Tranquility Smartcore Adult Diaper Review

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

Summary

The Tranquility Smartcore is a high absorbency diaper with a cloth-like backsheet that sits at the top of Tranquility’s absorbency along with the ATN. The quality of this diaper is good for the price though it will only reliably take one wetting before leakage. It advertises as suited for day or night vs the ATN, which is more marketed to overnight wear. In practice I found it perhaps slightly more durable than the ATN, so maybe a little better for daily wear, but it was also significantly less absorbent. It’s generally easy to find in North America, sometimes even appearing in pharmacies and medical supplier stores. If you like the ATN but want something a little more breathable and comfortable I’d recommend giving the Smartcore a try.

Key Features:

• Cloth-like backsheet
• Peachmat topsheet
  
• Repositionable tapes
• Standing inner leak barriers

Pros:

• Breathable design
• Resistant to surface dampness
• Discreet
• Comfortable
  

Cons:

• Relatively low absorbency
• Loose fitting
  

Product Details

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

Packaging

Brand: Tranquility
Manufacturer: Principle Business Enterprises
Origin: USA
Units Per Bag: 12
Cost Per Unit: $$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 26 cm (10.2") x 15 cm (5.9") x 23 cm (9.1")
Weight: 1.2 kg (2.7 lbs)
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Advertised Absorbency: Maximum (828 ml)

1.1 Tranquility Smartcore Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (parallel yellow lines down middle, blue 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: Redish peach rectangle in the middle padding
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 2.3 cm (0.9")
Folded Length: 23 cm (9.1")
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 80 cm (31.5") x 66 cm (26") x 23 cm (9.1") x 64 cm (25.2")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 60 cm (23.6") x 25 cm (9.8") x 15 cm (5.9") x 30 cm (11.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 5 cm (2") x 10 cm (3.9") x 7.5 cm (3") x 16 cm (6.3")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1240 cm² (192 in²)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4 cm (1.6") x 19 cm (7.5")
Tape (W x L): 3 cm (1.2") x 5 cm (2")

 

1.2 Tranquility Smartcore Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 900 ml (31.8 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 1000 ml (35.3 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (70 s, 65 s, 62 s, 66 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 5 cm (2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 75%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.73 ml / cm² (0.17 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 100 ml (3.5 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 8

The Tranquility Smartcore performed quite well when it came to surface dampness. There was no sign of surface dampness on the paper towel after any of the first 3 capacity tests. Even after the fourth test, when the diaper was obviously saturated it showed only partial surface dampness. This was confirmed during real world testing, and I credit Tranquility’s peachmat topsheet just as was the case for the Tranquility ATN.

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: 625 ml (22.1 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 1 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 88%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.50 ml / cm² (0.11 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 6
The Tranquility Smartcore performed reasonably well during the standing-sitting test. There was no sign of leakage when wet while standing and all moisture was quickly absorbed with little perceivable surface dampness. Upon sitting there was no pressout leakage and the diaper remained comfortable. The second wetting initially showed no sign of leakage as the front padding swelled considerably; however, after a few minutes with some shifts in the chair there was a moderate leak through the rear leg gathers and I stopped the test at that. Even so, the diaper remained surprisingly comfortable and surface dampness continued to feel neglectable. I’m guessing it could probably take the full two wettings while standing, but it won’t absorb quick enough when seated to avoid some pooling making it past the leak guards. This diaper should provide enough protection for daily wear, but it’d be best to change before a second wetting is likely to avoid the risk of leaks.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 875 ml (31 oz)
Total Wettings: 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 87%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.71 ml / cm² (0.16 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 6

The Tranquility Smartcore performed decently when tested while lying down. The first wetting was fully absorbed with little hints of moisture aside from perhaps a bit more padding squishiness. The surface dampness was easily locked away under the “peachmat” topsheet. I didn’t sense any hints of moisture escaping nor perspiration through the backsheet like many other diapers with a cloth-like backsheet. The second wetting hit capacity and produced a moderate leak through the rear leg gathers. I stopped the test at that and believe this diaper is only really suited to a single wetting while lying down. That said, it may be sufficient for many bedwetters who don’t wet multiple times in the night and it is among the most comfortable diapers on the market, even when wet.

 

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Tranquility Smartcore proved moderately absorbent during testing and can generally be expected to absorb a single wetting without leakage. Despite being assessed as slightly more absorbent than the Tranquility ATN, the plastic-backed ATN consistently showed better absorbency than the Smartcore and I feel would be better suited for bedwetting. However, I did find this diaper to be more breathable and generally a little more comfortable, which could be good for daytime wear. One way this diaper notably stands out in comparison to many others with a cloth-like backsheet is that the backsheet doesn’t perspire moisture when the padding is wet. It behaves more like what you’d get from one with a plastic-backsheet; although the breathable sides are still susceptible to leaks. Another notable aspect of Tranquility products is the “peachmat” topsheet. They seem to have come up with a good material formula that easily allows moisture through to the padding but doesn’t let it back out when pressed. When testing this diaper I didn’t notice any significant skin irritation and can attest to the peachmat being more than just a marketing gimmick. On that, one thing that’s a bit strange is that the peachmat topsheet in this diaper has more of a reddish tint compared with the lighter ATN topsheet. For the most part I never had concern with this diaper leaking when worn for bedwetting, but never wet more than once as far as I can tell while testing. Leakage through the breathable sides could be an issue for side-sleepers, but not something I ran into during testing. During daily wear it proved quite resilient, the tapes look flimsy but they actually hold and refasten pretty well. Moreover, I never had an issue with padding deterioration and you’re likely to need a change well before you’d run into that issue. Overall, I was pretty impressed in spite of the relatively weak absorbency, it was consistent in performance and comfortable, but I’ll be sticking with the ATN as my recommendation for bedwetting.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 6

For a diaper with a cloth-like backsheet, the Tranquility Smartcore should be alright for fecal incontinence. It won’t be as good at preventing odor escape as those that are plastic-backed or with a waistband, but it has a good amount of rear padding and room for containment. It’s also resistant to backsheet perspiration, which is often not the case for cloth-backed diapers. It’s far from the Forsite AM/PM in this regard, but may perform well enough for occasional bowel incontinence.

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The Tranquility Smartcore diaper has a cloth-like backsheet with hook & loop tapes. These tapes are of reasonable quality and can be re-fastened multiple times. I don’t feel they have the best grip on the market, but they do better with refastenings than many cloth-back diapers.

3.1 Tranquility Smartcore Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 6

The Tranquility Smartcore is a very user-friendly diaper. It’s easy to get a reasonably snug fit and the tapes can be repositioned without losing much adhesiveness. This diaper also includes a wetness indicator, which would be particularly helpful in a care environment (though it can turn blue a bit prematurely). The tapes aren’t totally foolproof and will slide once in a while and it won’t provide a perfect snug fit, but overall I think most will find this diaper to be among the easier to apply/remove on the market.

3.2 Tranquility Smartcore Diaper Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9

The Tranquility Smartcore diaper is very comfortable in its dry state. I never noticed any clamminess and the tapes, though not the strongest, do a reasonable job at keeping it up and won’t come loose to the extent of others with a cloth-like backsheet like the Lille SupremFit Maxi or FitRight Ultra. Since it lacks a waistband, it’s tough to get a super snug fit and thus I can’t quite rank it at the level of the Seni Super Plus but otherwise I have no significant complaints about the comfort of this diaper. I give it a slight edge over the Tranquility ATN in this regard given the breathable sides.

Comfort Rating (wet): 8

The Tranquility Smartcore diaper proved quite comfortable when wet. Surface dampness was barely perceivable, likely owing to its peachmat topsheet. The cloth-like backsheet also makes this diaper a little more breathable than the Tranquility ATN. I did notice a bit of padding deterioration as it bunched up a bit when wet, but it held out better than I was expecting and wasn’t as noticeable as in the ATN. Moreover, I didn’t notice anything in the way of backsheet perspiration in this diaper, a common problem in others with a cloth-like backsheet. Other than that, I found these held their grip fairly well and I didn’t have too many issues with them coming loose. With the relatively limited absorbency in mind, I can’t quite rank this diaper at the same level as the Seni Super Plus when it comes to wet comfort. Even so, I found it exceeded the FitRight Restore and even had a slight edge over the Egosan Ultra in this regard.

3.3 Tranquility Smartcore Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 8.2% (topsheet), 11% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 1 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 7
In terms of dry durability the Tranquility Smartcore performed similarly to the ATN. The overall deterioration after the dry durability test was about the same. Most deterioration was in non-core padding that wouldn’t affect overall performance. Much due to collapsing of padding at the edges and between the legs. I never noticed any significant clumping or tearing of the padding. The tapes also held out quite well with refastenings and I never noticed many issues in that regard. However, I did notice the wetness indicator was sensitive to sweat/small dribbles so it will often turn blue well before the diaper needs to be changed. Otherwise I think this diaper would be perfectly fine for day or night wear durability.

Durability Rating (wet): 7

The Tranquility Smartcore performed well in terms of wet durability, once again gaining a slight edge over the ATN in its wet state. For this reason, it may perhaps be better suited for daytime use, bearing in mind that leakage would be a concern by the second wetting. I found this diaper’s structure held out surprisingly well during testing and even with extra weight on the tabs there wasn’t much in the way of backsheet tearing. I found its performance to be similar to the Prevail Air Overnight, with a key downside being the lack of waistband to enhance the snugness of the fit. I will also note that there was a pretty big failure of the backsheet in the pressout test, but I never experienced that in real world testing and didn’t hold it too much against it. It would seem this diaper would sooner burst the padding crystals before leaking any actual moisture through the topsheet, which is not to say it won’t still leak through the leg gathers when totally saturated.

3.4 FitRight Restore Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 6 cm (2.4"), 6 cm (2.4")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 7 cm (2.8"), 4.5 cm (1.8")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4.5 cm (1.8"), 4.5 cm (1.8")

Profile Discretion Rating: 8

The Tranquility Smartcore is quite similar to the Tranquility ATN when it comes to profile discretion. It does have a bit of a diaper bulge at the rear, but this can be overcome with mesh pants or underwear. Even so, it’s far from the bulkiness of Forma-Care X-Plus or ConfiDry 24/7. Perhaps the main concern is that it will show above the pantline, but this is a plain white diaper. I rank this diaper similar to the Attends Slip Regular Plus in this regard.

4.1 Tranquility Smartcore Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Tranquility Smartcore Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 9

I rank the Tranquility Smartcore similar to the Prevail Air Overnight when it comes to noise discretion. In this case, for the most part it’s quiet with only a subtle crinkling noise during movements and should be easy to suppress under appropriate clothing. That said, its backsheet is a little bit noisier than the quietest of diapers like the Egosan Ultra or Seni Super Quatro.

4.3 Tranquility Smartcore Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 7
The Tranquility Smartcore is similar to the Tranquility ATN when it comes to odor reduction. Both have the same peach-mat type padding, which is very effective at locking in surface dampness and seems to do a good job at locking in odors. This diaper doesn’t have a plastic-backsheet like the ATN, so it might be slightly more susceptible to odors. However, the primary factor keeping it from a higher ranking is the lack of a waistband. Without a perfectly snug fit odors are more likely to escape out the top.

Want to give the Tranquility Smartcore a try?

Help us continue to produce quality reviews by making a purchase through our Tranquility Smartcore affiliate link. With every purchase this blog will earn a small amount of commission at no extra cost to the purchaser.