*For more information on how I do reviews see Diaper Test Methodology. For a list of all product reviews see the Product Index.
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Summary
The FitRight Ultra Brief is the second most absorbent diaper in the FitRight line of products after the Restore. This diaper features a cloth-like backsheet and runs on the lower end when it comes to absorbency. I feel it is a bit higher in quality than generic store brands, but a long way from the premium brands. If you do end up trying this diaper expect about 1 wetting without leakage for overnight wear, but don’t count on avoiding leakage when seated.Key Features:
- Cloth-like (non-woven) backsheet
- Repositionable tapes
- Standing inner leak barriers
Pros:
- Breathable design
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Surface dampness
- Low absorbency
- Sliding tapes
Product Details
For the purpose of this post I will be reviewing and referring to the medium-sized FitRight Ultra Adult Diaper. However, other available sizes are listed below:
Packaging
Brand: FitRight
Manufacturer: Medline Industries, Inc.
Origin: USA
Units Per Bag: 20
Cost Per Unit: $$
Dimensions (L x W x H): 28 cm (11") x 17 cm (6.7") x 27 cm (10.6")
Weight: 1.83 kg (4.0 lbs)
Available Sizes: S,M,R,L,XL,XXL
Advertised Absorbency: Ultra
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| 1.1 FitRight Ultra Packaging |
Diaper
Backsheet: Cloth-like (non-woven)
Wetness Indicator: Yes (parallel yellow dashes down middle, turn blue/fade when wet)
Standing Inner Leak Guards: Yes
Leg Gathers: Yes
Product Style: Tab-Style Brief
Refastenable Tabs: Yes
Number of Tapes: 2
Repositionable Tabs: Yes
Outer Color: White
Inner Color: White
Front Waistband: No
Rear Waistband: No
Folded Thickness: 1.7 cm (0.67")
Folded Length: 26 cm (10.2")
Dry Weight: 92 g (3.3 oz)
Fragrance: None
Diaper Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 84 cm (33.1") x 66 cm (26") x 31 cm (12.2") x 67 cm (26.4")
Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Rectangular, Rectangular
Padding Dimensions (L x fW x mW x bW): 62 cm (24.4") x 22 cm (8.7") x 16 cm (6.3") x 25 cm (9.8")
Padding Wing Dimensions (fPW x fPH x bPW x bPH): 3.0 cm (1.2") x 14 cm (5.5") x 4.5 cm (1.8") x 10 cm (3.8")
Padding Wing Shape (Front, Rear): Semicircle, Semicircle
Total Padding Area: 1166 cm2 (181 in2)
Tape Spacing (t1 x t2): 4.5 cm (1.8") x 16 cm (6.3")
Tape (W x L): 2.5 cm (1") x 5 cm (2")
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| 1.2 FitRight Ultra Diaper |
Laboratory Absorbency Tests
Total Absorption Volume (after press out): 683 ml (24.1 oz)
Total Absorption Volume (before press out): 708 ml (25 oz)
Time to Absorb Wettings (first to last): (58 s, 60 s, 66 s)
Wet Folded Thickness: 3 cm (1.2")
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 90%
Total Padding to Absorbency Ratio: 0.59 ml / cm2 (0.13 oz / in2)
Press Out Volume: 25 ml (0.88 oz)
Surface Dampness Rating: 5
The FitRight Ultra diaper showed a little surface dampness after the first wetting, but still less than others like the Abena DeltaForm M3 or Attends Poly. There was substantial surface dampness on the second wetting and it was completely saturated by the third wetting. In real world testing the surface dampness was somewhat noticeable, but not as much as one might expect.
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| 2.1 Wet vs Dry Diaper After Capacity Test |
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| 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: 91%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.44 ml / cm2 (0.10 oz / in2)
Standing-Sitting Rating: 2
The FitRight Ultra diaper absorbed the first wetting while standing without too much trouble. When seated there was no initial leakage but after about 5 to 10 minutes there was some leakage through the rear leak guards. It was enough leakage that it would cause an obvious wet spot on the wearer's pants so I decided to end the test at that. Because of this I wouldn’t recommend this diaper for daily wear except for those with light-moderate incontinence.
Lying Down
Total Absorbed Volume: 708 ml (25 oz)
Total Wettings: 2
Used to Total Padding Ratio: 96%
Padding to Absorbency Score: 0.73 ml / cm2 (0.17 oz / in2)
Lying Down Rating: 4
The FitRight Ultra diaper performed about as expected for a medium-to-lower range adult diaper when lying down. The first wetting was completely absorbed without leakage. The middle padding performed the best but a bit more dampness was felt in the less absorbent rear padding. Eventually it was fully absorbed and barely noticeable. The diaper leaked almost immediately through the leg gathers on the second wetting and there was substantial leakage. I feel pretty confident the FitRight diaper can take a single wetting while lying down without leaking but it’s not going to do better than that.
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| 2.3 Pattern of Used vs Unused Padding Test Stand/Sit (right) Lying Down (left) |
Daily Wear and Bedwetting
The FitRight Ultra comes out a little ahead of generic store brand adult diapers in terms of performance but it is far from the premium lines. Its performance was pretty consistent and it could take a single wetting while lying down, otherwise it wasn’t as great for daily wear. It has a soft/breathable make and is unlikely to cause skin irritation when dry. In spite of its size, this diaper feels surprisingly thick in the crotch area and can lead to a slight diaper bulge since it doesn’t fit super snugly. When worn for bedwetting I had decent performance, but if you wet during the night and go to sit down the next morning it can leak. I attribute this to rear padding which seems less absorbent and more vulnerable to pressout. Also, I wouldn’t trust it beyond a single wetting overnight. When worn for daily wear I’ve found the tapes in this diaper will become unstuck and may attach to the wearer’s pants. The padding in this diaper also tends to deteriorate when worn during the day, so it’s not a great choice in that regard. Moreover, it will often leak after a single wetting when seated. Overall, this diaper seems best suited to a care setting where it is changed frequently. Suitability for Bowel Incontinence: 4
I would not recommend the FitRight Ultra for those with bowel incontinence. It does have reasonable high leak guards, but the backsheet would easily emit odors and the diaper’s tapes won’t hold a lot of weight.
Wear & Tear Tests
Fitting
The FitRight Ultra features two repositionable hook & loop tapes per side; these tapes also have a small area of sticky adhesive between the hook & loop strips. The tapes are a reasonable size and easy to attach/remove. However, they don’t have a great grip and have a tendency to slide around and come loose.
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| 3.1 FitRight Ultra Fastener |
Ease-of-Use Rating: 6
This diaper is easy to use in some ways in that the tabs can easily be attached and removed from the backsheet. The larger problem in usability is that the taps tend to become unstuck and slide around. The tabs also lose their stickiness after a few reattachments making it even tougher to keep the diaper from coming off. I suppose this diaper may be more suitable for a care setting where it can be changed frequently.
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| 3.2 FitRight Ultra Diaper Fit |
Comfort
Comfort Rating (dry): 7
The FitRight Ultra is reasonably comfortable when worn in its dry state. The diaper has a very breathable design and doesn’t feel too different from regular underwear. It’s not particularly durable and will become less comfortable over time as padding starts to clump. Also, the lower tapes can sometimes loosen and come into contact with the wearer's legs causing scratches or discomfort. I found the comfort to be comparable to the Lille Supreme Fit Maxi.
Comfort Rating (wet): 6
The FitRight Ultra diaper isn’t particularly absorbent so you likely wouldn’t wear it wet for long, but when it is wet I found it about as comfortable as its dry state. The diaper remains quite breathable so there will be little sensation of clamminess, the surface dampness isn’t too noticeable, but the padding has a tendency to clump when the diaper has been worn for more than a few hours. The weakness of the tapes could also be a problem and will lead to sagging.
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| 3.3 FitRight Ultra Topsheet and Backsheet |
Durability
Dry Padding Deterioration Proportion: 17.8% (topsheet), 22.9% (backsheet)
Shake Deterioration Test: 2 shakes to deterioration
Durability Rating (dry): 6
The FitRight Ultra didn’t perform particularly well in the dry durability test. At the end of the test there were some pretty large tears and the padding had a tendency to clump when worn for more than a few hours. The tapes on this diaper also have a tendency to loosen but can generally be refastened. Aside from that the wetness indicator is sensitive to sweat and light dribble so may turn blue well before saturation. I feel this diaper generally wouldn’t hold up to active wear and I’ve rated it similar to the Abena DeltaForm M3.
Durability Rating (wet): 6
The FitRight Ultra durability when wet is pretty similar to its dry state. Its padding holds up well for a few hours but will start to clump and tear thereafter. Perhaps the biggest problem revolves around the tapes, in a wet state the heavier diaper will tend to pull at the weak tapes even more and the diaper may become loose or undone easier. Because of that, this diaper may not be the best for a super active wearer with anything but very light leakage.
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| 3.4 FitRight Ultra Dry Test Deterioration |
Discretion Tests
Profile
Front Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 8.0 cm (3.2"), 8.0 cm (3.2")
Back Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 7.0 cm (2.8"), 5 cm (2")
Side Rise Above Waistline (Jeans, Sweatpants): 5 cm (2"), 5 cm (2")
Profile Discretion Rating: 8
The FitRight Ultra diaper is quite thin and should be pretty easy to hide under most clothing. However, it does have a very high rise above the pant line, which could be a problem for some.
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| 4.1 FitRight Ultra Jeans Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) |
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| 4.2 FitRight Ultra Sweatpants Profile (left) vs Normal Underwear (right) |
Noise
Noise Rating: 9
The FitRight Ultra diaper does not produce a lot of noise. Its performance was similar to the Lille SupremeFit Maxi, producing a little less noise than the Abena DeltaForm and a little less than the Medline Extended Wear. This diaper should remain quiet enough to hide in most circumstances, but occasionally the tapes will shift causing a scratching noise.
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| 4.3 FitRight Ultra Noise Profile |
Odor Reduction
Odor Reduction Rating: 5
The FitRight Ultra diaper won’t provide much help when it comes to odor reduction. I rank its performance similar to the Abena DeltaForm M3. This diaper is relatively quick to experience surface dampness and its design doesn’t do much to keep odors in with a loose fit and thin cloth-like sides.
Want to give the FitRight Ultra Briefs a try?
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