Disposable Briefs

Brief-style diapers best for severe incontinence

Most reviewers agree that traditional adult diapers, also known as disposable briefs, are the best choice for extended use or severe urinary or fecal incontinence. Users say that while they can be awkward to put on and take off (and difficult to change in a public washroom), adult briefs offer the most secure protection and the most customizable fit.

Most reviewers say the Abena Abri-Form X-Plus Brief (*Est. $15 for a package of 14) is the best premium diaper available. XP Medical calls it "the best adult diaper on the market," and their tests rate it at the top of its class for absorbency and rewetting capacity. The New Diaper Primer says premium adult diapers such as Abena's don't suffer from the bunching and clumping issues that can affect lower quality diapers. The Incontinence Resource Center gives this brand its highest rating with scores of "very good" and "good" for comfort, absorbency and ease of use.

The only down side to the X-Plus, besides its relatively high price, is its size. Although most users say they appreciate the extra absorbency, it does make the diaper bulkier under clothing. The Abena Abri-Form Super Brief (*Est. $21 for a package of 24 medium) is a thinner version that still performs well in absorbency tests. Although some users say that they prefer the X-Plus for extended or overnight use, the Abri-Form Super gets good ratings as a relatively discreet daytime brief. According to XP Medical, "the Super offers very good capacity in a thinner package than the X-Plus."

MoliCare is another premium brand that reviewers say provides excellent protection. XP Medical rates the MoliCare Super Plus (*Est. $22 for 24 medium) best in its class for wicking (keeping wetness away from the body). Because good wicking means liquid is drawn into the padding evenly and efficiently, reviewers say the Super Plus is a good choice for comfortable extended wear. Magic Medical gives the Super Plus its top recommendation. The Incontinence Resource Center also gives it top marks for absorbency, but docks points for difficulty of removal and the strength of its plastic backing. The New Diaper Primer calls MoliCare the "undisputed king" for absorbency with no clumping problems, and one Epinions user calls it "the most absorbent adult diaper I have ever tried." Users say that the MoliCare Super Plus is bulky enough to be visible under some clothing, however, and a few say that the fit could be improved and that the legs should have more elastic.

Like Abena, MoliCare makes a thinner brief, called the MoliCare Super (*Est. $31 for a package of 28 medium) . In XP Medical's comparative testing, the Super "was the surprise of the test, offering incredible capacity in a very slim brief." The review cautions that the gel material makes absorption slower, but editors say that doesn't have a negative impact on overall performance.

Although the MoliCare Super and the Abena Abri-Form adult diapers do have a slimmer fit than their heavy duty counterparts, some reviewers say Attends makes the best briefs for wearing discreetly under close-fitting pants. The flexible elasticized waistband gets the Attends Briefs Waistband Style (*Est. $17 for a package of 22) top ratings for comfort and fit. According to XP Medical, "Attends have a unique square leg cut that looks odd but is very comfortable for most people." The close fit does come with reduced capacity, though. The Incontinence Resource Center gives Attends a rating of "not good" for rewet absorbency and only 44% for overall absorbency. Users posting to Epinions say they like the comfort, the fit and the well-distributed padding, but they also say the material tends to bunch and the tapes sometimes tear the plastic backing.

Depend is another readily available brand that gets mid-range marks for absorbency, with a 51% rating from The Incontinence Resource Center. According to The New Diaper Primer, the widespread availability of Depend adult diapers means they are often the first a consumer will buy. Although reviewer consensus is that MoliCare and Abena make higher quality products, some users posting to Amazon.com and incontinence support boards say they are happy to stick with Depend. Of the handful of reviews on Amazon.com for the Depend Fitted Maximum Protection Brief (*Est. $21 for a package of 16 large) , all are primarily positive. Users say these briefs are comfortable and reasonably absorbent, although one poster mentions using them in conjunction with an extra pad.

Between premium and standard brands in terms of ratings, Tranquility makes two styles of disposable brief: ATN, or All-Through-the-Night (*Est. $13 for a package of 12 medium) for overnight protection and extended wear, and SlimLine (*Est. $10 for a package of 12 medium) for moderate to heavy daytime use. Incontinence Resource Center gives the ATN style a mix of "good" and "average" ratings, calling it "one of the best products in its price range." NorthShore Care Supply gives it a recommendation, and The New Diaper Primer gives it good marks for fit and the fact that the absorbent filling doesn't clump as it can with Attends adult diapers. The downside of Tranquility briefs is that they're not readily available in retail stores.