Top 7 Best Adult Pull-On Diapers for Incontinence [2023]

Updated: February 7, 2023

Top Reasons For Using a Pull Up Diapers

Adult pull-up diapers, sometimes called protective underwear or disposable pull-ups, are absorbent underwear for treating incontinence. Pull-up underwear comes with an absorbent core, waterproof backing, and leg cuffs to prevent leaks around the legs. Advanced designs include an acquisition and distribution layer that wicks moisture away from the skin and transfers it to the core. The acquisition layer quickly dries to help keep the skin dry and healthy. Unlike adult diapers, there are no tabs to secure the garment around the user. An elastic style waistband holds the product in place. The design of these pull-up diapers is for single patient use, and they are disposable after soiling. ¹ This article discusses the construction of disposable protective underwear, it top features, the top brands, and rank orders the top 7 best adult incontinence underwear.

List of the Top Ranking Protective Underwear Brands

Prevail Daily Underwear
Sure Care Plus
Depend Real Fit for Men
Attends Advanced Underwear
McKesson StayDry Underwear
Tranquility Premium OverNight
Attends Premier Premium Overnight Protection

Rank Order of Top Best Disposable Underwear

#1 Prevail Daily Underwear

These pull-on disposable underwear use a gel core to absorb and lock away moisture. The garment protects users from odor and incorporates a cloth-like outer layer that protects against rustling. This discreet underwear contains Chamomile, aloe, and vitamin E to promote skin health. These incontinence garments come in five sizes ranging from 20 to 80-inch waist sizes. Prevail /prevail.html is the best selling brand of First Quality.

Absorbency – Maximum
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - Yes
Odor Neutralizer - Yes
Tear-away Sides – No
Extras - Chamomile, aloe, and vitamin E

#2 Sure Care Plus

Covidien manufactures the Sure Care Plus. This pull-on diaper offers a wide garment for extra comfort. It offers moderate to heavy absorbency with a gel core that locks away both moisture and odor. A cloth-like outer layer is quiet and discreet. A color indicator on the back of the garment quickly identifies the backside for donning.

Absorbency – Moderate to Heavy
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - No
Odor Control - Yes
Tear-away Sides – Yes
Extras – Back indicator with colored strands identify which side is the backside

#3 Depend Real Fit for Men

The design of this product supports urinary incontinence. These male pull-ups offer heavy absorbency. The material is cotton-like, which is soft and comfortable. Elastic around the leg openings provides leak protection. There is also elastic around the waistband for a comfortable fit. These men's incontinence underwear are washable and reusable. The size accommodates men with a 28 to 40-inch waist.

Absorbency – Heavy
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - No
Odor Neutralizer - No
Tear-away Sides – Yes
Low-profile Design - Yes
Washable and Reusable - Yes

#4 Attends Advanced Underwear

The Attends Advanced Underwear design bolsters an active lifestyle. It has an acquisition layer that quickly takes moisture away from the skin and transfers it to the core. The waistband is stretchable and breathable to allow heat and vapor to escape. Tear-away sides make these incontinence pull-ups easy to change in public restrooms. Four sizes are available, ranging from 22 up to 68 inches.

Absorbency – Moderate to Heavy
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - Yes
Odor Neutralizer - Yes
Tear-away Sides - Yes

#5 McKesson StayDry Underwear

The StayDry Underwear from McKesson has a new name, the Ultra. This product has contoured leg cuffs to protect from leaks. Stretchable elastic in the waistband is comfortable and provides a secure fit. It has a dual-core for odor control and to help keep you dry. This incontinence underwear has five sizes to select from, starting at a 25-inch waistline up to 80 inches.

Absorbency – Heavy
Breathable Fabric - No
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - No
Odor Neutralizer - Yes
Tear-away Sides - Yes

#6 Tranquility Premium OverNight

This overnight protective garment supports both urinary and fecal incontinence. Its design provides for uninterrupted sleep with super absorbency. It also affords prolonged daytime use for extended trips or outings. Tear-away sides make it easy to remove and dispose. Breathable sides make this pull-up comfortable and skin-friendly. Choose between six sizes ranging from waist sizes of 17 to 80 inches.

Absorbency – Super
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer - Yes
Odor Neutralizer - Yes
Tear-away Sides - Yes

#7 Attends Premier Premium Overnight Protection

This premium product protects the user throughout the night to provide an entire night's sleep. It is a full-fitting pull-up constructed with soft, absorbent materials. Elastic leg cuffs ensure against leaks. This product is available in three sizes from 34 to 68 inches, supporting both urinary and fecal incontinence. It offers urine pH neutralization and odor security.

Absorbency – Heavy
Breathable Fabric - Yes
Cloth-like Outer Layer - Yes
Acquisition and Distribution Layer -
Odor Neutralizer – 8-hour protection
Tear-away Sides - Yes

Best Adult Disposable Underwear For Sale

Adult Incontinence Pull-Up Diaper Features

Adult Pullups Incontinence Diapers - Protective Underwear Anatomy

Comparison Features for Selecting the Top DisposableUnderwear

There are certain features of disposable underwear that make them particularly appealing to an incontinent patient. The absence of these features makes the product less desirable when making a purchase decision. A list of these features and a summary is below.

Absorbency

The absorbency of the protective pull-ups is critical; otherwise, they serve no purpose. Heavy and super absorbent protective underwear offers the best protection against leaks and embarrassing encounters. Light and moderate absorbent garments provide greater freedom of movement, are more discreet, and provide better comfort.

Breathable Fabric

The backsheet of the garment may use a microporous material that allows vapor permeability. This 'breathability' reduces the humidity on the surface of the skin. Heat and water vapor pass out of the containment area for a more comfortable experience for the user.

Cloth-like Outer Layer

A backsheet construction is with polyethylene film or textile. This layer retains moisture within the core. The textile versions are soft cloth-like material that is discreet and comfortable, mimicking regular underwear.

Acquisition and Distribution Layer

Polymer or natural fibers separate the core of the product from the skin. These fibers wick moisture away from the body and convey it to the core. The core locks moisture away from the skin. The acquisition layer is one of the most important advances in the recent technology of incontinence products.

Odor Neutralizer

Additives to the core counteract the smell of waste. These additives usually consist of styrene-butadiene and butyl acylate woven into the polymer fibers. Containment of waste within the core is also essential.

Tear-Away Sides

Protective underwear with tear-away sides provides for easy removal of soiled adult pull-ups. This feature is particularly significant when changing in public restrooms. The user does not need to remove their shoes and trousers to change the pull-up diapers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Absorbency or discreet protective underwear, which is more important?

The more absorbency protective underwear has, the less discreet they become. Any improvement to the absorbent core usually results in adding bulk to the brief. The more bulk added to the brief, the greater the capacity to store fluid, the longer wear-time, the better the leak protection, and the less chance of soiling clothing, bedding, or furniture.

However, as the bulk increases, the more noticeable and less discreet, the greater the difficulty of freedom of movement, and the less comfortable the product becomes. So there is an inverse relationship between absorbency and discreetness/comfort.

What are the absorbency levels of incontinence products?

Incontinence Absorbency Levels

Manufacturers disagree upon a single standard for marketing the absorbency level of their incontinence products. Some manufactures use four different levels to describe absorbency, while others have up to six. At Vitality Medical, we employ four levels of absorbency and use objective measurements to assign these levels.

Light – 2 to 8 oz capacity (up to one cup)
Moderate – 4 to 16 oz capacity (up to two cups)
Heavy – 12 to 32 oz capacity (up to four cups)
Super – 32 oz and above capacity (four cups or more)

Unfortunately, some manufacturers of incontinence products do not disclose their products' absorbency level in objective or measurable terms even when asked. One brand's moderate absorbency can be another brand's light absorbency. Another brand's super absorbency can be another brand's heavy capacity. Sometimes, it is a guess as to how many ounces of fluid the product will hold before it fails.

What are the types of incontinence?

There are two basic types of incontinence—urinary and fecal. Urinary incontinence is the bladder's involuntary voiding, while fecal incontinence is the inadvertent elimination of the bowels. Both situations are very stressful for the incontinent person.

Other technical terms used to label incontinence include stress incontinence when impaired control of the bladder during coughing, sneezing, or physical exertion. Urge incontinence is a sudden uncontrollable impulse to urinate. Dribbling occurs when the bladder fails to empty, or an enlarged prostate restricts urine flow. Functional incontinence occurs with a physical or mental disability does not allow enough time to get to a toilet.

What causes incontinence?

There are numerous causes of urinary incontinence. A list of the most common reasons is below.

Weak bladder muscles
Aging
Damage to the pelvic floor
Cancer
Enlarged prostate

Product Videos

Kimberly Clark Depends Video (0:20 minutes)

Prevail Incontinence Products Video (1:04 minutes)

Tranquility Premium Disposable Absorbent Underwear Video (3:59 minutes)

Medical Studies

Bliss, Donna Z., et al. Use and evaluation of disposable absorbent products for managing fecal incontinence by community-loving people. Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing: official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society/WOCN 38.3 (2011): 289. (Last Accessed November-12-2020)

Trowbridge, M. M., et al. A randomized, controlled trial comparing skin health effects and comfort of two adult incontinence protective underwear. Skin Research and Technology 23.2 (2017): 202-211. (Last Accessed November-12-2020)

Szymanski, Konrad M., et al. All incontinence is not created equal: impact of urinary and fecal incontinence on quality of life in adults with spina bifida. The Journal of Urology 197.3 Part 2 (2017): 885-891. (Last Accessed November-12-2020)

Fader, Mandy, et al. Continence products: research priorities to improve the lives of people with urinary and/or fecal leakage. Neurology and Urodynamics: Official Journal of the International Continence Society 29.4 (2010): 640-644. (Last Accessed November-12-2020)

Top 7 Best Pull-On Diapers for Adults [2023]