The great outdoors has always been about freedom, adventure, pushing limits, embracing the elements, and thriving in the wild.. We talk about gear, training, nutrition, and survival skills, but periods? They rarely make it into the conversation. And that silence has consequences.
For many adventurers, menstruation is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a reason to opt out entirely. Research shows that 89% of menstruators feel their participation in outdoor activities is affected by their period. The main reasons? Lack of facilities, hygiene concerns, stigma, and inadequate product options.

Try explaining to a group of non-menstruators why you need to stop mid-hike, why you’re suddenly in pain, why you need extra time at a rest stop, or why you’re carrying a Ziploc bag full of used period products because there’s nowhere to dispose of them. Try voicing your needs in industries where asking for a toilet break already feels like a luxury, let alone asking for menstrual care solutions.
This is how outdoor adventure—something that should be for everyone—becomes exclusive by default. Not because menstruators aren’t strong enough, tough enough, or adventurous enough, but because the systems, the spaces, and the conversations were never designed with us in mind.

 It’s frustrating. Because I know, deep down, that menstruation isn’t the real problem here. The problem is the lack of solutions.

Think about it—if you’re gearing up for an expedition, you make sure you have everything you need. The right clothes, the right food, the right emergency gear. You prepare for blisters, dehydration, sunburn, and exhaustion. But when it comes to periods? No one’s thinking ahead.

Most adventure brands don’t include menstrual care in their gear recommendations. Most outdoor workplaces don’t factor period needs into their welfare provisions. Most adventure communities still treat it as a private issue, rather than something that deserves public, practical solutions.

And that’s what needs to change.

Building Real Solutions

At LU, we saw this problem for what it was—an unnecessary barrier to adventure. A challenge that didn’t need to exist if only we designed better solutions, had better conversations, and demanded more from the industries that serve us.

So we built products that actually solve the problem. Products that don’t just give you one part of the solution but consider the full menstrual experience in outdoor environments. We made sure our kits were waterproof, compact, hygienic, and easy to use in extreme conditions. We thought about what it actually feels like to manage a period with no toilet, no bin, and no privacy—and we designed for that.

But products alone aren’t enough. If we’re going to fix this, we need to change the culture around menstruation in outdoor spaces. We need more adventure companies, expedition leaders, and remote employers to actually factor in menstrual needs when they plan trips, design gear, and set workplace policies. We need the outdoor industry to stop treating periods like a personal inconvenience and start seeing them as a logistical challenge that deserves real solutions.

And most of all, we need to talk about it. Because the more we normalise this conversation, the harder it becomes for businesses, brands, and communities to ignore.

So, Can You Help?

Do you know someone who’s skipped out on an adventure because of their period? Have you had to adjust your plans, stay behind, or struggle through a trip in silence because there was no support for your needs? If so, I want to hear from you.

Or maybe you know someone who can help drive this change—an outdoor brand, an employer, an expedition leader who actually cares about making adventure truly inclusive. Connect us. Let’s get them involved.

And if you’re in a position to support our work—whether through funding, partnerships, or simply spreading the word—we’re always looking for allies.

Adventure is for everyone. It’s time we made sure of that.