Bambino Karnevalee Adult Diaper Review

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

Summary

The Bambino Karnevalee is a full featured ABDL-first diaper with a unique hybrid combo of a plastic backsheet and with hook & loop (Velcro-like) fasteners. It makes this work by providing a landing zone similar to that of the Attento diaper, which overlays the backsheet. This diaper is made in China and imported by the Bottom Half Group. It appears to be very similar to the Forsite AM/PM and likely many other adult diapers imported from China, perhaps even made at the same industrial complex. This company appears to have been the first in the market to start importing ABDL themed diapers and has been doing so since at least the late 2000s.

This diaper has an advertised absorbency of 5000 ml (169 oz) and looks like it comes with several different backsheet designs, including Skooldoodle, Cloudee, Castronaut, Red Bearon, Contraptor and Bellissimo. The company also has an older less absorbent line of products that includes the Bambino Classico. In terms of absorbency, you’re unlikely to get close to the advertised absorbency before leaking as it struggles with wicking and pressout. I feel it will generally take 3~4 wettings before leaking. Otherwise, it is quite comfortable and I’m sure many will appreciate the playful prints. In general, I’m not huge a fan of these diapers imported from China (at extremely high prices at that) and would rather see these importers pool together to produce these in North America (like the Confidry 24/7s) for a number of reasons. Its performance falls short of the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper in many ways, while it is far more expensive, so I feel you would really need to be attached to the design to purchase this line of products (or somehow find an amazing deal). In practical terms, this diaper is simply unaffordable for most of those needing to wear daily.

Key Features:

• Plastic backsheet
• Standing inner leak barriers
• Repositionable hook & loop fasteners
• Tape landing zone
• Playful backsheet prints
• Dual waistbands
  

Pros:

• Soft/comfortable padding/backsheet
• High absorbency
• Easy-use fasteners
• Good odor reduction
  

Cons:

• Very high unit cost
• Surface dampness
  
• Padding bunching

 

Product Details

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

Packaging

Brand: Bambino (by The Bottom Half Group, LLC.)
Manufacturer: Weifang Mimosa Personalcare Technology
Origin: China
Units Per Bag: 8
Cost Per Unit: $$$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 24cm (9.45") x 19 cm (7.5") x 25 cm (9.8")
Weight: 2.65 kg (5.24 lbs)
Available Sizes: M, L
Advertised Absorbency: 5000 ml (169 oz)

1.1 Bambino Karnevalee Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Plastic (Poly)
Wetness Indicator: No
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: Playful pattern
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 3 cm (1.18")
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Dry Weight: 200 g (7.1 oz)
Fragrance: None
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 81 cm (31.9") x 66 cm (26") x 32 cm (12.6") x 64 cm (25.2")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 66 cm (26") x 29 cm (11.4") x 20 cm (7.9") x 40 cm (15.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 4.5 cm (1.8") x 13.5 cm (5.3") x 10 cm (3.9") x 20 cm (7.9")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1842 cm² (285 in²)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4 cm (1.57") x 16 cm (6.3")
Tape (W x L): 5 cm (2") x 4 cm (1.6")

1.2 Bambino Karnevalee Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 1940 ml (68.4 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 2083 ml (73.5 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (58 s, 46 s, 54 s, 60 s, 59 s, 67 s, 66 s, 68 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 7 cm (2.8")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 69%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.05 ml / cm² (0.24 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 143 ml (5.04 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 4
The Bambino Karnevalee performed similarly to the Forsite AM/PM diaper when it came to surface dampness. There was less dampness after the first wetting, but substantial dampness on subsequent wettings eventually to the point that visible liquid reappeared when pressing on the padding. The dampness was noticeable during real world testing, but not as much as I would have expected, again similar to the Forsite diaper.

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: 1300 ml (45.9 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 3 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 61%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.71 ml / cm² (0.16 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 9
The Bambino Karnevalee had no trouble absorbing the first wetting while standing and showed no sign of leakage upon sitting. There was a brief period of dampness for a couple minutes but it subsided and felt fairly comfortable afterwards. During the second wetting there was again a buildup of dampness at the front of the diaper but it eventually subsided and felt comfortable again. It felt close to leaking as some folds in the wider padding directed moisture toward the leak guards but I couldn’t see any obvious signs of leakage. The third wetting felt even closer to leaking with significant pooling at the front, though the rear of the diaper was completely dry. Even so, eventually all moisture was absorbed without leakage and the diaper continued to feel comfortable without much clamminess. The fourth wetting finally resulted in leakage even though the rear padding was completely dry. It seems like this happened because diaper’s midsection hit saturation and just as was seen in the lab test this diaper’s padding is quite prone to press out (in this case as a result of being seated). There was noticeable surface dampness at this point, but the diaper still didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable (ignoring the substantial leakage below the diaper’s crotch). I felt its performance wasn’t all that different from the Forsite AM/PM in spite of leaking a bit earlier; it felt well short of the BetterDry/Crinklz diaper in terms of absorption. This diaper should generally be good for 3~4 wettings in daily use, but I wouldn’t push it past that.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1475 ml (52 oz)
Total Wettings: 3
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 72%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.80 ml / cm² (0.18 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 9
The Bambino Karnevalee performed about as expected for a premium adult diaper in the lying down test, but less than I would have expected for a diaper of its cost. The first wetting was easily absorbed without any significant signs of leakage. During the second wetting it felt like leakage was trying to escape through the front leak guards and out the side, the diaper felt noticeably damp for several minutes and it seemed like there were gaps in absorption. This may be partly due to the wide design, much like the Forsite AM/PM, that causes the padding to fold inwards pushing moisture to the sides. Even so, there weren’t any signs of exterior leakage after the second wetting while lying down. On the third wetting the surface moisture became even worse and there was substantial leakage through the leak guards and out both the diaper’s back and rear leg gathers. At this point there was still unused padding but the diaper was too slow with wicking for it to be used in preventing leakage. The overall absorption came out similar to the Drylife SlipSuper and I suspect this diaper would generally be good for 2~4 wettings while lying down, depending on the shape of the padding.

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Bambino Karnevalee is a high absorbency diaper that closely resembles the Forsite AM/PM diaper. It performed well in both daily and overnight wear, but this is a very bulky diaper and would not be practical for mostly daily wear. It’s hybrid hook & loop with a landing zone and plastic backsheet proved quite convenient. Whereas in other plastic-backed diapers there’s always the risk of the tapes getting attached to the backsheet and tearing it, this diaper can be refastened without any concerns. However, it can be a bit noisy when reattaching the tapes and would be difficult to conceal in a public setting. During overnight wear this diaper performed well and I feel it is best suited to this type of wear. It could generally take 3 wettings without leakage, but I found the padding can become saturated in a specific area and it doesn’t wick to areas of unused padding. This means it will leak far sooner than would be expected for its theoretical capacity. Another potential issue arises because the padding is very wide and can fold inwards directing moisture toward the leak guards. In terms of daily wear, this diaper may be a bit too bulky for wearing out but provides a reasonable amount of protection for 2~3 wettings without leakage. In daily wear wicking also presents an issue with the back padding rarely being used and moisture would pool under the diaper’s crotch where it is easily pressed out upon sitting. Another issue in daily wear is that the tapes won’t stick to the backsheet, so it is tough to close a diaper that’s already been used before disposal. Moreover, the patterns on this diaper would also be quite visible above the pant line were anyone to catch a glimpse, so this diaper clearly isn’t designed with discretion in mind. With all that said, this is clearly an ABDL-first diaper so the pattern and appearance may be more of a deciding factor for some.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 9

In terms of the diaper itself, the Bambino Karnevalee is well suited to bowel incontinence. It has dual waistbands, generous leg gathers and wide spacious padding. It has a particularly large area of padding at its rear. The primary disadvantage of this diaper is that it can be troublesome to close up after use because the tapes don’t adhere to the backsheet outside of the landing zone.

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The Bambino Karnevalee is a “hybrid” diaper, with elements of a cloth-backed and plastic-backed diaper. The backsheet is plastic, but the landing zone is cloth-like and very similar to the landing zone on the Attento and Unicharm diapers. The fasteners on this diaper are a hook & loop style and can be refastened or repositioned multiple times anywhere on the landing zone (but won’t stick to the surrounding plastic). The fasteners also include strips of adhesive tape to boost stickiness, though they do tend to lose adhesiveness with multiple refastenings.

3.1 Bambino Karnevalee Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 8

The Bambino Karnevalee is very easy to attach/re-attach, even more so than many plastic diapers due to its hybrid hook & loop fasteners. However, it doesn’t have a wetness indicator, which could be a problem in care settings. It has a similar fit to that of the Forsite AM/PM so you have to be careful about the wide padding folding inwards and the fit can be a bit loose. Removing the diaper is also super easy, but the hook & loop plastic-backing combo has a downside in that the diaper can’t easily be wrapped closed for disposal after it’s been used. Also, it’s not factored into the rating, but the package that these come in doesn’t have any sort of easy open mechanism like you’d find in most diaper packages, so opening the bag can be a challenge.

3.2 Bambino Karnevalee Diaper Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9
The Bambino Karnevalee rates near the top of the pack when it comes to dry comfort. Both the padding and inside of the backsheet are very soft and comfortable against the skin. The waistbands and outer backsheet are also quite soft, again similar to the Forsite AM/PM but with a less rigid landing zone. However, it can be a little tricky to get a snug fit with this diaper because of the diaper’s padding width and the padding has a tendency to fold inwards.The plus side to that is that it feels a little more breathable than some plastic-backed diapers.

Comfort Rating (wet): 7
The Bambino Karnevalee is very similar to the Forsite AM/PM when it comes to wet comfort, which like the Abena M4 has some surface dampness issues. I found that, like the Forsite diaper, the Bambino diaper struggles to wick moisture so you end up with it pooling near the crotch where it quickly saturates. This results in pressout moisture far sooner than you might expect given its theoretical capacity. It also has a tendency to sag, though the tapes do a decent job at holding it up. Otherwise, in spite of the surface dampness, it remains reasonably comfortable when wet and doesn’t readily clump or tear.

3.3 Bambino Karnevalee Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 10.9% (topsheet), 12.8% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 8
The core areas of padding in this diaper are quite resistant to wear and tear, with little signs of clumping or tearing after over 10 hours of wear. I’ve rated it quite high, which might seem surprising given the relatively high deteriorated padding area, but I’m accounting for the diaper’s width and padding collapse that’s bound to happen between the wearer’s legs. The fasteners held out well through testing, but I did notice they became a bit less sticky over time, which I think is a result of weakening adhesiveness on the tape portion of the fastener (similar to the Lille SupremFit). I feel it could do better with fasteners like the Attento tape-style diaper, given the similar landing zones.

Durability Rating (wet): 8
In terms of wet durability the Bambino is similar to its dry state and again very similar to the Forsite AM/PM. The diaper’s wide padding has a tendency to collapse but it doesn’t clump or tear, much like its dry state. The tapes on this diaper tend to come a bit looser than the Forsite diaper, which gives it a little more tendency to sag. Moreover, even though this diaper is reasonably durable it is big and bulky and not particularly suited for active wear.

3.4 Bambino Karnevalee Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3.0 cm (1.2"), 5.0 cm (2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 6 cm (2.4"), 6 cm (2.4")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8 cm (3.2"), 7 cm (2.8")

Profile Discretion Rating: 3
The Bambino Karnevalee is not designed for discretion, it produces a distinctive diaper bulge at its front and rear. This will be obvious under most outfits and is similar to the profile produced by the Confidry 24/7 or Forsite AM/PM. This diaper also rises above the pant line and the playful prints would be pretty clear if anyone were to catch a glimpse.

4.1 Bambino Karnevalee Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Bambino Karnevalee Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 6
The Bambino Karnevalee produces a slight crinkling noise that will be apparent with movement. It’s a loose fitting diaper with a construct similar to the Forsite AM/PM so there are lots of opportunities for it to create noise. It doesn’t have a plastic landing zone so it tends to be a little quieter than the Forsite diaper, but it still comes out a bit noisier than the Confidry 24/7. Also, the hook & loop tapes can be very noisy when removed so discrete changes could be an issue.

4.3 Bambino Karnevalee Noise Profile

 

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 8
The Bambino Karnevalee does a good job at neutralizing odors, again resembling the Forsite AM/PM. It has a solid waistband at its front and rear, though it can sometimes come a bit loose. The padding itself is resistant to odors in spite of its surface dampness issues, still I wouldn’t put it at the level of diapers like the Tena Active Fit Ultima.