Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Thinx for All Leaks underwear is the best you can buy for light leakage, thanks to their comfortable fit, quality construction, and stylish look. Read More
For heavy leakage, you can’t go wrong with the Always Discreet. Their maximum absorbency made them stand out from other disposable options. Read More
Knix is a great brand to try if you’re looking for lightly absorbent incontinence panties that come in a variety of sizes and styles. Read More
Highly-absorbent disposable underwear that's designed for overnight. Read More
Stylish disposable incontinence underwear with a soft, cotton feel Read More
If you’re someone coping with incontinence—a.k.a. an overactive bladder—you may be familiar with the quest for protective underwear that’s functional yet stylish. Incontinence is common among people with female genitalia, especially post-pregnancy and childbirth, and the right pair of panties can help get you through your daily routine with minimal discomfort.
Incontinence underwear, like period underwear, absorbs leaks and wicks moisture away from your skin, keeping you feeling as comfortable as possible while you experience some uncomfortable symptoms.
We tested both reusable and single-use incontinence products from brands like Knix, Wearever, and Depend that the best incontinence underwear for women is Thinx for All Leaks (available at Thinx) , a stylish reusable option that is especially good for light leak protection. Should you need a pair for maximum protection against bladder leakage, the **Always Discreet, a highly absorbent single-use style, is the way to go.
We named Thinx for All Leaks the best overall for their style and comfort.
The Always Discreet is a highly absorbent pair best for heavy leakage.
Highly absorbent
Comfortable fit
Noticeable panty line
Crinkles slightly as you walk
We tested a variety of reusable and disposable options to find the best.
Better than average absorbency
Ill-fitting
Poor construction
Absorbent
Durable
Full-coverage
Saggy fit
Visible panty line
Uncomfortable
Inclusive size range from S to 8X
Unflattering fit
Poor absorbency
Symptoms of incontinence can happen to anyone at any age and are more common than you realize. More than 25 million Americans experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence that ranges from mild moisture output to frequent wetting daily, and one in four women experience incontinence in their lives, according to Mayo Clinic.
If you’re one of the many people managing bladder leakage, a good pair of incontinence underwear can be a worthwhile investment.
Absorbency: There’s a big difference between the incontinence underwear that’s best for occasional leaks and the one that’s most effective for people who truly do not have control of their bladder. If you need a pair of underwear that’s just for small amounts of urine—like when jumping on a trampoline—a reusable pair will most likely be fine. However, if you’re leaking a full bladder of liquid (about two cups), you’ll want to opt for a high-absorbency disposable pair or even cloth diapers for adults instead.
Odor Control: No one wants to smell like a litterbox, so you’ll want to ensure that the incontinence underwear you select offers some sort of odor control. All of the reusable incontinence underwear that we tested contain fabrics with antimicrobial properties, so there’s less chance of odor while you’re wearing them. If you happen to notice that your reusable incontinence underwear develops an odor despite being laundered correctly, you can soak them in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Several brands of disposable incontinence underwear are lightly scented to mask the smell of urine, but to truly keep the wearer odor-free, it’s best to change into a fresh pair after each leak.
Comfort & Fit: Just as with regular underwear, if your incontinence underwear is uncomfortable you’re not going to want to wear it. Some brands offer a wide range of sizes and styles, while others have a more limited selection. It’s best to try several different brands and types to find the one that best fits your body, lifestyle, and particular needs.
Incontinence Underwear for Men vs. Women: While our pick for the best incontinence underwear for sleeping happens to be unisex, most brands offer separate styles for men and women. Selecting a pair of incontinence underwear that’s designed for your particular body parts will most likely result in a better, more comfortable fit. The same goes for incontinence pads for men and women.
One of the biggest drawbacks with most reusable incontinence underwear is that you’re not supposed to put them in the dryer because the heat can destroy the waterproof lining. If you’re not the type of person who will remember to line-dry your panties, seek out a brand that specifically states that the product is safe to put in the dryer. Knix, our choice for best incontinence underwear for exercise, can be dried on low heat.
You’ll also want to check how long a specific pair of incontinence underwear will last before it needs to be replaced. Most brands last between 30-50 washes before they lose their absorbency, which is worth taking into account when considering cost and value.
While Medicare doesn’t cover incontinence supplies, most Medicaid programs do cover supplies that are deemed medically necessary. Coverage varies state by state, but if Medicaid in your state does cover incontinence supplies you’ll need to provide proof from a physician with a qualifying diagnosis.
Some private insurance plans also cover incontinence supplies, but coverage varies depending on the company and plan. For the most accurate information, contact your particular insurance company to find out what’s covered.
If you experience light leakage, you may be able to get away with using period underwear for incontinence. At 108 mL, Thinx’s most protective period underwear holds about the same volume as the brand’s medium absorbent incontinence underwear. Another brand we love, Knix, recommends its leakproof panties for period protection as well as incontinence.
However, the pairs may be made of different fabrics and materials and may take other factors like odor resistance and moisture-wicking into account. When in doubt, check brand guidelines and stick to the pairs designed for incontinence to make sure you’re getting the best protection—but period panties may do in a pinch.
Incontinence underwear can be disposable or reusable. Reusable incontinence underwear is designed to be machine-washable and hold up over time, cutting down on storage space and waste. They’re often made with a washable pad tucked inside the gusset that absorbs leaks and helps keep your skin dry.
However, reusable pairs tend to hold less liquid than disposable options, so they usually aren’t the right choice for those with heavy incontinence. The thicker pads in single-use underwear can often hold greater amounts of liquid, making it the better choice for more severe leakage.
"Most women who have given birth have experienced some leakage, and the non-disposables can help with that issue," says one of our testers. "[But] if you’re truly incontinent, the reusable ones are not going to be helpful at all."
We poured one tablespoon and one cup of water on the underwear to evaluate their absorbencies.
To determine the best incontinence underwear for women, we researched the most popular brands and styles, including disposable offerings from drugstore staples like Always and Depend, and reusable products from period underwear brands Thinx and Knix.
Once we made our selections, we tested them for absorbency and durability and had testers wear each pair for two days to rate them for comfort and style.
Before trying on any incontinence underwear, we tested each panty’s absorbency with water We performed two tests: On each pair, we spilled one tablespoon (the amount of leakage one might experience with mild incontinence) and one cup (about the average amount of urine one passes each bathroom visit) and evaluated how much liquid was absorbed and how much, if any, seeped through onto the towel placed below.
Then, the underwear went on to our testers, both women who experience minor stress incontinence as a result of having given birth. We sent the testers several pairs of disposable underwear so they could test each for a few days, and they washed and wore the non-disposable pairs.
The testers wore all pairs during occasions when they anticipated experiencing leakage, such as during workouts, long car rides, and hikes. We then totaled up the score for incontinence protection, comfort, fit, and quality to find the best incontinence underwear for women.
There aren't a ton of articles on the best incontinence underwear for women out there on the web, especially from professional review sites, but we did find a few.
User comments around the topic of the best incontinence underwear for women seem to mostly focus on disposable incontinence underwear from well-known brands like Always and Depend. People who prefer a reusable option are mostly repurposing their period underwear.
The biggest complaints that users have about incontinence underwear for women is that they don’t like the light scent of the disposable brands, and some people found that the reusable panties retained odors.
Esther Bell
Senior Staff Writer, Health and Fitness
Esther is a writer at Reviewed covering all things health and fitness.
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