Carer Reusable Protective Underwear Special Review Part 3

 * I've adjusted my Diaper Test Methodology to account for the unique aspects of these reusable incontinence products (see the first part of this series for details)

Summary

For the third review in our series on Carer Incontinence reusable incontinence products we’ll be covering a wider range of product types, including the athletic-fitting M71 and M74 as well as well-padded M75. In the first review, we reviewed the M65, M66 and M67 men’s underwear as well as the SJK01 women’s underwear. In the second review we covered the M303 men’s protective underwear and women’s M001, W302 and W303 women’s protective underwear. These underwear products were generally in a similar range in terms of absorbency with the M67 and M001 being geared more toward heavier leaks. In this review we’re covering the men’s M71, M74,  M75,  M70 and M99 protective underwear as well as the unisex W66 plastic pants.

In this new set of products we have the M71 and M74 as substitutes for very-light to light drips and dribbles with a padding structure equivalent to a male guard or shield. The M70 as a loose fitting boxer style product (the first of this type reviewed in this blog). While the M75 and M99 are geared more toward heavier wettings with padding coverage extending further back and more inline with the range previously tested. The M99 in particular stood out in these reviews as the most absorbent reusable product tested so far and particularly well suited for use as additional protection due to its wide area of padding coverage. Additionally, the W66 is our first look at plastic pants and how they can be used as additional protection for absorbent incontinence products. For those who aren’t familiar, plastic pants have the fit of a brief-style underwear but with snug leg gathers and waistbands and a plastic exterior to block leaks. This product has no absorbent padding of its own and is instead meant to be worn as a fail-safe to guard against leaks from an absorbent incontinence product worn underneath it. They are designed to be extra spacious to accommodate wearing them with diapers or protective underwear and they could be used in combination with any of the other Carer products reviewed for extra protection.

On the note of Carer’s products, I’d like to again mention that these are all reusable products and generally geared toward lighter urinary incontinence. They are generally less suitable for bowel incontinence or moderate-heavy urinary incontinence. Also, when wet they are more likely to feel damp than in many disposable products, but they also have the advantage of being able to dry out between leaks if your leaks are infrequent. In my comfort scoring for these reviews I primarily focus on dry comfort. Typically if such a product has reached a level where wet comfort would be considered then it should be time for a change. They can be very cost effective over time for instances where they are used as an alternative to an incontinence pad as you’ll find they can continue to be washed and reused up to a hundred times or more. Personally I feel they’re best suited to intermittent incontinence like stress incontinence or conditions like post-micturition dribbling.

Once again, I’d like to give a special thanks to Carer for providing the samples used in this review! As always, it’s great to have a company that actively listens to and seeks out customer feedback and I’m always excited to see what they come out with next.

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium/large sized M70 Incontinence Boxer Shorts, large sized M71 Bladder Leak Underwear for Men, large sized M99 Men's Incontinence Underwear Overnight With Fly, small sized M74 Reusable Incontinence Boxer Briefs with Pouch and medium sized M75 Leak Proof Nighttime Washable Incontinence Underpants. Additionally, I’ll be reviewing the W66 Unisex Pull-On Waterproof Underwear for Adult Incontinence in the medium/large size of its previous version and large size of the newer version. However, other available sizes are listed below.

Packaging

Brand: Carer
Manufacturer: Carer SPK
Origin: China
Units Per Bag: 1, 2, 3, 6, or 9
Founded: 2011
Advertised Absorbency: Normal/Plus (150-450 ml by product)

M71 Men's Protective Underwear

Backsheet: Cloth (reusable) body: 100% cotton, pad: viscose/polyester
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Advertised Absorbency: 80 ml (2.7 oz)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: No
Leg Gathers: No
Product Style: Reusable Underwear
Outer Color: Light grey (white waistband)
Inner Color: Grey (black padding at front)
Folded Thickness: 1.1 cm (0.4”)
Folded Length: 28 cm (11”)
Dry Weight: 90 g (3.2 oz)
Brief Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 56 cm (22”) x 36.5 cm (14.4”) x 24 cm (9.5”) x 36.5 cm (14.4”)
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 20 cm (7.9”) x 10 cm (3.9”) x 14 cm (5.5”) x 8 cm (3.2”)
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): -2 cm (-.8”) x 8 cm (3.2”) x -3 cm (-1.2”) x 8 cm (3.2”)
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 200 cm² (31 in²)

3.1 Carer M71 Underwear (back/front)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 85 ml (2.9 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 85 ml (2.9 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (17 s, 11 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 1.75 cm (0.7”)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.43 ml/cm² (0.09 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 0 ml (0 oz)
Time to Hang Dry: TBD

The M71 like the M74 is a low absorbency product designed for dealing with minor drips and dribbles. It has a cup-like oval of padding at the front of the underwear, designed to fit the male anatomy. In terms of absorption, it would only be equivalent to the lightest male guards or shield pads and should not be used for heavier incontinence. I treated the M71 as comparable to a male guard when testing for absorbency in the lab test. This meant limiting test intervals to 50 ml (1.7 oz). While the padding coverage is rather limited, I did find the underlying moisture barrier was very effective at repelling moisture, with little soak through even when it was pushed to its limit. In practice you’re unlikely to get anywhere near the limit, so you’d want to keep that in mind if you typically experience leaks greater than 20 ml (0.7 oz) at a time.

3.2 Carer M71 After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Daily Drips & Dribbles Rating: 4
The M71 is designed for only the lightest of usage, effectively to be used in the place of a men’s guard or shield pad. It’s rated at the lightest level of Carer incontinence products for good reason. I’d say it’s more a replacement for a men’s shield because it’s only going to capture the lightest drips and dribbles and anything more than that will quickly pool and escape the padding. With that said, in my daily testing where I’m mostly dealing with smaller drips and dribbles this underwear worked well. It also has the general advantage of reusable products where if these drips and dribbles happen infrequently enough it can dry out between usage, extending the overall absorbency more than you would expect had it faced a single surge of moisture. Moreover, because the padding is focused at the front of the underwear it will not be a suitable choice for overnight wear. In that case you’d be better going with something like the M75 or M67. To get a better sense of the limits of this underwear I tried pushing it to see what it might absorb with a heavier wetting. I was expecting it to leak immediately but surprisingly it didn’t and I was wondering what happened. It turned out the cup shape in the front was capturing a pool of moisture which eventually backfilled into the non-padded underwear beneath it and leaked from there. Then with a slight movement all the pool leaked out rapidly. In the end the total absorption minus the leaks was about 35 ml, which is probably a realistic range at which you’d hit a leak with larger dribbles.

Additional Protection Rating: 1

The M71 underwear isn’t designed to be used as additional protection. It has only a relatively small area of padding at the front and there aren’t any incontinence products with that sort of coverage that wouldn’t overrun the coverage of the padding. Instead this product should be used as primary protection, in the place of what you’d use a male guard or shield for.

3.3 M71 as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

 

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The M71 has a boxer-brief style structure where it has a tight fit like regular underwear briefs, but wraps around the thighs. All the absorbent padding in this underwear is centered around the crotch. This underwear doesn’t have a “fly” and fits quite snugly. The version I tested was labelled as a large and based on my sizing for other products I’d say that the fit was much smaller than I’d typically find for an underwear labelled large. So it’s better to go up a size if you’re unsure on the sizing. This underwear is very flexible and should be perfect for active wear.

3.4 Carer Incontinence M71 Underwear Fit

 

Comfort Rating: 10

I’m giving the M71 top marks when it comes to comfort. I think this is about as comfortable as any regular non-incontinence underwear on the market. Both the cotton/spandex material that makes up the design and the padding topsheet have a smooth texture that won’t cause any skin irritation. Moreover, the material is highly breathable and I never felt clammy or a sensation of overheating during testing. That said, this underwear does have advantages in that it only aims to provide limited protection so there is that trade-off to the comfort, and for those with heavier incontinence it won’t be practical.

3.5 Carer M71 Backsheet and Topsheet

Durability Rating (dry): 10
The M71 is made of a flexible breathable mix of cotton and spandex that makes it highly durable. I found exercising in the M71 to be no different than in any regular underwear and the extra padding was hardly noticeable. The material is reasonably thick and the waistband is well constructed. I never noticed any fraying of material during testing and after washing it. Essentially it’s about as durable as you could expect for any pair of underwear.

Discretion Rating: 10*

The M71 is super discreet, just as you would expect from a product of this level of absorbency. The obvious caveat is that the absorbency is limited, so it clearly will not be discreet if you experience anything more than minor drips/dribbles and experience a leak. The underwear produces no sound at all during movement and the padding is formed and doesn’t bulge out. Even if it appears to have a pointed cup shape at the front, under clothing it easily disappears. Hence the perfect scoring for discretion.

*Again, I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence.

3.6 Carer M71 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

3.7 Carer M71 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Want to give the Carer M71 a try?

Help us continue to produce quality reviews by making a purchase through our Carer M71 Incontinence Underwear affiliate link and use the code “DIAPERMETRICS” for a 15% discount on orders over $30. With every purchase this blog will earn a small amount of commission at no extra cost to the purchaser.

M74 Men's Incontinence Underwear

Backsheet: Cloth (reusable) body: 41% brocade, 41% polyester, 18% spandex, pad: 70% viscose, 30% polyester
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Advertised Absorbency: 80 ml (5 oz)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: No
Leg Gathers: No
Product Style: Reusable Underwear
Outer Color: Light blue camo pattern with mesh sides
Inner Color: Light blue camo (black pad)
Folded Thickness: 1 cm (0.4”)
Folded Length: 26 cm (10.2”)
Dry Weight: 110 g (3.9 oz)
Brief Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 52 cm (20.5”) x 35 cm (13.4”) x 32 cm (12.6”) x 35 cm (13.8”)
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 20 cm (7.9”) x 12 cm (4.7”) x 13 cm (5.1”) x 10 cm (3.9”)
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): -0.5 cm (-0.2”) x 9 cm (3.5”) x -1.5 cm (-0.6”) x 7 cm (2.8”)
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 230 cm² (35.7 in²)

5.1 Carer M74 Underwear (back/front)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 85 ml (2.9 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 90 ml (3 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (13 s, 13 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 0.9 cm (0.4”)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.37 ml / cm² (0.08 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 5 ml (0.17 oz)
Time to Hang Dry: TBD

The M74 is a sporty light-absorbency men’s underwear in the boxer-brief style. This underwear is exceptionally breathable with a mesh-like side. During testing it proved well suited for very light incontinence and was particularly good for active wear. Of all incontinence products tested so far, this one feels the most similar to regular underwear of any of them. It’s designed in a way that would have it work equivalent to a standard male guard or shield, though with slightly less absorbency.

5.2 Carer M74 After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Daily Drips & Dribbles Rating: 4
Like the M71, the M74 is designed for just the lightest of drips and dribbles. I feel it would be best used as an alternative to a men’s shield pad. In the Carer incontinence product listing it also sits at the bottom level of absorbency. During testing it was easily sufficient for my typical daily needs with the front padding having a wide enough coverage to capture drips and dribbles with a snug secure fit. Like many other Carer reusable products it has an advantage that its breathability can also allow it to dry out between leaks, extending its overall absorbency. Aside from that, because the padding is centered at the front with no coverage toward the rear, it would be a poorer choice for overnight wear. Clearly this underwear will not handle moderate surges or possibly even large dribbles, but to put it to the test and see where its theoretical capabilities might sit I tested it under a heavier wetting. The experience was about the same as the M71 without any initial leaks as moisture pooled into the cup at the front before spilling back and leaking. Overall absorbency ended up being 45 ml (1.5 oz) after the excess that had pooled spilled out so about in line with expectations and probably around the limit for what you might expect it to handle for a larger leak. Again, this pad is clearly aimed at lighter incontinence, but it’s nice to know its limits.

Additional Protection Rating: 1

Like the M71 underwear the M74 isn’t designed to be used as additional protection. It has slightly more coverage than the M71 but not enough that I feel it would be worth adding as additional protection. Once again, this product should be used as primary protection, in the place of what you’d use a male guard or shield for.

5.3 Carer M74 as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The M74 has a similar construction to the M71, but I found it to be a “sportier” fit. This underwear has a boxer-brief style, but is highly flexible and breathable. The absorbent padding is centered around the crotch and this underwear doesn’t have a “fly”. The version I tested was size small and fit perfectly, I often size in the small-medium range so that’s about right, with the sizing perhaps slightly on the large side compared to what you’d normally expect for a small. However, the flexibility of the M74 means it has much more give than you’d typically get in sizing so most people could probably fit two sizes. This underwear would be an exceptional choice for active wear.

5.4 Carer Incontinence M74 Underwear Fit

Comfort Rating: 10

The M74 has a very similar fit to the M71, but is a little more breathable. It doesn’t feel any different from regular underwear and the pad is hardly noticeable. The material make up is perhaps the most breathable of any Carer product I’ve tested yet. You won’t notice any heat buildup with this underwear and it worked perfectly for exercise. Additionally, I liked that this underwear doesn’t include a fly as I found that often helps aid comfort. The material is also highly flexible and no matter how I moved I found the material accommodated it without resistance. However, once again the trade-off for this extensive comfort is that absorbency is low with padding only covering a limited area at the crotch.

5.5 Carer W74 Backsheet and Topsheet

Durability Rating (dry): 10
The M74 underwear gets top marks for durability. In spite of the fabric being breathable it’s well constructed and surprisingly weighty/durable. The level of flexibility is exceptional and when I tested it while running and exercising I found it moved perfectly with every action. The waistband also matches the quality waistbands found in most Carer products and there was no sign fraying anywhere during testing.

Discretion Rating: 10*

Once again, the M74 gets top marks when it comes to discretion. The fit on this underwear is no different from any regular underwear and there’s no way anyone would notice a difference in profile. Moreover, it’s completely silent, again with no obvious noise from the area of padding. Additionally, it should be sufficient at managing odors for the small level absorbency that it’s geared for and I never noticed much.

*Again, I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence.

5.6 Carer M74 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

5.7 Carer M74 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Want to give the Carer M74 a try?

Help us continue to produce quality reviews by making a purchase through our Carer M74 Incontinence Underwear affiliate link and use the code “DIAPERMETRICS” for a 15% discount on orders over $30. With every purchase this blog will earn a small amount of commission at no extra cost to the purchaser.

M75 Men's Incontinence Underwear

Backsheet: Cloth (reusable) body: 100% cotton, pad: 70% viscose, 30% polyester
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Advertised Absorbency: 150 ml (5 oz)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: No
Leg Gathers: No* (not elastic but does fit snuggly)
Product Style: Reusable Underwear
Outer Color: Reddish-grey (gold waistband)
Inner Color: Reddish-grey (black pad)
Folded Thickness: 1.8 cm (0.7”)
Folded Length: 28 cm (11”)
Dry Weight: 125 g (4.4”)
Brief Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 56 cm (22.1”) x 37 cm (14.6”) x 22 cm (8.7”) x 37 cm (14.6”)
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 38 cm (15”) x 12 cm (4.7”) x 23 cm (9.1”) x 18 cm (7.1”)
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): -5.5 cm (-2.2”) x 20 cm (7.9”) x -2.5 cm (-1”) x 16 cm (6.3”)
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 574 cm² (89 in²)

6.1 Carer M75 Underwear (back/front)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 165 ml (5.6 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 150 ml (5.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (27 s, 79 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 1.5 cm (0.6”)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.26 ml / cm² (0.06 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 15 ml (0.51 oz)
Time to Hang Dry: TBD

The M75 underwear is a light-moderate absorbency men’s underwear in the boxer-brief style. This underwear has an extensive amount of padding coverage though the padding is quite thin and won’t absorb a lot. This underwear has an interesting design where there’s several areas of supporting padding near rear thighs and the rectangular pad down the middle has an opening below it so you can actually see the waterproof pvc backing. In general I feel this underwear is particularly well suited as additional protection, whereas for regular incontinence wear it’s probably best suited for light drips and dribbles. This underwear also feels well suited for active wear and could be a good choice for those who want something for active wear that is a bit more absorbent than the M71 or M74.

6.2 Carer M75 After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Daily Drips & Dribbles Rating: 7
The M75 is a decent choice for drips and dribbles. If the M71 or M74 were equivalent to a male shield pad in their level of protection, the M75 could be considered equivalent to a light male guard pad in this regard. Its padding area is much larger and runs from the front to the back in a rectangular shape. The padding bits at the rear of the thighs is also a nice touch in adding extra protection in an area often susceptible to leaks. Although the padding is extensive it’s not very absorbent in this underwear and I feel that makes it more susceptible to leaks. In this way I feel the underwear would be better used as additional protection for an incontinence pad than used as primary protection, though it should still provide good primary protection for light drips and dribbles. Once again, to gauge the actual potential absorbency of this underwear I put it to the test with a heavier wetting. Initially it felt like it was absorbing quite a bit, but it turned out moisture very quickly pooled inside and eventually leaked out through the front leg openings. Further shifting revealed a lot more moisture leaked out. In total, after all the leakage, it had only absorbed about 100 ml (3.4 oz). This roughly aligns with other findings and points to something of an absolute limit for real world usage. However, like other Carer products usage may be extended beyond that light for light drips/dribbles as the breathability can actually evaporate some moisture out over time.

Additional Protection Rating: 8

The M75 performed unexpectedly well when used as additional protection. I rank it at about the level of the M001 in this regard because it has more extensive padding coverage up the front and wider padding between the legs even if the rear padding comes in slightly less. This is in spite of lesser overall absorbency. A particularly notable feature is the extension of padding behind extending out toward the rear thighs, a common area for leaks when seated. When tested with the Goodnites XL protective underwear while seated after a previous night’s bedwetting episode there were no apparent leaks, where most other tested underwear had at least some leaks over the edges due to a lack of padding width. Moreover, this underwear would also work well when worn with most incontinence pads as it has great coverage up the front and rear.

6.3 Carer M75 as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The M75 sizing is about right where I would expect it based on the medium compared to some Carer products that run either large or small for their sizing. It has a box-brief style with the fabric running down around the thighs and long rectangular pad. I found the fit to be snug, but not constraining like the M99.

6.4 Carer Incontinence M75 Underwear Fit

Comfort Rating: 9

The M75 proved quite comfortable when worn out and about and I never noticed any obvious irritation. It’s flexible so it moves with the wearer’s body. The fabric is quite soft both in the top and padding. Though it’s not quite as breathable as the M71 or M74 due to the padding distribution; the tradeoff for extra absorbency. I’ll also note that this underwear has a “fly” feature, I’m not sure it adds much but I didn’t find it noticeable and it didn’t detract from its comfort.

6.5 Carer W75 Backsheet and Topsheet

Durability Rating (dry): 10
I give the Carer M75 top marks when it comes to durability. The material is well stitched together and highly flexible. The waistband uses the same strong elastics used in many other Carer products. I took the underwear for a test by running and exercising in it and it had no issue and I experienced little resistance. All said, I’ll easily put this up at the top with other Carer products.

Discretion Rating: 10*

This underwear gets top marks when it comes to discretion just like other Carer products. It’s pretty much identical to any regular underwear and the profile won’t show even under tighter clothing. The fit is quite snug and retains its snugness with wear. It has a high stitch quality and shouldn’t easily fray. Moreover, it’s completely silent, I never noticed a hint of a sound.

*Again, I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence.

6.6 Carer M75 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

6.7 Carer M75 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Want to give the Carer M75 a try?

Help us continue to produce quality reviews by making a purchase through our Carer M75 Incontinence Underwear affiliate link and use the code “DIAPERMETRICS” for a 15% discount on orders over $30. With every purchase this blog will earn a small amount of commission at no extra cost to the purchaser.

M70 (formerly M68) Incontinence Boxer Shorts

Backsheet: Cloth (reusable) body: 100% cotton, pad: viscose/polyester
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Advertised Absorbency: 120 ml (7 oz)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: No
Leg Gathers: No
Product Style: Reusable Underwear
Outer Color: Blue/black tartan
Inner Color: Blue/black tartan, white rectangular padding + mesh
Folded Thickness: 1 cm (0.4”)
Folded Length: 36 cm (14.2”)
Dry Weight: 105 g (3.7 oz), 120 g (4.2 oz)
Brief Dimensions (medium) (L x fW x mW x bW): 56 cm (22.1") x 36 cm (14.2") x 14 cm (5.5") x 36 cm (14.2")
Brief Dimensions ((large) (L x fW x mW x bW): 56 cm (22.1") x 36 cm (14.2") x 14 cm (5.5") x 36 cm (14.2")
Padding Dimensions (medium) (L x fW x mW x bW): 32 cm (12.6") x 10 cm (3.9") x 10 cm (3.9") x10 cm (3.9")
Padding Dimensions (large) (L x fW x mW x bW): 32 cm (12.6") x 10 cm (3.9") x 10 cm (3.9") x10 cm (3.9")
Padding Wing Dimensions (medium) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0")
Padding Wing Dimensions (large) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0") x 0 cm (0")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Flat, Flat
Total Padding Area: 415 cm² (64.3 in²), 454 cm² (70.4 in²)

2.1 Carer M70 Underwear (back/front) (medium/large)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (medium,large) (after press out): 165 ml (5.6 oz), 180 ml (6.1 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (medium,large) (before press out): 170 ml (5.8 oz), 180 ml (6.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (22 s, 26 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 1 cm (0.39”)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.40 ml / cm² (0.09 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 5 ml (0.17 oz), 0 ml (0 oz)
Time to Hang Dry: TBD

The M70, formerly referred to as the M68, is a loose boxer-style reusable underwear. It differs from the boxer-brief or brief styles of previously tested underwear in that the fit around the thighs is loose. Typically this would be a problem for an incontinence product, but this one has a rectangular pad liner that runs closer to the wearer’s body. This makes the product pretty rare, in fact the only disposable equivalent I could find was an old Goodnites “boxers” product that appears to have been discontinued. The absorbency for this product comes in around the lower-middle of the Carer range. As such I tested with a medium absorbency interval of 100 ml simulated wettings in the lab test. Like most reusable products there was considerable surface dampness during the lab checks. In this case I tested two sizes of the underwear, but didn’t find much difference in performance. Both exceeded the absorbency expected in the lab test, but a substantial part of that also came from moisture that had soaked into the non-absorbent backsheet fabric. For this reason, I feel the 120 ml (7 oz) maximum recommended absorbency is about right though a realistic absorption before leakage is likely a bit lower.

2.2 Carer M70 Medium After Capacity Test

2.3 Carer M70 Large After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Daily Drips & Dribbles Rating: 6

The M70 underwear performed decently when tested for drips and dribbles. The underwear has more than enough padding coverage to capture and absorb most of what you’d expect from someone with light incontinence. It’s less suited for moderate incontinence. But for light incontinence it has the advantage that the area of padding runs further back than you’d get in typical male guards or equivalent underwear like the M71 and M74. That said, it has a few disadvantages that hinder absorbency. For one, the fit is relatively loose and if the padding shuffles then drips can go right around the main absorbent area. Additionally, the padding doesn’t run all the way up the front of the underwear, but instead turns to an open mesh near the top. In my own experience it was still generally good enough for catching drips and dribbles. Like other products tested in previous reviews, I also tried to push it to see how it performed with a heavier wetting. The leak happened very quickly with moisture running down the back then flooding out through the mesh material. In total, only about 45 ml (1.5 oz) was absorbed with the rest all spilling out. So this product is clearly geared toward lighter leakage but the total padding coverage is a bit more extensive than the M71 or M74.

Additional Protection Rating: 5

The ability of the M70 to provide additional protection is limited by the cutoff of the rear padding. This underwear could be perfect for providing additional protection if worn with a front facing product such as a male guard, but anything that’s susceptible to moisture leaks from the rear will not benefit from use with the M70. Like with previous reusable protective underwear reviews, it was tested with a wet Goodnites XL protective underwear to see how it would perform against edge leaks. In this case I found there was still leakage through the rear and the padding wasn’t able to block much when subject to pressout upon sitting. For this reason, I feel the M75 or M99 would be better used for additional protection, or alternatively the W66.

2.4 Carer M70 Medium as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

2.5 Carer M70 Large As Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

As mentioned earlier, the M70 has a loose boxer fit, but is able to act as an incontinence product because it has a rectangular inner liner that is only attached at the front and rear waistband. This gives the actual absorbent pad a snug fit against the body with the benefits of airflow through the open leg endings. The padding is focused on the front of the underwear and doesn’t run far up the rear. Instead, the rear has a wide mesh-like material like you’d find in swim shorts. This fabric mesh also covers the poly cover underneath the pad. In my testing I tried the medium and the large and found the medium to be a better fit, which is typical for my sizing. So I’d say the fit size of this underwear is about average, maybe even slightly on the larger side.

2.6 Carer Incontinence M70 Medium Underwear Fit

2.7 Carer Incontinence M70 Large Underwear Fit

Comfort Rating: 7

I rank the M70 a bit lower than usual for Carer products when it comes to comfort. I still found it quite comfortable and exceptionally breathable, but it wasn’t at the level of others like the M66, M67 or M75. A big detractor with this underwear is that I found the lining and structure to be a bit constraining. Not enough to inhibit me from running or walking, but any wide leg movement would feel somewhat constrained as the material doesn’t have a lot of give to it. The liner itself reminded me a bit of the liner you’d get in swim shorts, which may be the best way I could describe the feel. I’ll also note that this underwear has a button-up fly. Personally, I feel the fly usually takes away from the comfort of the underwear and in this case I’m not sure it’s necessary. That said, I didn’t feel it had too much of an impact on comfort. I’m sure some will still find this underwear to be comfortable but for me it’s not as well rounded as some of the other mentioned products in this regard.

2.8 Carer M70 Medium Backsheet and Topsheet

2.9 Carer M70 Large Backsheet and Topsheet

Durability Rating (dry): 8
I rank the M70 lower than most other Carer products in terms of durability largely on the part of the somewhat inflexible structure. I always felt if I pulled too much I might risk tearing the seam of the underwear. With that said, no seams did tear and I was able to run and exercise in the M70 without issue other than a slight discomfort. It has several seams to worry about however, with the connection of the padding from the front and back as well as the fly in the front. Additionally, I found the waistband to be slightly less secure than other models. However, none of these factors were critical, just minor differences that I felt made the M70 less durable than other Carer products.

Discretion Rating: 10*

I couldn’t quite decide whether the M70 underwear was a 9 or a 10 with regard to discretion. However, during testing I found that sometimes the liner could bunch up and that might create an odd figure under certain outfits. Once again it’s not a huge deal. Aside from that, this was again no different from any regular boxers. Furthermore, the underwear didn’t create so much as a sound when testing. I also didn’t notice odors when testing it with daily light drips and dribbles, though it’s possible the breathable structure could make it a little more susceptible in that regard.

*I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence. In that regard you likely won’t notice odors until it’s close to leaking but its breathable reusable materials mean it can actually dry out between small leaks extending its usable absorbency.

 

2.10 Carer M70 Medium Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

2.11 Carer M70 Large Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

2.12 Carer M70 Medium Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

2.13 Carer M70 Large Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

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M99 Men's Protective Underwear

Backsheet: Cloth (reusable) main fabric: 100% cotton, pad: 70% viscose, 30% polyester
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Advertised Absorbency: 230 ml (7.8 oz)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: No
Leg Gathers: No* (not elastic but does fit snuggly with padding running down legs)
Product Style: Reusable Underwear
Outer Color: Grey (black waistband)
Inner Color: Grey
Folded Thickness: 1 cm (0.4”)
Folded Length: 24 cm (9.5”)
Dry Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
Brief Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 48 cm (18.9”) x 34 cm (13.4”) x 33 cm (13”) x 34 cm (34”)
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 47 cm (18.5”) x 17 cm (6.7”) x 44 cm (17.3”) x 29 cm (11.4”)
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): -13.5 cm (-5.3”) x 30 cm (11.8”) x -7.5 cm (-3”) x 19 cm (7.5”)
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 973 cm² (151 in²)

4.1 Carer M99 Underwear (back/front)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 345 ml (11.7 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 350 ml (11.8 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (34 s, 21 s, 183 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 1 cm (0.4”)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.35 ml / cm² (0.08 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 5 ml (0.17 oz)
Time to Hang Dry: TBD

The Carer Men’s M99 is a moderate absorbency underwear with a boxer-brief type fit. This underwear is marked for overnight wear and has a much more extensive area of padding than any of the other Carer products I’ve tested so far, including the M001 and M67. Much of this extra coverage from padding that runs well down the legs at the rear. During lab testing it well exceeded the advertised absorbency and this is one of the few reusable products I’ve tested so far that I may have confidence in for its ability to handle moderate incontinence. In reality, like most products you may only get half of the advertised absorbency before worrying about leaks, but even that gives you a decent level of protection. In particular this is perhaps the best product tested so far for use as additional protection for a disposable brief or pad.

4.2 Carer M99 After Capacity Test

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Daily Drips & Dribbles Rating: 10
The M99 was the strongest reusable product tested so far for managing drips and dribbles from an overall capacity perspective. The very wide padding, covering the front, rear, and wrapping the back of the thighs guarantees this underwear will capture drips or dribbles wherever they end up. I never had any hint of leaks during testing, albeit I typically only have light drips and dribbles. I imagine this will work fine for anyone with light incontinence, but I still feel it would fall a bit short for moderate incontinence (at least as stand-alone protection as opposed to worn with an additional incontinence pad). One interesting aspect of this underwear is that a dark meshed texture shows up through the padding when wet. I will say that the downside of having so much padding coverage is that it cuts down on breathability a bit and that can amplify dampness, where in lighter underwear things might dry out from airflow. So even if this is among the best for capacity, it might not be the best suited for managing the lightest of incontinence. On that note, I went ahead and tried pushing this underwear to its maximum limit with a real wetting. I was quite surprised by how long it held out before leaking in this case. There clearly was a lot of moisture pooling and it worked its way through the back, but the rear tight padding did its job and the leaks actually occurred around the front thighs. At the time it leaked, minus excess moisture that had escaped, it had absorbed 300 ml. This was nearly double the amount absorbed by the next most absorbent M001. Though it’s far from the top disposable performers, it easily sits on the top for reusable underwear products tested so far.

Additional Protection Rating: 10

The M99 is perfectly suited as additional protection for those who wear incontinence pads or protective underwear. It has a very wide area of coverage that extends well down the legs. Testing the M99 with a wet Goodnites XL that would otherwise typically result in leaks upon sitting I found no such leaks made it past the padding area in the M99. I have a lot of confidence in this underwear’s ability to manage the side leaks and pressout that would cause leaks past the padding in most other reusable protective underwear and thus I’m giving it a perfect score.

 

4.3 Carer M99 as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The M99 underwear has a boxer-brief fit, with material creating a seal around the tights. It has a very wide range of padding covering the entire front up to the waist and critically the padding runs down around the rear tights in an area that’s highly prone to leaking when seated or lying down. Oddly enough this underwear has a fly. I don’t normally like this feature, but I didn’t find it distracting, though I imagine it would be tricky to manoeuvre for someone who actually uses it given how long it runs over the padding. In terms of fit, I tested using the large size and even then I found it a little snug. I’d recommend going up a level in sizing because it definitely runs a bit small. I also felt like it sat lower on my waist than I might have expected. I’m guessing that’s a consequence of the padding configuration.

4.4 Carer Incontinence M99 Underwear Fit

Comfort Rating: 8

The Carer M99 underwear has a very snug fit with a soft material used in the padding and backsheet. My primary complaint about this underwear is that I found the design to be a bit constraining. I believe this is a side-effect of having so much padding built into the design, at some point the padding and moisture resistant backsheet can’t block moisture/provide protection while still retaining its elasticity. Even so, I was able to run, walk and exercise in this underwear without an issue, so the stiffness didn’t inhibit it too much. I also found it was initially quite stiff, but after you wear it in for a while it becomes more flexible so the comfort could improve even more over time. Additionally, I found that the underwear sat a bit lower on my waist than I typically prefer, but it wasn’t too bad. Other than that, I found this underwear to be generally breathable and given its level of protection I’d say it’s still worth the minor inconveniences. I would say that I found it felt damper than other products with exercise and feel it would be better suited for overnight wear.

4.5 Carer M99 Backsheet and Topsheet

Durability Rating (dry): 9
The M99 underwear has a very tough and dense feel to it. That has many advantages, but I also found that it can be constraining and the lack of flexibility could impact durability since it may be more susceptible to tears at the seams if it can’t respond to movement. Otherwise, the outer material is quite flexible, though less than the M71. The waistband is similar to the M71 and many other Care products and is flexible and of high quality. During testing I never noticed any hints of seams coming apart and was happy with its durability performance.

Discretion Rating: 9*

The M99 provides a high degree of discretion on par with other higher absorbency Carer products. I didn’t notice any bulges but the padding may leave a slight outline, particularly if wearing tighter clothing. Other than that, this underwear is completely silent and unlikely to give off any odors when worn for light incontinence.

*Again, I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence.

4.6 Carer M99 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

4.7 Carer M99 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

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W66 Unisex Plastic Pants

Backsheet: 100% nylon + PU coating
Available Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL, 6XL
Leg Gathers: Yes
Product Style: Plastic pants
Outer Color: White
Inner Color: White
Folded Length (old M, L, new L): 32 cm (12.6”), 32 cm (12.6”), 37 cm (14.6”)
Dry Weight (old M, L, new L): 50 g (1.8 oz), 60 g (2.1 oz), 65 g (2.3 oz)
Pants Dimensions (old M) (L x fW x mW x bW): 64 cm (25.2”) x 29 cm (11.4”) x 16 cm (6.3”) x 29 cm (11.4”)
Pants Dimensions (old L) (L x fW x mW x bW): 64 cm (25.2”) x 31 cm (12.2”) x 15.5 cm (6.1”) x 31 cm (12.2”)
Pants Dimensions (new L) (L x fW x mW x bW): 74 cm (29.1”) x 32 cm (12.6”) x 20 cm (7.9”) x 32 cm (12.6”)
Pants Wing Dimensions (old M) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 13 cm (5.1”) x 22 cm (8.7”) x 13 cm (5.1”) x 26 cm (10.2”)
Pants Wing Dimensions (old L) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 15.5 cm (6.1”) x 22 cm (8.7”) x 15.5 cm (6.1”) x 26 cm (10.2”)
Pants Wing Dimensions (new L) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 12 cm (4.7”) x 24 cm (9.5”) x 12 cm (4.7”) x 32 cm (12.6”)
Total Padding Area (old M, L, new L): 2272 cm² (352 in²), 2480 cm² (384 in²), 2824 cm² (438 in²)

7.1 Carer W66 Plastic Pants (old Medium)(back/front)

7.2 Carer W66 Plastic Pants (old Large)(back/front)

7.3 Carer W66 Plastic Pants (new Large)(back/front)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Overflow Threshold (old M, L, new L) (standing): 255 ml (8.62 oz), 210 ml (7.1 oz), 725 ml (24.5 oz)
Overflow Threshold (old M, L, new L) (standing-sitting): 60 ml (2 oz), 30 ml (1 oz), 75 ml (2.5 oz)

The W66 was my first experience testing a product known as “plastic pants”. This sort of product provides no protective padding on its own and thus can’t be measured from an absorbance perspective. Instead it’s constructed like an extra roomy brief-style underwear with a rubbery-plastic type cover rather than fabric and tight elastics around the waist and leg openings to prevent leaks. It’s designed to be worn over protective underwear or diapers, so if you do get leaks they will be captured by the plastic pants rather than escaping onto one's outer clothing or bedding. Some factors that make plastic pants more effective include the seal at the openings and width of coverage. For example if the product isn’t spacious enough between the leg openings then a diaper might leak right around it. Adult plastic pants are particularly popular in combination with reusable-cloth diapers where the outer material is often more susceptible to leaks than disposable products. On the other hand most plastic pants are not suitable for usage with stand-alone incontinence pads. They should only be used when the incontinence pad is already held in place with mesh pants (e.g. as demonstrated in our male guard reviews).

In my testing I’ve covered two versions of the W66, with the newer version being an improvement that involved widening the coverage between the leg openings and expanding coverage. I’ve noted the metrics for all versions but I’ll be focusing on the new version of W66 large in my general scoring. Overall, I found this to be a great product for additional protection for the smaller leaks you might experience from time to time when your underwear or diaper just isn’t absorbent enough. However, it’s not a substitute for going with a more absorbent product if you frequently experience significant leaks. I feel it will perform better with overnight wear whereas when seated I found it can be a bit more susceptible to pressout leaks. Otherwise, it was far more comfortable than I would have imagined for a product called “plastic-pants”, which you might otherwise expect to struggle with breathability and clamminess.

I’ll admit I struggled to determine how best to measure the protective strength of these products. I ended up going with a lab test that involved adding small bits of moisture at a time (15 ml / 0.51 oz) while worn when standing then sitting and when just standing still if it leaked out. I took the measure of the interval at which it leaked as a measure of the overflow threshold. It seemed to be an OK, but imperfect measurement as the captured amounts were quite above what it might be able to handle for someone shifting. In several tests I tried shifting and found spill out happened earlier than the test results.

7.4 Plastic Pants Measurements

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Additional Protection Rating: 8

I’ve considered my additional protection score in reference to additional protection you might get from reusable incontinence underwear products. So the scoring here reflects how I feel these plastic pants perform in relation to the other tested underwear products. While the plastic pants provide greater overall coverage and will be better for many edge leaks, they don’t have padding to buffer against leaks and moisture will just hang around in them until you change. So the overall amount of additional protection on top of the base protection provided by the diaper or protective underwear you’re wearing will be limited. In testing I found the W66 was generally good for leaks that I imagine to be in the 10~30 ml range, and perhaps better for leaks while lying down. However, I did experience leaks while seated after a wetting when testing this underwear with a wet Goodnites XL (the same method I used for testing the other reusable incontinence underwear). So I wouldn’t say this is 100% fool-proof, it’s definitely more of a backup. During the lab testing I found the underwear could get up to 60 or 70 ml of capture before the motion of sitting would cause a leak, but leaks could slide through the leg gathers at levels perhaps as low as 30 ml if shifting to a position that directed the moisture that way. I did find a noticeable improvement in the performance of the new version of the underwear compared to the older version when comparing the new large to old large. When standing without moving the extra width more than doubles the theoretical capacity before leaks. In all tests done the plastic backsheet held out fine with no leaks through it, but the nylon leg gathers were more susceptible to moisture wicking or shifting. I think many may find this useful as additional protection, particularly if leaks are small and infrequent and even for big leaks as long as you’re aware it’s leaked and can get it changed before shifting to a pressure position it could save your pants/bedsheets.

7.5 W66 Plastic Pants as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL (old Medium)

7.6 W66 Plastic Pants as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL (old Large)

7.7 W66 Plastic Pants as Additional Protection for Goodnites XL (new Large)

 

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The W66 has a brief-style underwear fit. It has a relatively high rise above the waist and snug nylon bands at the waist and leg gathers. In spite of the snug openings the rest of the pant is very spacious and I have no doubt you could comfortably fit a large diaper under here like the Seni Quatro or Trest Elite. In terms of the sizing itself I found both the medium and large sizes worked for me so it’s pretty generous but given the nature of the product I’d suggest going up one level so if you often fit medium you may want to go with a large.

7.8 Carer Incontinence W66 Plastic Pants Fit (old Medium)

7.9 Carer Incontinence W66 Plastic Pants Fit (old Large)

7.10 Carer Incontinence W66 Plastic Pants Fit (new Large)

 

Comfort Rating: 9

I rate the Carer W66 highly in terms of comfort. It’s not what you’d expect when you hear the term “plastic pants”. Instead I found it to be surprisingly breathable or at least good at heat distribution. The nylon leg openings and waistband were also surprisingly soft and flexible so I never felt any discomfort in that way. The only thing I noticed was that because of its construction it can be slightly constraining for active wear and the larger fit can be a little distracting even in overnight wear. Otherwise, I feel the material used is particularly good at heat distribution and that went a long way to helping with comfort.

7.11 Carer W66 Backsheet and Topsheet (old Medium)

7.12 Carer W66 Backsheet and Topsheet (old Large)

7.13 Carer W66 Backsheet and Topsheet (new Large)

Durability Rating (dry): 10
The W66 is well constructed and proved highly durable. I never noticed any hints of fraying in the seams or other structural flaws. I had no issue running or exercising with these plastic pants even if the fit felt a bit strange because of the large sizing/shifting. The pants put up no resistance with various movements that could pressure them. Thus I’m giving the W66 a perfect score in this regard.

Discretion Rating: 10*

When it comes to discretion with plastic pants the primary consideration will be the noise produced. This is because they don’t have padding or anything to extend the profile so they will conform to whatever’s worn underneath. Perhaps a secondary concern would be the raise above the waist, but there’s more flexibility in dealing with that. In the case of the W66 the sound produced was barely perceptible and certainly not a giveaway of someone wearing plastic pants. The waistband rise was somewhat high by default but easily adjustable to a point where it wouldn’t be noticeable without any discomfort. Thus I’m giving it top marks in this regard.

*Again, I preface my rating with that I’m rating it in accordance to products for lighter incontinence.

7.14 W66 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (old Medium)

 

7.15 W66 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (old Medium)

 

7.16 W66 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (old Large)

 

7.17 W66 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (old Large)

 

7.18 W66 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (new Large)

 

7.19 W66 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) (new Large)

 

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