Molicare (Lindor) Men 5D Incontinence Pad Review

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

 

Summary

I’m excited to introduce our first in a series of reviews covering incontinence pads. For this review we evaluate the Molicare (recently renamed to Lindor) Men 5D incontinence pad, which will be followed up by reviews of the Depend for Men, Prevail Male and Tena Men pads. These belong to a sub-category of incontinence pads referred to as “male guards” and are specially designed for preventing leaks from the male anatomy. These pads provide a level of absorbency between the very light level of protection provided by “male shields” and heavier absorbency provided by protective underwear. This being the first formal review I’ve done for such a product, it proved quite interesting as I needed to adapt my usual metricing system designed to assess adult diaper performance. This was particularly challenging for review as my own needs fall between absolute protection for bedwetting at night and very light protection for daily drips and dribbles, whereas this product falls somewhere in between the two. Nevertheless, it’s generally better to have too much protection rather than not enough and I’ve done my best to reflect the needs of those who have moderate daily incontinence. I’d like to give a special thanks to Denis for his suggestion, guidance and donation to support this review!

The Lindor 5D pad sits at the middle of the Molicare line of product absorbency, with the 5D representing 5 drops of absorbency on a scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most absorbent adult diapers). This makes it best suited to moderate incontinence, whereas there are also some lighter absorbency Lindor male guards in the 3~4D range. To account for this sort of pad being of lower target absorbency, I’ve updated the lab test to use smaller absorbency intervals than I do with adult diapers. For these products wettings are measured at 50 ml (1.7 oz) intervals rather than the 250 ml (8.4 oz) used for testing adult diapers. I’ve also updated the absorbency scoring and discretion systems to give two ratings: one reflective of the abilities expected for Male guards and the other an absolute rating to frame them against other adult diaper reviews. Otherwise, I’ve tried to keep the format as similar as possible to the standard diaper reviews for easier comparison.

Key Features:

• Cloth backsheet
• Inner leak barriers
  
• Adhesive tape fastener down the middle

Pros:

• High absorbency for male guard
• Soft comfortable material
  
• Great resistance to surface dampness
• Very effective leak guards
  

Cons:

• Won’t work for bowel incontinence
• A little bulky for light incontinence

Product Details

The Molicare (Lindor) Men 5D comes in a one-size fits all. Consequently no other sizes are listed here and this review should be universally applicable for the product line.

Packaging

Brand: Lindor (Molicare)
Manufacturer: PAUL-HARTMANN AG
Origin: Germany
Units Per Bag: 14
Cost Per Unit: $$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 20 cm (7.9") x 10 cm (3.9") x 14 cm (5.5")
Weight: 0.48 kg (1.1 lbs)
Advertised Absorbency: Super

1.1 Lindor Men 5D Pad Packaging

Pad

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: No
Standing Inner Leak Guards: Yes
Leg Gathers: No
Product Style: Male Guard
Refastenable Tabs: No
Number of Tapes: 1
Repositionable Tabs: No
Outer Color: White
Inner Color: White
Folded Thickness: 1.6 cm (0.63")
Folded Length: 10 cm (3.9")
Dry Weight: 55 g (1.9 oz)
Fragrance: No
Pad Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 34.5 cm (13.6") x 18 cm (7.1") x 11.5 cm (4.5") x 11.5 cm (4.5")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, None
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 30 cm (11.8") x 15 cm (5.9") x 9 cm (3.5") x 9 cm (3.5")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3 cm (1.2") x 18 cm (7.1") x 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, None
Total Padding Area: 378cm² (58.6 in²)
Tape (W x L): 3 cm (1.2") x 25 cm (9.8")

1.2 Lindor Men 5D Pad

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 345 ml (12.2 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 370 ml (13.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (15 s, 13 s, 15 s, 20 s, 17 s, 27 s, 26 s, 30 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 4 cm (1.6")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 94%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.91 ml / cm² (0.21 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 25 ml (0.88 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 10

As far as male guards go, this pad is top notch when it comes to resistance against surface dampness. During the lab test it didn’t demonstrate any significant surface dampness until the 4~5th light-wetting and even then there wasn’t much. The topsheet seems specially designed to resist such dampness. I can confirm this from real world testing, where I never noticed surface dampness even when it was quite near capacity.

2.1 Wet vs Dry Pad After Capacity Test

 

2.2 Used vs Unused Padding After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Posture Tests

Standing-Sitting

Total Absorbed Volume: 320 ml (11.3 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing)
Leaked After Sitting: Yes
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 100%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.85 ml / cm² (0.19 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 2 (Male Guard Adjusted: 10)
To get a rough idea of the maximum capacity before leakage the Lindor 5D pad was pushed to the point of leakage with a regular wetting while standing. To make the test a little more reasonable it was combined with the Carer M67 underwear to assess feasibility with combined protection. During the wetting, moisture was quickly and effectively distributed through the padding right up to the point it reached capacity. Once at capacity it pooled and leaked out the sides, with most of it directed around the protective underwear’s padding. This consequently led to a moderate leak. Even so, this test was well beyond the standard use case for male guards, where they may be expected to absorb drips and dribbles to perhaps moderate voids. The overall absorbency well exceeded my expectations, very nearly absorbing a full wetting. If you suffer from light drips and dribbles I can confidently say this pad won’t leak during daily wear even after an extended amount of time. Even with moderate or continuous drips and dribbles I imagine it will be good for at least 6~8 hours.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 195 ml (6.9 oz)
Total Wettings: 1
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 89%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.52 ml / cm² (0.12 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 1 (Male Guard Adjusted: 9)

To assess the maximum capacity while lying down the Lindor 5D pad was again pushed to the point of leakage with a regular wetting while lying down. This was again done in combination with the Carer M67 to assist in containing leakage and assess feasibility with combined protection. During the wetting, moisture quickly flowed through the upper padding and then out the sides where it leaked from the protective underwear. Because the flow was nearly horizontal and the 5D padding was so wide, it didn’t reach the outer underwear padding so it leaked right away. Had the moisture been directed more toward the bottom of the padding the underwear may have caught it. In the end, there was actually a bit of dry padding at the bottom of the pad. This meant less overall absorbency than there was when tested while standing. That may be less of a problem with light or moderate wettings, though this pad is clearly at its best when worn for daily wear rather than overnight wear (the thinner padding at the bottom makes that clear).

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

I was quite impressed with the Lindor 5D during my testing. Like other incontinence pads, this product must be placed within the wearer’s underwear and will not provide stand-alone protection. Admittedly, the level of absorbency provided by this pad was much more than I’d typically need in daily wear, which is typically just lighter drips and dribbles. However, I pushed it to its limits during testing and also found it quite helpful when worn for some very long days of travel. Male guards are not designed for bedwetting so I couldn’t effectively test it in that case, but I imagine if you suffer from minor leaks in your sleep it could be sufficient. The primary issue you’ll deal with in overnight wear is that the padding narrows toward the bottom of the padding where gravity will normally direct moisture and there’s no protection at all at the rear. In terms of daily wear, this pad has absorbency on par or better than many categories of protective underwear, consistently approaching 300 ml (10.1 oz) before leakage would be a concern. It has a unique design among the male guards I’ve seen, with the padding fitting the contours of the wearer’s legs and inner leak guards that form a pouch around the male anatomy. This makes it particularly good at preventing the sort of leaks that happen due to shifting underwear and drips making it around the padding. This pad also has a very comfortable design, with a cloth-like backsheet that doesn’t cause any irritation when in contact with the skin and very soft padding and leak guards. It will feel a bit bulky, but I found the softness makes up for that and I could wear it for an extended length of time between changes (also a side-effect of its impressive absorbency). Perhaps the main thing to watch out for with this pad would be when sliding your underwear up and down to use the toilet. If you’re not careful the top of the padding can catch on your skin and fold inward when you re-apply your underwear. This is easy enough to avoid, but may be a bit awkward when you’re in a rush. Otherwise, it holds to the underwear very well and I never had issues with it slipping or coming loose, even during very active wear. I feel this pad is best suited for those with light-to-moderate daily leakage. It feels particularly well suited for men with moderate stress or overflow incontinence. Those with only minor leakage will likely find it a bit bulky for their needs, but if you’ve had issues with leaks from other male guards like Depend, Prevail or Tena I’d highly recommend giving this pad a try.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 0 (N/A)

This product is not designed for use with bowel incontinence.

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The Lindor 5D pad has a unique shape unlike most other male guards on the market (others tend to be either triangular or rectangular in shape). This pad has contours that somewhat reflect half of a diaper. The pad has wide, well-defined wings that cover the crotch and narrowing padding at the bottom where the pad sits between the legs. Also, while this pad doesn’t have leg gathers, it has unusually tall inner leak guards, which form something of a pouch for the male anatomy. The leak guards cover nearly all the padding when the pad is unfolded. Moreover, there is a cloth-like backsheet on this pad with a narrow strip of adhesive tape material that runs down the middle to be fastened onto the wearer’s underwear.

3.1 Lindor Men 5D Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 9

The Lindor 5D pad is quite user friendly, as is the case for most male guards. This pad must be worn in combination with regular underwear or meshpants so its relatively large size could make it a bit more challenging to apply quickly than smaller, less absorbent male guards. The folded size is also larger than most others, which could make it more challenging to change discreetly when out. This is the primary reason I refrained from giving it a perfect score for ease-of-use. Otherwise, this pad is easy to apply. You simply remove the taped strip from the middle and apply it to the front of your underwear with the widest portion in the direction of the waist. You do need to use some care to ensure the male anatomy is positioned between the leak guards rather than above them. The shape of the pad makes this positioning easier as the leak guards open up a bit when it’s folded into underwear. It’s highly durable and I never had issues with it coming loose during wear. Likewise, it’s easy to remove when it’s time to be changed. Also, like other male guards, this pad should only be worn with snug fitting underwear and will not be effective with loose boxers.

3.2 Lindor Men 5D Pad Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 10

The Lindor 5D gets top marks when it comes to dry comfort. This pad has a soft cloth-like backsheet that doesn’t cause any irritation when in contact with the skin. Moreover, the topsheet padding is among the softest I’ve experienced, considerably more than the others like the Depend Male Guards. Likewise, the leak guards are very soft and the pouch they form doesn’t cause any discomfort. The padding is highly durable and I never noticed clumping or tearing during wear. In spite of its relative thickness, it’s also highly breathable and great for heat dissipation. You may notice the bulk a bit with this pad, but I don’t feel that detracts from its comfort.

Comfort Rating (wet): 10

The Lindor 5D performed equally well when it comes to wet comfort compared to dry comfort. I really couldn’t tell the difference between the pad when it was wet compared to its dry state. In its wet state the pad retained its form without noticeable deterioration, while the tape continued its grip without slipping. Surface dampness and pressout were pretty much non-existent. For its level of absorbance I feel this is about as good as you can get for such comfort.

3.3 Lindor Men 5D Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 3.8% (topsheet), 1.9% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 3 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 10
The Lindor 5D gets top marks for dry durability. After wear for an extended amount of time including active wear and exercise this pad had only very minor deterioration at the edges, nothing that would affect its absorbency. I was also impressed with how well the tape adhered to my underwear during wear and didn’t have issues with it shifting. Part of this may be due to its sheer size, which assisted in keeping it anchored in place without shifting. After extensive testing I really can’t fault this pad when it comes to dry durability and thus give it top marks.

Durability Rating (wet): 9

Per wet durability, I noticed only slightly more padding deterioration compared to the dry state. There wasn’t any clumping or tearing but the padding had some minor loosening. Even so, it still held well in place, and the backsheet showed no signs of perspiration, which happens in some cloth-backed products. Also, while not a huge concern for practical use, it gave out relatively quickly in the wet shake test. For practical purposes, I feel this pad is incredibly durable when wet and you’re unlikely to have any associated issues so I certainly rank this among the top performers in this regard.

3.4 Lindor Men 5D Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Profile Discretion Rating: 9 (Male Guard Adjusted: 6)

The Lindor 5D pad provides a high level of overall discretion, though it’s rather thick for a male guard. For the most part I found it could be worn discreetly but will create a bit of a bulge at the crotch if worn under tighter clothing. Compared with adult diapers reviewed so far this would put it up near the top for discretion. However, for male guards I feel there are more discreet, albeit less absorbent options.

4.1 Lindor Men 5D Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Lindor Men 5D Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 10

The Lindor 5D is pretty much completely silent. I never noticed a hint of noise while wearing this pad. Its soft, flexible padding and backsheet doesn’t create resistance and it fits snugly in the wearer’s underwear. I don’t think you could do any better than this for noise reduction.

4.3 Lindor Men 5D Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 10
For its level of absorption this pad comes out on top when it comes to odor reduction. First, it’s highly resistant to surface dampness compared to other male guards. This aids in reducing the formation of odors. But it also features specialized leak guards that form an additional barrier, or pouch, to help with containment. I don’t think you’ll find a male guard better at containing odors than the Lindor 5D.

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