*For more information on how I do reviews see Diaper Test Methodology
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Summary
The Medline Extended Wear is a high absorbency cloth-backed European diaper geared toward overnight use. At the time of writing this diaper is relatively easy to acquire in North America and can be found on Amazon. It appears to have a lot of similarities to the Egosan adult diapers in terms of construct and absorbency. I wouldn’t rank this diaper among the top for absorbency but it provides high level absorbency and I would say it’s very much worth a try if you don’t mind cloth-backed diapers and can find it at a reasonable price.The topsheet is fairly soft, but the backsheet is a bit of a firmer material. It doesn’t permeate moisture through the backsheet like some other cloth-backed diapers but perhaps suffers slightly in terms of comfort as a result. I’ve also found that while I can often get a good fit initially, it has a tendency to loosen over time and will sag when wet; when it’s fit correctly this diaper feels great. For this reason I wouldn’t recommend this diaper for active daily use, but it should provide a decent amount of protection (2~3 wettings) for overnight wear or on low activity days.
Key Features:
- Cloth-like (non-woven backsheet)
- Rear waistband
- Repositionable tapes
Pros:
- Discreet profile design
- Wide padding + good level of absorbency
- Moisture-proof backsheet
Cons:
- High tendency to loosen/sag
- Some issues with surface dampness
Product Details
For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium-sized Medline Extended Wear diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:
Packaging
Brand: Medline
Manufacturer: Medline Industries, Inc.
Origin: Italy
Units Per Bag: 15
Cost Per Unit: $$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 31 cm (12.2") x 19 cm (7.5") x 24 cm (9.5")
Weight: 2.2 kg (4.7 lbs)
Available Sizes: S,M,L,XL
Advertised Absorbency: Extended Wear
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| 1.1 Medline Extended Wear Packaging |
Diaper
Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (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: Yes
Outer Color: White
Inner Color: White (purple drops + text pattern down the middle)
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 2.3 cm (0.91")
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Dry Weight: 150 g (5.3 oz)
Fragrance: None (very slight sweet smell)
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 80 cm (31.5") x 63 cm (24.8") x 25.5 cm (10") x 59 cm (23.2")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 67 cm (26.4") x 28.5 cm (11.2") x 16 cm (6.3") x 27 cm (10.6")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 6.3 cm (2.5") x 12 cm (4.7") x 5.5 cm (2.2") x 19 cm (7.5")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1431 cm2 (222 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 5 cm (2") x 13 cm (5.1")
Tape (W x L): 2.5 cm (1") x 4.5 cm (1.8")
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| 1.2 Medline Extended Wear Diaper |
Laboratory Absorbency Tests
Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 1275 ml (45 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 1250 ml (44.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (44 s, 45 s, 50 s, 53 s, 60 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 74%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.87 ml / cm2 (0.20 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 25 ml (0.88 oz)
Surface Dampness Rating: 6
During the capacity test the Medline Extended Wear diaper didn’t show any signs of dampness after the first wetting but there was a considerable amount after subsequent wettings. This was confirmed during the “real world” testing, which places this diaper in the mid-range when it comes to surface dryness.
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| 2.1 Wet vs Dry Diaper After Capacity Test |
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| 2.2 Used vs Unused Padding After Capacity Test |
"Real World" Absorbency Tests
Posture Tests
Standing-Sitting
Total Absorbed Volume: 1225ml (43.2 oz)
Total Wettings: 4 (1 standing, 3 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 73%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.86 ml / cm2 (0.19 oz / in2)
Standing-Sitting Rating: 8
The Medline Extended Wear had no trouble absorbing the first wetting while standing and showed no signs of leakage upon sitting. Only a little surface dampness was observed at this point. On the second wetting while seated it took a little longer for the moisture to be absorbed and some did push up the front but it again held off any leaks. The third wetting felt as though it should have leaked with substantial pooling at the front of the diaper with limited wicking to the back. However, after a while it was completely absorbed without any signs of leakage (keep in mind with pooling there is the possibility of leakage during movement). By the fourth wetting the front of the diaper was clearly saturated and could no longer hold back the pooling, resulting in leaks between the legs. Interestingly, even at this point the rear of the diaper was completely dry, no moisture was able to channel backward, suggesting a fair amount more theoretical capacity with better channeling. I feel this diaper should be good to absorb 2 to 3 wettings during daily use.
Lying Down
Total Absorbed Volume: 1150 ml (40.6 oz)
Total Wettings: 3
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 96%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.80 ml / cm2 (0.18 oz / in2)
Lying Down Rating: 7
The Medline Extended Wear is intended for overnight use and did reasonably well during testing. The first wetting was easily absorbed but I feel it would leak for someone sleeping on their side if it loosened through the night. After the second wetting there was noticeable surface dampness that never seemed to go away, although it didn’t leak. On the third wetting the diaper experienced a major leak with moisture quickly overwhelming the back and escaping through the leg gathers/breathable sides. I feel the diaper is somewhat over-represented in the measured capacity for this test because it seems very prone to leakage in all but the ideal positions due to pooling, so I’ve given a lower score than might otherwise be expected for its capacity. That said, I still feel it could be a decent bedwetting diaper and is much better than many on the market.
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| 2.3 Pattern of Used vs Unused Padding Test Stand/Sit (right) Lying Down (left) |
Daily Wear and Bedwetting
The Medline Extended Wear is marketed for overnight wear and I feel that is where it’s at its best. In terms of absorbency it may have been slightly better during daytime wear, but it has a tendency to come loose and sag when worn when out. It features a relatively breathable design and unlike some other cloth-like diapers the backsheet is impermeable to moisture (the side slightly less so). The downside is that its backsheet material isn’t as soft and surface dampness can be an issue. During testing I didn’t notice any significant skin irritation so I can’t let the last point detract too much from this diaper. In terms of overnight wear I found it to be good, but you need to watch for leakage from the sides. It has a wide crotch and that might make it difficult to get a good fit for some. Initially when worn dry I’ve found it to be surprisingly discreet too, better conforming to the body shape than most diapers of similar absorbency. During testing the diaper was able to consistently handle 2~3 wettings without leakage and I feel that’s about what you can expect of it in most circumstances (although again I’d recommend it mostly for overnight wear or lower activity days due to the tendency for sagging when wet).Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 6
The Medline Extended Wear should is modestly suited for bowel incontinence. It has a generous area of rear padding and decent inner leak guards. However, it's cloth-backed and doesn't have waistbands, which could be a challenge for odor containment. It also has tapes that can weaken with wear, which is certainly not what you want when dealing with bowel incontinence.
Wear & Tear Tests
Fitting
The Medline Extended Wear features a cloth-like backsheet with mostly tape fasteners (with hook and loop material mixed in). The tapes can be reapplied but will lose some amount of stickiness over time.
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| 3.1 Medline Extended Wear Fastener |
Ease-of-Use Rating: 7
The Medline Extended Wear has a wide area of padding, which may help with coverage but might also make it a challenge to get a good fit. I found the diaper frequently came loose, particularly when wet (though less so than the Lille SupremFit Maxi). The tape over a nonwoven backsheet can lose adhesiveness with multiple adjustments. Interestingly, it does have a rear waistband, but I feel it only contributed a little to the overall fit. Otherwise it’s about as easy to use as any cloth-backed diaper and can easily be removed when a change is needed.
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| 3.2 Medline Extended Wear Fit |
Comfort
Comfort Rating (dry): 8
The Medline Extended Wear has fairly soft padding, although not the softest I’ve tried. The backsheet is cloth-like and also fairly soft. My primary concern with this diaper when it comes to comfort is the challenge in retaining a comfortable fit. When I initially put it on I’ve always been happy with the fit and found it fits quite snugly but it always seemed to loosen over time. If it was able to retain the initial snug fit I’d certainly rate it higher because it’s rare to have a diaper conform this close to the wearer's body shape (at least in my case).
Comfort Rating (wet): 7
The Medline Extended Wear padding doesn’t feel particularly different from its dry state after a single wetting. It performs moderately well when it comes to surface dampness, but will start to feel wet after 2 wettings. Aside from surface dampness the diaper has some degree of breathability, which helps keep the dampness in check. Otherwise, the primary factor that detracts from its wet comfort is its tendency to sag as the diaper becomes heavier when wet. The structure and tapes don’t seem particularly well suited to this; perhaps it’s less a concern for overnight wear.
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| 3.3 Medline Extended Wear Topsheet and Backsheet |
Durability
Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 8.8% (topsheet), 6.2% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 4 shakes to deterioration
Durability Rating (dry): 7
The Medline Extended Wear held up reasonably well during the dry durability test. There were a few tears in the padding but no serious clumping. Its performance was similar to the Lille SupremFit Maxi, where padding held up well enough at the end of the test to provide reasonable capacity but the tapes had a tendency to slide. Overall there was less deterioration than the Lille diaper, but more of it occurred in key parts of the padding. Balancing that out, it was worn for a long time and has generously wide padding so it has some degree of resistance to deterioration.
Durability Rating (wet): 6
I found the durability performance of this diaper when wet to be similar to its dry state, although there was a little more tearing of the padding. Even so this diaper doesn’t clump when wet and performed pretty well in the “shake test”. I found the tapes were slightly better than the Lille SupremFit Maxi and there was a little less sag, but otherwise it did suffer those same problems. Even so, I feel the lack of sagging was countered by a stronger tendency for padding deterioration, which didn’t hold together nearly as well as the Lille diaper.
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| 3.4 Medline Extended Wear Diaper Dry Test Deterioration |
Discretion Tests
Profile
Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5 cm (2"), 5 cm (2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4 cm (1.6"), 3 cm (1.2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 2 cm (0.8"), 2.5 cm (1")
Profile Discretion Rating: 8
I rank the Medline Extended Wear highly for profile discretion based on its initial fit. But wearer’s should be aware that it does have a tendency to sag when wet, which would increase the likelihood of a “diaper” bulge. It may be possible to counter the sagging with underwear or mesh pants over top. If you can make it work I feel this diaper, in spite of its width, should be pretty easy to hide under most non-tight fitting clothing.
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| 4.1 Medline Extended Wear Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) |
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| 4.2 Medline Extended Wear Sweatpants Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) |
Noise
Noise Rating: 8
The Medline Extended Wear is an incredibly quiet diaper, remarkable for a diaper that is supposedly designed for overnight use. During testing noise was rarely a concern and often imperceptible from this diaper. Even the tapes, which do make a noise when removed, were relatively quiet compared to other cloth-backed diapers. It’s hard to imagine a diaper with any reasonable level of absorbency being much quieter.
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| 4.3 Medline Extended Wear Noise Profile |
Odor Reduction
Odor Reduction Rating: 7
The Medline Extended Wear diaper doesn’t have any added fragrance and I rarely noticed odors when testing. However, it isn’t among the best for reducing surface dampness, which can be an issue. And the loose fit/breathable design will make it tough for those with fecal incontinence to contain odors. In that regard I’ve ranked this similar to the Lille SupremFit Maxi diaper.
Want to give the Medline Extended Wear a try?
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