Sunday 25 October 2020

Lille SupremFit Maxi Adult Diaper Review

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

Summary

The Lille SupremFit Maxi is a highly absorbent cloth-backed European diaper. Where available it can be found at a surprisingly reasonable price point for the level of absorbency it provides, but has one major downside. This diaper achieves remarkably consistent absorbency performance and is highly resistant to leaking whether worn standing, sitting or laying down. However, the tapes are quite weak and will tend to slide around, this results in the diaper easily coming loose on the wearer. It would be particularly problematic for an active wearer, but even low levels of active will cause the tapes to slide.

This Lille diaper has a front waistband and comfortable topsheet and backsheet. It is relatively compact and consequently quite discreet when it’s not sagging. In practice I found the waistband doesn’t serve much of a purpose as it is challenging to get a good fit. I feel this diaper is well suited to bedwetters or overnight wear in general as it will take up to 2~3 wettings without leakage and the sliding tapes are less of an issue. If this brand put some work into improving the fit it would make for a great all-round adult diaper, but I can’t recommend it for even low activity day wear in its current state.

Key Features:

  • Cloth-like (non-woven backsheet)
  • Repositionable tapes
  • Moisture resistant side panels

Pros:

  • Breathable design
  • Comfortable padding/backsheet
  • Highly/consistently absorbent

Cons:

  • High tendency to become loose
  • Small amount of moisture may escape backsheet
  • Tapes can tear backsheet when re-applied


Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium-sized Lille SupremFit Maxi diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:


Packaging

Brand: Lille
Manufacturer: ONTEX BVBA
Origin: EU
Units Per Bag: 20
Cost Per Unit: $$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 36 cm (14.2") x 16.5 cm (6.5") x 24 cm (9.5")
Weight: 2.7 kg (5.8 lbs)
Available Sizes: S,M,L,XL
Advertised Absorbency: Maxi


1.1 Lille SupremFit Maxi Packaging


Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (double yellow lines down middle, blue disappears)
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 (stars + grey boxes down the middle)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 1.9 cm (0.75")
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Dry Weight: 127 g (3.8 oz)
Fragrance: None
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 78 cm (30.7") x 62 cm (24.4") x 31 cm (12.2") x 64 (25.2")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 64 cm (25.2") x 22 cm (8.7") x 15 cm (5.9") x 24 cm (9.5")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3.5 cm (1.4") x 12 cm (4.7") x 4.5 cm (1.8") x 14 cm (5.5")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1170 cm2 (181 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4 cm (1.6") x 12 cm (4.7")
Tape (W x L): 3 cm (1.2") x 4.5 cm (1.8")


1.2 Lille SupremFit Maxi Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 1173 ml (41.4 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 1198 ml (42.3 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (40 s, 60 s, 55 s, 55 s, 59 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 85%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.0 ml / cm2 (0.23 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 25 ml (0.88 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 8
During the capacity test the Lille SupremFit Maxi didn’t show any signs of dampness after the first wetting and very little on the second wetting. It wasn’t until the 3rd wetting that it became noticeably damp. This resilience against surface dampness was also confirmed in “real world” testing.



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: 1073 ml (37.9 oz)
Total Wettings: 3 (1 standing, 2 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 79%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.92 ml / cm2 (0.21 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 8
The Lille SupremFit Maxi had no problems absorbing a wetting while standing and surface dampness disappeared quickly. Upon sitting there was no sign of leakage and the padding continued to feel dry without any pressout. On the second wetting it was noticeably damp for longer with moisture pushing the edges of the front leak guards. The leak guards held and not long after the diaper was able to wick up the excess moisture. By the third wetting moisture crept up from the front leak guards into the diaper’s breathable sides, but for the most part it was contained. I was surprised that the Lille SupremFit’s breathable sides did such a good job at holding back leaks as many cloth-backed diapers do little to prevent moisture from seeping through the sides. I stopped the test at this point as there was minor leakage from under the rear sides, but there was still a fair amount of unused padding and I feel this diaper could potentially contain up to 4 wettings before significant leakage. Overall this diaper performed well in the stand-sit test and I feel you could confidently wear it for daily use knowing it will absorb at least 2 full wettings before you have to worry about leaks.


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1023 ml (36.1 oz)
Total Wettings: 3
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 89%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.87 ml / cm2 (0.20 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 7
The Lille SupremFit Maxi did a great job at containing leaks when lying down. The first wetting was absorbed relatively quickly with brief pooling and once it was fully absorbed it felt dry and comfortable. The dampness was more apparent on the second wetting and some moisture appeared to permeate through the cloth-like backsheet. It was almost as if there were a light sweat coming out of the diaper; this may have been related to tiny pinholes in the backsheet where minor leakage was observed during the capacity pressout test. I’m not sure this affects every diaper or just an issue for a few defective ones, but it only becomes a problem when the diaper is near saturation. By the third wetting the Lille diaper experienced a major leak through the rear leg gathers. Based on this I feel its performance when worn for bedwetting can be expected to be similar to, or perhaps slightly better than, the Tranquility ATN. It has better capacity than the ATN, but the ATN doesn’t have the same sort of diaper “sweating” phenomenon. Overall, I would still recommend this diaper for bed wetting and feel it can comfortably absorb 2 full wettings without any significant leakage.

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Lille SupremFit Maxi diaper seems best suited to less active wearers, because it has a strong tendency to come loose. It was one of the most consistent diapers in terms of absorbency across the capacity and real world tests and is very unlikely to leak on the first two wettings. The diaper is also reasonably comfortable and breathable so not prone to causing rashes or skin irritation. When tested for daily use the diaper had no problems with leakage but became uncomfortable because it kept sliding down, this was even more of an issue when the diaper was wet and started to sag. So for daily use I wouldn’t recommend it unless it's worn under a good pair of underwear or mesh pants. When worn for bedwetting the diaper did a bit better, but again by the morning it had somehow come loose. Fortunately when lying down the looseness is less noticeable, but I still feel it detracts from its comfort. Otherwise, this diaper is effective at absorbing moisture but the backsheet appears to allow very small amounts of it to escape, which can result in a sweat-like effect on the backsheet when the diaper is saturated.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 3

The Lille SupremFit doesn't seem well suited for managing bowel incontinence. It has inner leak guards, which is certainly a plus. However, it's cloth backed, has limited rear padding, and most critically, the tapes are quite weak. You'd be much better with the Abena Abri-Form M4 or BetterDry/Crinklz diaper for managing fecal episodes.


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The Lille SupremFit Maxi features a cloth-like backsheet with hook and loop (Velcro-like) / partial tape fasteners. The tape part of the adhesive is weaker and will pull fabric off the backsheet when pulled. The hook and loop fastener makes up about 1/5th of the surface area of the tapes in strips. The tapes can be removed/reapplied but they have a tendency to come loose.


3.1 Lille SupremFit Maxi Fastener


Ease-of-Use Rating: 5
At first glance the Lille SupremFit diaper is about as easy as you would expect of a cloth-backed diaper with tabs that can be positioned or repositioned anywhere on the backsheet. It also features a front waistband, which typically would assist in getting a good fit. Yet, it is very difficult to get a good fit and even when you do it often becomes loose because the tapes slide around and the sides seem to stretch out over time.



3.2 Lille SupremFit Maxi Fit


Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 6
The Lille SupremFit Maxi has a comfortable construct with soft padding and cloth-like backsheet material. The diaper also does a decent job at dissipating heat from its sides and doesn’t chafe when worn while walking. However, I found it almost impossible to get a snug fit with this diaper as it kept wanting to come loose. If it weren’t for that I would probably rate it at an 8, but unfortunately having to constantly readjust the diaper significantly takes away from its comfort. It might be fine in situations where the wearer is immobile, but it will be problematic for active wearers, in fact even when worn for bedwetting I felt the diaper had become loose by the morning.


Comfort Rating (wet): 6
The Lille SupremFit provides a reasonable level of comfort when wet. The padding resists surface dampness and its “breathable” backsheet reduces heat buildup and clamminess. This diaper’s padding will start to swell and feel heavier when wet but it doesn’t clump or tear easily. Perhaps the biggest problem when it comes to wet comfort is the weakness of the tapes and inability to get a snug fit. As the diaper becomes heavier when wet it sags and will feel uncomfortable as the tapes require constant readjustment just to stay up. For this reason I feel it’s best suited overnight wear or at least for less active wearers where the sagging would be less noticeable, even then it can come loose as noted previously.

3.3 Lille SupremFit Maxi Topsheet and Backsheet


Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 10.4% (topsheet), 10.4% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 7
Despite what appears to be a lot of padding deterioration the Lille SupremFit padding held up where it mattered most during the dry durability test. It’s biggest problem when it came to durability was the tapes. The measured tape area is deceiving because each tape is formed of a weakly adhesive backing with 3 small stronger hook and loop lines of adhesive. The area of the stronger adhesive only makes up about a fifth of the tape area. The problem with this is that the tapes will easily become detached and slide requiring constant re-adjustment. Also when readjusting the tapes they have a tendency to stick to the backsheet fabric and can tear bits of the material each time they’re removed.


Durability Rating (wet): 6
The state of the Lille diaper and padding when wet was not considerably different than its dry state. The padding itself doesn’t seem any more prone to tearing or clumping when wet than dry and no significant clumping or tearing was observed when testing. Most of the deteriorated padding was in the diaper’s mid-section where it would come in contact with the wearer’s legs and this doesn’t typically have much of an affect on absorbency. Once again this diaper loses its greatest marks as a result of its tapes, which drag along the backsheet resulting in the diaper sagging and easily becoming loose; the waistband seeming has little effect in maintaining a snugger fit.

3.4 Lille SupremFit Maxi Diaper Dry Test Deterioration


Discretion Tests


Profile

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

Profile Discretion Rating: 7
The Lille Supremfit Maxi is a relatively small diaper, but it's also somewhat dense and will leave a bit of a “diaper bulge” when worn under most clothing. The padding density could make it more challenging to hide under tighter fitting mesh pants or underwear. Also, the tendency for the diaper to loosen and sit lower in the pants increases the odds of it being spotted. With that in mind I feel it ranks similar to the iD Expert Slip Maxi (PE), providing a decent amount of profile discretion for a highly absorbent diaper.


4.1 Lille SupremFit Maxi Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Lille SupremFit Maxi Sweatpants Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)


Noise

Noise Rating: 9
The Lille SupremFit is about as quiet as they come in terms of tab-style diapers. You may notice some faint crinkling in a very quiet room, but during my testing I almost never noticed it. The backsheet fabric presents relatively little resistance and consequently is unlikely to create much noise when in contact with the fabric of outer clothing. The padding of this diaper is also relatively dense and doesn’t come detached from the backsheet easily, which may also assist in keeping the noise down. Like other cloth-backed diapers the hook and loop fasteners will produce a bit of a “scratchy” noise when removed, so that would be something to keep in mind if changing in a public restroom.


4.3 Lille SupremFit Maxi Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 7
The Lille SupremFit Maxi isn’t remarkable in terms of odor reduction but it isn’t bad either. I put it roughly in line with the Tranquility ATN in this regard. For the most part you won’t notice odors from this diaper but it doesn’t have a snug fit, so that could be a problem for those with fecal incontinence. Otherwise the diaper doesn’t feature any added fragrance, nor does the material emit any distinctive odors.



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