Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Youth Diapers Review

*For more information on how I do reviews see Diaper Test Methodology. For a list of all product reviews see the Product Index.

 

  

Summary

Youth diaper / protective underwear reviews have been surprisingly popular since they were introduced into this blog a couple years ago so it’s only fitting to review what may well be the world’s largest tab youth-style diaper sold in retail stores (albeit only in Kuwait as far as I can tell). As you might expect for an adult incontinence product reviewer it’s quite challenging to review youth products and only a small handful approach a sizing of even being roughly feasible (almost all of them a protective underwear style). In my research to discover whether any of these products may be worth reviewing I came across one standout for sizing: the Darlings Advanced Performance 8. This diaper is remarkable in that it’s nearly double the weight-based sizing of the next largest retailing diaper I could find, the Pampers 8. It’s recommended for youths of 35 kg+ (77 lbs+) vs 46 lbs+ (20.9 kg+) for the Pampers product. So for this review we’ll be covering the Darlings 8, our third of a tabbed styled youth diaper and likely one of only a small handful that are even remotely feasible for a review in this blog.

It’s interesting to think about where this product fits into its market. The sizing for the Darlings line up starts at newborn and goes up to 35 kg+ (77 lbs+), so it covers everything from baby diapers, training pants and bedwetting pants. The Darlings 8 (Junior) could be suited for special needs and youth incontinence, but I suspect it mostly fills a niche in its market that would otherwise be filled by a product like Goodnites. In fact, the sizing is very comparable to the previous Goodnites L/XL in dimensions. The waist isn’t quite as durable as that product for those in the upper end of the size range, but otherwise the dimensions are quite similar. The market availability of the Darlings 8 diaper is incredibly limited and it’s nearly impossible to acquire outside of Kuwait (where it’s made) / maybe some neighboring Gulf countries, but it does appear to sell quite well in its home market.

Key Features:

• Cloth-like backsheet
• Standing inner leak guards
• Fastener landing zone
• Playful backsheet prints
• Repositionable fasteners
• Rear waistband

Pros:

• Comfortable/breathable design
• Granular sizing (newborn-to-youth)
• Discreet
• Stretchy sides & snug fit

Cons:

• Limited availability (mostly just Kuwait)
• Relatively low absorbency (designed for youth bladder)
• Sizing ends at 35 kg+ (77 lbs+)

 

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the stage 8 Darlings Advanced Performance Youth Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:

Packaging

Brand: Darlings
Manufacturer: MTC HYGIENE
Origin: Kuwait
Units Per Bag: 21
Cost Per Unit: $
Dimensions (L x W x H): 21 cm (8.3") x 11 cm (4.3") x 27 cm (10.6")
Weight: 0.93 kg (2 lbs)
Available Sizes: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Advertised Absorbency: Junior (12 hours dryness)

 

1.1 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Packaging

Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: No
Standing Inner Leak Guards: Yes
Leg Gathers: Yes
Product Style: Tab-Style Brief
Refastenable Tabs: Yes
Number of Tapes: 1
Repositionable Tabs: Yes
Outer Color: White (blue, yellow and pinks dots/patterns + blue-green rear waistband)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness: 1.20 cm (0.47")
Folded Length: 26.5 cm (10.4")
Dry Weight: 45 g (1.6 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 58 cm (22.8") x 39 cm (15.4") x 20 cm (7.9") x 39 cm (15.4")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 45 cm (17.7") x 10 cm (3.9") x 10 cm (3.9") x 10 cm (3.9")
Padding Wing Dimensions (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: 450 cm² (70 in²)
Tape Spacing (t1): 4 cm (1.6")
Tape (W x L): 3 cm (1.2") x 3.5 cm (1.4")

 

1.2 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Diaper

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 455 ml (16.1 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 480 ml (16.9 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (41 s, 37 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 4 cm (1.6")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 96%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 1.01 ml / cm² (0.23 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume: 25 ml (0.88 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 7

The Darlings 8 performed surprisingly well in terms of surface dampness given its size. During the lab test it was comparable to the Pampers 8, showing little-to-no dampness after the first wetting. There was more on the second wetting, but less than I’d expect given the level of saturation. In real world testing I also found surface dampness barely noticeable and the diaper was highly resistant to pressout. The only real downside to this diaper is that it can be susceptible to initial pooling, more so than than the Pampers 8 (likely due to their faster moisture channels).

 

[VIDEO COMING SOON]

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: 480 ml (16.9 oz)
Total Wettings: (1 standing)
Leaked After Sitting: No
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 89%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 1.07 ml / cm² (0.24 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 3

The Darlings 8 diaper performed reasonably well when standing and sitting given its sizing. I was clearly a bit above the sizing for its intended marking but gave it a test to get a sense of relative performance. The first wetting while standing initially resulted in a fair amount of pooling in the diaper’s mid-section and that lasted a short while before wicking into the padding. There was no obvious leakage and the leak barriers appeared quite effective at keeping it back, but much of the padding was wet at this point. There was no obvious pressout moisture after sitting a short time later, the padding had swollen but the diaper didn’t feel particularly damp. However, after sitting a little longer I noticed a slight amount of leakage through the right rear leg gather, so I ended the test at that. I suspect it came from some moisture that migrated between the standing leak guards and leg gathers when moisture pooled before it could be absorbed into the padding rather than actual pressout moisture. I didn’t notice any signs of pressout even after a longer period of sitting. At the end of the test there was still some unused padding up the front and rear of the diaper, so potentially greater capacity with better moisture distribution. It still performed better than the comparable Goodnites L/XL or even the XL in terms of resisting leaks while seated, while total absorption exceeded that of the Pampers 8 despite failing to reach full saturation like the tested Pampers diapers. For its intended sizing this diaper should be quite sufficient for comfortably absorbing a full wetting without leaks, so take the numeric rating with a grain of sale because it's a measurement relative to the adult products I typically review.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume: 515 ml (18.2 oz)
Total Wettings: 1
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 99%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 1.14 ml / cm² (0.26 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 2

The Darlings 8 performed decently considering its sizing when tested while lying down. Again, I tested this despite being considerably larger than the intended sizing to get a sense of performance. Consequently, and as expected for my testing of a youth product, it leaked on the first wetting, but absorbed and wicked a reasonable amount of moisture relative to its size. There was initially considerable pooling and I feel sometime during that a moderate leak formed below the left leg gather. There weren’t any signs of leaks near the front wings and, once fully absorbed, the padding did a great job at containment without any sense of pressout moisture. So it seems the pooling and some weaknesses in the leak barriers were the primary reason for the leak. This test pushed the Darlings diaper near its full capacity and it proved to have a little more capacity than the Pampers 8. Again, for its intended sizing I feel this diaper should be able to handle at least a single wetting without leaks and it will likely be comparable to Goodnites when it comes to bedwetting protection.

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The Darlings 8 diapers proved an interesting diaper to review on account of their being such an anomaly relative to other tab-style youth diapers on the market. At the upper end of their sizing they could quite normally fit some small adults or teens. I’d put the upper end of their usable max waist/hips sizing at ~74 cm (29.1”), which is slightly short of the Pampers 8 UK at 75 cm (29.5”); however, these diapers are longer at 58 cm (22.8”) vs 56 cm (22.1”) and have a total area of backsheet coverage of 1635 cm2 (253.4 in2) vs 1381 (214 in2) for the UK Pampers. For reference, the S/M version of the adult-sized Depend Real-Fit Maximum has a backsheet area of 1891 cm2 (293 in2), so the Darlings 8 falls almost perfectly between the two products for sizing. For this reason I believe these would primarily be used as an alternative to youth bedwetting products like Goodnites in their home market. The maximum circumference that could be fit on the landing zone was about 6” short of what I would have needed to test these in their intended sizing. The stretchy sides on these diapers are similar to the Pampers 8 US and don’t have a lot of additional stretch compared with their unstretched state. For testing I managed to fasten them over the front wings, which proved surprisingly durable. The fit felt similar to other youth products I’ve tested, particularly the Goodnites L/XL and it was more comfortable and closer to the sizing I’m used to than the Pampers were in that previous review; though it was still noticeably snug. The biggest downside was that the adhesive glue holding the back part of the fastener to the rear wing had a tendency to pop off. This was particularly the case when worn while sitting and I didn’t notice it as much when tested lying down or walking. So perhaps if used for bedwetting it wouldn’t be as much an issue due to the different points of pressure on the tabs. It’s also far less likely to be an issue in those who fit these properly. In any case, when I corrected it by adding glue to re-attach the fastener I was able to wear them for an extended period of time without issue. However, for myself with the fasteners coming short of the landing zone, these weren’t as comfortable as they could have been because I’d have the hard plastic on the adhesive contact my skin at the wings. The absorbency was also less than I’d typically require for managing bedwetting, so I didn’t quite trust them in testing overnight. For people of their intended sizing they should easily manage a wetting during daily or overnight wear without leaks. They do tend to pool initially, but the leak guards are very effective and the padding is highly resistant to pressout moisture once the initial pooling is absorbed. If combined with a booster pad or plastic pants these could likely even manage any full adult-sized wetting without worries. Otherwise, the materials on these diapers are soft, comfortable and durable. I have no complaints about the general construction. Interestingly the regular padding goes much further up the rear on these than the comparable Pampers or Goodnites products, which have a section of thin padding up the rear. However, like most other youth products, the padding still falls well short of the rear waistline. All said, if these were generally available and scaled up to a size that fit me well I’d certainly consider them for regular wear based on their quality construction and resistance to pressout/surface dampness. I’d highly recommend them for anyone of an appropriate size.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 8

For their targeted sizing I’d expect the Darlings 8 to be a strong performer when it comes to bowel containment, comparable to the Pampers 8 UK. These don’t have the added fragrance like the Pampers products, but they feature a rear waistband, strong leak barriers and a snug fit that can assist with odors. One potential downside is that the padding doesn’t rise very far up the rear. The breathability can also be something of an issue for odor containment. On the plus side, the fasteners maintain a strong grip and can hold up a good deal of weight.

 

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The Darlings 8 is a youth-style tabbed diaper with a single hook & loop fastener per side, rectangular landing zone and small front tabs for the front wings. The Darlings 8 diaper is quite likely the largest youth-style tabbed diaper you’ll find in the retail market (at least for those actually sold in physical stores). Its marketing targets youths larger than 35 kg (77 lbs), which is considerably larger than Pampers 8 target of youths larger than 46 lbs (20.9 kg). In terms of raw dimensions, this diaper, with a length of 58 cm (22.8”), is comparable to the previous Goodnites L/XL sizing targeting 60-125+ lbs (27-57 kg) with a length of 57 cm (22.4”) but short of the Goodnites XL at 60 cm (23.6”). The Darling 8 padding coverage at 450 cm2 (69.7 in2) is comparable to the Pampers UK 8 (460 cm2 / 71.3 in2) and newer Goodnites XL Boys (453.5 cm2 / 70.3 in2). These diapers have modestly stretchy sides that can greatly extend the range of waist sizes that they may fit. Unstretched, the tabs will fasten to the landing zone for a hips/waist of 62 cm (24.4”). If stretched they should fit on the landing zone for hips/waists up to 74 cm (29.1”) and, if fit to their maximum, with the fasteners connecting to the front wing tabs they may potentially fit up to a hip/waist of 96.5 cm (38”). Unlike the Pampers diapers the front tabs on these are held strongly in place and won’t easily come undone. However, the adhesive on the fasteners for these can easily loosen and pop off when under continuous strain while seated, so the realistic best fit is likely somewhere between a hips/waist of 62 cm (24.4”) and 74 cm (29.1”), with a bit more room if not using the tab landing zone. The stretchy sides, while highly durable, are also considerably less stretchy than the Pampers 8 UK and more comparable to the Pampers 8 US, but these will “comfortably” fit sizes larger than either.

3.1 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Fastener

Ease-of-Use Rating: 9

The Darlings 8 diaper is well designed for quick and easy changes. It should be a very easy diaper to work with and I rank it the same as the Pampers 8 in this regard. The fasteners on this diaper are quite easy to attach and detach as needed, so if you don’t get the right placement initially they’re very easy to adjust. Moreover, once in place, they hold remarkably well for their size. The landing zone is quite generous in width, giving a lot of areas for potential placement. Now, if the wearer is even a little over-sized there is the risk of the tapes popping off when seated, so I’m mostly considering this for those who will fit without much tension on the stretchy sides. Larger wearers will need to be mindful of this flaw. These diapers also don’t feature wetness indicators, which could be a challenge for some caregivers as you’ll need to check more carefully to see whether the diaper is wet. These have a decent amount of stretchiness to conform to the wearer’s body. Also, on a whole the Darlings products come in a very wide range of sizing, which gives youths the ability to stay with the same product from newborn to perhaps their early teens if needed. Nearly every other brand seems to diverge into different product types over these age ranges.

3.2 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Diaper Fit

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9

The Darlings 8 seem to be a pretty standard youth diaper design scaled up to a larger size. The backsheet is a soft cloth-like material similar to that of the Pampers 8 UK. I found the padding of this diaper to be particularly soft and comfortable. I never noticed any discomfort where the core materials came in contact with skin. Though clearly someone more appropriately sized for these would find these even more comfortable as I could only fit by fastening the fasteners to the front wing tabs and felt some abrasiveness from the edge of the fasteners, whereas this would be a non-issue when fastened within the landing zone. Otherwise, these diapers are highly breathable and the fasteners are high quality and not susceptible to loosening or sagging (though fasteners can pop off if under prolonged tension). These have a rear waistband, which slightly assists with a snugger fit, but it doesn’t have as elastic a feel to it as you’ll find in some other products with rear waistbands because it’s pretty narrow. Aside from that, I never had any issue with padding clumping or tearing in any way that would cause discomfort.

Comfort Rating (wet): 9

The Darlings 8 comfort when wet is little different from its feeling while dry. This diaper does tend to swell a bit when wet but does a great job at containing moisture and is less susceptible to surface dampness than comparable products like the Goodnites XL. The padding also keeps its form perfectly when wet and I didn’t notice any obvious deterioration during testing. The one thing you may notice in these diapers is a bit of initial pooling during a wetting, but the leak barriers are pretty good at containing it until it's absorbed. The adhesive connecting the fasteners to the rear wings is one area I may have some concern about in terms of comfort, but if they fail due to that then it's an outright failure rather than something causing sagging or impacting comfort (up to that point they won’t sag). In practice I didn’t notice much sagging from these diapers and they did well to keep their snug fit. If you’re of a size that you can fit these properly then you’ll likely find them highly comfortable when wet.

3.3 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 6% (topsheet), 4.9% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 4 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 8

Having an oversized fit gave me some sense for the durability strengths and weaknesses of this diaper. Overall, it’s a highly durable diaper with one notable flaw that keeps it from perfection. The padding is highly resistant to clumping or tearing and I noticed very little in the way of deterioration. The backsheet is solid and not prone to damage of any sort. The fasteners have a surprisingly strong grip for their rather limited area of adhesiveness. I never had a fastener come undone during testing, even under prolonged tension. However, I did have the back side of the fastener pull off the rear wing when seated. This was a recurring problem when the diaper was under prolonged tension. Because I’m a good deal larger than the target market for this diaper I didn’t dock it too many points, but I’m still removing durability for this because it’s likely to happen even for smaller wearers if they shift around a lot during wear. It seems the issue is weakness in the adhesive glue that keeps the fastener attached to the rear wing. I was easily able to correct it and had no further issues when I manually glued it afterward. I mostly had this issue when seated and noticed it less when standing or lying down in the diaper. I feel that more or better glue in the manufacturing of this product would easily correct it and make it all the more durable. On the plus side, the front wings were far stronger than either of the tested Pampers 8 products and I never had them fall off once during testing.

Durability Rating (wet): 8

The wet durability for the Darlings 8 is little different from their dry durability. In both states the padding on this diaper is highly resistant to clumping or tearing. They also have a strong structure that’s durable and not prone to sagging once fastened. The fasteners have no issue holding the weight of a saturated diaper. They actually performed reasonably well on the wet shake test where many fail quickly, though I don’t weigh that test particularly high other than potentially pointing out exceptionally durable diapers. The biggest durability risk in this diaper continues to be the glue holding the fasteners to the rear wings, which seems susceptible to detaching under pressure. I didn’t consider this as big an issue as I might otherwise because I was too large to properly test this and those of a more appropriate size are less likely to experience it, but it is something that could easily be strengthened to give it comparable durability to the Pampers 8 UK.

3.4 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 0 cm (0"), 0.5 cm (0.2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 0 cm (0"), 0 cm (0")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 0 cm (0"), 0 cm (0")

Profile Discretion Rating: 10

The Darlings 8 diaper is comparable to the Goodnites L/XL when it comes to profile discretion and about as discreet as you could possibly ask for in a product of this type. The padding is relatively thin and form fitting so an obvious diaper bulge is unlikely. Moreover, even the backsheet patterns are relatively subtle for a youth product and less likely to be noticed where it rises above the pant waistband.

4.1 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 10

I found the Darlings 8 diaper to be virtually silent when tested for noise discretion. I never noticed any discernible sound when walking, standing or sitting in this diaper. It’s doubtful anyone would notice any noise from this diaper, particularly under clothing. Thus the perfect score for noise discretion.

4.3 Darlings Advanced Performance 8 Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 8

The padding of the Darlings 8 diaper seems to have some inherent odor suppressing properties and I can’t say I noticed much in the way of odors when testing. They are highly resistant to surface dampness and maintain a snug fit with a rear waistband. Being cloth-backed, they could be susceptible to odors through breathability and the padding doesn’t run particularly far up the rear. All things considered, for their sizing I rank them quite high in terms of odor resistance.