ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Review

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

 

Summary

ANAN Premium Adult Diapers are a high quality plastic-backed diaper sold in Southeast Asia. These appear to target a premium segment of the market and are more expensive than many Southeast Asian diapers, but similar in unit cost to many store-bought diapers you’d find in North America or Europe. What’s interesting about this brand of diapers is that while they appear to mostly target the market in Thailand, the manufacturer and distributor company is Fuburg, a Taiwanese company and the diapers are made in Taiwan. Other lines produced by Fuburg include the Ancare, FeelFree, Medicos diapers, which appear to be sold largely in Malaysia and India in addition to Thailand. From what I can tell, most of those produce lines are of lesser absorbency but sell at a cheaper unit price. The product line for ANAN appears to show sizing of S,M,L-XL, but the small sizing appears less frequently.

The ANAN premium has an advertised absorbency of about 2000 ml (67.6 oz), which its branding describes as 3 times more than regular diapers. In theory, it suggests up to five wettings before needing to change and advertises the quality of the material for protection against skin irritation. In real world usage during testing I found the absorbency before leakage to be about half of what was advertised, which is quite typical for most diapers that advertise a maximum absorbency. With this I’d say it will work consistently for 1~2 wettings before leaking but I wouldn’t expect it to ever last past 2 full wettings without leakage. That said, this puts it far ahead of most other Southeast Asian diapers I’ve tested and certainly well above the store-bought diapers you’d find in North America. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of this diaper. It does have a very heavy-duty feel to it, but I’d recommend it more for bedwetting/overnight wear than daily wear. If this were available at the same price-point in North America I wouldn’t hesitate to make it my regular bedwetting diaper.

Key Features:

• Plastic backsheet
• Rear waistband
• Standing inner leak guards
• Tape landing zone
  
• Refastenable fasteners
  
• Wetness indicator
  

Pros:

• Quality build and durable
  
• Good absorbency
  
• Snug/easy fitting
  

Cons:

• Limited availability
  
• Surface dampness

Product Details

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

Packaging

Brand: ANAN
Manufacturer: Fuburg Industrial Co., Ltd
Origin: Taiwan
Units Per Bag: 10
Cost Per Unit: $$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 23 cm (9.1") x 18 cm (7.1") x 27 cm (10.6")
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)
Available Sizes: S,M,L-XL
Advertised Absorbency: Premium (2000 ml)

1.1 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Plastic (poly)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (blue dotted squares down middle, fades 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 (wavey green patterned landing zone with bird outlines/numbers)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 2.33 cm (0.92")
Folded Length: 26 cm (10.2")
Dry Weight: 150 g (5.3 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 82 cm (32.3") x 62 cm (24.4") x 29 cm (11.4") x 61 cm (24")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 66 cm (26") x 35 cm (13.8") x 19 cm (7.5") x 35 cm (13.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 8 cm (3.2") x 15 cm (5.9") x 8 cm (3.2") x 18.5 cm (7.3")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Total Padding Area: 1790 cm² (277 in²)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 6 cm (2.4") x 14 cm (5.5")
Tape (W x L): 2.5 cm (1.0") x 3 cm (1.2")

1.2 ANAN Premium Adult Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 965 ml (34 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 975 ml (34.4 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (63 s, 73 s, 88 s, 118 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 4 cm (1.6")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 89%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.88 ml / cm² (0.20 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 10 ml (0.35 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 5

During the lab test, the ANAN diaper demonstrated a bit of surface dampness even after the first wetting and it continued to be a theme in subsequent tests. It certainly wasn’t as bad as some diapers I’ve tested, but also far from the best performers in this regard. For this reason I put the ANAN diaper right at the middle when it comes to resisting surface dampness. On the plus side, in actual testing, the density and distribution of the padding meant surface dampness was far less noticeable than I might have otherwise expected.

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: 1075 ml (37.9 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing, 2 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 97%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.60 ml / cm² (0.14 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 7
The ANAN diaper performed strongly during the standing to sitting test. The first wetting while standing was easily absorbed with some brief pooling of moisture over the mid-padding while there was still quite a large amount of unused padding at the front and rear. It didn’t feel particularly damp once fully absorbed and there was no sign of leakage upon sitting a few minutes later. Nor was there any sign of leakage after a longer period of sitting. On the second wetting moisture pushed up the front of the diaper and pooled temporarily. Nothing made it past the front leak guards but it certainly got close. After a short time all the excess moisture was absorbed into the padding with much ending up back in the mid padding, though the front padding was completely used. Surprisingly there weren’t any signs of leakage after the second wetting, the rear padding was still totally dry, and while the diaper felt damp it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable. During the third wetting the diaper was clearly going to leak but I tested it out anyway. What I found was moisture quickly pooled in the front then made it past the front leg gathers and into the wings where it leaked out from the rear. Some of the moisture even wicked toward the lower rear padding by this point but the upper rear padding remained completely dry for a while. After some time moisture did end up wicking into the rear padding and the diaper’s padding was almost completely saturated. Clearly this diaper will manage one and possibly two wettings during daily wear but you won’t get three full wettings out of the ANAN without leakage.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 800 ml (28.2 oz)
Total Wettings: 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 88%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.45 ml / cm² (0.10 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 8

The ANAN diaper performed quite well when tested while lying down. The first wetting was absorbed quickly and distributed evenly through the padding with minimal pooling. Once absorbed it continued to feel relatively dry with only a minor sensation of moisture at the rear. There was still a decent amount of dry padding at the front and rear at this point, while the padding felt a little firmer when wet. On second wetting, moisture pushed up the front padding initially but was blocked and redirected by front leak guards so nothing made it into the wings. Instead most of the moisture ended up in the mid/rear padding with the rear padding becoming completely wet but nothing escaped through the back. Instead there were a couple minor leaks near the rear leg gathers where moisture had briefly pooled. It wasn’t significant, but enough it would leave a stain and it was clear the diaper wasn’t far off its limit so I stopped the test at that. I was surprised to find there was even a bit of dry front padding left at the end of the test. Much more pooling in the mid-rear padding that eventually subsided but the mid-section padding was quite saturated. Based on these results I feel the ANAN diaper will safely absorb at least a single wetting while lying down and possibly even two, but I wouldn’t necessarily count on that.

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The ANAN Premium Adult Diaper proved a much higher quality than other Southeast Asian diapers tested so far like the Certainty or Softex diapers. This diaper is nearly fully featured with a rear waistband, repositionable tape landing zone and inner leak guards. It has a plastic-backsheet that feels a bit thicker than other diapers from the region, though not quite as thick as other highly durable diapers like the NorthShore Supreme. Moreover, its padding is considerably thicker and denser than other commonly available diapers in the region. During testing I found it was able to consistently absorb at least one wetting either for daily wear or bedwetting without leakage. Though I feel it’s a little better suited for bedwetting for several reasons. For one, during daily wear the structure is unlikely to direct moisture to the extensive rear padding so it’s not the best use of the design. But probably more of a concern during daily wear would be the noise produced when walking or moving with this diaper. I found the tape landing zone highly susceptible to crinkling and it would generally be tough to conceal in daily wear. Durability-wise this diaper was generally fine, but I feel that the collapsed inner padding would also be an issue in daily wear and decrease performance. I did have one instance where during a particularly heavy wetting there was a lot of pooling in the mid-padding that could easily have leaked if seated too quickly; this was from a diaper that had been worn for considerable time and was subject to earlier deterioration. That said, the tape mechanism is high quality and would easily allow for multiple refastenings without issue. This diaper performed quite well when tested for bedwetting where moisture had no trouble reaching the rear padding and it consistently approached its absorbency potential in terms of padding usage. When worn for bedwetting it’s a pretty safe bet it will not leak on the first wetting and quite possibly it will manage the second wetting without leaks. Other than that, while it's probably better in cooler weather, I didn’t find it particularly prone to overheating in warm weather either. Also, I never noticed any skin irritation when testing this diaper so I do feel the materials are in fact quite skin friendly. All in all, this is a very well rounded diaper for its price point I’d certainly recommend it where available.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 10

The ANAN diaper has all the attributes you’d look for in a diaper for managing bowel incontinence. It features a plastic backsheet with strong tapes and a rear waistband. The rear padding coverage is extensive and would have no issue with containment. Generally the design should help with odor containment as it fits snugly and the plastic-backsheet is a big plus. While it’s not as good with surface dampness containment as some others it wasn’t enough of a problem that I’d expect it to affect its suitability for managing bowel incontinence.

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The ANAN diaper features a plastic backsheet with a patterned tape landing zone. Much like other Asian diapers, this means you can reattach the tapes in different positions on the landing zone multiple times. This diaper also features a rear waistband and quality tapes. The fit is about average in the market in terms of sizing, so a medium size is right where I would expect it.

3.1 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Fastener

 

Ease-of-Use Rating: 10

The ANAN adult diaper is very user friendly. I found I had no trouble getting a snug fit, even on the first attempt. However, if you miss it on the first attempt it’s easy to retry with the tape landing zone. Patterns in the tape landing zone mean once you’ve achieved a snug fit it’s also easy to recreate it without much effort. The tapes are of a good quality and easy to apply and remove. Sometimes tapes are either too sticky and difficult to pull back or too weak and loosen with wear. I found the tapes on this diaper to be a nice middle ground with the taping mechanism. Additionally, it features snug inner leak guards and a wetness indicator to assist with changes. The rear waistband is also a plus in keeping things contained at the back, though it doesn’t have a front waistband. I think the addition of a front waistband could be a great addition and help the fit even further, but otherwise this diaper sits among the best for ease-of-use.

3.2 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9

I rank the ANAN diaper highly when it comes to dry comfort. The backsheet is quite soft and flexible, though less so than the Certainty or Dr. P diapers. The padding feels quite dense but is also soft and has a wide area of coverage so relatively little skin comes in contact with the backsheet. In terms of fit, I found it consistently holds up snugly and I had no issues with padding clumping/tear or sagging of any sort. With the backsheet and landing zone being a bit thicker this diaper can be a little more susceptible to heat, though I didn’t really notice clamminess and it still did a decent job at heat distribution. All in all, I can’t find any significant faults in this diaper in terms of dry comfort, but I can’t quite say it’s among the best of all diapers tested either. I rank it about the same as the Beesana Slip Super in this regard.

Comfort Rating (wet): 8

The ANAN diaper remains quite comfortable when wet. Though I did notice some brief initial pooling with this diaper, once the moisture is contained in the padding it doesn’t easily pressout. I rarely noticed much in the way of dampness and despite being plastic backed and with a relatively thick backsheet I didn’t notice much clamminess when wet. I also had no issues with sagging or tapes coming loose under the weight of the wet diaper. There was also no sign of padding clumping or deterioration in the wet state; if anything it appeared more durable. Even so, you’re still likely to notice a little surface dampness and the padding isn’t among the best performers in this category. For this reason I rate it slightly below its dry rating.

3.3 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 12% (topsheet), 15.3% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 13 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 7
The ANAN diaper proved quite durable when dry but not among the top performers. It has a honeycomb-like padding texture that reminds me a bit of the NorthShore Megamax, but the pattern is a bit denser. The padding itself is quite dense and reminded me a bit of the Drylife, NorthShore Supreme or ConfiDry 24/7. During durability testing most of the padding deterioration happened due to it collapsing a bit between the legs and no core padding was affected. Moreover, the rear waistband does a good job at keeping things in place with active wear. Likewise, the tapes held out remarkably well after multiple refastenings without losing adhesiveness. However, there was a substantial section of front padding that deteriorated near one of the wings. Also, I found weakness in the landing zone, where it split once when I overstretched it after multiple adjustments. It only happened once, but I still feel it's worth noting as far as durability goes. On a lesser note, the padding and backsheet can separate with dry wear, but this doesn’t appear to affect the padding integrity. That said, with some slight improvements I could easily see this diaper scoring a 9 or 10 in terms of durability and I feel it’s durable enough to be sufficient for most people’s needs.

Durability Rating (wet): 8

Something interesting happens with the ANAN diaper when wet. I found the padding actually becomes more dense/durable in a way similar to what I experience with the Drylife or NorthShore Supreme. During the wet shake test, which I typically don’t give much attention to, it held together remarkably well with multiple attempts to dislodge it. What I noticed during actual testing was that the diaper became more durable when wet and the padding expanded a bit and regained adhesion to the backsheet. During testing I also didn’t notice any sagging and the tapes held together remarkably well. For this reason I give it a slight edge over the durability of its dry state, where it otherwise was little changed.

3.4 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 6 cm (2.4"), 6 cm (2.4")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 6 cm (2.4"), 5.5 cm (2.2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8 cm (3.2"), 6 cm (2.4")

Profile Discretion Rating: 6

The ANAN diaper is bulkier than most of the diapers you’d find in Southeast Asia but still far from the bulkiest diapers on the market. I found the snugness of the fit actually went a ways to reducing how the profile showed up under clothing. The rear was a bit more noticeable than the front and the rise above the waistline was significant. I rank it similar to the NorthShore Supreme Lite or Beesana Super Slip in this regard.

4.1 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 5

I found the ANAN diaper to be exceptionally noisy. This was almost entirely due to the very crinkly landing zone. I hardly noticed any noise at all in any other part of the backsheet. Yet, even just shifting when seated would lead to an obvious crinkling. It will surely be noticed when standing or walking. I suspect that even under thicker clothing and meshpants it would be difficult to mask the noise and thus the low rating in this regard.

4.3 ANAN Premium Adult Diapers Noise Profile

 

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 8
The ANAN diaper has a lot of advantages when it comes to odor reduction. It has a snug fitting design with a plastic backsheet and rear waistband as well as snug leg gathers. I rarely notice any odors from this diaper, though it isn’t among the best performers because it’s somewhat susceptible to surface dampness. Were it not for that, I’d rank it near the top in this regard, but I didn’t feel it was enough of an issue to subtract substantial marks from its scoring.