Summer is for trips to the beach, exploring nature, and visiting far-off lands. Fortunately, summer is also a great time to use reusable menstrual products! Here's how you can be prepared for some common summer scenarios without having to use tampons or disposable pads.

The Beach Getaway

If you're going to be rocking your itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie bikini, a menstrual cup, like XO Flo, is a great choice for enjoying beach weather during that time of the month. You can wear XO Flo for up to 12 hours at a time (your mileage may vary depending on your flow), unlike a tampon which should be changed more frequently. Fortunately, a cup is simple to change once you get the hang of it, even in a public restroom: simply empty the contents into the toilet, wipe off the cup, and reinsert! Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after. If you're going to be roughing it, bring an alcohol wipe or hand sanitizer for clean hands.

The Backpacking Trip

Backpackers, hikers, and campers all know the "pack it in, pack it out" rule. And yes, it applies to your menstrual products -- especially disposable pads and tampons, which can take hundreds upon hundreds of years to break down! Pack your menstrual cup + a bottle of water to rinse it, or a set of cloth pads. If you're on a long trip, you can wash your pads by hand and hang them out to dry on a clothesline. For more tips, see our Camping with Aunt Flo post.

[caption id="attachment_4353" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Pack a larger bag with a full set of pads, then a smaller Carry Bag for on the go. Pack a larger bag with a full set of pads + a smaller Carry Bag for on the go.[/caption]

The International Adventure

Trust me. You never know what kind of supplies another country is going to have, and there's nothing like trying to figure out the "menstrual hygiene" aisle in another language. Packing your reusables is worth it! If you're bringing cloth pads, simply pack 'em up -- you can fill a larger bag with the full amount you want to bring, then just carry one day's worth with you in a Carry Bag. You can also wash your GladRags in the shower or sink of a hotel then hang them up to dry to conserve space in your luggage.