Adult Diapers

Best disposable briefs

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 medium) 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 medium) 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.

Best pull-on disposable underwear

Pull-on disposable underwear styles, also known as pull-ups, look similar to adult briefs without the tape or Velcro fasteners. Reviewers say pull-on styles are easy to pull up and down, making them much more convenient to use and a good choice for those who sometimes, or usually, are able to use the bathroom instead of relying on a diaper. On the other hand, although manufacturers often rate their pull-on underwear to be as absorbent as full adult briefs, most reviewers disagree.

All the major adult brief manufacturers also make disposable pull-on underwear, and those that perform well in the brief category do well here too. XP Medical describes Abena’s Abri-Flex (*est. $16 for a package of 14 medium) as "perhaps the finest pull-up available anywhere," saying the high elastic thread count and elasticized crotch contribute to a good fit with less chance of leaking. MoliCare Mobile (*est. $70 for a case of 72 large) gets mixed reviews on the Depend incontinence message board. While one user rates it an A+, another says it leaks badly. As one poster points out, the issue with pull-on disposable underwear is that, unless it fits snugly enough to contain leaks, even the most absorbent core will be less effective.

Depend Adjustable Underwear (*est. $22 for a package of 18 small/medium) gets around the fit issue by adding tapes that can be either left closed or refastened for a more snug fit. Several users on Yahoo! Health’s Incontinence Support Group say they use Depend Underwear, which one user calls "good daytime protection." Reviewers posting to Amazon.com give the Depend Adjustable Underwear style good marks for absorbency and comfort.

Attends makes two styles of disposable underwear: Attends Underwear Super Plus Absorbency with Leakage Barriers (*est. $70 for a package of 80 medium) and Attends Underwear Extra Absorbency (*est. $55 for a package of 80) . While both products have the same basic design, the Super Plus style has inner leg cuffs, which act as an additional liquid barrier. XP Medical says the Super Plus provides "excellent leakage protection at an affordable price." Its comparative tests rate Attends Underwear at just over half the absorbency of the Abena Abri-Flex, though, meaning that while it’s a good budget choice, it may not be as appropriate for severe incontinence or extended wear.

Tranquility is another brand that uses inner leg cuffs to increase absorbency in both their Premium Overnight Disposable Absorbent Underwear (*est. $80 for a case of 72 medium) and their Premium DayTime Disposable Absorbent Underwear (*est. $72 for a case of 72 medium) . Magic Medical puts Tranquility at the top of its disposable underwear chart, rating its protection level as "heavy" compared to the "moderate" rating they give Depend Underwear.

Best pads and boosters

Not everyone dealing with incontinence needs to wear full adult briefs or even pull-on disposable underwear. Incontinence pads are sold in a range of absorbency levels and can be worn with either regular or specialty underwear. Some pads are designed specifically for use with the manufacture’s own underwear – the Tranquility High Capacity Pad (*est. $11 for a package of 25) , for example, works with the Tranquility Washable Pant (*est. $10 to $16 depending on size) -- but most can be used with any snug-fitting underwear.

This category has the widest range of protection levels. For example, Abena’s Abri-Light Ultra Mini (*est. $6 for a package of 28) is designed to hold only 2.5 ounces of liquid, while their Abri-San X-Plus (*est. $13 for a bag of 16)can contain nearly 115 ounces. Which style performs best depends on the wearer’s degree of incontinence and sensitivity to bulkiness. According to XP Medical, the Mini is "incredibly discreet under clothing," while the X-Plus "provides nearly the same protection as a full brief, without the hassle of tapes."

MoliCare, Tranquility, Depend and Attends also make a wide selection of pads and guards, about which reviewers say that users should consider both the manufacturer’s stated absorbency level and the brand’s reputation. While Depend Guards for Men (*est. $11 for a package of 14) may work well for mild incontinence, and Attends Shaped Pads (*est. $17 for a package of 18) are a readily-available high-absorbency pad, reviewers say those with moderate to severe incontinence are better off using a premium pad such as one of Abena’s.

Boosters are like pads -- but without the absorbent backing. Not intended to be worn alone, they add protection when combined with a disposable brief or pull-up. According to The New Diaper Primer, the best booster is Tranquility’s Topliner Booster Pad (*est. $9 for a package of 25) , which is designed to fill to capacity before transferring the liquid to the primary protective brief or pull-up. Abena’s Abri-Let (*est. $11 for a package of 45) also gets good user reviews, and the New Diaper Primer says the Depend Boost (*est. $9 for a package of 20) is a widely available booster that works well for improving brief capacity.

Best cloth diapers

Although disposable incontinence wear is more popular, cloth diapers have a loyal following as well. The New Diaper Primer has an extensive discussion of cloth diapers, including tips for use, laundering techniques and a discussion of available styles and fabrics. Cloth diapers can be made of various materials, including terry cloth, birdseye, gauze and flannel. New Diaper Primer cautions against terry cloth, saying it’s much too bulky for daytime use, and recommends flannel as a good all-purpose choice for absorbency and comfort. The Primer recommends Angel Fluff’s flannel diapers, which include a standard pre-folded style for use with diaper pins (starting at *est. $3 each, depending on size) and a pre-folded hook-and-loop (Velcro) style (starting at *est. $3 each, depending on weight and size).

Important Features: Adult diapers

Reviewers say the following about shopping for adult diapers.

• Consider your personal needs. A light pad may provide enough protection for mild stress incontinence, and a standard diaper may work well enough if it’s changed after each use. For those with severe incontinence or those who want to use a single diaper for multiple wettings, a premium diaper is the most reliable choice.

• Choose a diaper that’s compatible with your clothing. Although premium diapers are the most effective, they can also be bulkier. While the increased bulk shouldn’t be an issue for those who wear fairly loose clothing, experts say less absorbent styles tend to fit more discreetly under closer-fitting clothing. Another discreet choice is a pad in an appropriate absorbency level worn inside close-fitting underwear.

• Will you still be able to use the toilet? Users say pull-on underwear or pads are far easier to pull up and down than adult briefs, which need to be refastened on each side after a trip to the bathroom. Another option for those who need more protection is to place a booster inside a brief and change the booster as needed while leaving the brief in place. Experts say changing a standard adult diaper in a public washroom requires significant mobility and dexterity, which is simply not practical for most people.

• Start with a sample pack. Because of the variation in people’s body shapes and lifestyles, experts say there’s no incontinence product that works for everyone. A reputable retailer should be willing to send a small sample pack -- usually two or three diapers -- at a reduced price, before you commit to a larger order.

• Buy the smallest size that fits well, unless you need extra protection. Adult diapers and disposable pull-on underwear come in a range of sizes from extra small to extra large and beyond. For those whose body measurements fall between sizes, the smaller size is usually less expensive option, while the larger size may have a higher containment capacity.

• Try new products out at home first. An incontinence product that works well for one person’s body shape may be uncomfortable or leaky for someone else. Experts caution that even a top-rated brief, pull-up or pad should be tested in a private setting before being worn out in public.

• Get the support you need. Although millions of people experience mild to severe urinary or fecal incontinence, many users still say they feel nervous or ashamed about using adult diapers. See our Best Research and All Reviews sections for links to support groups, information, treatment options and advocacy.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model(with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Abena Abri-Form X-Plus Briefs (*est. $15 for a package of 14 medium)	details
2	MoliCare Super Plus Briefs (*est. $22 for 24 medium)	details
1 each	Tranquility ATN , Tranquility Topliner Booster Pad , Abena Abri-Flex

While both MoliCare and Abena do well in comparative testing, Abena takes the edge in reviews. Tranquility is considered a step below the premium brands but some users say they find the absorbency adequate and prefer the fit. Attends and Depend, the most widely available adult-diaper brands, get significantly lower absorbency ratings than MoliCare or Abena, but some users say they prefer Attends briefs because they aren’t as noticeable under clothing.

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