It’s believed that approximately seven million women in the UK are experiencing urinary adult incontinence. Making finding the best incontinence pads or pants essential to having a happy life. With so many varieties out there, we know it can be hard finding the right option for you. That’s why we’ve put them through their paces. We know that it can be debilitating for women, even leading to depression and relationship breakdowns.
Plus, did you know, that it’s estimated that buying incontinence pads can cost more than £400 a year? So, we’ve done all the testing of the biggest brands to find out which ones are worth your money. But before this, we want to break down the stigma of incontinence, with the help of some facts.
Best incontinence pads and pants at a glance:
• Best disposable pants: Tena Silhouette Normal Medium Pants - view on Amazon UK
• Best reusable pants: Modibodi Sensual French Cut - view on Modibodi
• Recommended pads: TENA Ladi Normal Incontinence Pads - view on Boots
Incontinence means that you struggle to hold your urine or have to go more frequently or suddenly. For more information about urinary incontinence including symptoms and causes, visit the NHS website.
Incontinence pads are special absorbent pads that you wear inside your underwear to help with urinary incontinence. They are the most popular incontinence products as they are discreet and easy to buy. Pads will draw urine away from the surface (just like the function of a nappy), helping to avoid sore skin. Incontinence pants are an affordable, discreet way to manage urinary incontinence. They are disposable, pull-up pants with a waterproof back sheet, that encourages airflow while absorbing urine and neutralising odours.
Best incontinence pads and pants
Best disposable pants
The disposable cotton-soft absorbent pant has an improved waist and looks like your everyday underwear. TENA Lady Pants Discreet gives you Triple Protection from leaks, odour and moisture.
What our tester thought: "These pants were a good fit and were very absorbent. I felt confident wearing them and didn't worry about leaking. They're good value too."
Pros
- Good absorbency and odour control
- Nice fit
Cons
- Only available in M or L - limited sizing
Best reusable option
www.modibodi.co.uk
Modibodi is hugely popular with lots of different styles to choose from and the Sensual French Cut has a very high leg, sitting above the hip for a stylish, yet comfy fit. It fits and wears like regular underwear, but unlike pads, it's reusable after a gentle cold machine wash.
Review: "These briefs are so comfortable and sit perfectly above my hips at my waist. They are also nicely cut at the legs and don't dig in. I like the lace trim, and they look like regular underwear. I'll be buying more in this style for sure!
Pros
- More discreet design and fit
- Reusable and more sustainable
- Comfortable
Cons
- Recommended for light to moderate bladder leaks - not suitable for heavier leaks
Best for overnight protection
Comfort-Protect Underwear with its Total Protect System is designed to provide comfortable protection - combining fast absorption and odour elimination. The lightweight cotton-like fabric smoothly flexes with your body for a perfectly secure fit at all times. Plus, it comes with an overnight guarantee so you can be rest assured of zero leaks on your bed linen.
What our tester thought: "These are expensive, but you do get what you pay for. I hardly noticed them, they move with you and don't rustle. I felt extremely dry and comfortable all day."
Pros
- Comfortable
- Easy to get on
- Good absorbency for day and night
Cons
- Not the most appealing design
Recommended incontinence pants
Don't let incontinence keep you from being active. With Always Discreet Incontinence Underwear Normal Medium you can continue with your day as normal even when you experience large amounts of leakage caused by unintentional frequent urinary leakage from sneezing, coughing and sudden urges, yet need protection that stays in place.
What our tester thought: "Comfortable and secure these pants took care of every leak while ensuring I was nice and fresh. The biggest plus is that they didn't feel bulky when on."
Pros
- Soft design
- Flexible fit with good stretch
- No staining or discolouration
Cons
- Only available in M or L - limited sizing
Best pants for absorption
www.thinx.com
A wonderful eco-friendly option, this absorbent underwear holds up to eight teaspoons of liquid. It has a quick-drying inner lining, so you won't feel damp and a breathable moisture barrier that helps protect clothes from wetness.
Review: "Very comfortable. Feel so comfortable better since I found this underwear as I am getting older, small accidents happen. Thank you so much for creating this wonderful product!"
Pros
- Choice of stylish and fun designs
- Discreet and comfortable
- true to size
Cons
- Sizing is in US jean size so might be a little more tricky to find the right size for you
Best pads for sensitive skin
The Dry and Light pads offer a double thick layer of absorbing cellulose encased in a soft, certified organic, 100 per cent cotton cover that allows your skin to breathe and stay dry in comfort, especially for those with sensitive skin.
What our tester thought: "These are so comfortable, I forgot I was wearing a pad. The best bit, however, is that they were pretty absorbent and stayed put. Perfect if you just have a few leaks. They're great value for money and eco-friendly too."
Pros
- Soft and comfortable
- Discreet
- Natural and made of 100 per cent organic cotton
Cons
- Could be better shaped to the contours of the body
Best for a longer fit
Always Discreet for sensitive bladder do it all. They have RapidDry and odour lock protection as well as a Unique DualLock core, which helps prevent odour and wetness. These pads have also been dermatologically tested.
What our tester thought: "These are nice and thin and absorbent, I didn't worry about leaks and stayed fresh for longer thanks to the light scent."
Pros
- Extra length for extra protection
- Good adhesion to stay in place
- Discreet
- Thin yet absorbent
Cons
- Some weren't a fan of the fragrance
Recommended incontinence pads
www.boots.com
MicroPROTEXTM technology from TENA cleverly compresses ultra-absorbent materials to create a thinner pad, that rapidly draws away moisture away from the skin. It's remarkably secure and offers discreet protection.
What our tester thought: "These were quite bulky and not as comfortable as others I'd tried. I was worried about leaks because they didn't keep me as dry."
Pros
- Comfortable and soft
- Good absorption
- Stays in place
Cons
- Some found the pads a little bulky
Preventing bladder leaks
Dr Masarat Jilani, the Selfcare Doctor, has partnered up with Jude as their in-house doctor to tackle the taboo around bladder leaks and wearing incontinence pads. “While incontinence pads are important they don’t prevent bladder leaks. You should always see your GP/ doctor to consider whether medication or other preventative approaches could help. Jude’s Bladder Strength supplement can help people to reduce bladder leaks and it has also been a game-changer for many. It has fewer side effects compared to medication and it can be used alongside Jude’s range of environmentally-friendly pads, liners and incontinence underwear.”
Things like using a pelvic floor trainer could also help you to prevent bladder leaks.
Best incontinence pads and pants FAQs
Can you use sanitary pads instead of incontinence pads?
It isn't recommended that you swap incontinence pads for sanitary pads. It's a shame, as they are usually cheaper! But the technology behind them isn't quite the same and can leave you with sore, irritated skin.
Are incontinence pads available on prescription?
You might be able to qualify for incontinence pads, pants or hand-held urinals on prescription, but it will depend on your local NHS.
To qualify, you may need to be assessed by a healthcare professional and meet certain criteria. Find out more about getting incontinence products on the NHS.
Are incontinence pads clinical waste?
Incontinence pads, like sanitary products or catheter waste, are classed as infectious waste. Double-bag them and place them out for collection alongside your normal household waste.
Can incontinence pads cause UTIs?
Unfortunately, there does seem to be a correlation between using incontinence pads and an increased risk of urinary tract infection. However, using proper incontinence pads or pants rather than sanitary pads; regularly going to the toilet; good personal hygiene and drinking plenty of water will all reduce your risk.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours and has been a part of the team since 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics, from potty training and nutrition to baby names and maternity fashion.
