Sunday 17 March 2024

Sekure Adult Diaper Review

 *For more information on how I do reviews see Diaper Test Methodology


 

Summary

The Sekure Adult Diaper is a Southeast Asian diaper with a cloth-like backsheet and plastic landing zone. This diaper is remarkably similar to the Secure Basic Adult Diaper, even in name. I suspect both are produced by the same manufacturer, given the numerous design similarities. However, this diaper feels to be of a higher quality and the padding is significantly more durable than that of the Secure Basic Diaper. I found this interesting, because the padding is only slightly denser than that of the Secure Basic Diaper, yet it seems to be enough to make a major difference in durability. What’s more, from what I could find, this diaper generally appears to sell for cheaper than the Secure Basic. In fact, the unit price is comparable to what you’d find for many male guards.

In terms of absorbency, this diaper is still only really designed for a single wetting. Beyond that it’s highly likely to leak, and even with a single wetting you’d need to be somewhat mindful of pressout. Admittedly, this wasn’t the most interesting review doing it back to back with the Secure Basic, given all the similarities. However, it did make it glaringly obvious that this would be a much better choice if deciding between the two. In terms of availability, you’re only really going to find this diaper in Southeast Asia and from what I can tell it’s generally sold through online retailers. From a price perspective, it’s so cheap that it’s likely still a competitive choice against higher absorbency diapers and I suspect it sells well for carer environments.


Key Features:

  • Cloth-like backsheet
  • Patterned landing zone
  • Repositionable fasteners
  • Standing inner leak barriers
  • Wetness indicator

Pros:

  • Strong tapes
  • Comfortable and breathable
  • Low unit price

Cons:

  • Surface dampness
  • Low absorbency

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium/large-sized Sekure Adult Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:


Packaging

Brand: Sekure
Manufacturer: TAISUN VIETNAM CO., LTD.
Origin: Vietnam
Units Per Bag: 10
Cost Per Unit: $
Dimensions (L x W x H): 23 cm (9.1") x 16 cm (6.3") x 24 cm (9.5")
Weight: 0.93 kg (2.04 lbs)
Available Sizes: M-L, L-XL
Advertised Absorbency: Moderate (750 ml)


1.1 Sekure Adult Diaper Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (small blue dots down the middle, fades when wet)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: Yes
Leg Gathers: Yes
Product Style: Tab-Style Brief
Refastenable Tabs: Yes
Number of Tapes: 2
Repositionable Tabs: Yes
Outer Color: White (purple landing zone with stripes of varying shades)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 2.5 cm (0.98")
Folded Length: 23 cm (9.1")
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 77.5 cm (30.5") x 65 cm (25.6") x 28 cm (11") x 65 cm (25.6")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 61 cm (24") x 32 cm (12.6") x 18 cm (7.1") x 41 cm (16.1")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 7 cm (2.8") x 12 cm (4.7") x 11.5 cm (4.5") x 17 cm (6.7")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1657 cm2 (257 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 5 cm (2") x 13 cm (5.1")
Tape (W x L): 4 cm (1.6") x 2.5 cm (1")

1.2 Sekure Adult Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 680 ml (24 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 700 ml (24.7 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (76 s, 66 s, 90 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 3 cm (1.2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 77%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.41 ml / cm2 (0.09 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 20 ml (0.71 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 3

The Sekure diaper was hardly a top performer when it came to surface dampness. During the lab test there was noticeable moisture after only a single wetting. That said, during real world testing the relatively wide padding and distribution channels meant it didn’t feel nearly as damp as you might expect. The most noticeable aspect of it during real world testing was the relatively slow absorption rate and tendency for pooling.



2.1 Wet vs Dry Diaper After Capacity Test


2.2 Used vs Unused Padding After Capacity Test
 

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Posture Tests


Standing-Sitting

Total Absorbed Volume: 525 ml (18.5 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 1 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 78%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.32 ml / cm2 (0.07 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 3
The Sekure diaper performed reasonably well when tested while standing and sitting. The first wetting while standing was absorbed quickly, though with some temporary pooling. The padding was wide and absorbent enough that it was distributed without feeling particularly damp. Upon sitting shortly after there was no sign of leakage and it still felt quite breathable. There was still a lot of dry padding at the front and rear. On the second wetting, while seated, moisture quickly pooled at the front of the diaper and eventually some pushed out into the wings resulting in a leak near rear left leg gathers. At this point the front and mid-padding felt completely saturated while there was still a significant amount of dry padding at the rear. All in all, this diaper performed better than the Secure Basic diaper in spite of its similar appearance and I’d expect it to generally manage at least one wetting without leaking.


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 675 ml (23.8 oz)
Total Wettings: 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 82%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.41 ml / cm2 (0.09 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 5

The Sekure diaper performed better than expected when lying down. The first wetting was fully absorbed with no obvious leaks. Initially there was substantial pooling, which was eventually distributed through the rear padding and absorbed. It still felt quite damp after it was all absorbed but the highly breathable design somewhat mitigated that and eventually I didn’t notice. Interestingly the front padding remained mostly dry. Like with the Secure Basic diaper, I feel a big part of this was due to the leak barriers as the padding is quite thin. On the second wetting there was once again substantial pooling, a bit was absorbed but the padding felt quite saturated and squishy. Eventually moisture started gathering near the leg gathers and a bit escaped so I stopped the test at that. Under pressure it surely would have leaked much earlier, but lying down the barriers do a good job at holding back the moisture. This diaper is probably absorbent enough to handle a single overnight wetting without leaking, but it’s far from foolproof.

2.3 Pattern of Used vs Unused Padding Test Stand/Sit (right) Lying Down (left)


Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Sekure Adult Diaper is pretty much a better version of the Secure Basic Adult Diaper. It has a “hybrid” design with a cloth-like backsheet and plastic landing zone/tapes. I had pretty low expectations for this diaper after some of the issues I ran into with its counterpart. However, it exceeded my expectations for the most part with the tapes more adjustable and padding more resilient than the Secure Basic. In general, I found it better suited for wear when lying down or bedwetting than daily wear. In either case, I feel it will generally manage at least one full wetting before leakage is a concern. But, when worn for daily wear I’d be a bit more concerned about pressout moisture causing leaks. The big advantage this diaper has is its extensive padding. So even though it’s not particularly thick/absorbent any moisture will have to work its way through a lot of padding before it could leak. Beyond a single wetting I would say it’s highly likely to leak. For me, I found it was sufficient for bedwetting as I often only wet once while asleep and might otherwise wake up before further wettings if I’m careful about fluid intake. So I didn’t experience any leaks with it and on several occasions I woke up without realizing it had even been wet until I looked at the wetness indicator. Had I tested further I suspect eventually I’d find it isn’t fool proof, yet it could also be improved with booster pads. During daily wear I think it would be a fine choice for moderate incontinence. It won’t be as good for heavier incontinence and I noticed pressout surface dampness far more during daily wear. Its lack of odor resistance would also be more of an issue during daily wear. All said, it turned out to be a more interesting diaper to review than I’d expected and surprisingly effective for the ridiculously low unit price.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 7

The Sekure diaper is similar to the Secure Basic diaper when it comes to suitability for bowel incontinence. It loses some marks due to the cloth-like backsheet and weakness in terms of odor containment. On the plus side, it has decent leak guards and extensive rear padding. It’s also a bit better than the Secure Basic in that the padding is more durable. That said, there are definitely better diapers for this, like the BetterDry or Forsite AM/PM.


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The Sekure diaper is a “hybrid” diaper very similar to the Secure Basic diaper. Both feature a cloth-like backsheet with adhesive tapes and a plastic landing zone. As such it has a breathable design combined with the security you get from the stronger adhesive tapes of a plastic backed diaper. The tapes on this diaper grip very firmly to the landing zone, but I found them slightly easier to adjust than the Secure Basic diaper.

3.1 Sekure Adult Diaper Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 9

The Sekure diaper is nearly identical to the Secure Basic diaper, but better quality. For this reason, I give it a slight edge in terms of ease-of-use. It has a very similar patterned landing zone, which makes it easy to consistently get a snug fit. In my experience, I found the padding held up better and the tapes were less likely to get stuck and tear during refastening than the Secure Basic tapes and padding. Otherwise, it has decent leak guards and a wetness indicator, which helps in caregiver environments.

3.1 Sekure Adult Diaper Fit

Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 9

The Sekure diaper wins high marks for comfort in its dry state. This diaper is highly comfortable and the tapes hold strong, giving it a snug fit. The padding and backsheet are particularly soft. Unlike the Sekure Basic, the padding in this diaper held up far better in terms of wear and tear in its dry state. For this reason I rank it much better with respect to dry comfort.


Comfort Rating (wet): 7

The Sekure diaper performed better than the Secure Basic when it came to wet comfort but still demonstrated surface dampness early on. On the plus side, although the padding was susceptible to surface dampness it didn’t feel particularly damp after a single wetting. Moreover, this diaper proved quite durable and I didn’t notice much change in padding consistency when wet compared to its dry state. I didn’t notice much in terms of sagging, clumping or tearing, at least not in a way to affect its comfort. All in all, I felt it was perhaps average or slightly above average in terms of wet comfort.

3.3 Sekure Adult Diaper Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 7.7% (topsheet), 7.3% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 6 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 7
The Sekure diaper proved considerably more durable than the Secure Basic in spite of the surface similarities. This was particularly true for the padding and tapes. After considerable wear and tear I found relatively minor damage to the padding, generally away from the core area of absorption. The tapes also proved better than Secure Basic and I found it held up decently to multiple refastenings with limited weakening. However, the wetness indicator was somewhat susceptible to sweat and minor drips/dribbles.


Durability Rating (wet): 7

The Sekure diaper was similar in its wet state compared to its dry state and again more durable than the Secure Basic. I only noticed modest padding deterioration with the core area generally keeping in good condition. Like the Secure Basic diaper, the tapes on this diaper have a strong fit and don’t shift with wear. I didn’t notice much in the way of sagging, albeit, given the limited absorbency.

3.4 Sekure Adult Diaper Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests


Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4 cm (1.6"), 5 cm (2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5.5 cm (2.1"), 5 cm (2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4.5 cm (1.8"), 5 cm (2")

Profile Discretion Rating: 8

The Sekure diaper has a discreet profile, particularly at the front. I didn’t notice the diaper at all from the front, but there was a bit of a diaper bulge at the rear. Even so, the diaper has a snug fit and the padding is relatively thin so it will easily disappear when worn under underwear or meshpants. Otherwise, the most noticeable aspect of this diaper is the rise above the waistline, but this is generally easier to hide and it has a plain white fabric-like appearance.


4.1 Sekure Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Sekure Adult Diaper Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) 


Noise

Noise Rating: 6

The Sekure diaper has the same design as the Secure Basic with a plastic landing zone that’s susceptible to rustling. So, in spite of its cloth-like backsheet, this diaper will not be as easy to hide as other such diapers when it comes to noise. This is particularly true when standing up or sitting down, though it could be somewhat concealed when worn under thicker clothing.

4.3 Sekure Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 4
The Sekure diaper is again the same as the Secure Basic in terms of odor reduction, even if it is slightly more durable and absorbent. I found it susceptible to surface dampness and thus more susceptible to odors. Also, the cloth-like backsheet and gaps don’t do much to prevent the escape of odors. For these reasons I rank it at the lower end of the scale when it comes to odor reduction.


Saturday 24 February 2024

Top 10 Adult Diapers 2023 Rankings

*For information on how I do reviews see Diaper Test Methodology
 
 

Summary

It's been a busy year with plenty of challenges so we kind of lost track of where our reviews were at and when we'd done our previous annual review. I'm happy to announce in this post we'll be sharing our updated 2023 diaper rankings, building on the 2022 top 10 adult diaper rankings. In our previous year's review we had 48 diapers for comparison, with this year's review we're up to 64. Additionally, we reviewed 4 new reusable protective underwear products, building on the previous year's review of Carer incontinence products. Moreover, we completed our first two of a new series of reviews covering incontinence pads: Lindor for Men 5D and Depend for Men Guards. Going forward I'm happy to announce we're adding a publicly available spreadsheet to make it easier for others to compare the findings of our reviews, read on for more info on that.

In this year's rankings we continued to use the same scoring formulas as were used in the 2021 rankings, but followed the 2022 practice of only taking the top product for each brand in the overall rankings. One big development in this year's ranking was the disappointing discontinuation of the ConfiDry 24/7. This diaper had consistently ranked among the top 10 in previous years and was a very unique product, unlike the masses of companies that simply outsource their diaper designs to one or two factories while adding only one or two superficial changes these days. For this year's ranking I've kept the ConfiDry 24/7 in its respective position for each category, but grayed it out and moved other diapers up to form the top 10. Consequently, some of the lists will have 11 diapers. Baring a miraculous recovery, next year's ranking will drop this diaper since it can no longer be purchased.

The top 2 diapers overall continued to be the Seni Super Quatro and BetterDry M10, but this year the ABU Little Kings jumped into spot #3. This year also saw a new diaper top an individual category, with the Molicare Premium Elastic 10D taking the top spot in the category of discreetness.

In the coming year we're planning to review a few new products including booster pads and protective underwear as well as continuing with the pad and pants reviews, diapers and reusable protective underwear. But reflecting on the previous year we received great feedback and support. We'd like to give a special shout out to Carer for providing another excellent set of reusable underwear to review! We'd also like to give special thanks to Brett, Frank, BR Pat, Denis and Corry for their generous donations this past year! Additionally, we've received great suggestions this past year and have greatly grown our review suggestions substantially over the past year.

As a reminder, we have a form to collect suggestions for future reviews here. And for those who'd like to donate for future reviews we've tried to capture as many suggestions as possible in our Amazon wish list below. Alternatively, if you'd like to help support our reviews at no cost, simply use our Adult Diapers affiliate link when you make your next purchase of incontinence supplies through Amazon. Also, since some products aren't easily accessible or way overpriced on Amazon we've had some reach out about alternative ways to donate, so this year we introduced a way to donate via PayPal. Any help is always appreciated!

p.s. Amazon.ca has the best shipping rates here, but relatively limited product selection, apologies if there are shipping costs on the others


 

Amazon Germany Review Suggestions Wish List

Amazon France Review Suggestions Wish List


Absorbency Ranking

The absorbency ranking is based on the same scoring formula described in the 2020 top 10. The formula accounts for average absorption during testing, the amount absorbed per area of padding as well as other characteristics that improve performance in this regard. It produces a score between 1-10 with higher scores indicating better absorbency performance. Some high absorbency diapers were tested in the past year, with the Trest Elite Briefs, ABU Little Kings and Forsite Under the Sea diapers   bumping previous years' diapers out of the top 10. Rankings narrowed slightly with the higher concentration of high absorbency diapers in the mix. Notably, the Forsite AM/PM and Bambino Karnevalee were bumped just short of the top 10 with these additions.

 
DiaperScoring
Score: 9.47
Absorbency: 2158 ml (76.1 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.14 ml/cm2 (0.26 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 9
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 80
Score: 9.45
Absorbency: 2075 ml (73.2 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.07 ml/cm2 (0.24 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 10
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 79
 
Score: 9.42
Absorbency: 1895 ml (66.8 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.17 ml/cm2 (0.27 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 10
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 93
 
Score: 9.36
Absorbency: 2158 ml (76.1 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.17 ml/cm2 (0.27 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 9
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 72
Score: 9.27
Absorbency: 1891 ml (66.7 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.19 ml/cm2 (0.27 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 9
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 82

 
Score: 8.82
Absorbency: 1834 ml (42.6 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.14 ml/cm2 (0.26 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 9
Lying Down Score: 9
Used Percent: 76
Score: 8.66
Absorbency: 1492 ml (52.6 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.33 ml/cm2 (0.30 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 8
Lying Down Score: 9
Used Percent: 93
Score: 8.44
Absorbency: 1475 ml (52.0 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.08 ml/cm2 (0.25 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 9
Lying Down Score: 9
Used Percent: 96
Score: 8.26
Absorbency: 1449 ml (52.1 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 1.01 ml/cm2 (0.23 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 8
Lying Down Score: 8
Used Percent: 86
 
Score: 8.24
Absorbency: 1601 ml (56.5 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 0.88 ml/cm2 (0.20 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 8
Lying Down Score: 10
Used Percent: 88
Score: 8.17
Absorbency: 1775 ml (62.6 oz)
Absorbency Ratio: 0.89 ml/cm2 (0.20 oz/in2)
Leg Gathers: yes
Inner Leak Guards: yes
Stand/Sit Score: 8
Lying Down Score: 9
Used Percent: 79



Comfort Ranking

The comfort ranking is also based on the 2020 rankings formula. This formula accounts for aspects of performance like surface dampness and breathability. It also accounts for scoring on comfort in dry and wet states and padding softness. There were three new additions to this year's rankings for comfort: ABU Little Kings, Molicare Premium Elastic Briefs 10D, and Tena Slip Original Maxi. However, the Seni Super Quatro retained its top spot. Bumped just out of the top 10 ranking were the Nexgen Absorbent Plus and Tena PROSkin Flex Maxi.


DiaperScoring
Score: 9.31
Padding Area: 1435 cm2 (222 in2)
Absorbency Time: 42 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 9
Ease of Use Score: 10
Score: 9.03
Padding Area: 1625 cm2 (252 in2)
Absorbency Time: 58 s
Dry Comfort Score: 9
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 10
Ease of Use Score: 10
Score: 9.01
Padding Area: 1584 cm2 (245 in2)
Absorbency Time: 77 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 9
Ease of Use Score: 10
Score: 8.89
Padding Area: 1823 cm2 (282 in2)
Absorbency Time: 56 s
Dry Comfort Score: 9
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 9
Ease of Use Score: 8
Score: 8.88
Padding Area: 1187 cm2 (184 in2)
Absorbency Time: 76 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 8
Ease of Use Score: 6
Score: 8.77
Padding Area: 1120 cm2 (174 in2)
Absorbency Time: 48 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 8
Ease of Use Score: 7
Score: 8.72
Padding Area: 1823 cm2 (283 in2)
Absorbency Time: 97 s
Dry Comfort Score: 9
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 9
Ease of Use Score: 10
Score: 8.63
Padding Area: 1611 cm2 (250 in2)
Absorbency Time: 85 s
Dry Comfort Score: 9
Wet Comfort Score: 10
Surface Dampness Score: 9
Ease of Use Score: 9
Score: 8.59
Padding Area: 1840 cm2 (285 in2)
Absorbency Time: 41 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 8
Surface Dampness Score: 7
Ease of Use Score: 7
Score: 8.51
Padding Area: 1091 cm2 (169 in2)
Absorbency Time: 45 s
Dry Comfort Score: 10
Wet Comfort Score: 9
Surface Dampness Score: 8
Ease of Use Score: 7
Score: 8.43
Padding Area: 1594 cm2 (247 in2)
Absorbency Time: 46 s
Dry Comfort Score: 9
Wet Comfort Score: 9
Surface Dampness Score: 8
Ease of Use Score: 7


Durability Ranking

In this year's durability ranking we've reused the adjusted formula from the 2021 durability rankings. This formula accounts for how much padding is destroyed after extended wear/tear, how well the tapes hold up and whether the padding is prone to clumps or tears. Unlike in other categories, none of the top 5 most durable diapers from previous years were replaced by diapers reviewed in the past year. The ABU Little Kings and Trest Elite Briefs made an appearance in this year's ranking, bumping out the Attends Slip Regular Plus 10M.


DiaperScoring
Score: 9.44
Tape Area: 45 cm2 (7.0 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 10
Wet Durability Score: 10
Shake Test: 12
Topsheet Deterioration: 0.55%
Backsheet Deterioration: 1.38%
Waistband: rear
Score: 9.25
Tape Area: 60 cm2 (9.3 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 10
Wet Durability Score: 10
Shake Test: 4
Topsheet Deterioration: 0.58%
Backsheet Deterioration: 2.61%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.96
Tape Area: 40 cm2 (6.2 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 10
Wet Durability Score: 10
Shake Test: 3
Topsheet Deterioration: 0.53%
Backsheet Deterioration: 1.09%
Waistband: rear
Score: 8.89
Tape Area: 45 cm2 (7 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 10
Wet Durability Score: 10
Shake Test: 7
Topsheet Deterioration: 0.54%
Backsheet Deterioration: 0.56%
Waistband: none
Score: 8.80
Tape Area: 69 cm2 (10.7 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 4
Topsheet Deterioration: 1.22%
Backsheet Deterioration: 1.78%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.79
Tape Area: 80 cm2 (12.4 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 10
Shake Test: 2
Topsheet Deterioration: 8.45%
Backsheet Deterioration: 7.14%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.77
Tape Area: 72 cm2 (10.7 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 4
Topsheet Deterioration: 4.13%
Backsheet Deterioration: 1.61%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.72
Tape Area: 90 cm2 (14 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 3
Topsheet Deterioration: 4.70%
Backsheet Deterioration: 6.44%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.57
Tape Area: 40 cm2 (6.2 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 5
Topsheet Deterioration: 6.16%
Backsheet Deterioration: 6.56%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.50
Tape Area: 64 cm2 (9.9 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 2
Topsheet Deterioration: 7.79%
Backsheet Deterioration: 4.69%
Waistband: front/rear
Score: 8.46
Tape Area: 45 cm2 (7 in2)
Dry Durability Score: 9
Wet Durability Score: 9
Shake Test: 2
Topsheet Deterioration: 5.63%
Backsheet Deterioration: 3.25%
Waistband: front/rear

Discretion Ranking

The discretion ranking formula remains unchanged from the 2020 top adult diapers formula. This ranking measures overall discretion. It accounts for the bulkiness of the diaper, how noisy it is, whether it is prone to odors and how far it rides above the waistline. To a lesser extent it accounts for the fact that less absorbent diapers will be more discreet when dry but will be glaringly obvious if they leak. The top discretion rankings tend to be lower than other areas because of competing attributes. For instance, plastic-backed diapers tend to be better at reducing odors, yet the plastic-backsheet contributes to more noise. This years ranking was the most significant of all categories as the Molicare Premium Elastic Briefs 10D took top spot above the Tena Slip Active Fit Maxi, which had topped the ranking since 2020. The Tena Slip Original Maxi and Duchesse Med Flexi Slip also took spots in the top 10, bumping out the Medline Extended Wear Briefs, Tranquility Smartcore, and Nexgen Absorbent Plus.


DiaperScoring
Score: 7.84
Profile Discretion Score: 9
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 7
Dry Weight: 112 g (4 oz)
Folded Length: 21 cm (8.3")
Wet Folded Thickness: 4.5 cm (1.8")
Average Rise Above Waist: 0.33 cm (0.13")
Dry Folded Thickness: 1.8 cm (0.7")
Score: 7.59
Profile Discretion Score: 9
Noise Score: 9
Odor Reduction Score: 10
Dry Weight: 125 g (4.4 oz)
Folded Length: 25 cm (9.8")
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Average Rise Above Waist: 4.4 cm (1.7")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2 cm (0.8")
Score: 7.42
Profile Discretion Score: 8
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 9
Dry Weight: 116 g (4.1 oz)
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Wet Folded Thickness: 4.5 cm (1.8")
Average Rise Above Waist: 5.1 cm (2")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2 cm (0.8")
Score: 7.38
Profile Discretion Score: 7
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 10
Dry Weight: 142 g (5 oz)
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Average Rise Above Waist: 4.5 cm (1.8")
Dry Folded Thickness: 1.8 cm (0.7")
Score: 7.30
Profile Discretion Score: 9
Noise Score: 9
Odor Reduction Score: 10
Dry Weight: 108 g (3.8 oz)
Folded Length: 26 cm (10.2")
Wet Folded Thickness: 3 cm (1.18")
Average Rise Above Waist: 5.3 cm (2.1")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2 cm (0.8")
Score: 7.25
Profile Discretion Score: 8
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 7
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Folded Length: 21.5 cm (8.5")
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Average Rise Above Waist: 3.6 cm (1.4")
Dry Folded Thickness: 1.5 cm (0.6")
Score: 7.22
Profile Discretion Score: 8
Noise Score: 9
Odor Reduction Score: 9
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Folded Length: 21 cm (8.3")
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Average Rise Above Waist: 5.8 cm (2.3")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2.5 cm (1")
Score: 7.22
Profile Discretion Score: 7
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 10
Dry Weight: 158 g (5.6 oz)
Folded Length: 25 cm (9.8")
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Average Rise Above Waist: 3.8 cm (1.5")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2.7 cm (1.06")
Score: 7.20
Profile Discretion Score: 9
Noise Score: 9
Odor Reduction Score: 8
Dry Weight: 117 g (4.13 oz)
Folded Length: 23 cm (9.1")
Wet Folded Thickness: 4.5 cm (1.8")
Average Rise Above Waist: 5.2 cm (2")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2.3 cm (0.9")
Score: 7.11
Profile Discretion Score: 8
Noise Score: 10
Odor Reduction Score: 7
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Folded Length: 21 cm (8.3")
Wet Folded Thickness: 4 cm (1.6")
Average Rise Above Waist: 4.9 cm (1.9")
Dry Folded Thickness: 2.5 cm (1")



Overall Top 10 Ranking

This year's top 10 overall ranking again follows the formula used to calculate the top 10 from 2020 and 2021. The formula combines scores for absorbency, comfort, durability and discretion to produce an overall ranking. However, to give a more balanced ranking, this years review again is limited to the best of each brand like it was in the 2022 rankings. This is intended to reduce any biases and give readers a greater diversity of diapers to evaluate in case a particular brand isn't available locally or has an awkward sizing. Notable, the Seni Super Plus, Tena Slip Active Fit Maxi, Tena PROskin Flex Maxi, NorthShore MegaMax, ABU PeekABU, Tena Slip Original Maxi, and Attends Premier Briefs Overnight also attained scoring that would put them among these top 10 but were not the top performers under their specific brands. Once again, the value you find in these rankings will depend on your personal needs and preferences, if a particular product aspect is of high importance to you then you may find the rankings above more useful to suit your needs. 

There were a few notable changes in the rankings compared to the 2022 rankings. Notably, the ConfiDry 24/7 appears to have been discontinued over the past year. I've left its relative position in the rankings, but grayed it out since I will no longer consider it for the top 10. For the first time in 2 years there were some changes in the top 5 rankings, with the high absorbency ABU Little Kings and Trest Elite Briefs pushing into 3rd and 5th place in the overall rankings. While the well-rounded Molicare Premium Elastic 10D inched into 7th spot with a nearly identical ranking to the NorthShore Supreme Briefs. The gap between the top of these 10 and bottom as well as the total difference between the top and bottom rated diapers remained roughly the same as last year. This was expected as the number of reviews done relative to the total number of reviews decreases. Once again, the Seni Super Quatro topped this list with a score of 8.56 and the Attends Care Waistband came in at the bottom of the list with a score of 4.03. These scores were adjusted slightly lower from last year's scores as the addition of new diapers stretched previously established scales in areas like absorbency, reducing the relative scoring of the others.


DiaperScoring
Score: 8.56
The Seni Super Quatro once again came in at the top spot. This diaper may not be the most absorbent, but when comfort, durability and discretion are factored in this one is hard to beat overall. It's cloth-backed, but it's well worth a try if you're willing to give it a chance. Product consistency appears to be very good in the Seni lineup, more so than many others on the market.
Score: 8.53
The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper retained it's spot at second place. When tested in 2020 this diaper proved exceptionally absorbent but also comfortable and somewhat discreet for a diaper of its absorbency. I've had mixed feedback on more recent versions of this diaper, but generally its still viewed positively. More recently it's been more difficult to purchase these in certain locales, so hopefully any supply chain issues will be resolved soon.
Score: 8.32
The ABU Little Kings was the top addition to this list from the 2023 reviews. This diaper is clearly geared toward the ABDL market, but is a high quality cloth-backed diaper with a wide tape landing zone, very high absorbency and detailed designs. This is really a premium diaper in every sense and impractical for regular use given its very high unit price, but if you're looking for something playful this diaper certainly fits the bill.
Score: 8.32
The Tena Slip Ultima is a more absorbent version of the popular Tena Slip Maxi. It features the same smooth-comfortable plastic-backsheet and a surprisingly discreet design. As far as plastic-backed diapers, it may well be the most comfortable on the market. There are very few trade-offs in this diaper and it would be perfectly fine for a day out.
Score: 8.28
The Trest Elite Briefs are another new addition to this list. These diapers advertise a ridiculous level of absorbency. In reality you'll get far less than advertised but still enough to put them among the most absorbent diapers on the market. These diapers are very thick but quite comfortable and feature a plastic backsheet with a tape landing zone.
Score: 8.00
The ConfiDry 24/7 appears to be a case of the right diaper, but wrong management. It was easily the best North American diaper when it was actually being produced. Sadly, it appears production and distribution efforts failed and its no longer being produced.

Score: 7.89
The NorthShore Supreme diaper continued to maintain a top 10 position in this years rankings. It's similar to the Drylife SlipSuper or iD Slip Maxi (PE) but with a bit more absorbency. This diaper proved highly durable and comfortable. Some have found its padding to be a bit firm but it makes up for it in other aspects. It also runs more compact in sizing like many premium European diapers.
Score: 7.89
The Molicare Premium Elastic Briefs was the only affordable diaper to enter the top 10 list this year. It's not the top in any particular category, but overall showed strong performance. I should note that the small and medium sizes have substantial differences and this is based specifically on the small size. This diaper has a snug breathable fit and provides a great degree of discretion.
Score: 7.86
The Drylife SlipSuper is a great all around diaper and surprisingly affordable when it's available. Its padding is a little on the stiff side, though it softens when wet. This diaper is a tank when it comes to durability and held its own in terms of absorbency.
Score: 7.66
The Attends Slip Regular Plus continues to keep its spot as the top Attends diaper on the market. It's comparable to the Tena Slip line of products. It's backed with a very smooth/comfortable plastic and provides a great combination of durability and discretion. It feels well suited to active wear and where it can be found the pricing seems reasonable.
Score: 7.65
The Forma-Care X-Plus has continued to round the top 10 overall rankings after entering the previous year. This diaper has a distinctive blue backsheet with a soft, comfortable padding. This diaper is plastic-backed but quite good at heat distribution and the plastic is smooth, similar to the Tena Slip products.


Diaper Rankings Spreadsheet

Over the past few years I've received lots of requests for making the data collected from these reviews more accessible. To make it easier to analyze the rankings in their entirety I've created a publicly accessible spreadsheet with key metrics for comparison. The diaper names in the right column all link to their respective reviews and you can use a predefined "Filter View" to sort it by the category you're most interested in (see the image below). I'll only note that the current "Diaper Area" metric is currently missing some data from the wings so I've highlighted it in red. This will be corrected when I have time to go back and capture the necessary metrics.

2023 Adult Diaper Rankings Spreadsheet