Saturday 25 February 2023

Trest Elite Briefs Adult Diaper Review

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


Summary

The Trest Elite could theoretically have the most absorbency of any diaper on the market, with an incredible advertised absorbency of 9500 ml (321 oz). For reference, the average volume of urine produced by an adult per day is about 800 to 2000 ml so you’re talking at least 4 days of wear before you’d ever approach that limit. Obviously, it is completely unreasonable to be wearing a diaper for that long, so such capacity may be overkill. In our own lab settings with saline water mimicking urine and accounting for pressout leakage, we found this capacity to be more in the 3000 ml (101 oz) range, which would still theoretically provide 1~3 days of wear before requiring a change (which again is still a ridiculously long time to go without a change). In real world wear I found the overall absorbency actually works against its capacity because the highly absorbent tends to swell and create something of a dam, which stops moisture from making it toward the rear padding and instead directs it toward the leg gathers. This leads to leakage far sooner than you might expect, more likely in the 1500 ml ~ 3000 ml range. I believe it's the same issue as the NorthShore MegaMax and both are relatively slow when it comes to their absorption rate.

I’d like to give a special shout out to Brett for donating the sample for this review from our wishlist! All help is greatly appreciated as we try to build the most comprehensive comparison of adult diapers on the market. This was a really interesting one to review given its ridiculous capacity. This diaper comes with 3 different colored backsheets: white (shown in this review), blue and pink. From a price perspective I doubt many will find it economical, unless you can get by with only one change a day. Yet the Trest Elite diaper will easily provide protection for even the heaviest wettings.


Key Features:

  • Plastic backsheet
  • Thick landing zone
  • Repositionable tapes
  • Dual waistbands
  • Standing inner leak barriers

Pros:

  • Very high absorbency
  • Extensive soft padding
  • Strong tapes + durable

Cons:

  • Very expensive unit price
  • No wetness indicator
  • Can get a bit warm

Product Details

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


Packaging

Brand: Trest (by the JNA Corp.)
Manufacturer: Weifang Mimosa Personalcare Technology
Origin: China
Units Per Bag: 10
Cost Per Unit: $$$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 34 cm (13.4") x 20 cm (7.9") x 26 cm (10.2")
Weight: 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Advertised Absorbency: Ultra (9500 ml)


1.1 Trest Elite Briefs 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: White
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 3.3 cm (1.3")
Folded Length: 23 cm (9.1")
Dry Weight: 225 g (7.9 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 83 cm (32.7") x 66 cm (26") x 32 cm (12.6") x 65 cm (25.6")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 66 cm (26") x 29 cm (11.4") x 22 cm (8.7") x 39 cm (15.4")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3.5 cm (1.4") x 13 cm (5.1") x 8.5 cm (3.4") x 18 cm (7.1")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1849 cm2 (287 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 3.5 cm (1.4") x 14 cm (5.5")
Tape (W x L): 5 cm (2") x 4 cm (1.6")

 

1.2 Trest Elite Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 3225 ml (113.8 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 3325 ml (117.3 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (55s, 50s, 58s, 79s, 81s, 79s, 88s, 95s, 104s, 104s, 113s, 112s, 109s, 103s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 8 cm (3.2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 92%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.74 ml / cm2 (0.40 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 100 ml (3.5 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 9

The Trest Elite Briefs performed very well when it came to surface dampness. During the lab test there was little-to-no indication of surface dampness on the paper towel until the 4th wetting. This was backed up in real world wear with the backsheet proving remarkably resistant to surface dampness and the diaper never felt particularly clammy when wet. The only potential issue here is that sometimes the absorption can be slow, resulting in temporary pooling that will make the diaper feel quite damp for a short time.




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: 1475 ml (52 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 3 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 61%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.80 ml / cm2 (0.18 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 9
The Trest Elite did very well on the standing-sitting capacity test. The first wetting while standing was easily absorbed with no sign of leakage and not a hint of leakage up on sitting shortly afterwards. I felt that there may have been a little initial surface dampness due to pooling but it wasn’t long lived. The second wetting while seated was again readily absorbed with brief pooling but no signs of leaks and no surface dampness after it was absorbed. The front padding had swelled considerably at this point but the rear padding was still completely dry. The third wetting performed much like the second wetting, but in this case the front padding had swelled so much that it started to block moisture and spread more up toward the wings. Again there was no leakage on the wetting though I had some concern that it would leak through the wings with the brief pooling. On the fourth wetting there was a modest leak through the lower right rear leg gather so I ended the test at that. During this wetting the front padding was very swollen and moisture was mostly redirected toward the wings and down along the sides. The diaper certainly could have absorbed substantially more than it did with tons of dry padding remaining at the rear. I suspect the reason it failed so early was that the incredible amount of padding swelling near the crotch and tendency for padding to fold inward between the legs (because of its width at the mid-section) meant too much moisture was able to pool near the leg gathers before being absorbed. Had it been able to wick moisture further/faster or direct it more effectively it would have absorbed an incredible amount of moisture, but in practice hitting anywhere near the real capacity doesn’t seem realistic. I believe most will find it can absorb 3~5 wettings during daily wear without leakage, but you’re highly unlikely to reach the padding capacity before leakage (particularly when seated).


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1775 ml (62.6 oz)
Total Wettings: 5
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 62%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.96 ml / cm2 (0.22 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 10

The Trest Elite proved top notch when tested for capacity while lying down. The first wetting was quickly and easily absorbed with little sensation of surface dampness. Likewise on the second wetting the extensive padding easily prevented any leakage. It felt like there was a bit of pooling on the third wetting but it was temporary and there were no signs of leaks and minimal indication of surface dampness. Moveover, the much of the front and rear padding was still dry at this point when for most other diapers it would be saturated. There was a bit more pooling on the forth wetting and it felt like a little may have pressed up through the front padding and worked its way into the sides, but the plastic-backsheet prevented any leakage and I didn’t notice any obvious dampness afterward. At this point the front padding was mostly wet but there was still a substantial amount of dry padding at the rear of the diaper. The diaper finally leaked on the fifth wetting, which felt a bit soon given the large area of unused padding at the rear. The problem was that the padding at the mid section/crotch had swelled to such an extent that it formed something of a dam, blocking moisture from quickly reaching the rear padding and resulting in substantial pooling and leakage through the left leg gather then out through the sides. At this point the diaper had absorbed a huge amount of moisture and easily came out among the top performing in this category. However, it undoubtedly had room for even further absorption had it been able to direct further moisture to the rear padding. At the end of the test the diaper had swelled quite a bit. The padding still felt dry with little sensation of surface dampness outside of the side wing where the leakage occurred. For this reason you’re unlikely to ever approach the full capacity of this diaper but will likely get 3~5 wettings without leakage when worn lying down, easily enough for even the heaviest of bedwetters.

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


Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Trest Elite diaper is ridiculously absorbent, but it would be very hard to come anywhere close to the absolute capacity of this diaper in a real world setting. During all my testing the padding at the rear never got wet in spite of multiple wettings. It pretty much always leaked before there would be any chance for the rear padding to absorb it. During the lab test when the structure wasn’t a factor it was able to absorb over 3225 ml (113 oz) after pressout, which is probably about the maximum theoretical capacity you could expect. However, during real world wear you’ll find that the diaper swells so much at the crotch/mid padding that it pushes inward and deflects additional moisture toward the sides where it’s more likely to leak. This is further amplified because the padding at the diaper’s midsection is so wide that it has a tendency to fold upward between the legs. During daily wear I found it would frequently exceed 2000 ml (67 oz) without any sign of leakage when worn all day. It absorbed less than that in the standing-sitting test but that’s likely because the design leads to leakage much sooner when sitting and if wet, while standing it will surely absorb a lot more before leakage as gravity will pull down the swollen padding creating a gap for moisture to move further back. When worn for bedwetting this diaper should be highly reliable and I’d expect it to absorb enough for even the heaviest wetters. Due to its very high price you’d probably only want to change this diaper twice a day (e.g. morning and before bed) and I think with its resistance against surface dampness and capacity that may be realistic. During testing I never had any skin issues from this diaper and it never felt particularly clammy. The backsheet is a soft plastic that won’t chafe against the wearer's skin, but due to its large size it’s not going to be great for active wear. If you could make it work well for active wear, the tapes have an incredibly strong hold. This diaper feels a lot like the NorthShore MegaMax or maybe even the Forsite AM/PM (to a lesser extent) in terms of its build.  All three diapers have a very similar thick plastic landing zone. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the landing zone on these as it’s very stiff and contributes to noise when worn, but I don’t feel it’s particularly uncomfortable either. I think all these diapers are better suited to winter wear than summer wear and you’d be better with the Seni Super Quatro or Tena Slip Active Fit Ultima (if you prefer a plastic-backsheet) for summer wear. If you’re a fan of the MegaMax but it isn’t quite working for your capacity needs this diaper could be a great alternative.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 10

The Trest Elite diaper is excellently suited for bowel incontinence. It has an extensive area of rear padding and generous standing leak guards. It also fits snugly with strong elastic waistbands that will retain odors and reduce the chance of sagging. Moreover, this diaper has a strong plastic-backsheet that should provide great security for those with bowel incontinence. That said, if you account for the cost per brief it may not be the best choice if you only have bowel incontinence as with bowel incontinence you’d want to change asap after a bowel movement.


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The Trest Elite diaper is full featured with dual waistbands, repositionable tapes, standing inner leak guards and extensive padding coverage. I found the fit to be slightly on the larger side, but not so much as the ConfiDry 24/7 or NorthShore Megamax (which seems to have the sizes shifted one level up). It features a firm plastic tape landing zone very similar to the MegaMax or Forsite AM/PM, where tapes can be reattached to any point on the landing zone multiple times. The tapes are large and of high quality, I never noticed much in the way of weakening after multiple refastenings.

3.1 Trest Elite Briefs Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 7

The Trest Elite diaper is very user-friendly. I never had trouble getting a snug comfortable fit with this diaper. If you don’t get the tapes right the first time then it’s easy to re-apply them to the large landing zone. This means the diaper should fit well for a variety of body types. However, you need to be mindful of placement, as the types are so strong that if they were placed anywhere outside the landing zone they will pull up part of the backsheet; generally I found this was an issue on the backsheet near the waistband so it wouldn’t affect performance much anyway. The waistbands also help with the fit and you’ll never need to worry about this diaper coming loose on you, even when very wet. Perhaps the biggest short-coming, at least for a care-giver environment, is the lack of a wetness indicator. The diaper has an all white backsheet and the best way to tell whether it's wet is the swollen padding. That said, if you change at a regular basis the shear absorbency and resistance to dampness mean you could probably also time it to change twice a day and never need to worry about leakage.

3.2 Trest Elite Diaper Fit

Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 8

I rank the Trest Elite diaper similar to the NorthShore MegaMax when it comes to dry comfort. This diaper has a very similar structure and material makeup. The backsheet is of a thick plastic, but also soft and flexible. The padding is thick and very soft, it extends well up the rear of the diaper with generous coverage. Perhaps the biggest detractor is the very thick plastic landing zone on the front. This is great for keeping the tapes in place, and indeed I never had an issue with this diaper coming loose, yet it reduces the overall flexibility of the diaper. I also feel that it reduces the heat dispersion in this diaper, so while it doesn’t get particularly clammy, it can get pretty warm and is probably best for cold weather wear. Aside from that, the padding holds up very well with no obvious signs of clumping or tearing. If you want a lighter feeling diaper than the Trest Elite won’t meet your comfort standards, but if you don’t mind something a bit thicker this diaper is nearly as comfortable as they get for a plastic-backed diaper.


Comfort Rating (wet): 10

The Trest Elite diaper was right up there with the NorthShore MegaMax when it comes to comfort when wet. Both perform exceptionally well at resisting surface dampness. The Trest diaper is well constructed and has no trouble keeping its form when heavier while wet. There was a lot of swelling, but little in the way of significant sagging or padding tearing. The backsheet is somewhat thick but also very soft and I didn’t notice much in the way of clamminess. If anything, because this diaper is so ridiculously absorbent that you’re likely to have a lot of dry padding even after several wettings, so you really won’t notice much change from its dry state other than it being a bit heavier. For this reason I give the Trest Elite diaper top marks when it comes to wet comfort.

3.3 Trest Elite Briefs Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 8.5% (topsheet), 7.1% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 9
The Trest Elite is a very well built diaper. The tapes are among the strongest on the market and the padding is thick and highly resistant to clumping or tearing. During the dry durability test the only hint of deterioration was in the padding between the legs. This was likely due to the padding being exceptionally wide in that area to begin with so the collapse was not surprising and wouldn’t have detracted from absorbency. This diaper is pretty much guaranteed to hold its form with any amount of wear and the tapes don’t seem to lose much adhesiveness with multiple refastenings. The only thing to note is that you need to be a bit careful when applying the tapes to make sure they don’t come into contact with anything outside of the landing zone because they’ll tear off bits of backsheet if you’re not careful.


Durability Rating (wet): 10

The Trest Elite proved incredibly durable when wet. Though it should be noted that it’s hard to even get this diaper to a point one would consider wet since it absorbs to such an extent that there will almost always be a substantial amount of dry padding before you need a change. With that said, this diaper never showed signs of sagging, clumping or tearing. The padding held together incredibly well, but swelled substantially. I feel this padding swelling may have even helped with keeping the padding from deteriorating as the pressure on the topsheet and backsheet would keep it from coming apart so long as both backsheet and topsheet held strong (which they did). Additionally the tapes were excellent and could be refastened multiple times without losing their adhesiveness; even under the weight of the wet diaper there was no sign of tape weakness. This diaper seems to retain a snug fit under all circumstances and I can’t really think of anything I’d suggest as an improvement. It didn’t perform particularly well in the wet shake test, but I’ve found that isn’t a very useful metric in highly absorbent diapers like this one.

3.4 Trest Elite Briefs 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): 7.5 cm (3"), 5 cm (2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5.5 cm (2.1"), 4 cm (1.6")

Profile Discretion Rating: 5

The Trest Elite diaper makes little effort to conceal itself and will easily be noticeable under many outfits. It has a fairly high rise above the pant-line and obvious bulge at the rear when dry. That said, its snug fit makes it comparable to the NorthShore MegaMax in terms of discretion and I’ve ranked it just below because this diaper has a slightly larger fit. Of course, when wet to anywhere near capacity this diaper will swell to incredible proportions, which is also something you’d want to keep in mind. It’s probably better suited for bedwetting or around-the-house wear, perhaps longer trips for those who want the extra security.

 

4.1 Trest Elite Briefs Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Trest Elite Briefs Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) 


Noise

Noise Rating: 6

The Trest Elite suffers the crinkling noise that many plastic-backed diapers produce, but I feel like the biggest contributor is the stiffer landing zone on this diaper. This diaper has very thick padding, much like the BetterDry/Crinklz, which I’ve found in other diapers has actually been good for dampening the sound. With a bit of care (underwear/meshpants) I think this diaper could be worn with little noticeable sound, but it would be hard to hide the “swoosh” you get from the stiff landing zone when sitting down or standing up.

4.3 Trest Elite Briefs Noise Profile
 

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 10
I’m giving the Trest Elite top marks when it comes to odor reduction. Not only is the padding highly resistant to surface dampness, but the strong tapes and high quality elastic waistbands ensure there are few opportunities for odors to escape the backsheet. I was expecting this diaper to perform similar to the MegaMax in this regard due to the similar construct, but I found it to be a bit better; perhaps on account of the increased absorbency.


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Sunday 12 February 2023

Abena Abri-Form Premium "Air Plus" M4 Adult Diaper Review

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


Summary

The Abri-Form Premium “Air Plus” M4 is the cloth-backed equivalent to the popular plastic-backed original Abena Abri-Form M4 (also known as the Abena X-Plus). Both are premium European-manufactured diapers with a high level of absorbency. The diaper has an interesting history as it was initially expected to replace the Abri-Form M4, but due to a significant amount of push-back that never happened and eventually the “Abri-Form M4” (also L4 since its size dependent) stuck with the original plastic-backed diaper while the cloth-like diaper took on the “Premium” and “Air Plus” qualifiers. The Abri-Form absorbency scale goes from 0 to 4, and during the transition it looks like only the 4th most absorbent level retained the plastic-backsheet and plastic-backed sizes outside M4 and L4 were dropped. The original plastic-backed diaper took on the “Comfort” or “White Foil” qualifiers in marketing though it’s not entirely obvious on the package. The Abri-Form Premium line contains the full range of sizes from S to XL and also the full range of absorbency from 0 to 4.

In testing I found this diaper was generally able to absorb 2 wettings before leakage would be a concern and was very comfortable and breathable to wear. Its primary downsides were a tendency for surface dampness and the weakness of the fasteners, which make it tough to maintain a snug fit. It also tends to be priced highly so I don’t really see any benefits over the original Abri-Form M4 unless you’re really attached to the cloth-like backsheet.


Key Features:

  • Cloth-like backsheet
  • Repositionable tapes (with double tape mechanism)
  • Standing inner leak barriers

Pros:

  • Comfortable and breathable
  • High absorbency

Cons:

  • Fastener weakness
  • Surface dampness issues
  • Backsheet perspiration

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium-sized Abena Abri-Form Premium "Air Plus" M4 Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:


Packaging

Brand: Abri-Form
Manufacturer: Abena A/S
Origin: Denmark
Units Per Bag: 14
Cost Per Unit: $$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 38 cm (15") x 16.5 cm (6.5") x 24 cm (9.5")
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs)
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Advertised Absorbency: Plus


1.1 Abri-Form Premium M4 Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (two 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 (blue lines next to wetness indicator)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 3 cm (1.2")
Folded Length: 25.5 cm (10")
Dry Weight: 142 g (5 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 81 cm (31.9") x 67 cm (26.4") x 29 cm (11.4") x 66 cm (26")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 71 cm (28") x 31 cm (12.2") x 19 cm (7.5") x 35 cm (13.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 6 cm (2.4") x 16 cm (6.3") x 8 cm (3.2") x 19 cm (7.5")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1845 cm2 (286 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 3 cm (1.2") x 17 cm (6.7")
Tape (W x L): 2.5 cm (1") x 5 cm (2")

 

1.2 Abri-Form Premium M4 Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 1367 ml (48.2 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 1417 ml (50 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (52 s, 50 s, 49 s, 50 s, 52 s, 52 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 6 cm (2.4")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 84%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.74 ml / cm2 (0.17 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 50 ml (1.8 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 4

I rank the Abri-Form Premium in line with the Abena Abri-Form M4 and Delta-Form M3. In each case there was at least some surface dampness after the first capacity test wetting and a substantial amount thereafter. During real world testing it didn’t perform as bad as I expected but the surface dampness was still fairly noticeable.



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: 1067 ml (37.6 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 2 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 73%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.58 ml / cm2 (0.13 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 8
The Abri-From Premium performed well when it came to absorbency during the standing-sitting test. The first wetting while standing was easily absorbed. I didn’t notice much in the way of surface dampness at this point and the absorption was relatively quick. Unfortunately the tapes didn’t hold up well and it felt like it was loosening during wear while walking. The second wetting, while seated, was again fully absorbed with much of the front padding damp though surface dampness wasn’t as much as I expected, perhaps because of how breathable it was both due to the cloth-like backsheet and looseness. After a while it did feel like there was some perspiration through the backsheet so I’m not sure whether I’d call it completely leak free after the second wetting. The third wetting quickly resulted in leaks through the leg gathers, the diaper had loosened considerably and the tapes weren’t holding so moisture spread up the front padding and straight into the sides. I wouldn’t recommend this diaper for daily wear, the tapes just won’t hold out long enough for it to hit capacity and may even loosen before the first wetting. Otherwise, it should absorb about 2 wettings during daily wear before leakage is a concern.


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1417 ml (50 oz)
Total Wettings: 3
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 80%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.77 ml / cm2 (0.17 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 8

The Abri-Form Premium performed similarly to the Abri-Form X-Plus when it came to capacity while lying down. However, it suffered from problems that weren’t apparent in the Abri-Form X-Plus. Both had issues with surface dampness but the tapes in the X-Plus have a far better grip where the Abri-Form Premium started coming loose even with minimal movement. The first wetting was easily absorbed, though there was a slight sensation of pooling and dampness afterward. At this point just the mid-padding was wet and the front and rear were still completely dry. On the second wetting there was substantial pooling that seemed to last a lot longer and the dampness never fully went away. I also noticed a bit of perspiration through the backsheet. Finally, on the third wetting there was substantial leakage through the leg gathers and up the rear. At this point the front padding was still mostly dry but the rear padding was completely saturated and highly susceptible to pressout. The extra weight of the diaper also continued to pull the tapes apart resulting in a looser and looser fit. The looseness of the fit could easily result in leaks far before capacity is hit, which would be my biggest concern in real world use. I called the test at that, but generally I’d anticipate this diaper will absorb 2 wettings without leakage, but I wouldn’t push it past that. Even then there would likely be some pressout leakage or backsheet perspiration.

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


Daily Wear and Bedwetting

I feel I had pretty high expectations for the Abri-Form Premium M4 prior to reviewing it since I hadn’t reviewed an Abena product in several years and was interested to see if there were any differences from my previous reviews. However, I found this diaper to have some of the same shortcomings as the Abena Delta-Form and original Abri-Form M4 (X-Plus). All three have issues with surface dampness, likely due to the padding construct, while both this and the cloth-backed Abena Delta-Form struggle with their fasteners becoming loose with wear. I generally found this diaper capable of taking two wettings before leakage would be a concern, but feel it’s best suited for non-active wearers or perhaps overnight wear. During daily wear I found it was problematic to refasten the diaper as the tapes would rapidly lose their adhesiveness with each refastening, pulling off bits of the backsheet. This will be a problem for those times you actually are able to make it to the bathroom on time, particularly if you aren’t double-incontinent (bladder and bowel). In practice I found a bit of a hack to reduce the amount of loosening that happens. What I found was that the diaper is actually somewhat flexible to the point that it could be pulled up and down much like pullup-style incontinence underwear. Of course, that does beg the question of why to use this over one of the similar pullup products, but with this diaper you will find substantially more padding coverage and protection up the wings compared with pullups. The other odd quirk of this diaper is the double-tape looking fasteners. These act almost as a backup if the primary tapes fail. In that case you can separate the white fastener from the blue part and refasten it to the backsheet. It has a bit more hook & loop material so it could even provide a better grip. With regards to smaller leaks, I found the backsheet of this diaper to be susceptible to backsheet “perspiration”, as is the case for many diapers with a cloth-like backsheet but otherwise didn't notice pressout leaks. That aside, this diaper does have surface dampness issues but because of its breathable sides it rarely feels clammy, even when wet. Were it not for its tendency to loosen it would rank highly in terms of comfort and I didn’t notice much in the way of skin irritation while testing it. I’d love to see improvements in this diaper, but at the current time I feel it's best suited to care environments, and for active wearers it would be better to go with something like the Seni Super Quatro.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 5

I don’t feel the Abri-Form Premium M4 is suitable for bowel incontinence. Generally this is the case for cloth-backed diapers, but, for obvious reasons, particularly ones like this where the tapes have a tendency to loosen with wear. You just won’t be able to maintain a snug fit with this diaper and even if it manages bowel containment you’ll still have issues with odors (it doesn’t have waistbands and is susceptible to surface dampness).


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The Abri-Form Premium has a cloth-like backsheet with a mixture of adhesive and hook & loop material on its fasteners. It seems to use a double-tape mechanism, but it doesn’t feel particularly practical. The blue plastic tape will separate from the white bit above it and with care the white part can be refastened to that, but in reality it’s much better at fastening to another part of the backsheet. Since both tapes lose adhesiveness pretty fast with refastenings it feels like it gives you two chances to get it right.

3.1 Abri-Form Premium M4 Fastener
 

Ease-of-Use Rating: 7

I rank this diaper about the same as the Abena Delta-Form M3 when it comes to ease-of-use. Size-wise, it has a large area of padding and is relatively easy to get an initially snug fit. The wetness indicator is good and doesn’t seem sensitive to minor moisture so it will be clearer when it needs to be changed. The fasteners are technically repositionable in that you can refasten them multiple times anywhere on the backsheet, but these are also its greatest weakness when it comes to ease-of-use. The problem being that these fasteners quickly lose adhesiveness with refastenings and eventually become useless. I think this diaper would also be slightly improved with decent waistbands, but it does have good quality inner leak guards. For non-active wearers this diaper should be easy enough to use, but with any level of activity you’ll have problems with it coming loose. So it may be best suited to a care-giver environment or for overnight wear.

3.2 Abri-Form Premium M4 Diaper Fit

Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 7

The Abri-Form Premium has a soft comfortable backsheet and padding that provide a high level of breathability when dry. Much like the original Abri-Form M4, this diaper has an extensive area of padding coverage and less skin is directly exposed to the backsheet. I never noticed any chafing or skin irritation while testing this diaper. Moreover, in spite of its large size, this diaper didn’t have the heavy obstructive feel that some larger diapers have. However, it suffers from the same fatal flaw as the Lille SupremFit Maxi, whereby the tapes have a strong tendency to lose their grip with wear. I didn’t feel this tendency was as strong as in the Lille SupremFit when dry so I rated it slightly higher. Yet it’s almost certain the diaper will come loose over time, particularly if you need to do any refastenings, and eventually the tapes become useless if you need to refasten. It would be best for those who are less mobile or otherwise less likely to make tape adjustments and not so good for those who are double incontinent (urinary and bowel) or can sometimes make it to the toilet on time.


Comfort Rating (wet): 6

I’ve rated the Abri-Form Premium diaper slightly lower when it comes to wet comfort for two key reasons: the tapes become more likely to slip under the added weight and this diaper has the same susceptibility to surface dampness as the plastic-backed Abri-Form M4. The breathable design does somewhat help overcome the feeling of surface dampness, but I still noticed it in the core padding. This also seemed to be an issue with the Abena Delta-Form so perhaps it's not a huge surprise these diapers ended up being very similar in performance. With the tape weakness, sagging is quite likely and this will have a negative impact on comfort.

3.3 Abri-Form Premium M4 Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 6.8% (topsheet), 9.9% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 4 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 6
This diaper was very similar to the Abena Delta-Form when it came to durability performance. In both cases the key issue was the weakness of the fasteners. The fasteners are a mixture of hook & loop and tape adhesive and the backsheet is particularly vulnerable to degradation with multiple fastenings. Each time you pull the tape up, more of the backsheet will adhere to the fastener making it harder to adhere the next time (much the way a tape covered in sand will stop adhering to surfaces). Aside from that the padding held out relatively well in the Abri-Form Premium with most deterioration occurring due to collapsing between the legs with little affecting the core padding. Moreover, the wetness indicator wasn’t very susceptible to smaller dribbles during wear so it would clearly show when it was time for a change.


Durability Rating (wet): 6

The Abri-Form Premium performed similar to its dry performance when wet, yet with more sagging due to the weakening of the tapes. During testing it didn’t happen consistently but I did find sometimes it would sag and become loose enough as to fall right off when worn wet. I suspect this would be a particular problem for active individuals. Otherwise, the padding held up well when wet with limited deterioration and the results of the wet shake test were relatively strong for a diaper of its capacity. I do feel the tapes could be a fatal flaw in this diaper, but imagine most who wear this would wear it overnight or when otherwise not active so it’s more likely to add to discomfort than make the diaper completely unusable.

3.4 Abri-Form Premium M4 Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests


Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3.5 cm (1.4"), 5 cm (2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 9 cm (3.5"), 7.5 cm (3")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3 cm (1.2"), 5.5 cm (2.2")

Profile Discretion Rating: 4

The Abri-Form Premium is not going to win any awards for profile discretion. This diaper presented a visible diaper bulge at both its front and rear. That said, it would likely be easier to hide than the plastic-backed Abena M4 because the backsheet will provide less resistance if worn under meshpants or underwear. That said, you’ll need to be mindful of the tendency for its tapes to weaken resulting in obvious sagging.

4.1 Abri-Form Premium M4 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Abri-Form Premium M4 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) 


Noise

Noise Rating:10

The Abri-Form Premium diaper is exceptionally quiet. Perhaps owing to its thick/extensive padding coverage and soft flexible cloth-like backsheet, this diaper is highly unlikely to be noticed from a noise perspective. I rank this diaper similar to the Seni Super Plus in this regard and can’t say I had any complaints with respect to noise when testing.

4.3 Abri-Form Premium M4 Noise Profile

 

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 5
I can’t really vouch for the Abri-Form Premium with respect to its ability to block odors. Unfortunately, the loose fit and cloth-like backsheet will contribute to the escape of odors. Moreover, the presentation of surface dampness will contribute to the formation of odors. This matches the problems found in the Abena Delta-Form.


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