Popoku Adult Diapers Review

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

 

Summary

Popoku is an Indonesian diaper brand that produces both adult and baby diapers. In a sense that’s a rarity as most companies have different branding for their adult and baby diapers. The brand name literally translates to “my diaper”. This review covers the Popoku Adult Diaper, which advertises as “dual function” for use as both an adult diaper or maternity pad. Even more unique to the branding on this diaper is that the package describes the content of it down to the level of percentages: 10% non-woven, 56% pulp, 16% super absorbent polymer (SAP), 9% polyethylene film, 0.6% front tape, 1.3% elastic, 0.6% resealable tape and 3.5% tissue. I can’t think of any other diaper I’ve researched that has covered its content to that level of detail and this is written right on the package. Needless to say, it would be interesting if more companies provided this information to help when comparing products.

The diaper itself has an uncommon design with two separate tape landing zones stretching out into the wings but not overlapping the center. It has a very soft plastic backsheet, similar to that of the Dr P. It also has standing inner leak guards and a wetness indicator. These are features that often get left out for diapers come at such a low unit cost. In terms of performance, it’s pretty much what you’d expect for the cost. You may be able to get one wetting without leakage, but it won’t consistently handle a wetting without leaks and would be better combined with a booster pad. It’s also susceptible to surface dampness and pressout moisture when seated. That it runs at an exceptionally low unit price and has some helpful features that are typically left out at that price point makes it a more compelling buy. In that sense you could use a booster to increase absorbency and would still come out ahead of many other diapers of comparable absorbency.

Key Features:

• Plastic backsheet
• Standing inner leak guards
• Wetness indicator
• Dual landing zones
  
• Repositionable fasteners
  

Pros:

• Soft backsheet
  
• Snug/comfortable fit at the leg gathers
  
• Very affordable unit cost
  

Cons:

• Low absorbency
  
• Surface dampness
• Limited sizing options
•  Padding deterioration

 

Product Details

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

Packaging

Brand: Popoku
Manufacturer: PT. Zensei Indonesia
Origin: Indonesia
Units Per Bag: 10
Cost Per Unit: $
Dimensions (L x W x H): 26 cm (10.2") x 17 cm (6.7") x 20 cm (9.8")
Weight: 0.95 kg (2.1 lbs)
Available Sizes: M,L,XL
Advertised Absorbency: Extra

1.1 Popoku Adult Diaper Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Plastic (poly)
Wetness Indicator: Yes
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 (green wavy landing zones + blue/orange icons down middle)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 2.77 cm (1.09")
Folded Length: 20 cm (7.9")
Dry Weight: 92 g (3.25 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 73 cm (28.7") x 63 cm (24.8") x 30 cm (11.8") x 61 cm (24")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 64 cm (21.9") x 24 cm (9.5") x 17 cm (6.7") x 35 cm (13.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3.5 cm (1.4") x 8 cm (3.2") x 9 cm (3.5") x 15 cm (5.9")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1270 cm² (197 in²)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4 cm (1.6") x 10 cm (3.9")
Tape (W x L): 2 cm (0.8") x 4 cm (1.6")

1.2 Popoku Adult Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 703 ml (24.8 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 708 ml (25 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (94 s, 63 s, 84 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 4 cm (1.6")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 79%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.69 ml / cm² (0.16 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 5 ml (0.18 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 4

During the lab test the Popoku diaper showed significant surface moisture on the paper towel press after the first wetting, though it was hardly the worst in this regard. Subsequent wettings demonstrated a saturated level of dampness. In spite of that, I found surface dampness to be a lesser issue during real world testing and it was better than others like the iCare or Secure diapers 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: 508 ml (17.9 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing)
Leaked After Sitting: Yes
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 88%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.40 ml / cm² (0.09 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 3
The Popoku diaper demonstrated similar performance to that of the Dr P. when tested while standing and sitting. The first wetting while standing was fully absorbed, though there was clearly a lot of pooling in the mid-section while the front and rear padding still generally felt dry. The dampness continued but the moisture was distributed through the padding over a few minutes and it didn’t feel too noticeable, albeit with some slight sagging. Upon sitting shortly after the pressout moisture was pretty obvious with a brief sensation of some more pooling and moisture pushed out through the leg gathers. Eventually some of the moisture did wick up the rear but it wasn’t fast enough to prevent the leaks. I ended the test at this because it was a pretty obvious leak even though there was still a fair amount of dry padding at the front and rear of the diaper. You may be able to get one wetting out of this diaper during daily wear, but it’s highly susceptible to pressout and has a relatively low absorbency. It would be better used with a booster pad for extra protection.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 508 ml (17.9 oz)
Total Wettings: 1
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 75%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.40 ml / cm² (0.09 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 4

The Popoku diaper was again similar to the Dr P. when tested while lying down though it leaked in a different way. Both diapers leaked on the first wetting while lying down and absorbed roughly a similar amount at the time of leakage. Likewise, both ended up with substantial dry padding at the front at the time of leakage. However, the Popoku diaper leaked through its rear rather than leg gathers. That makes sense given this diaper actually has some decent inner leak guards. There was some initial pooling during the wetting, but I noticed it less than in the Dr P. The rear padding was clearly saturated when it leaked but the leak itself wasn’t that large. I suspect had the fit been a bit snugger (e.g. the landing zones run a bit further into the front) or had it had a rear waistband it may have been able to prevent this leak. For those who can get a snugger fit it may be good for at most one wetting, otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend the Pomoku for bedwetting unless combined with an absorbent booster pad.

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

This was a more interesting diaper to review than I expected. It had an interesting arrangement of tape landing zones as rectangular areas on the right or left but not covering the actual front of the diaper. In my personal experience this was a bit of a struggle because it limits how the diaper can be used if you're at the lower end of its size range. I was effectively at the bottom of the medium sizing, so I needed to push the tapes right to the innermost part of the landing zone and even then it felt loose. But aside from that, this diaper is remarkably well featured for one that comes at such a low price point; the only thing it’s really lacking are waistbands. In terms of performance, it’s about what I expected and I found it similar to the Dr P. diaper for absorbency. The performance is similar in both daily and overnight wear with it able to manage about one wetting before leakage. In both the lying down and standing-to-sitting lab tests it leaked after only a single large wetting. Though in real world testing, I found other occasions where it was able to manage a full bedwetting without leakage. I feel it may be slightly better suited for bedwetting than daily wear because there’s more padding in the rear and the lower absorbency level makes it susceptible to pressout. In either case, I feel it would be best used with a booster, especially considering that the diaper’s low base cost would make the booster choice a lot more economical than other diapers. The diaper is highly comfortable with a very soft plastic and breathable feel to it and would be great for warm weather wear, as are most SE Asian diapers. In terms of durability I found it sufficiently durable for the padding to retain its absorption and never had any issue with the tapes. The instructions on the package are highly detailed, with some things I’ve never seen before, like a suggestion to change the diaper when 2 / 3 of the wetness indicator symbols have faded. Aside from that, I found this diaper to be fairly skin friendly and the surface dampness, though noticeable, wasn’t as bad as you’d get from some diapers. At the price point it’d be a great choice, if only it were absorbent enough to consistently manage one wetting without leaks.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 8

I feel the Popoku diaper would actually be well suited for managing bowel incontinence. While it doesn’t have the most extensive padding, its rear padding is more prominent than the front padding. It has a plastic backsheet and inner leak guards, which are both a plus in this regard. Its absorbency should be adequate for the most part, even if not the best on the market. The downside is that it doesn’t have waistbands and difficulty getting a snug fit can make it more susceptible to odors.

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The Popoku diaper features a plastic backsheet with two separate tape landing zones located at its front. This is the first diaper I’ve reviewed with such a landing zone configuration (though the NONISEC diaper seemed to have something resembling it). It seems to be a more common design for Indonesian diapers. Whereas most diapers have the landing zone as a single rectangle on the front, this diaper has two separate rectangular landing zones stretching from the edge of the front into its front wings. I believe this has some comfort benefits but the trade-off is a more difficult fitting. If you’re just a little too small for the diaper there’s no way to make use of the landing zone and you’ll need to stick the tapes directly to the backsheet where damage can occur.

3.1 Popoku Adult Diapers Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 8

This diaper has user friendly features with particularly stretchy elastic leg gathers and soft breathable plastic backsheet. I did find the double landing zone to be a bit of a deficiency because it doesn’t extend far into the front so you’re better off looking for a smaller version of the diaper than you might otherwise wear to get a better tape fit. However, the sizing is also limited in that it starts at medium. Other than that, the inner leak guards gave it an edge over the Dr P. This diaper also features a wetness indicator, so it could be a better choice for a care environment; though I found the small orange indicator icons can be a bit hard to distinguish whether wet or dry. The tapes themselves are a little small but easy to refasten multiple times and the landing zone has a pattern so once you get a good fit it’s easy to reproduce by following the pattern.

3.2 Popoku Adult Diapers Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9

This diaper is highly comfortable with a very soft plastic backsheet that resembles the one on the Dr P. diaper. It has snug but soft inner leak guards and leg gathers. Moreover, like most diapers from the region it’s surprisingly effective at dissipating heat and should be great for warm weather wear. I also didn’t have any issues with the tapes loosening or sagging. On the other hand, there was more padding deterioration in this diaper than in the Dr P. diaper. I also found the double landing zone arrangement a bit awkward and sometimes couldn’t quite get the fit I was looking for. It would also be nice if it had a waistband. Even so, I still rank it highly in this regard, at least to the level of the Carnation diaper.

Comfort Rating (wet): 7

The Popoku demonstrated a decent degree of comfort when wet. In spite of the waist having a looser fit than I would have liked due to the positioning of the landing zones, I didn’t notice much in the way of sagging. The tapes held up with no problem under the wet weight. My main complaint would have to be the surface dampness, which was a common theme in these lower absorbency diapers. In terms of breathability, the material is surprisingly soft and breathable and I didn’t notice any sensation of clamminess or discomfort. Had it been a bit more absorbent and better with surface dampness this could easily have been a top performer.

3.3 Popoku Adult Diapers Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 17.3% (topsheet), 13.4% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 8 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 6
There was considerable padding deterioration in the Popoku diaper during the dry durability test. After an extended period of wear with various activities, much of the padding between the legs had collapsed with a bit of wing deterioration as well. Yet none of the core padding had deteriorated so it still retained the bits that mattered the most. Other than the padding, the tapes held up remarkably well and I never had any issues with it coming loose during wear. The tapes and landing zone were fine with multiple refastenings. Overall, it should be an OK choice for active wear but I feel something like the Tena Slip Active Fit Maxi would be a much better choice.

Durability Rating (wet): 6

I rank the wet durability in the Popoku about the same as its dry durability. I didn’t notice an obvious increase in padding deterioration when it was wet and again there was no clumping or tearing. The tapes also continued to hold up well, with no sign of sagging under the additional weight. On the other hand, the wetness indicator in this diaper is almost too durable, it isn’t susceptible to sweat or other light moisture but the diaper needs to be very saturated before the orange droplet shapes down the middle disappear. If the dry durability were a little better the wet durability would surely follow.

3.4 Popoku Adult Diaper Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 4 cm (1.6"), 4 cm (1.6")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3 cm (1.2"), 2 cm (0.8")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5 cm (2"), 2.5 cm (1")

Profile Discretion Rating: 8

The Popoku has a similar profile to that of the Dr P. diaper, though the padding length is a bit lower, which would make it easier to conceal. The front of the diaper seems almost flat, but there’s a bit of bulge at the rear. However, if worn in combination with meshpants or underwear it should be relatively easy to conceal and thus I rank among the better diapers in this regard.

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

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

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 6

This diaper performed moderately when it came to noise discretion. It was far from the noisiest diaper I’ve tested but there was a distinctive crinkling noise when sitting or standing. Oddly enough, I noticed it less when walking around. Often these diapers with landing zones are noisier than other tape mechanisms but I didn’t feel like it was a major contributing factor in this case. This is a diaper that isn’t discreet on its own, but its noise could be dampened with well planned outerwear.

4.3 Popoku Adult Diapers Noise Profile

 

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 7
In terms of odor reduction, the Popoku performed decently but not among the best in the market. The relatively loose waistline could be a bit of an issue, but the plastic backsheet and snug fit around the leg openings help. The padding itself is hardly the best in terms of odor reduction, with surface dampness a contributing factor for odor formation. Overall, I give it an edge over the Dr P. or Goodnites in this regard.