NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear 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

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max is a high absorbency protective underwear product that sits at the top of the NorthShore GoSupreme underwear line in terms of absorbency (up to 10 hours of absorbency by NorthShore’s absorbency rating). This underwear comes in two colors (blue and white) and features strong elastic support with generous inner leak guards. It’s designed specifically with overnight usage in mind and has the same exceptional resistance to surface dampness seen in other NorthShore products. That said, as of the time of writing, sizing is more limited than the regular NorthShore GoSupreme underwear (3 in this vs 6 in that). Sizing is also of a European fit, which tends to be smaller than North American sizing, so if you’re at the upper edge of a size then it may be best to size upward with these. This is a newly released product and as such they are still making some tweaks, so I’d expect some further improvements over time. During the course of this review a potential issue was identified and NorthShore was quick to respond and escalate to their manufacturer.

I’ve only recently started actually reviewing protective underwear products, but my past experience with this type of product has generally been poor due to low absorbency and leaks. The NorthShore GoSupreme proved exceptionally absorbent compared to protective underwear I’ve previously worn and a notch above many adult diapers as well. Realistically these can manage 2 or 3 full wettings before leakage, though I have a little more confidence in that during daily wear than overnight wear. The absorbency will extend far more for a number of small wettings compared to larger voids. They are quite comfortable and incredibly breathable, so a very suitable choice for warm weather wear or for those who struggle with overheating. These also do a great job at containment under pressure and are unlikely to produce noticeable pressout moisture if seated after a wetting.

For this review I’ll be covering both the medium and large sizes, but based on fit, the medium results would be the most comparable to other reviewed products as that’s the size that fit me best. I’d like to give a huge thanks to NorthShore for providing the products to do this review! As always I appreciate partnering with and promoting companies that are innovative and heavily involved in their product improvement process. NorthShore has been wonderful to work with and I can see they truly care about developing products to improve the wearer’s quality of life.

Key Features:

• Cloth-like backsheet
• Elastic waist and padding toppers
• Standing inner leak guards
• Rear disposal tape

Pros:

• Comfortable and breathable
• High absorbency
• Resistant to surface dampness
• Highly flexible/durable

Cons:

• Limited sizing (only 3 sizes vs 6 for regular GoSupreme)
• Padding a bit stiff when dry

 

Product Details

For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium and large sized NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear. However, other available sizes are listed below:

Packaging

Brand: NorthShore
Manufacturer: NorthShore Care Supply
Origin: Europe
Units Per Bag: 12
Cost Per Unit: $$$
Dimensions (M) (L x W x H): 27 cm (10.6") x 13.5 cm (5.3") x 24 cm (9.5")
Dimensions (L) (L x W x H): 27 cm (10.6") x 13.5 cm (5.3") x 23 cm (9.1")
Weight (M): 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
Weight (L): 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)
Available Sizes: M,L,XL
Advertised Absorbency: Dry Up To 10 Hours

1.1 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Packaging (M)

1.2 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Packaging (L)

Diaper

Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (blue NorthShore branding down middle, fades when wet)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: Yes
Leg Gathers: Yes
Product Style: Protective Underwear
Refastenable Tabs: No
Number of Tapes: N/A
Repositionable Tabs: N/A
Outer Color: White (blue NorthShore print branding wetness indicator)
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: Yes
Rear Waistband: Yes
Folded Thickness (M): 2.3 cm (0.92")
Folded Thickness (L): 2.3 cm (0.92")
Folded Length (M): 23 cm (9.1")
Folded Length (L): 23 cm (9.1")
Dry Weight (M): 117 g (4.1 oz)
Dry Weight (L): 125 g (4.4 oz)
Fragrance: No
Diaper Dimensions (M) (L x fW x mW x bW): 70 cm (27.6") x 20 cm (7.9") x 19 cm (7.5") x 22 cm (8.7")
Diaper Dimensions (L) (L x fW x mW x bW): 83 cm (32.9") x 27 cm (10.6") x 19 cm (7.5") x 28 cm (11")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Connected, Connected
Padding Dimensions (M) (L x fW x mW x bW): 49 cm (19.3") x 15 cm (5.9") x 10.5 cm (4.1") x 15 cm (5.9")
Padding Dimensions (L) (L x fW x mW x bW): 49 cm (19.3") x 15 cm (5.9") x 10.5 cm (4.1") x 17 cm (6.7")
Padding Wing Dimensions (M) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 2.3 cm (0.9") x 12 cm (4.7") x 2.3 cm (0.9") x 14 cm (5.5")
Padding Wing Dimensions (L) (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 2.3 cm (0.9") x 12 cm (4.7") x 3.3 cm (1.3") x 18 cm (7.1")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area (M): 632 cm² (98 in²)
Total Padding Area (L): 686 cm² (106 in²)
Tape (M) (W x L): 17 cm (6.7") x 1 cm (0.4")
Tape (L) (W x L): 18 cm (7.1") x 1 cm (0.4")

1.3 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear (M)

1.4 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear (L)

Laboratory Absorbency Tests

Total Absorption Volume (M) (after press out): 1258 ml (44.4 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (L) (after press out): 1250 ml (44.1 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (M) (before press out): 1283 ml (45.3 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (L) (before press out): 1250 ml (44.1 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (M) (first to last): (38 s, 41 s, 46 s, 46 s, 50 s)
Time to Absorb Wettings (L) (first to last): (74 s, 44 s, 51 s, 52 s, 51 s)
Wet Folded Thickness (M): 7 cm (2.8")
Wet Folded Thickness (L): 7 cm (2.8")
Used to Total Padding Ratio (M): 88%
Used to Total Padding Ratio (L): 92%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio (M): 1.99 ml / cm² (0.45 oz / in²)
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio (L): 1.82 ml / cm² (0.41 oz / in²)
Press Out Volume (M): 25 ml (0.9 oz)
Press Out Volume (L): 0 ml (0 oz)

Surface Dampness Rating: 9

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max is very resistant to surface dampness. During lab testing there was no sign of moisture after the first wetting and very little on the second wetting. It wasn’t until the third wetting that there was significant moisture visible. This was backed up by real world testing where I rarely noticed dampness when wet. I also found it highly resistant to pressout moisture and never found moisture seeping back up through the padding when seated.

 

 

2.1 Wet vs Dry Diaper After Capacity Test (M)

2.2 Wet vs Dry Diaper After Capacity Test (L)

2.3 Used vs Unused Padding After Capacity Test (M, L)

"Real World" Absorbency Tests

Posture Tests

Standing-Sitting

Total Absorbed Volume (M): 1283 ml (45.3 oz)
Total Absorbed Volume (L): 1350 ml (47.6 oz)
Total Wettings (M): (1 standing, 3 sitting)
Total Wettings (L): (1 standing, 2 sitting)
Leaked After Sitting: Yes
Used to Total Padding Ratio (M): 74%
Used to Total Padding Ratio (L): 69%
Padding to Absorbency Score (M): 2.03 ml / cm² (0.46 oz / in²)
Padding to Absorbency Score (L): 1.97 ml / cm² (0.45 oz / in²)

Standing-Sitting Rating: 8

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max performed quite well when tested while standing and sitting. I first tested the medium while standing and found moisture quickly sank into the mid-section padding. There was very little pooling and no obvious sign of leakage. The padding swelled quite a bit but the underwear held up fine without sagging. It proved resilient to pressout leaks upon sitting shortly afterward with maybe a brief bit of noticeable moisture that was quickly absorbed by the nearby padding. Afterward the dampness was hardly noticeable and there was still a significant area of dry padding at the front and rear. On the second wetting moisture pushed up the front of the underwear then settled as it absorbed into the padding. There was no indication of any leaks at this point though I did feel moisture pressing against the front leak guards and there may have been some dampness around the leg gathers even though no obvious leak was present. I figured the third wetting was going to leak but somehow it managed without a leak. Moisture dammed and pushed up the front where it was contained and absorbed into the padding. The fourth wetting was clearly going to leak. Moisture immediately dammed in the front padding. It wasn’t quite enough to push around the sides through the wings but the wings were soaked and a large leak formed at the leg gathers. Surprisingly there was still a bit of dry padding at the rear whereas the front was completely saturated. The overall absorption was very impressive for a protective underwear product and the front leak guards were surprisingly strong. I tested the large size after the medium and also found strong performance, albeit not the best test, given too large a sizing can result in easier leaks. The first wetting was quickly absorbed through the padding with minimal pooling and no sign of leaks upon sitting shortly afterward. On the second wetting moisture pushed up the front and there was more pooling as it dammed before eventually sinking back into the mid-section padding where it was distributed and absorbed. The front leak guards held out quite well as I was sure it would leak when it pushed near the top of the padding but found no sign of a leak, nor was there any indication of a leak below. On the third wetting there was further damming and significant moisture pooling up the front padding. This time the moisture wasn’t quickly absorbed and slowly sank into the middle padding where it escaped through the leak guards. There was a significant leak at this point so I ended the test. Surprisingly, like with the medium, there was still a fair amount of dry padding at the rear but the front was fully saturated. I’m confident this underwear will generally handle at least 2~3 wettings in daily wear before leaks might be a concern.

Lying Down

Total Absorbed Volume (M): 833 ml (29 oz)
Total Absorbed Volume (L): 1025 ml (36 oz)
Total Wettings (M): 2
Total Wettings (L): 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio (M): 80%
Used to Total Padding Ratio (L): 93%
Padding to Absorbency Score (M): 1.32 ml / cm² (0.30 oz / in²)
Padding to Absorbency Score (L): 1.50 ml / cm² (0.34 oz / in²)

Lying Down Rating: 7

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max performed reasonably well when tested while lying down. The first wetting in the medium was efficiently absorbed with little in the way of pooling. Due to the structure moisture didn’t build up in the front and was distributed to the lower rear padding. The padding swelled considerably but there weren’t any signs of leaks. There was still a fair amount of dry padding at the front and rear afterward and the underwear didn’t feel particularly wet. The second initially absorbed well but moisture pooled in the middle section and there was a large leak through the leak barriers. The barriers are pretty susceptible to leaks if there is pooling nearby so this underwear relies heavily on the padding absorbency (that said a weakness in the leak guards was discovered and corrected by NorthShore during testing so future batches may be even more effective at containment). At the end of the test nearly all the rear padding was wet but there was still a bit of dry padding at the front. The underwear was clearly near capacity. I tested the large size next. The first wetting was easily absorbed with moisture flowing back into the mid-section and minimal pooling. It felt relatively dry soon afterward. On the second wetting moisture pooled much more and dammed around the mid-section. Eventually there was a moderate leak through the leg gathers, though the padding still seemed to have capacity and it didn’t feel saturated at the end of the test. By this point of the test there was still dry padding at the front and a little at the rear but there was a bit more overall absorption compared with the medium size. I’d expect this underwear to handle 1~2 wettings in overnight wear before leaks would be a concern, though it may potentially exceed this in future batches when the leak guard issue is corrected.

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

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

Daily Wear and Bedwetting

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max was a major upgrade from the previously reviewed Depend Real-Fit Maximum. This protective underwear is designed for a very high level of absorbency, which NorthShore refers to as Heavy Bladder Leaks (HBL) to distinguish such products. I found the padding similar to other NorthShore products in that it absorbs a lot and swells considerably, but is highly resistant to pressout moisture and surface dampness. It falls into a category of products that I’d feel totally confident in for sitting down after a wetting, which in my experience is the most frequent source of leaks. This underwear is top of the market as far as protective underwear goes for overnight wear, but I didn’t have quite as much confidence in night wear compared with daily wear. I tried it for bedwetting and it was generally sufficient, but I found it was more susceptible to leaks beyond one wetting. Part of this was likely due to the batch tested, where during testing I discovered some leaks were escaping under the inner leak guards on larger wettings. I got in touch with NorthShore about this and they were quick to confirm and work with the manufacturer to correct the issue. So I expect future batches will be able to handle 2 or more large wettings with less concern for leaks. One interesting aspect of this was that absorbency increased substantially for wettings under a certain volume. So if you tend to have smaller voids then this underwear is likely to handle a much larger overall volume and you’d get a longer duration of wear out of it. I can confidently say these are comparable to what you’d get from many high capacity adult diapers and that in itself makes it a standout compared with protective underwear products I’ve tried in the past. In terms of comfort these are exceptionally breathable and have a soft fabric texture. I barely noticed the sides, which felt softer and more comfortable than regular underwear. I had no signs of chaffing or skin irritation after extended wear. It can easily be worn for more active wear and is probably one of the best choices for managing hot weather or heavy exercise. The padding can be a little on the stiff side when initially worn, but it softens up a bit with extended wear. You’ll want to make sure you get the right fit with these and I feel hip sizing is particularly important to confirm if you have larger hips than waist. I wore the medium size, but I found it similar to many similar products labelled small. It has a highly elastic design, with full waistbands, stretch side fabric and a distinct area of elasticity at both ends of the padding (something I haven’t really seen before). One other interesting feature in this underwear is the rear disposal tape, which makes it easy to wrap and dispose of the used underwear when you’re done. All said, I’d highly recommend this underwear for daily wear and would have more confidence in it than any other protective underwear for bedwetting. If you prefer the feel of protective underwear products but want the absorbency of adult diapers then this underwear would be an excellent choice.

Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 7

As a protective underwear style product there are limitations to how effective the NorthShore GoSupreme Max can be in managing bowel incontinence. These do have a decent amount of rear padding coverage as well as strong inner leak guards. The disposal tape is also particularly useful for changes after a bowel episode. Of course as a standard protective underwear product you’ll need to pull it up/down for a change, which could be more difficult when dealing with bowel cleanup. The breathable design will also make it harder to contain odors.

 

Wear & Tear Tests

Fitting

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max has what could be considered a traditional protective underwear design. It features a high waist rise with wide bunchy light elastic material. The connected sides come together with a welding that leaves small bits folded out on the right and left sides. What’s interesting is that it features two regions of dedicated elastic-waistband with one around the actual waist and the other at the top and bottom of the padding. To use it you pull it up and down like regular underwear. This underwear has a European fitting with the medium fitting relatively small compared with North American equivalents. If you’re typically on the larger side of medium then you will likely want to size up on the GoSupreme Max. The sizing on the package is quite helpful as it gives both recommended weight and waist/hips-based sizing. These have a far greater range of sizing than other products on the market like the Depend Real-Fit and unlike the Depend Real-Fit these feature generous inner leak guards. The elastic material on these is quite flexible but not quite as stretchy as the Depend Real-Fit, so if you go too small with your sizing you may struggle to raise it without damaging the elastic.

3.1 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Fastener (M)

3.2 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Fastener (L)

Ease-of-Use Rating: 9

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max underwear is very easy to use. This underwear has blue text markings at the front and rear, so it’s easy to differentiate the orientation when putting them on. The elastic design and flexible fit provide a bit of room for give if you don’t get the sizing right on your first try, but these are less flexible than the Depend Real-Fit so if you go too small with the sizing then they will have less give to make up for it. The standing inner leak guards run high and fit snuggly along with the leg gathers. These also feature a wetness indicator with blue text down the middle that fades when wet, but I’ve found in practice it doesn’t easily fade. One additional feature that I haven’t seen in many other similar products is a dedicated disposal tape at the rear. This makes it easy to close up the used underwear when it’s time for disposal. When using these you’ll need to keep in mind that they are an underwear style product so to change in/out of them you will need to remove your pants. Otherwise, these are far more absorbent than the Depend Real-Fit and a product I feel more easily could be used as a replacement for adult diapers where needed.

3.3 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear Fit (M)

  

3.4 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Protective Underwear Fit (L)

Comfort

Comfort Rating (dry): 9

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max is quite comfortable when wet and hardly different from regular underwear. The materials used are soft and highly breathable, while the elastics ensure a snug fit. The padding isn’t the softest on the market, but certainly soft enough that it wouldn’t cause any discomfort. I found the padding to be a bit on the stiff side when using a new pair of the underwear. However, it loosens up a bit with wear. The padding is incredibly durable and not easily prone to clumping or tearing. The sides also retain their elasticity well and aren’t likely to over stretch and sag after extended wear. I feel the combination of breathability and absorbency would make this a strong choice for daily warm weather wear.

Comfort Rating (wet): 10

I rank the NorthShore GoSupreme Max as a top performer when it comes to comfort when wet. Like other NorthShore products, these have a padding that’s highly resistant to surface dampness. Aside from the padding swelling I couldn’t really notice the difference from the dry state. If anything the padding was a bit more flexible in the wet state. The breathability of these protective underwear is exceptional. They also have little susceptibility to pressout moisture and remain comfortable even while seated when wet. The padding on these is highly durable when wet and I never noticed any signs of clumping or tearing in this state. The snug fitting structure of these also makes them resistant to sagging even under the weight of several wettings so you’re unlikely to have discomfort in that regard.

3.5 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (M) Topsheet and Backsheet

3.6 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (L) Topsheet and Backsheet

Durability

Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion (M): 5.4% (topsheet), 10.2% (backsheet)
Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion (L): 3.8% (topsheet), 4.3% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test (M): 10 shakes to deterioration
Shake Deterioration Test (L): 12 shakes to deterioration

Durability Rating (dry): 10

I give the NorthShore GoSupreme Max top marks for dry durability. I really didn’t notice much in the way of padding deterioration after extended wear. I also found the elastic sides and waistband to be both flexible and durable. I wouldn’t say it’s at the side material level of strength of the Depend Real-Fit, but it will retain its elasticity better than that underwear so I didn’t count it against it. If you can use the bathroom regularly at times then this underwear is easy to pull up and down repeatedly without weakening its structure. The wetness indicator isn’t at all susceptible to premature fading from small leaks or perspiration, though perhaps to a fault because even legitimate dampness doesn’t significantly fade it. The padding is a little stiff, particularly when you first wear a new one, but it will soften a bit with wear. I’m fairly confident that this underwear could be worn for protection during exercise where other products might struggle from a durability standpoint.

Durability Rating (wet): 10

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max is just as durable in its wet state as in its dry state. It performed exceptionally well on the wet shake test; even though I don’t give that test a huge amount of weight in scoring it can be indicative of overall padding strength. In real world testing the addition of moisture to the padding didn’t make it anymore susceptible to deterioration than in its dry state. Unlike the Depend Real-Fit, the elastic material holding up the sides didn’t lose flexibility with multiple stretches and felt just as snug after many hours of wear as it did when first applied, so there was no sign of significant sagging during any of my testing. Moreover, the backsheet proved highly invulnerable to perspiration so you’re unlikely to get leaks through micro holes in the backsheet like you do in some cloth-like products.

3.4 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (M) Dry Test Deterioration

3.4 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (L) Dry Test Deterioration

Discretion Tests

Profile

Front Rise Above Waistline (M) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3 cm (1.2"), 5 cm (2")
Front Rise Above Waistline (L) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 7 cm (2.8"), 8 cm (3.2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (M) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3 cm (1.2"), 1.5 cm (0.6")
Back Rise Above Waistline (L) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 9 cm (3.5"), 8 cm (3.2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (M) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 3.5 cm (1.4"), 4 cm (1.6")
Side Rise Above Waistline (L) (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8.5 cm (3.4"), 9 cm (3.5")

Profile Discretion Rating: 8

I can’t quite say these are at the level of the Depend Real-Fit when it comes to profile discretion, but they’re certainly more discreet than equivalently absorbent adult diapers. The only thing to watch for is that the padding is a bit stiff, so it could leave a bit of a bulge at the front or rear under snug fitting clothing. Though this would generally be easy to cover up with underwear or mesh pants.

4.1 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (M) (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.2 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (L) (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

4.3 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (M) Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

4.4 NorthShore GoSupreme Max (L) Sweats Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right)

 

Noise

Noise Rating: 10

I can’t say I really noticed any noise that would be indicative of a protective underwear or diaper product when testing the NorthShore GoSupreme Max. It’s about as discreet as you can get in this regard, with no obvious plastic crinkling. Any hint of noise would easily be covered up by outerwear with little effort, so I don’t think you could ask for a better product from the noise discretion perspective.

4.5 NorthShore GoSupreme Max Noise Profile

Odor Reduction

Odor Reduction Rating: 8

The NorthShore GoSupreme Max padding is highly resistant to pressout and surface dampness. It seems to have natural properties that reduce odors and I rarely noticed any during testing. However, given the breathable design, when odors do form they are more easily able to escape into the surroundings. For this reason, I can’t quite rank it at the top in this regard, but for a protective underwear product this is probably about as good as you can get for odor resistance.

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