Saturday, 14 December 2024

InControl BeDry Night Adult Diapers Review

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


 

Summary

The InControl BeDry Night diaper is a full featured, ultra high absorbency diaper at the top of the InControl line. The branding has this diaper rated at an incredible 12,000 ml (405 oz) of absorbency, putting it above even the Trest Elite Briefs and possibly making it the most absorbent on the market. The InControl brand appears to be a medical-focused offshoot of the Rearz brand with Rearz focused more on printed ABDL-style diapers. Information on the package was surprisingly sparse and didn’t have the typical product/company information I’d expect to find. However, they appear to be made in the same industry complex in China and the structure is very similar across others diapers like the TotalDry with a few tweaks unique to this one. One thing I really like that I found on their website was that they give both a maximum and best fit for sizing. For example, in the medium size, the “max fit” was given as 26-47”, whereas the “best-fit” was put at 30-40” waist size. I’m near the bottom of the “best fit” range and still found these fit very well. I wish more companies did this. This is particularly helpful, since there isn’t a “small” size in this line of product and some may be tempted to try it even if they’re undersized. These diapers are both exceptionally thick and very wide, clearly designed for heavy usage, ideally overnight.

In practice, I found these diapers to be highly absorbent, but obviously far less than the advertised capacity. They still challenged the top performers and would have no problem handling even the heaviest wetters for most practical usage (bedwetting or daily). I imagine in any case you will get at least 3~4 wettings out of these before you experience any leakage. I found these diapers to be comfortable and highly durable. Perhaps the biggest challenge with them is that they are very obvious and not discreet at all, so I doubt you would want to wear these out of the house; albeit, they market as for night usage anyway. The other challenge being that the padding is so thick and wide that it actually becomes somewhat constraining to movement. That’s not to say that you can’t walk, run or get around in these, but you will very much feel the diaper pushing back at you when you do. These diapers also run at a very expensive unit price, so they aren’t what you’d want if you need to change frequently. They’re best used for very heavy bedwetting and they will perform exceptionally well for that. I’d like to give a special thanks to Jenna for the suggestion/donation toward this and 2 other upcoming reviews! As always, suggestions and donations are greatly appreciated for building a more comprehensive and helpful set of reviews.


Key Features:

  • Plastic backsheet
  • Fastener landing zone
  • Hook & Loop fasteners
  • Standing inner leak guards
  • Wetness indicator
  • Refastenable fasteners
  • Dual waistbands

Pros:

  • Extremely absorbent
  • Highly durable
  • Comfortable/snug fit

Cons:

  • Very high unit cost
  • Sizing starts at medium
  • Not discreet

 

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the large-sized InControl BeDry Night Adult Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:


Packaging

Brand: InControl
Manufacturer: Weifang Mimosa Personalcare Technology
Origin: China
Units Per Bag: 12
Cost Per Unit: $$$$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 38 cm (15") x 20 cm (7.9") x 25 cm (9.8")
Weight: 2.73 kg (6 lbs)
Available Sizes: M,L,XL
Advertised Absorbency: Night (12000 ml)

1.1 InControl BeDry Night Adult Diaper Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Plastic (poly)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (yellow line 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: No
Outer Color: White (blue Attends logos down middle)
Inner Color: White (grey rectangle in the middle)
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 3.33 cm (1.31")
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Dry Weight: 217 g (7.7 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 82 cm (32.3") x 65 cm (25.6") 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 28 cm (11") x 20 cm (7.9") x 39 cm (15.4")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 4 cm (1.6") x 14 cm (5.5") x 9.5 cm (3.7") x 21 cm (8.3")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1831 cm2 (284 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 3 cm (1.2") x 13 cm (5.1")
Tape (W x L): 4.5 cm (1.8") x 4 cm (1.6")

1.2 InControl BeDry Night Adult Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 3008 ml (106 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 3108 ml (110 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (51 s, 53 s, 65 s, 72 s, 78 s, 85 s, 91 s, 100 s, 96 s, 96 s, 103 s, 100 s, 100 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 8 cm (3.2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 81%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.88 ml / cm2 (0.43 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 100 ml (3.15 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 7

The InControl BeDry Night performed well when tested for surface dampness. I put it ahead of the Rearz Barnyard or Forsite AM/PM in this regard. I don’t believe these diapers to be structurally very different, but the sheer amount of SAP in this diaper has a strongly positive impact on reducing surface dampness. That said, it still showed some dampness after the second wetting and thereafter during lab testing. In real world testing the dampness was a bit less noticeable and pressout was insignificant, if anything pressout actually helped with surface dampness here because it pushed moisture into the seemingly endless amount of available padding. So while this isn’t the most efficient way to achieve a positive surface dampness rating, this diaper still demonstrated a solid performance in this regard.



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: 1508 ml (53.2 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 3 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 53%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.82 ml / cm2 (0.19 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 10
The InControl BeDry Night was a top performer when tested while standing and sitting. The first wetting while standing was quickly and efficiently absorbed with moisture distributed through the mid-padding. Aside from some swelling in the mid-section the change was barely perceivable in the already thick diaper. Upon sitting shortly afterward there was no sign of pressout moisture and certainly no leaks. On the second wetting while seated there was considerable initial pooling and moisture pushed back up the front as it was partly blocked from entering the mid-padding. Nothing made it past the leak guards, but the front padding swelled considerably. Once absorbed it wasn’t too noticeable aside from the swelling and there were no hints of leakage below the diaper. On the third wetting while seated there was again significant initial pooling up the front that pushed up against the front leak guards and took longer to wick out than the second wetting. Nothing really made it to the rear padding because of the damming effect of the swollen mid-padding so it remained completely dry while the front padding was very swollen. It didn’t feel particularly wet but there was certainly more dampness near the leak guards. Surprisingly, there were still no leaks under the diaper, so I continued with the test. On the fourth wetting, moisture again pooled and pushed further back against the leak guards where it quickly leaked into the wings and outside the rear leg gathers. The rear padding continued to be completely dry as the swollen mid-padding blocked any moisture from channeling back into it. Had there been better moisture channeling to the rear padding it certainly could have managed at least several more wettings, but at 3 wettings without leakage it was still among the best performers. I expect you’ll pretty consistently get 3 wettings from this diaper without leaks, but the swollen padding damming presents a significant risk for leaks afterward.


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 1733 ml (61.1 oz)
Total Wettings: 4
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 61%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.95 ml / cm2 (0.22 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 10

The InControl BeDry Night performed exceptionally when tested while lying down. The first wetting was quickly absorbed and distributed through the padding. It felt like only a small area of mid padding became wet and swell a bit, but otherwise a single wetting had little impact on the already thick diaper padding. On the second wetting there was slightly more pooling with some moisture pushing part way up the front. Again, it was absorbed relatively quickly and, while the diaper swelled considerably, it didn’t feel damp. On the third wetting, moisture pushed further up the front, but still not enough to pass the leak guards and get into the wings. Again, there was slightly more initial pooling but it was eventually all absorbed and there was still considerable dry padding at the front and rear. By the fourth wetting the mid padding had swollen considerably and was clearly going to create a moisture dam. Initially there was a lot of pooling, some made it toward the rear padding but a lot backed up and finally pushed through into the front wing, where it then pooled and leaked from outside the rear leak guards. Remarkably, there was still a very large quantity of dry padding at both the front and rear of the diaper, suggesting a much higher potential absorbency if there were better moisture channeling. However, even if it comes far from its theoretical absorbency, this diaper easily ranks among the top choices for use while lying down and even the heaviest bedwetters should be able to wear these without worrying about leaks. I expect it will consistently manage about 3 wettings before moisture damming starts to result in leaks.

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


Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The InControl BeDry Night performed very well when tested for daily wear and bedwetting. It’s one of a select set of diapers for which I’d have no concern when worn for bedwetting under any conditions. During testing I never experienced anything resembling a leak. When I tried it out for daily wear, it absorbed many wettings without leaking or significant padding deterioration. Based on my experience, you will easily get 3~4 wettings when worn while seated or lying down. If wet when standing you might even get up to 5 or 6 wettings before leakage since the leaks all happened as a result of limited moisture channels, which open up more when standing. The diaper almost has too much absorbency. There’s so much Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) packed into the padding that moisture concentrates nearest the source and it swells to incredible proportions. The problem with that is that it creates a dam, which blocks any moisture from making its way back to the rear padding. So eventually enough moisture will be backed up that it will leak well before the rear padding has even a hint of dampness. In my testing I never found the rear padding to get wet before needing a change. This is similar to the problems I’ve had with other similarly structured highly absorbent diapers like the Trest Elite Hybrid or TotalDry X-Plus. In this way, there appears to be an absolute limit to how much a diaper will absorb regardless of how much extra SAP you put into it; there are clearly diminishing returns. To actually achieve efficient absorbency you would need well defined moisture channels to bring moisture toward the rear. However, with a normal 24 hour adult urine volume being only up to 2 L (67 oz) a day, you likely wouldn’t want to target that anyway. Nobody should be wearing a diaper for more than 24 hours regardless of how absorbent it is because it will start to have very negative implications for the wearer’s skin. So with this diaper consistently absorbing over 1.5 L (51 oz) in practical usage, it should be more than sufficient for most people’s daily needs. In terms of extended wear I generally found this diaper to be quite skin friendly, though sometimes the edges cause minor irritation (particularly if the fastener slipped in a way to contact my leg). The diaper is interesting in its choice of a grey-colored square in the center, its Acquisition Distribution Layer (ADL), which is typically blue or green and designed to improve fluid transfer into the padding. Given the sheer absorbency it was difficult to evaluate how the ADL performed, but I did notice that pooling rarely lasted long. I also found that the super absorbency meant that even if there was any pressout from sitting, it was quickly absorbed by surrounding padding. Sitting is where I’ve found leaks are most likely to occur in a diaper so this could be a great choice for those who need to sit frequently in their occupation. However, the thickness and width will make it hard to do any sort of activity in this diaper. I feel it’s best for the marketed purpose of night-time wear. Whether it justifies the very high unit price for absorbency that’s well past what you could ever practically use I think is a matter of preference in terms of comfort and security. It’s generally priced better than the Trest Elite Hybrid, but I feel they could probably drop a few thousand ml of absorbency and it would be just as effective. Another plus here is that if you typically suffer from skin irritation at your rear then never having to worry about damp rear padding could be a real benefit.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 9

The InControl BeDry Night is exceptionally well suited for managing bowel incontinence. It has some of the most extensive rear padding I’ve seen in a diaper, while also having strong leak guards and dual waistbands. The padding is highly absorbent and the tapes are strong. The rear padding coverage is extensive and has a decent size pocket for containment. However, like other “hybrid” plastic backed diapers, the reason I can’t give this diaper a perfect score here is that you can’t easily close the diaper back up with the tapes for disposal since they only fasten to the front landing zone.


Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The InControl BeDry Night is a full-featured plastic-backed design. Though I consider this to be a “hybrid” design and very similar to the Rearz Barnyard, since it features hook & loop fasteners with a specialized landing zone that resembles that of a cloth-backed diaper. It has waistbands on both the front and rear for a snugger fit and the tapes are quite large with good adhesiveness. The tapes can be adjusted and repositioned multiple times without damage or losing their grip. The padding is very wide and very thick with an exceptional amount of rear coverage. In terms of fit, I found these are about average in terms of sizing. I’m typically in the “medium” range and these fit me well with an approximately 31” waist.

3.1 InControl BeDry Night Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 9

I rank the InControl BeDry Night highly when it comes to ease-of-use. I put it slightly above the Rearz Barnyard since I had concerns about the wetness indicator leaching onto the wearer’s skin with that one. This diaper has a simple solid yellow line as a wetness indicator that runs down the middle and turns bluish-grey when wet. The landing zone at the front has a rough textured pattern and tapes can only be fastened to that area, but the area covers a significant amount of space so it has a large potential range of fittings. The fasteners are large and quite easy to adjust over the landing zone though it may take some practice in adjusting the bottom tape where it can intersect with a crease in the landing zone. The biggest downside to this “hybrid” design in terms of ease-of-use is that it can be difficult to close up the used diaper when it’s ready to dispose; the fasteners can only be placed on the front material so it’s tough to wrap the diaper into a disposable ball. Admittedly, that’s probably not a big deal for most independent wearers, but perhaps more significant for those in a care environment.

3.2 InControl BeDry Night Fit

Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 9

I rank the InControl BeDry Night highly for dry comfort and put it at about the same level as the Rearz Barnyard. The two diapers have a very similar structure so you’ll find the feel to be similar as well. This diaper does feel a bit denser and thicker. The padding is dense but generally pretty soft, even if not the softest on the market. You will very much feel you’re wearing a diaper with this diaper. The padding is very wide and the plastic is rather dense and slightly resistant to movement. This gives it a bit of a constraining feeling when walking and keeps a gap between your legs. The padding is not prone to clumping or tearing so you won’t get any discomfort from that. At times the lower fasteners might shift in a way that contacts the legs and can cause some scratching, though I didn’t encounter this very often. This diaper will probably not be the best for summer wear, based on its thickness, but was perfect for winter. Even so, the padding coverage is very extensive and you’re unlikely to feel clammy or much in the way of sweat. The most likely issue to affect comfort is the actual size of this diaper, some might like it, others not so much.


Comfort Rating (wet): 9

While I can’t say the InControl BeDry Night is the most comfortable diaper I’ve tested, I do feel it ought to score highly in this regard. The exceptionally absorbent padding does a very good job at cutting down on the sensation of surface dampness and mitigating pressout. The trade-off for this is that the front padding swells very quickly when wet as moisture tends to concentrate nearest to its source and has little chance for wicking before being absorbed. The wet padding has a firm and dense feel to it, but I wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. Moreover, the fasteners on this diaper have a strong grip and, while it feels heavy and bulky when wet, I didn’t notice any sagging when wearing this diaper. It also does a remarkable job at retaining its structure, without any obvious clumping or tearing in the padding when wet. You’re highly unlikely to get anywhere near the level of saturation in this diaper before changing or leaking. I didn’t notice any real clamminess during testing. All in all, it’s little different from its dry state other than the notable degree of padding swelling.

3.3 InControl BeDry Night Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 2.5% (topsheet), 1.4% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 9
The InControl BeDry Night was a very strong performer in terms of dry durability. It has a strong and thick plastic backsheet and very wide/thick padding. The padding is particularly dense and barely budged after being worn many hours during dry durability testing. I did feel the padding had become slightly softer in a few areas, like the front, but without obvious deterioration. The fasteners showed no obvious weakness after multiple refastenings either. Interestingly the fasteners are a mix of adhesive tape and hook & loop, but the purpose of the adhesive tape appears to only be for keeping the tapes fastened down before they’re actually applied. Like the Rearz Barnyard, there is a slight tendency for the backsheet to come loose from the padding, but I didn’t notice it nearly as much in this diaper. After testing, the actual deterioration was insignificant and isolated to non-core parts of the padding. The primary issue that’s likely to impact active wear with this diaper is its constraining density rather than any durability concerns.


Durability Rating (wet): 9

The InControl BeDry Night’s wet durability was unchanged from its dry durability. It didn’t perform particularly well in the wet shake test, but that was very likely a factor of the huge amount of absorbance so I don’t weigh it very heavily. The padding was firmer than the padding of the Rearz Barnyard when wet, but not quite at the level of density of the most durable diapers on the market like the Drylife SlipSuper. I found the tapes had no issue carrying the weight of the diaper and padding deterioration wasn’t significantly different than its dry state, with perhaps a small amount more tearing toward the front. The overall fit continued to be good and there wasn’t any notable sagging. I wouldn’t have any concerns about wearing this diaper while wet when active, but again, the wide, constraining structure is more likely to impact active wear than actual durability.

3.4 InControl BeDry Night Adult 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): 8 cm (3.2"), 7 cm (2.8")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5 cm (2"), 4.5 cm (1.8")

Profile Discretion Rating: 2

This diaper has a very obvious profile with large diaper bulges protruding from the front and the rear. The thick and dense padding means it would be very difficult to cover up the diaper bulge. It’s labelled as a “night” diaper, so perhaps there isn’t a need for discretion. I’d be wary of wearing it out of the house as I feel it’s highly likely to be noticed and would be difficult to cover up under all but the thickest outfits.

4.1 InControl BeDry Night Adult Diapers Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 InControl BeDry Night Adult Diapers Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) 


Noise

Noise Rating: 5

There’s often a paradox in that you would expect a thick plastic-backed diaper to be noisy, but it actually turns out less noisy than most thinner plastic-backed diapers. While I certainly expected the InControl BeDry Night to be noisy, and it definitely had a distinctive plastic-rustling noise, it was far from the loudest diaper tested. What I believe to be the case here, is that the padding actually helps dampen the noise and reduces friction that might occur since the backsheet is held more firmly by the padding and less likely to move. I put this diaper in about the middle of the scale in this regard. I noticed a bit of noise in the front when standing/sitting and walking. I feel much of the noise comes from the landing zone, but it’s not enough that you couldn’t cover it up under thick outerwear. With a quieter landing zone this diaper might be surprisingly quiet.

4.3 InControl BeDry Night Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 9

In terms of odor control, the InControl BeDry Night should perform well. The brand advertises “Whiff-X” technology for odor control, though I’m not entirely sure what it means since it’s very similar to the Rearz Barnyard in this regard. I feel like a lot of the odor control comes from the structure itself, with solid leak guards and waistbands that double to keep odors contained. Though I wouldn’t say the padding itself is particularly resistant to odors, at least not compared to something like the Tena Slip Active Fit Ultima or Attends Slip Regular Plus. Generally, it should be good enough though and you’re unlikely to notice odors very often in this diaper.


Want to give the InControl BeDry Night a try?

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Saturday, 7 December 2024

CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Adult Diaper Review

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


 

Summary

The CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs are a cloth-backed store brand adult diaper sold by CVS pharmacies in the US. These diapers are notable for their stretchable rear wings that wrap around the wearer’s hips, much like the Prevail Air Overnight or Tena Stretch Briefs. These wings feature an elastic type material and just a single rectangular block of hook & loop fastener per side. These sit at the top of the absorbency scale for the CVS Health line of incontinence products, while there is also a version of the product that features the more traditional two tapes per side and non-stretch wings. There are two sizes of these (M,L/XL) and interestingly they categorize them according to waist as well as weight (a measure more commonly used in youth products). The minimum recommended weight is 90 lbs (41 kg) while the minimum recommended waist is 31” (79 cm), so they are perhaps appropriate for some larger youths as well as adults.

In terms of performance, I found these diapers were consistently able to manage a single wetting without leaking, but will regularly leak beyond that. Moreover, I didn’t run into issues with pressout moisture upon sitting when wearing these diapers while wet or at least nothing noticeable. They come at a surprisingly affordable unit price rate, so for those who need to frequently change their diaper without spending a fortune, this diaper seems like a reliable choice. One downside is that they’re only available from CVS pharmacies in the US so you’re unlikely to find them in other locations (I certainly couldn’t find them in Canada). They aren’t particularly durable so I wouldn’t recommend them for more active wearers. Also, being cloth-backed they may not be the preferred choice for all wearers, but for a store brand diaper I found these to be quite well rounded and better than you might expect, with a relatively high dollars to absorbency level. I want to give a special shout out for the donation of these that made this review possible, as always these donations are highly appreciated!


Key Features:

  • Cloth-like backsheet
  • Stretchable wings
  • Standing inner leak guards
  • Wetness indicator
  • Repositionable fasteners

Pros:

  • Comfortable/breathable design
  • Consistent performance
  • Decent resistance to surface dampness

Cons:

  • Limited sizing
  • Limited availability
  • Some durability issues

 

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the large-sized CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Adult Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:


Packaging

Brand: CVS Health
Manufacturer: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
Origin: USA
Units Per Bag: 24
Cost Per Unit: $
Dimensions (L x W x H): 37 cm (14.6") x 15 cm (5.9") x 25 cm (9.8")
Weight: 1.93 kg (4.2 lbs)
Available Sizes: M,L/XL
Advertised Absorbency: Maximum

1.1 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Adult Diaper 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: Stretch Sides Brief
Refastenable Tabs: Yes
Number of Tapes: 2
Repositionable Tabs: Yes
Outer Color: White
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 1.67 cm (0.66")
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5")
Dry Weight: 83 g (2.9 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 81 cm (31.9") x 54 cm (21.3") x 28 cm (11") x 73 cm (28.7")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 61 cm (24") x 23 cm (9.1") x 17 cm (6.7") x 23 cm (9.1")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3 cm (1.2") x 14 cm (5.5") x 3 cm (1.2") x 14 cm (5.5")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1205 cm2 (187 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 6 cm (2.4")
Tape (W x L): 11 cm (4.3") x 2 cm (0.8")

1.2 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Adult Diaper


Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 817 ml (28.8 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 942 ml (33.2 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (52 s, 47 s, 49 s, 53 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 3.5 cm (1.4")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 96%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.36 ml / cm2 (0.31 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 125 ml (4.4 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating:6

The CVS Adjustable diaper performed pretty well when it came to surface dampness. During the lab test there was no sign of moisture after the first wetting and only a bit after the second. By the third it was clearly saturated. This was backed up by real world testing where I found surface dampness was only slightly noticeable, mostly toward the edges. The breathable design in this diaper also assists in reducing the sensation of dampness.



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: 692 ml (24.4 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 1 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 97%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.57 ml / cm2 (0.13 oz / in2)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 6
The CVS Adjustable diaper did better than expected when tested while standing and sitting. It didn’t show any sign of leaks on the first wetting while standing. Moisture was quickly distributed through the padding and it continued to feel breathable/dry. I felt a bit of pressout moisture upon sitting shortly afterward. I was sure there were going to be leaks but didn’t notice any hint of leakage and, soon after, the pressout had distributed into the dry padding and the feeling of dampness subsided. On the second wetting there was considerable pooling of moisture up the front of the diaper and it pushed out into the mid/front leak guards. Nothing leaked out through into the wings, but there was a substantial leak through the mid leak guards. At the end of the test the padding was completely saturated outside of a tiny amount of dry padding at the rear. Tears had formed in the padding and I believe that’s one of the reasons moisture was cut off from the rear padding. Based on this test, I feel that the CVS Adjustable diaper will generally be good for one wetting during daytime use and should be reliable for pressout even if it might feel susceptible initially. However, I would recommend changing after the first wetting because it’s highly unlikely to manage 2 without leaks.


Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 767 ml (27.1 oz)
Total Wettings: 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 91%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.64 ml / cm2 (0.14 oz / in2)

Lying Down Rating: 6

The CVS Adjustable diaper again surprised me when tested while lying down as I was certain there would be some sort of leak on the first wetting. Instead the first wetting was fully absorbed with only a brief pooling and no signs of leakage. The leak barriers proved highly effective with moisture ending up running right down the mid padding and consuming most of the rear padding. Only a small amount of dry padding remained at the front at this point, suggesting very effective moisture channeling. The surface dampness wasn’t too noticeable at the front or mid padding but the rear padding felt quite damp. The next wetting was clearly going to leak and indeed it resulted in a significant leak from the rear. The padding felt quite saturated at this point, but most of the moisture had again shifted toward the rear. Swelling was modest and not enough to cause the “damming” effect, which might result in leaks more toward the front. Even so, there was still some dry padding at the front and the absorption amount was far greater than I expected. This gives me some confidence that the CVS Adjustable diaper will manage a wetting without leaks when lying down, but I wouldn’t trust them with 2 wettings. Still, for a store brand diaper this is actually a pretty strong performance.

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


Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The CVS Adjustable diaper was more interesting to review than I expected. Yes, it’s a store brand diaper and not super high quality, but its consistent performance stood out. I found the design to be similar to the Jessa Diskreet, a more expensive European store brand diaper. The stretchable sides are a mechanism that have popped up more and more recently, perhaps inspired by the direction of youth diapers. When I tested for daily wear or bedwetting it always seemed to manage a single wetting without leaks. Moreover, I didn’t find any sort of pressout leaks from sitting, or as is sometimes the case with cloth-backed diapers, any perspiration through the backsheet. Those are both frequent issues in lower quality cloth-backed diapers. This was all the more surprising, because the padding didn’t feel particularly durable. It holds its form, but easily separates from the backsheet giving it a clumpy sort of feeling. The sizing of this diaper feels a bit on the large side. I’m typically a small/medium, but was at the bottom of the recommended waist size for the medium in this brand. Even so, I didn’t have any issue with fastening it so the design seems quite flexible in how it achieves a fit and it could probably work even for someone with a waist size several inches under the recommended sizing. What made it feel large was the excess of backsheet material coming out on either side of the wings. I don’t feel that material is really needed and can even get in the way of arranging the fasteners. They could probably improve it by using a cut more like that of the Molicare Elastic 10D. Other than that, my primary complaint is that I frequently felt the gap between the edge of the backsheet and leak guards near the rear. It didn’t seem to impact performance for bedwetting, but I imagine it would be more of a challenge for managing bowel incontinence, particularly if the inner leak guards shifted to either side of the bowel. It also made it feel a bit odd at times when it shifted. A lesser issue I had was that sometimes the hook & loop fasteners would unstick in sections and stick to my pants or occasionally scratch my legs, though this is pretty common for these stretchy side diapers. Otherwise, I didn’t notice much chafing as the material is quite soft. It may feel slightly damp but not clammy when wet, given the highly breathable design. It should be well suited for warm weather wear. This diaper would also be well suited for a care environment where diapers are frequently changed and affordability is a high priority. It has one of the most distinctive wetness indicator transitions I’ve seen in all my testing (unfortunately the blue dye in my test makes that hard to see). Certainly worth a try if you need cheap and reliable.


Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 4

The CVS Adjustable diaper isn’t particularly well suited for bowel incontinence. While it does have some beneficial features like inner leak guards, the cloth-like backsheet and particularly the gaps that can occur near the rear will have a negative impact on containment. It also lacks a rear waistband, which is typically another feature you’d want for managing bowel incontinence.

Wear & Tear Tests


Fitting

The CVS Adjustable diaper has a cloth-like backsheet and interesting fit with two stretchable wings and a single tape per side. I found the design quite unusual, with it feeling both snug and loose at the same time. The core padding has a rather snug fit and the fasteners do a good job at wrapping the hip, but there’s a lot of excess backsheet material that sits above and below the waistband making it feel quite large. Also, I found that the leg gathers don’t run as far up the front or rear as many other diapers, which creates a substantial gap between the inner leak guards and edge of the backsheet. This can give the sensation that the padding is narrower than it is in reality. Otherwise, the fasteners are of decent quality and can hold up multiple refastenings while only slightly weakening due to backsheet damage.

3.1 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 7

The CVS Adjustable diaper is generally quite user friendly though it may take a few tries to find the proper fit. This is because you’ll want to stretch the elastic wings at least slightly to give it a snug fit and determining where they would best be placed takes a bit of trial and error. Once you know the rough positioning it isn’t too hard to get a snug fit. I found the fasteners to be pretty good. They can be refastened and repositioned multiple times in different positions after first applied. They will generally still adhere to the backsheet after refastening but will slowly wear down the backsheet after multiple refastenings and lose some effectiveness. The fasteners come folded several times so you need to make sure you completely unfold all layers before applying or you won’t get a proper fit. The other thing to watch for is that there’s a section at the front and rear where the leg gathers seem to end prematurely. It leaves a gap, which may be particularly problematic for those with bowel incontinence. Another thing to note is that I found excess bits of the backsheet can fall off. This doesn’t have any impact on performance, it just seems to be pieces that were missed from removal when the diaper was cut, so you may find triangular slices of backsheet on the floor after changing. Other than that, this diaper has some helpful features like standing inner leak guards and a wetness indicator that very clearly turns from yellow to blue when wet. So while the CVS Adjustable diaper perhaps isn’t the easiest to use, it’s generally pretty well rounded in terms of utility.

3.2 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Fit

Comfort


Comfort Rating (dry): 7

From a breathability perspective the CVS Adjustable diapers are top notch. When dry, they feel very airy and light. The downside though is that things can shift and the gaps between the leg gathers and rear can make them feel precarious. The cloth-like material on the backsheet is quite soft as are the elastic adjustable wings. However, I did find that the bottom edge of the hook & loop fastener sometimes slid and came into contact with my leg during testing, which detracts from the comfort. The padding itself generally holds up alright, but is hardly the most durable on the market and can feel a little clumpy with wear even if it generally holds its overall form. Otherwise, the padding has a soft, fluffy feel to it. Overall, I wouldn’t rank this among the most comfortable diapers on the market, but pretty decent as far as store brands go.


Comfort Rating (wet): 7

I rank the CVS Adjustable diaper’s wet comfort to be about the same as its dry comfort. The core padding was surprisingly resistant to pressout moisture considering its relatively limited capacity. Though I do feel like the dampness showed up a little more at the edges. In testing I only noticed it a little from time to time and, once absorbed, I didn’t feel pressout when sitting in the wet diaper. Interestingly, the padding texture and feel isn’t much different in its wet state than its dry state. The padding is fairly thin to begin with but I barely noticed any swelling when wet and moisture was fairly well distributed. That said, it continues to be susceptible to clumping or tearing at the front and rear; perhaps even more so when wet. Otherwise, I didn’t notice much in the way of sagging when wet and the breathability of the diaper continued to aid it in terms of comfort.

3.3 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 5.1% (topsheet), 8.7% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration


Durability Rating (dry): 6
The CVS Adjustable diaper isn’t particularly durable. I found the padding had a tendency to detach from the backsheet and could feel lumpy at times, even when dry. To its credit, the padding did hold its overall form after the dry durability test but there was definite clumping and tearing at the front and the rear. So in this case the deteriorated padding percentage I calculated was deceptively low and I’ve adjusted for that in my actual scoring. The fasteners are reasonably durable but will pull bits of the backsheet out over time, which can make it harder to refasten. This can also give some sensation of loosening, although it’s hardly the worst in that regard. I will say that this hook & loop stretch fastener mechanism does work better than many cloth-backed diapers using 2-tab adhesive fasteners. Also, while I don’t count it toward durability, I found lots of excess triangular bits of backsheet cuttings came off this diaper when changing so you’ll need to watch for that. I put this diaper at about the level of the FitRight Restore. Other than that I was impressed with the wetness indicators, which unlike many brands, didn’t change color prematurely due to minor dribbles/sweat. It should be good for light activity, but I wouldn’t recommend it for highly active wearers.


Durability Rating (wet): 6

There was little difference between the wet and dry state of the CVS Adjustable diaper when it came to wet durability. It didn’t hold out great in the shake test, falling apart after 2 shakes, but I’ve found that isn’t too useful a metric for real world utility. The padding continued to have weakness at the front and rear, while the core padding was generally intact. The fasteners had no trouble carrying the weight of the diaper for its level of absorbance. I didn’t notice any greater degree of padding separation from the backsheet in its wet form. So I rank it about the same in this regard.

3.4 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Dry Test Deterioration


Discretion Tests


Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8 cm (3.2"), 9 cm (3.5")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8 cm (3.5"), 8 cm (3.5")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4 cm (1.6"), 6 cm (2.4")

Profile Discretion Rating: 8

This diaper is pretty discreet when it comes to profile, at least to the level of the FitRight Restore. That said, it isn’t fool proof and, under lighter clothing, may produce a slight bulge at the front or rear. The padding is generally pretty thin but quite airy and can fluff up more than you might expect. It also has a considerable rise above the waistline. Still, if combined with underwear or meshpants and proper outerwear I doubt anyone would notice.

4.1 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) 


Noise

Noise Rating: 6

The CVS Adjustable diaper was noisier than you might expect for having a cloth-like backsheet. I found it to have a muffled crinkling noise when standing, sitting or walking. I suspect this is due to a separation between the topsheet and backsheet, which tends to produce a lot of backsheet friction/compression. It’s not so much that it would be impossible to cover up with meshpants or underwear, but worth noting.

4.3 CVS Health Stretch Fit Adjustable Briefs Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 7

I rarely noticed odors from the CVS Health diaper during testing. Part of this may be due to its limited capacity at a single wetting, but I feel the padding also has some degree of built-in resistance (they do advertise “odor locking technology”). That said, the breathable design will limit its ability for full odor containment. I found the structure to be pretty open and lacking waistbands so it could be a particular issue for those with bowel incontinence.