If you've experienced bedwetting during the night, sudden and intense urges to urinate, or felt dribbles while exercising or laughing, you are not alone.
While incontinence is an uncomfortable and often embarrassing topic for many people, there are millions of individuals worldwide who experience it, and manage their symptoms with adult incontinence products.
Loss of bladder control is quite common, and the type of incontinence can range from being a slight inconvenience of small leaks when sneezing, to sudden, full bladder release, making it impossible to go about your day or sleep through the night.
With a variety of adult diaper types, brands and absorbencies to choose from, it can be hard to find what will work best for your unique situation.
To simplify the process, we've included the five things you should know before shopping for your incontinence products - and our pick of the best adult diapers available.
Table of Contents:
What to Know Before Choosing Your Incontinence Products
Our Top Choices for the Best Adult Diapers
What to Know Before Choosing Your Incontinence Products
1. Pull-Up Vs Tab-Style
Pull-up Disposable Underwear
Adult pull-up disposable underwear, also referred to as pull-ons, are protective underwear ideal for those who experience moderate bladder leakage.
They are soft and have a cloth-like outer material, providing a discreet fit, without any rustling sounds.
Pull-ups feature tear away sides for easy removal, and are ideal for mobile wearers who can pull them on and off on their own.
Tab-style Disposable Briefs
Adult briefs, also referred to as adult diapers, are a super absorbent product ideal for those who experience severe bladder or bowel incontinence.
Tab closures and a wetness indicator on the outside allow for changing without completely removing clothes, making briefs an ideal option for adults with limited mobility or those that need assistance from a caregiver or loved one.
2. Absorbency Level
Although brands may have different names for their absorbency levels, generally they fall into these three buckets:
- Moderate
- Heavy
- Maximum / Overnight
A good rule of thumb is to remember that protective underwear is designed to be trim, and is great for active individuals with moderate bladder incontinence.
Tabbed briefs are a good choice for individuals who need super absorbent overnight protection or maximum absorbency for both urine and fecal incontinence.
3. Key Product Features
When picking out the best adult incontinence products, there are a few key product features to look out for, that set great products apart from the rest. Together, these features will make for a discreet, comfortable fit and keep your skin clean and dry to prevent rashes from developing.
Breathable, Moisture Wicking Materials
Many brands, such as Prevail, Tena, Attends and Tranquility use specialized materials to ensure even sensitive skin stays irritation free.
Breathable materials will allow air to circulate through the product and reduce heat buildup, while moisture wicking properties pull liquid away from the skin and trap it within the absorbent core below.
Without this moisture wicking, the top-sheet may feel wet to the touch.
Odor control
It's important to ensure your products have odor neutralization properties, to keep you feeling fresh and confident.
Cloth-like vs Plastic Backsheet
The backsheet of incontinence products is the outside material used and generally come in cloth-like or plastic.
Cloth-like backsheets make incontinence underwear and briefs more discreet. They keep the product soft to the touch and give it a trim fit, so they look and feel like regular underwear.
Additionally, cloth-like backsheets do not rustle with movement like a plastic backsheet can - making wearers much more comfortable and confident during everyday use.
However, plastic backsheets do have their own benefits, and many times they are used for those who need the assistance of a caretaker and have heavy to severe urinary incontinence or bowel incontinence.
Although plastic backed diapers are noisier and thicker, they offer better leakage protection than their cloth-like counterparts, and ensure no liquid escapes throughout extended wear.
4. Getting the Right Fit
It's important to get a comfortable fit for your incontinence briefs or pull-on absorbent underwear.
A product that is too tight will rub and cause skin irritation, while too big will cause the product to leak through the leg cuffs.
It's easy to find your size, by simply taking your weight and measuring your waist. Our products have size charts available to ensure you always get the right size for you.
Our Top Choices for the Best Adult Diapers
Best Tabbed Brief
Diaper Style: Tabbed Brief
Absorbency Level: Super (Maximum)
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder and/or Bowel Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to 3XL
Key Product Features:
- Cloth-like backsheet that's soft and discreet
- ConfioAir 100% fully breathable technology allows for air circulation
- Quick-wick Instadry technology quickly pulls liquid away from the skin and locks it in the absorbent core below
- Odor control technology locks liquid away and neutralizes odor
Diaper Style: Tabbed Brief
Absorbency Level: Ultimate (Maximum)
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder and/or Bowel Incontinence
Sizing: 2XL and 3XL
Key Product Features:
- Cloth-like backsheet that's soft and discreet
- 360° Breathability allows for air circulation throughout the entire product
- Microclimate Care quickly wicks moisture and humidity away from the skin, sleeping it cool and dry
- Maxsorb Gel Technology absorbs and locks in wetness
- Odor control technology stops odor before it happens
Diaper Style: Tabbed Brief
Absorbency Level: Super (Maximum)
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder and/or Bowel Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Soft, clothlike backsheet, feels like regular underwear
- DryLock Containment Core quickly wicks liquid away from the skin and locks it in the core below
- Breathable side panels keeps reduce heat and humidity
- ConfidenceCuff Protection help prevent leaks from the legs
Best Overnight Adult Diapers
Diaper Style: Tabbed Brief
Absorbency Level: Maximum / Overnight
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder and/or Bowel Incontinence
Sizing: Extra Small to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Cloth-like inner layer is soft against skin
- Plastic backsheet keeps even severe bladder and bowel incontinence inside
- Quick-wick Superabsorbent Polymers guarantee skin dryness, odor reduction, pH neutralization of urine and inhibition of bacterial growth
- Kufguards help prevent leaks from the legs
- Can hold up to 1 liter of liquid
Diaper Style: Tabbed Brief
Absorbency Level: Maximum / Overnight
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder and/or Bowel Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Large
Key Product Features:
- Soft, clothlike outer fabric
- Quick-wick Microclimate Care wicks moisture and humidity from skin to keep it cool and dry
- MaxSorb Gel technology quickly absorbs and locks in wetness
- Breathable poly layer traps wetness inside but allows heat and humidity to escape
Diaper Style: Pull-On Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Maximum / Overnight
Incontinence Level: Heavy to Severe Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Soft, clothlike outer fabric
- Quick-wick Instadry technology quickly pulls liquid away from the skin and locks it in the absorbent core below
- Odor control technology locks liquid away and neutralizes odor
- ConfioAir Fully Breathable technology helps maintain skin’s natural moisture balance
- Lie Down Protection designed specifically for night-time use with more absorbency in the back where it’s needed most
Best Discreet Underwear for Women
Diaper Style: Pull-on Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Extra (Heavy)
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Feminine, purple color
- Soft, cloth-like backsheet looks and feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick Microclimate Care wicks moisture and humidity from skin to keep it cool and dry
- 360° Breathable Zones help you stay cool and comfortable by allowing air to circulate
- MaxSorb Gel technology quickly absorbs and locks in wetness
- Odor guard neutralizes odors before the start
Diaper Style: Pull-on Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Maximum (Heavy)
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Small to Extra Large
Key Product Benefits:
- Feminine, tan color
- Soft, cloth-like backsheet, feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick Instadry technology quickly pulls liquid away from the skin and locks it in the absorbent core below
- Odor control technology locks liquid away and neutralizes odor
- ConfioAir Fully Breathable technology helps maintain skin’s natural moisture balance
Diaper Style: Pull-on Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Heavy
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Feminine, tan color
- Soft, cloth-like backsheet, feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick DermaDry technology quickly pulls moisture away from the skin and into the absorbent core below
- Odor Shield blocks odors and keeps you feeling fresh and clean
- Breathable fabric allows for air circulation and reduce heat and humidity
Best Discreet Underwear for Men
Diaper Style: Pull-on Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Extra (Heavy)
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Masculine, navy color
- Soft, cloth-like backsheet looks and feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick Microclimate Care wicks moisture and humidity from skin to keep it cool and dry
- 360° Breathable Zones help you stay cool and comfortable by allowing air to circulate
- MaxSorb Gel technology quickly absorbs and locks in wetness
- Odor guard neutralizes odors before the start
Diaper Style: Pull-on Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Maximum (Heavy)
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium to Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Masculine, gray color
- Soft, clothlike backsheet, feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick Instadry technology quickly pulls liquid away from the skin and locks it in the absorbent core below
- Odor control technology locks liquid away and neutralizes odor
- ConfioAir Fully Breathable technology helps maintain skin’s natural moisture balance
Diaper Style: Pull-up Protective Underwear
Absorbency Level: Heavy
Incontinence Level: Moderate to Heavy Bladder Incontinence
Sizing: Medium - Extra Large
Key Product Features:
- Masculine, white color
- Soft, cloth-like backsheet, feels like regular underwear
- Quick-wick DermaDry technology quickly pulls moisture away from the skin and into the absorbent core below
- Odor Shield blocks odors and keeps you feeling fresh and clean
- Breathable fabric allows for air circulation and reduce heat and humidity
There are many things to keep in mind when looking for the best adult diaper - and it can seem overwhelming when first starting. It's normal for some trial and error to happen before finding what works best for your unique situation.
To speed up the process, there are several key things you should know before purchasing your products.
The diaper style and absorbency level will depend on how severe your incontinence is. Most active adults with moderate to heavy bladder incontinence will opt for the discreet protection of protective underwear, while those who expereince bowel incontinence or depend on the help of a caregiver would do better in tabbed briefs.
By choosing a product with breathable materials that wick away moisture and control odor, you will keep your skin clean, dry and irritation free even throughout extended use.
Incontinence is a difficult subject to talk about, even with a doctor, we hope by bringing more attention and education to it, we can help to normalize this common condition.
