Product Review – o.b. Tampons
by Kym on September 9, 2008
So I got a box in the mail a couple weeks ago, full of “loot.” A funky water bottle, hot water bottle, magazine, cloth bag, and a whole whack of tampons. Cool, I thought. People are sending me free stuff. I have arrived!
Then I wrinkled my nose a bit because, come on, tampons? Apologies to my male readers, you might want to skip this one. There are things you just really don’t want to know.
So o.b. tampons are pretty nifty, I’ll admit. They’re about 1/3 the size of the ones I was using previously and I love that I can fit about a dozen of them into the little zippered compartment in my purse. I love how eco-friendly they are, having far, far less waste then most comparable products.
I was determined to love them for the sake of my purse and the sake of the world. I’m noble like that.
The first day though. Eww. I was not liking the no applicator aspect of things. And, ahem, if you don’t push them up far enough? A real yucky feeling. It took me two days to get the hang of them, because while fabulous in oh so many ways, I’m not the brightest of gals.
Once I got the hang of them though, I found myself grinning a bit. They’re dang handy, these wee little things. You can slip one in your pocket with barely a bulge. The little box of them fits in my medicine cabinet so the kids haven’t been getting into them like they usually do (ever walked into a room to find your toddler chewing on a tampon? I don’t care if they’re sterile, there’s something just plain gross about that.
Anyway, I’m not going to go on and on about them because while they gave me free stuff, it’s not like I’m being paid to advertise their product, per se. I love the freedom to be completely honest about the products I try.
I don’t recommend using o.b. but I do recommend trying them out and seeing if you can get the hang of them like I did. We’re an increasingly wasteful society, I’m afraid, and considering many of us use tampons for several days each and every month that waste builds up.
I might be too much of a whuss to use cloth diapers like I feel I should/could, but I am switching to a wee tiny tampon that’s better for the environment.
And I have free samples to give away! Contact me at kimberly.vanderhorst@gmail.com with your mailing address and a wee little (okay, I’m enjoying that phrase way too much) package will be sent winging off to you.
Beware though. Once I have your mailing address I will be free to forget to mail you a Christmas Card, so consider carefully.
31 comments
I’ve considered that brand a few times but I’m not sure about the lack of applicator LOL
I like Tampax since it’s biodegradable and that’s green enough for me! :)
by Shanna on September 9, 2008 at 6:09 pm. #
I was worried about how this sentence was going to end: “I love that I can fit about a dozen of them into…”
by Memarie Lane on September 9, 2008 at 6:24 pm. #
I always wondered what o.b. stood for.
by Heather B. Moore on September 9, 2008 at 6:31 pm. #
Thanks but no thanks. First off, no applicator? {shudders} Second, I don’t have those silly “women problems” anymore.
by the MomBabe on September 9, 2008 at 6:47 pm. #
I agree with mombabe — on both points. But the wee little package is very attractive. :)
by Karlene on September 9, 2008 at 6:51 pm. #
You make them sound cute and sorta painful. I’m going to have to ponder how green I am…
by Lisa Milton on September 9, 2008 at 6:56 pm. #
well, I for one am a huge celebrator of the womenly cycle I so fondly refer to as my moon cycle. As far as tampons go…no way…if you really want to be eco friendly try going for organic cotton ones. Or take the next step and try the deva cup, which leaves all of your natural fluids where they should be rather then absorbing so much more then your flow. (not to mention releasing toxins into the center of your bady…ewwww!) I take the eco-pad approach and am a hard-core cloth pad user. My current slection comes from Luna Pads (which I have had for 7 years and are made in BC) I’m on the search for a few new ones to suppliment my aging selection. We shall see what we find.
by ~me, Jenn~ mama, wife, sister, friend, daughter... on September 9, 2008 at 7:30 pm. #
I signed up a while back to get coupons and samples in the mail to take surveys about.
All I have gotten so far is some coupons for special K cereal and a box that was nicely presented like a gift but was full of Kotex products. Pads, tampons, etc. Yeah…EXCITING…
I can’t try them out yet though and I’m pretty happy about that.
by Heffalump on September 9, 2008 at 7:46 pm. #
Never tried o.b., BUT – I can still sing the ENTIRE theme song from their old commercials. In 5th grade my best friend and I loved that snappy commercial with all those girls dancing around in white. Didn’t really know what the product was for… but we’d go around the playground singing that song – at the top of our lungs.
That had to be one of the best product jingles EVER.
by Jen on September 9, 2008 at 7:54 pm. #
The whole no applicator thing makes me think twice. But it is nice how much less wasteful they are! I need to swap addresses with you anyway so that we can forget to mail Christmas cards together! : )
by Erin on September 9, 2008 at 8:25 pm. #
Ahh yeah been there done that not my thing…lol..and well after three big babies lets just say the garage door ain’t no single door..LOL..WAY too much info!!!
by Louise on September 9, 2008 at 9:01 pm. #
I used OB since my very first day and I loved them. In fact, I used to get traumatized when I had to use an applicator. What’s with all that equipment?
by JustRandi on September 9, 2008 at 9:43 pm. #
memarie lane just made me choke on my cracker.
This is hilarious really! I have always felt one particular way about ob tampons. terrified. I’ll admit it. I LOVE me some applicators.
by Heather of the EO on September 9, 2008 at 10:04 pm. #
You are hilarious! I laughed so loud when I read this post.
I for one, am not an OB user. The no applicator thing turns me right off of that… I do recycle my pop cans though… and cardboard.
by Abra on September 9, 2008 at 10:07 pm. #
kimbo! d’oh the giggling from me! first, wow. really? kimbo does ‘if you don’t push them up far enough’ ? suddenly your blog smells male-free!
oh and don’t forget to forget my chrimbo card! i will do my best to not forget to forget yours!
you rock, k-chick. only *i* get to call you that. unless you hate it, then i won’t.
by holly on September 9, 2008 at 11:30 pm. #
Hmmm, they look lovely. I keep thinking about one of those moon cup things, what with wanting to be more environmentally friendly, but it just freaks me out little. Those look manageable though. :D
by Jo Beaufoix on September 10, 2008 at 12:07 am. #
Haha, great review. I still don’t like tampons in general though. If you want to be completely enviro-friendly. A couple of my friends started using “Diva Cups” and absolutely swear by them now.
by Jaina on September 10, 2008 at 12:24 am. #
I’m another one who can testify to the Diva cup. There are several brands out there, so you can find your best fit.
When I first heard about them I was grossed out, but after a few years decided to try one. I’ll never go back to tampons and pads!
by Rebecca on September 10, 2008 at 12:52 am. #
Hmmmmm..I have never been brave enough to try these. Good to know that someone likes them. Maybe I would like a “wee” little sample.
by Tonya on September 10, 2008 at 2:49 am. #
“OB”
Only Brave women try these
Order Bulk next time
On Board with saving the Earth
On Bottom left shelf
Oklahoma Bangles
Over Board with saving the Earth
Oh Boy, here we go…
Oh Brad, hand me a tampon
by by AnnieValentine on September 10, 2008 at 3:32 am. #
I have tried these things on several occasions, but the no applicator thing always gets me. But maybe, I will have a wee bit more luck with them this time around … you have my mailing address I assume :) ?!?
And if I don’t like them, my sister who is in college loves them. They will make a great stocking stuffer, lol!
by An Ordinary Mom on September 10, 2008 at 4:20 am. #
When we first moved to Poland these were the only kind they had. My husband kept singing, “OK–OB” (it rhymes in Polish and was the jingle here when he was a teenager) and I HATED THEM. I was so relieved to remember that there are such things as pads, too. That’s how badly I hated them. Now I’m loving the applicator kind, and not worrying so much about their effect on the environment.
by Lisa on September 10, 2008 at 5:06 am. #
If they email you to do the review of the penile enlargement gadget? Tell them no. :)
by That Chick Over There on September 10, 2008 at 3:15 pm. #
I am no longer needing such products. I smile as I walk right past that isle in the grocery store. There’s something to be said for a hysterectomy. Sadly my little daughter is up and coming for such things. Maybe I should get some for her? She is totally into saving the world.
by Julie Wright on September 10, 2008 at 7:49 pm. #
Like Julie–I no longer need such things and if you’re done having babys, I highly recommend endometrialablasion (also known as roller ball) which cauterizes the uterus lining and you have no more period. . . period. But I did use OB and you get used to the no-applicator and they have a ton less packaging. Very fair review.
by Josi on September 10, 2008 at 8:28 pm. #
And that’s why I’m on a b.c. that lets me skip the period issue! Those monthly visits are entirely too problematic.
by Signe on September 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm. #
OK, if you are at all squeemish – do NOT read further.
“ever walked into a room to find your toddler chewing on a tampon?”
Wellllll, I’ve seen my darling little nephew come toddling out of the bathroom chewing on a USED (yes, I had to say it in capitals) tampon. I sort of stammered and pointed and flapped and his mother quickly dealt with the, um, situation, and we’ve never spoken of it … ever.
Sorry. It’s a story that MUST be told.
by Jennie C. on September 11, 2008 at 4:29 am. #
Um, no– but I’ve caught the DOG chewing on them a time or two…
I used to use those in high school, specifically for the discrete fit-in-pocket aspect. Don’t know why I quit. Probably the missing applicator.
Sure – send me some.
(I’m mailing you something. Then you’ll have my address.)
by charrette on September 11, 2008 at 3:47 pm. #
Amanda from Matchstick here…if you guys wanna try o.b. for yourselves, feel free to check out the link below for a free sample:
http://www.mightysmall.com/mightysample
by Amanda on September 26, 2008 at 11:35 am. #
Ok so I have a cat that eats tampons… Yeah… But as a period lover, and a broke one at that, I couldn’t afford my normal brand of playtex last mont and opted for the 4.00 multi pack of OB instead of the 10 dollar alternative, and I LOVE them. I’m the only female where I work and I love how discreet they are.
by heather on May 4, 2010 at 7:11 am. #
I have been using o.b., for as long as i’ve had my period. My mom and sister both used them so when I started using tampons, I figured it out and used them too. I only realized a year or two after when my friends started using tampons (I was an early bloomer), that normal people used applicators!
by bella on May 7, 2012 at 11:44 am. #