough to keep other toiletries in, so it becomes my whole Dopp kit in the backcountry. I pack hand sanitizer, toothbrush and toothpaste, face wash, and extra tampons in the bag to keep everything I need in one spot. Plus, when I go to throwmy bear bag at night, I know allmy are in one place.
I liken the Go With Your Flow pack to a store-boughtfirst-aid kit. Sure, you couldassemble it yourself, but buying the preassembledkit ensures you have everything you need in one bag. I tend to get more than one use out of eachdisposal bag, but Animosa also sellsofwipes and bags for $7.