Monday 18 May 2020

BetterDry M10/Crinklz Adult Diaper Review

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




Summary

The BetterDry/Crinklz adult diaper is a premium full-featured, ultra-high absorbency product with a plastic-backing. It comes in plain-white (BetterDry) and playful printed versions (Crinklz). As far as I know it's the only legitimate printed adult diaper on the market that isn't made in China; instead it's made in the EU. These days for a number of moral/product safety reasons many are keen to avoid products made in China. If you fall into that category, but still want to experience an adult diaper with a printed-backsheet this is the diaper for you. If you don't care about the printed backsheet the BetterDry diaper is exactly the same thing in plain white for a slightly cheaper price.

I have to say, before I started this review I believed the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper to be mostly hype. In the past, diapers like this with a printed version have received inflated ratings from the ABDL community, overlooking other critical aspects of the product. Boy was I wrong. The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper exceeded my expectations in multiple ways. It will absorb up to 5~6 wettings before any leakage occurs, and even then it tends to be minor. The diaper is incredibly well constructed with strong leak barrier and dual-waistbands to give a comfortable snug fit. I've also found the padding and tapes to be incredibly durable and it won't clump or come apart like many other diapers would during extended wear. It does tend to be on the pricier side, but considering it absorbs up to 3x as much as cheaper diapers at around twice the price I would say it may save money overall by reducing the need for changes. I feel it's a great choice for bedwetters as you'll never have to worry about a leak and shouldn't need an underpad (chux) when wearing this diaper. Overall, I'm very happy with this diaper and will continue to support the company when I can.



Key Features:
  • Plastic-backing
  • Dual waistbands (front/rear)
  • Inner and outer standing leak guards
  • Wide-effective tapes
  • Playful pattern/plain white backsheet options
Pros:
  • Amazing absorbency
  • Incredibly soft and comfortable
  • Strong odor retention
  • High durability
Cons:
  • High unit price
  • Some may find it bulky

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium-sized BetterDry M10/Crinklz diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below.


Packaging


Brand: BetterDry M10/Crinklz
Manufacturer: Thrust Vector Ltd.
Origin: EU
Units Per Bag: 15
Cost Per Unit: $$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 38 cm (15”) x 17 cm (6.7”) x 27 cm (10.6”)
Weight: 3.15 kg (6.9 lbs)
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Advertised Absorbency: Maximum


1.1 Crinklz Packaging

1.2 BetterDry Packaging


Diaper

Backsheet: Plastic (Poly)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (light printed blue text down 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: No
Outer Color: White (BetterDry), Playful pattern (Crinklz)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 8.5 cm / 3 = 2.8 cm (1.1”)
Folded Length: 26 cm (10.2”)
Dry Weight: 217 g (7.65 oz)
Fragrance: None
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW):
81 cm (31.9") x 60 cm (23.6") x 30 cm (11.8") x 59 cm (23.2")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW):
65 cm (25.6") x 30 cm (11.8") x 16 cm (6.3") x 35 cm (13.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH):
7 cm (2.8") x 16 cm (6.3") x 9.5 cm (3.7") x 19 cm (7.5") (height averaged)
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1625 cm2 (252 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4 cm (1.6”) x 18 cm (7.1")
Tape (Wx L): 4 cm (1.6"), 4.3 cm (1.69")


1.3 Crinklz Diaper


1.4 BetterDry Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 1943 ml (68.5 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 1958 ml (69.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (53 s, 50 s, 50 s, 51 s, 61 s, 60 s, 67 s, 69 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 9 cm (3.5 in)
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 94%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1943 ml / 1625 cm2 = 1.2 ml / cm2  (0.27 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 15 ml (0.53 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 10
The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper demonstrated impressive surface dryness. During the capacity test it took a full 5 wettings before it showed any signs of surface dampness. This is far better than you could expect from even a lot of the premium adult diapers. This was also observed during the "real world" tests, with the diaper quickly wicking away moisture and retaining it against pressout.





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: 2108 ml (74.3 oz)
Total Wettings: 6 (1 standing)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 96%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 2108 ml / 1625 cm2 = 1.3 ml / cm2 (0.3 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating:10
During the standing-sitting absorbency tests this diaper just did not want to leak. I kind of expected this based on how difficult it was to pressout moisture during the capacity pressout test. It did finally leak a little on the 6th wetting, but it was hardly a flood scenario. In the first few wettings, as expected, the moisture was hardly perceivable, it really didn't start to feel damp until the 4th and even then the dampness mostly went away as the moisture wicked. By the last test the padding had swelled significantly, particularly at the front/mid-section padding. Incredibly, at the end of the test there was still a patch of unused padding.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1633 ml (57.6 oz)
Total Wettings: 5
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 89%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 1633 ml / 1625 cm2 = 1.0 ml / cm2 (0.23 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 10
The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper performed remarkably well when wet laying down. After the first wetting any moisture was imperceivable, this continued to be the case over the next 2 wettings. By the 4th wetting there was clearly some dampness but the well-designed leak guards did a great job at containing it until it was absorbed by the padding. The test stopped at the fifth wetting, but even then only very minor leakage was experienced and it likely could have absorbed even more were it tested further. I really can't see a diaper getting much better than this while still being comfortable and usable for absorbency laying down; as a bedwetter you can rest assured this diaper will never let you down.


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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

Whether worn for daytime use or for bedwetting the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper won't let you down (sorry if that sounds like an advertisement but I was very impressed by it). It's one of only a small handful of diapers that I would have absolute confidence wearing to bed because it's virtually impossible to get a leak on the first wetting or even second wetting if worn correctly. I imagine it would probably also be good for long flights or drives. It's certainly not the most discreet diaper, but it's great for around the house wear (which has become a bit of the norm lately anyway) and it's not so ridiculously bulky that you couldn't hide it under heavier clothing (but it will swell A LOT when wet). It has many of the features I like in the Depends Tabs diaper, which is very well constructed, but with more absorbency than the Abena M4, which amongst the most absorbent diapers on the market. In this diaper the padding is the first line of defense and will hold up to multiple wettings without failing, but by about the 4th wetting it will start to feel more damp and absorption slows down a little; however, at this point the diaper's superior construction becomes important. Like the Depend Tabs diaper the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper's waistband/leak barrier construction holds moisture back until it can be properly absorbed, this gives it a better chance to reach its full capacity before leakage rather than failing with a large amount of unused padding. In terms of comfort its surface will remain dry even after several wettings and the backsheet is a relatively soft plastic that's unlikely to cause chaffing. With that said, it will swell a lot and feel very thick after 4 or 5 wettings and will feel a little "heavy", but by that point most other diapers would have leaked so it's kind of a moot point.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 10

The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper gets a perfect score when it comes to suitability for bowel incontinence. It has all the key features, including dual waistbands, inner leak guards and a plastic backsheet. The tapes and structure hold up incredibly well under wear/tear plus it has a very wide area of rear padding.


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper has a total of 4 refastenable tapes. These use the double tape mechanism so the bottom tape should only be applied once applied but it can be refastened multiple times afterwards. I have found in practice you can move the bottom tape without tearing the backsheet but you'll need to be careful. The tapes themselves are high quality and are unlikely to come undone on their own.


3.1 BetterDry / Crinklz Fastener


Easy-of-Use Rating: 10
BetteryDry/Crinklz diapers are very user friendly. These are full featured diapers with nice wide tapes and a lot of leniency if you accidentally misplace a tape. Moreover, getting a snug fit is made easier by the fact the diaper has both a front and rare waistband. Likewise, when it's time for a change the diaper is easy to remove and you won't find yourself fighting with its tapes. I can't really see what could be done to make this diaper easier to use, it's about as good as it gets.

3.2 Crinklz Fit

3.3 BetterDry Fit


Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9
The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper is definitely among the bulkier adult diapers and you'll very much feel you're wearing an adult diaper when you have one on. If you can get over that, it's comparable to the Abena M4 for dry comfort with the added bonus of dual waistbands. The backsheet is very soft and the padding is quite soft as well, though not so much as the Molicare Slip. It also proved to be a highly durable diaper so you won't have to deal with the discomfort of clumping. Overall, I'd say this one is almost as good as it gets, though perhaps would be slightly better with a softer topsheet (but I wouldn't sacrifice that for less absorbency).


Comfort Rating (wet): 10
You would need to wet the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper at least 3 or 4 times before you even realized it was wet. If you're going by that measure, this diaper and the fact few people will wet it 4 times before a change this diaper is excellent for comfort when wet. In fact I'd even go so far to say it becomes a little more comfortable when wet, since the padding will soften up a bit. Taking into account its dry comfort I'm giving the BetteDry/Crinklz top marks for comfort when wet.


3.4 Crinklz Topsheet and Backsheet

3.5 BetterDry Topsheet and Backsheet


Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 1.2% (topsheet), 1.8% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 4 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 9
The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper held up well during the dry durability test, performing only slightly worse than the iD Expert Slip. In both tests the diaper was worn up to 12 hours with modest activity. The only padding deterioration occurred around the crotch area (fig 3.6), which can generally be expected in long duration wear. It may not be a perfectly fair comparison since this diaper has better padding coverage than the iD Expert Slip, but I still feel like it has a little room for improvement. However, unlike most diapers I've tested the wetness indicator on this one wasn't even disturbed by sweat/post void dribbling; it worked exactly as expected. It's fair to say you're unlikely to experience any clumping or tearing of the padding on a dry BetterDry/Crinklz diaper.

Durability Rating (wet): 9
When a wet BetterDry/Crinkz diaper was put through the shake test the padding collapsed relatively quickly, with only 4 shakes. But this is where the shake test alone won't tell you much. With nearly about 2kg of water weight absorbed in the padding it was clearly going to fail from the weight alone. This is not realistic for a wearer and during the "real world" tests I found the padding to be very resistant to clumping/tearing when wet; instead it swelled dramatically. This is a well constructed diaper and as it got heavier during testing the backsheet/topsheet held up just fine. I didn't give it a 10 because I didn't want to completely overlook the shake test, but in practical experience this is probably as good as it gets for durability in a diaper with this much absorbency.

3.6 First Quality Briefs Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests


Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5 cm (1.97"), 4 cm (1.57")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5.5 cm (2.17"), 3 cm (1.18")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3.5 cm (1.37"), 3 cm (1.18")

Profile Discretion Rating: 5
There's no denying it, the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper will produce an obvious diaper bulge when worn under all but the loosest of outfits; especially when wet. The rise on this diaper is relatively modest and I give it props for its waistband and incredible absorbency. I found it a tight fit getting it under my jeans, less so under sweatpants or PJs. If you can make it work then by all means you should go for it because this is a diaper that refuses to leak and for many people that may be the most important part of profile discretion.


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


4.2 Crinklz Sweatpants Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear Sweatpants (right)


4.3 BetterDry Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear Jeans (right)


4.4 BetterDry Sweatpants Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear Sweatpants (right)

Noise

Noise Rating: 8
With a name like Crinklz you might expect this diaper to crinkle like crazy, but that's not exactly the case. It does produce a relatively soft crinkling noise when you move, but not so much you couldn't cover it under clothing. There's a misconception that diapers with thick padding tend to be noisier, but I would say it's probably the opposite. Thick padding can insulate noise; the loudest diapers tend to be those that sit loose on the wearer and have padding that easily comes loose from the backsheet. A loose backsheet is a recipe for noise. The BetterDry/Crinklz diaper fits snuggly and the padding is held firmly in place, hence the unexpected relative quietness given its plastic-backing.

4.5 BetterDry/Crinklz Noise Profile


Odor Reduction


Odor Reduction Rating: 10
The BetterDry/Crinklz doesn't seem to have any added fragrance, in keeping with other metrics it performs amazing when it comes to odor reduction. At first I thought it may just be due to the well constructed design with dual waistbands, which certainly does help, but it also appears the padding itself retains odors. The strong ability to contain surface moisture also plays a role with odors less likely to form. I don't think a diaper could get any better than this for odor reduction, especially with this level of absorbency.



Want to give the BetterDry/Crinklz a try?

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12 comments:

  1. Definitely one of the best diapers out there. Is it just more or did you also find the printed version to be a tiny bit more abrasive around the waist than the BetterDrys?

    And thank you for these incredibly thorough reviews! Long-time reader, first-time commenter. I hardly ever make a purchase without consulting your blog first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, happy to hear you've found these reviews helpful :). I can't say I noticed much of a difference between the two, but it could depend on the batch.

      I may do a followup on the printed diapers next year so I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any differences.

      Delete
  2. Hi
    Thanks for the tests.

    For, a man, the night with 3 or 4 wettings.

    I have problem fuites sur le coté...

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, your work is fantastic! On the Betterdry, I bought a case recently and found them to be garbage; after the fact. You did this review in 2020, and I purchased in April 2022, then subsequently I found a pack at a yard sale dated 2/2020. The 2/2020 briefs are completely different than what is being sold now. The back sheet has a different texture, and the insides are more course and less absorbent. Very disappointed with the new product.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the update! That's really disappointing to hear because the 2020 version was so good. I know they introduced a "day" version, but didn't realize they changed the original. Hopefully, they go back to the original design.

      Delete
    2. He is lying, this review is still correct and they are one of the best if not best diapers avaliable right now. I have this date on them: 2023-09-07 and their weight is 207-210 g. I also compare other batches of diapers and the changes (or weight differences) are very minor, if any at all.

      TENA Slip Ultima M (3700 ml) (2023-08-04): 150 g
      TENA Slip Ultima M (3700 ml) (2022-11-23): 147 g
      ABENA Slip Premium M4 (3600 ml) (2023-04-27): 141 g
      ABENA Slip Premium M4 (3600 ml) (2022-09-05): 143 g

      Delete
  4. First of all, I'd like to thank you for your rigorous and real-life diaper testing. It immensely helps to sort out this diaper challenge of finding the right product for one's specific needs.

    Second, there is one aspect you never discuss in your reviews, which is a huge challenge with this diaper: the impact of diaper-rash cream/paste (ZnO-based such as Desitin and Equate 40%) on the inner leak guards. If you put diaper rash cream on your skin, it chemically destroy the inside bonds that holds in place and standing up the inner leak guard inside the diaper against your skin ... within one hour (or so), the inner leak guard bonds break down, detach from the main diaper, and very quickly, this diaper starts to leak all over the place. The leak guards can "survive" longer if you let the rash paste dry on your skin before placing the diaper on you, but then, it may take a while before drying and time is not always on our side for quick change (e.g., in a public restroom, at work).

    I found this a worthwhile flaw to report as it creates frustrations about a diaper that should have been good enough in the first place; many incontinent people needs to care for their skin and adequately protect it with diaper rash cream/paste. Other than that, it would have been an excellent diaper for both day- and night-time uses.

    Also for completeness, the only diapers I know which are able to "survive" the deleterious effects of diaper rash cream/paste on the inner leak guard bond are the ConfiDry 24/7 (and also Incontrol Inspire Original; I am sure there are many more and it would be good to report these).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the great feedback and information! That's really good to know about the effect of diaper rash creams on the inner leak guards. I never really thought about that, but clearly diaper rash creams could have an effect on the diaper's construct! It could explain some things I've run into in the past, though I don't use these creams consistently enough to be sure.

      I'll need to figure out a good way to consistently assess this going forward, but feel free to comment on any other product reviews where you've found this to be the case. I'm happy to hear the ConfiDry 24/7 works well in this regard, it's a pretty underrated diaper. I'm glad they're still available.

      Delete
  5. Better Dry are awful. Very bad rashes and the back plastic is prone to splitting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. BetterDry 2023 were great til Canadian suppliers ran out. I find Crinklz quite a bit more money. Didn't help that years ago my first package of Crinklz came with the print reversed. The one issue on BetterDry M10 I have had is plastic can tear when over capacity, but you'd expect that. What are the go to Canadian retailers you use?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it's disappointing that it's so difficult to find these in Canada now. They used to be widely available. They are still among my best ranked diapers. If you're looking for the medium size, you can find them by the caseload on ebay Canada now from LLMedico at a relatively competitive price.

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