The Best Tampons on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

Over 450 five-star reviewers recommend this multipack of applicator-free tampons, with many describing them as reliable and absorbent. This multipack come with 40 tampons — 18 regular, 12 super, and 10 super plus — that one reviewer appreciates because, “It’s nice to have a variety for the different needs of the days.” Putting convenience aside, one reviewer says, “Nothing else even comes close to the level of absorbency” of these o.b. tampons, and now, she can go a couple of hours before needing to swap her tampon on heavy-flow days. (Using other brands, she has to switch it out every 45 minutes). Some reviewers note that they were a little scared at first about having no applicator, but one reviewer — who has been using this brand for “30-plus years” — eases the mind of any first-timers: “It may take some getting used to, but they are better for the environment with less plastic waste.” Plus, one more customer thinks they’re “so much easier to use” and ultimately, “They work better than any other type of tampon. You will have no embarrassing failure moments.”

Though these are also o.b. tampons, like our best-rated pick, these are “Pro Comfort,” designed to be easier to insert because the tip is smaller and smoother. That also makes them slightly less absorbent than the original o.b. tampons, according to information from the brand, but reviewers seem to think they still work as well as the original. “God bless my mother who introduced me to o.b. tampons when that lovely first visit from Aunt Flo occurred, and 16 years later, I still haven’t found a tampon that compares,” writes one customer. She says that she learned how to use tampons without an applicator, so it’s second-nature to her, but it’s easy enough — and it creates a lot less waste. “Think of all the garbage this world would be spared if women would move away from feeling like they NEED applicators.” But aside from the applicator debate, she thinks these are far more absorbent than most other tampons. “I never, EVER leak,” she adds. Another long-time user thinks what makes these superior to other tampons is their “pro comfort” design, explaining, “The wrapping around the outside of the cotton makes insertion and removal very smooth and very easy, no matter the lubrication level.” She recommends these mostly for those who “have issues with dryness or a light flow” because this feature prevents any “pinching, pulling, or trying to fit something where it’s dry,” therefore causing less pain.

These organic cotton tampons are also applicator-free, and many reviewers compare them to o.b’s best-rated product. “I’ve been a loyal o.b. customer for years, but wanting to get better about what’s going into my body (literally) I found these Cora tampons and I couldn’t be happier,” says one customer, who describes them as having “good protection.” Another reviewer, who switched to these tampons after using the non-applicator tampons from o.b. for 20 years, says she wears them “for my work days and for when I am doing high-impact workouts.” Lots of other customers note that these tampons are absorbent and leak-free, including one who says they “fit perfectly. Also, how cool is it that these are biodegradable AND they donate sanitary products to women in need?!” In fact, according to the product description, Cora provides pads and health education to girls worldwide with every purchase, and many five-star reviewers appreciate this mission, including one who says that buying the product is an “all-around win” since they’re “organic and reducing landfill waste, all while helping girls and women in need.”

Those who want organic cotton tampons with a cardboard applicator leaned toward these ones from Natracare. “I don’t want to use any more plastic than I have to,” says one reviewer, adding that these tampons don’t cause “irritation” on sensitive skin. Another appreciates that they have a “ biodegradable applicator and that the applicator is not cardboardlike but feels more like plastic.” Despite the perception that it’s harder to insert cardboard applicators, dozens of reviewers describe these tampons as “comfortable,” including one customer who feared cardboard applicators in the past but says these are “really easy to use!” Another even uses these on “ultrasensitive days” and says that she (thankfully) doesn’t have to worry about “gritting my teeth while cramming an applicator-free hunk of compressed cotton into an angry orifice,” because the applicators have a “soft tip for easy insertion.”

Though these tampons are not organic, they’re made with all-natural, 100 percent cotton and have a plastic applicator in lieu of cardboard. Some reviewers were a bit wary about Veeda’s plastic applicator, but the brand says it’s derived from plant-based materials, and most five-star reviewers don’t seem to mind. “A healthy plastic tampon applicator was a must for me. I trust the brand, so I am not so worried about it,” writes one customer who does not like cardboard applicators or applicator-free tampons. She even thinks these are better than some name-brand tampons because they have “better quality cotton” and “great absorbency.” She appreciates that Veeda “put [her] mind at ease, knowing that these tampons are pure and better for [her] body.” Another also loves the plastic applicator, but she loves “the cotton inside that’s free of pesticides and chemicals even more.” She goes on to say, “It’s nice to be able to use this product knowing my body is not absorbing a bunch of crap from commercially available brands.”