Incontinence products can be pretty overwhelming. Not only are there plenty of brands to choose from, but you also have different product styles and absorbencies. How do you know which ones to choose?
In a previous post, Angelica talked about the diapers (also called briefs) from Depend and Tena, looking at differences in their sizing, comfort, absorbency, and how well they actually work in practice.
Today, we’re looking at NorthShore diapers, including the different products in the range and what actual users think of them. NorthShore could be a great choice, as you can order the products shipped on schedule from their website. This is perfect for anyone who’s uncomfortable about buying incontinence products from a local store.
NorthShore doesn’t just sell adult diapers either. They also have pull-up style underwear, liners and pads, booster pads, bedding protection, and more. The booster pads are particularly relevant, as these increase the absorbency of whatever product you’re using.
The NorthShore Diaper Range
Let’s begin with the diapers themselves.
These are actually called briefs on some parts of the NorthShore site (and diapers on other parts of the site). Many people prefer the name brief, as this gets away from the implication that adults have regressed. However, either name works.
There are six main NorthShore briefs to choose from. These are similar, but there are some interesting differences.
NorthShore MegaMax Tab-Style Briefs
These briefs are a top seller on the NorthShore site, offering an impressive 12 hour absorbency. The briefs have also been designed with an extra wide and extra long core, which makes them effective even when these are worn at night by restless sleepers.
Sizing:
- X-Small: 18 to 30 inches
- Small: 24 to 34 inches
- Medium: 32 to 44 inches
- Large: 42 to 54 inches
- X-Large: 50 to 60 inches
There’s a selection of colors for these briefs, including white, blue, pink, black, and tie-die, plus a variety of package sizes. However, you won’t find all colors in all sizes.
The colors make it easier to match diapers to the senior’s clothes. For example, white diapers would stand out against black pants, while black diapers blend in.
NorthShore MegaMax Air Tab-Style Briefs
These NorthShore diapers are similar. The big difference is that they’re designed in NorthShore’s air style. All of their air briefs are designed to be much more breathable than normal, increasing how comfortable they are.
Still, there are some areas of compromise. These briefs aren’t as absorbent as the previous example, with an estimated 9 hours of absorbency instead of 12. They also have smaller leak guards, only come in white, and the tabs aren’t as impressive.
The sizing is exactly the same as with the regular MegaMax briefs. However, the sizing for most NorthShore products runs on the small size, so you might need a larger product than you expect.
NorthShore Supreme Tab-Style Briefs
The NorthShore Supreme Briefs are basically a step down from the MegaMax ones. They follow the same style and still have a decent level of absorbency (an estimated 8 hours).
Like the MegaMax briefs, this version includes stand up leak guards, which help prevent leaks, even for people who sleep on their side. These can even be helpful for bowel incontinence.
The sizing is different this time:
- Small: 22 to 32 inches
- Medium: 28 to 44 inches
- Large: 40 to 58 inches
- X-Large: 48 to 64 inches
The color selection gives you white, blue, green, or purple briefs.
NorthShore AirSupreme Tab-Style Briefs
Not surprisingly, the AirSupreme Briefs are simply the air style of the previous product. They have many of the same features, including 8 hour capacity, but are much more breathable.
The sizes run as follows:
- X-Small: 16 to 25 inches
- Small: 22 to 32 inches
- Medium: 28 to 44 inches
- Large: 40 to 58 inches
- X-Large: 48 to 64 inches
- 2X Large: 60 to 80 inches
The largest size is particularly impressive and is unusual for incontinence briefs. However, the briefs only come in white and the size availability may vary over time.
NorthShore Supreme Lite Tab-Style Briefs
These briefs are a step down again, with an estimated 6 hour capacity. The lower capacity means that these briefs may not be absorbent enough for sleeping in, but they’re perfect during the day.
Sizing is an issue here, as there are currently only two sizes available due to supply issues. One is medium, which runs from 28 to 44 inches. The other is large, which runs from 40 to 58 inches.
Thankfully, there are some colors to choose from, including white, blue, purple, and green.
NorthShore AirPremium Tab-Style Briefs
Finally, we have the AirPremium Briefs. These are simply the breathable version of the previous product, with the same 6 hour capacity.
There are a few more sizes, but the briefs only come in white:
- Small: 22 to 32 inches
- Medium: 28 to 44 inches
- Large: 40 to 58 inches
- X-Large: 48 to 64 inches
How to Choose the Best Product
Many product pages on the NorthShore site provide a comparison of their different briefs, which makes it easy to work out which are best for your situation, like in the image below.
However, you’ll still need to double check the sizing, as the recommended waist size for small, medium, etc. varies between the products.
For example, Small NorthShore MegaMax Briefs are recommended for people with 24 to 34 inch waists, while Medium ones are recommended for 32 to 44 inch waists. Some people around the 30 to 36 inch mark may do better with a Small, while others might need a Medium instead.
You may need to buy two different sizes and experiment to make sure you get the right fit.
The fit is incredibly important. If the underwear is too snug, then it will hurt to wear, which is no good at all. But, if it is too loose, then liquid will leak.
Think about the absorbency too. If you’re not certain – aim higher than you think you need (as most people end up with underwear that isn’t absorbent enough).
Some reviewers mention that these products run very small, so you may need a larger size than you expect.
Reviews of NorthShore Diapers
So, what do actual users have to say about the products? The table below highlights the breakdown of reviews from the NorthShore site and Amazon (showing the average rating first, then the number of reviews for each).
| NorthShore | Amazon | |
| MegaMax Tab-Style Briefs | 4.8 (3,072) | 4.6 (195) |
| MegaMax Air Tab-Style Briefs | 3.8 (151) | 3.2 – 3.9 (<50) |
| Supreme Tab-Style Briefs | 4.6 (1,425) | 4.2 (820) |
| AirSupreme Tab-Style Briefs | 4.4 (645) | 4.4 (322) |
| Supreme Lite Tab-Style Briefs | 4.6 (517) | 4.3 (182) |
| AirPremium Tab-Style Briefs | 4.5 (139) | 4.2 (102) |
As you can see, reviews are fairly similar between Amazon and the NorthShore site, which is excellent news.
Most products also average across 4 stars on both sites. The main exception is the MegaMax Air style. This is the breathable high absorbency product. It’s purchased less often than most other types and doesn’t seem to do the job well at all.
As for the rest, things are mostly good.
Still… some of the Amazon averages are around 4.2 and 4.3 stars – and there are some 2-star and 1-star reviews for most products.
Positive Review Themes
- Effective and absorbent. This theme was seen for many different products and particularly the largest absorbance size. Some reviewers even mentioned that the maximum absorbency products are better than anything found in stores.
- Generous absorption area. This makes the diapers more effective and reduces the risk of leaks.
- Well designed. Many people love the amount of absorption and the style of these products. They’re even fairly comfortable, as long as you get the right size.
- Work better than other products. Some reviewers talk about trying multiple products, particularly for bed-bound seniors and nighttime use, with limited success – while the products from NorthShore worked well.
Negative Review Themes
- Sizing. The products tend to run small, meaning that some customers can’t fit them.
- Some defective items. Some customers found several defective products in their packs.
- Problems with the tape. While many customers used NorthShore diapers without a problem, some found that the tape didn’t work well and easily came undone. This was one of the most consistent issues, especially for users who needed to adjust the tape after the diaper was in place.
- Price. NorthShore products are often considered premium and are priced as such. Some reviewers consider them to be well worth the price, while others are upset and even angry about how much the products cost.
Are NorthShore Diapers Any Good?
On the whole, NorthShore Care Supply gets many positive reviews for their products and relatively few negative ones.
No product is completely free from issues anyway. There are often some complaints about leakage, poor absorbency, and defective products no matter what brand you run with.
If you do try this brand, ordering from the NorthShore site itself is the most powerful. They seem to have a fairly active customer service department, which should make it easier to get refunds or replacement products if you experience any issues.
Finally, what do you think? Have you tried NorthShore care or had experiences with any other adult diaper brands?
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As someone who uses NorthShore products regularly and has tried every item in your list, I can tell you that wearing and using these products paints a very different picture than the purely academic review above. I know many people like the MegaMax diapers, but they have a fatal flaw: they don’t wick the wetness throughout the diaper and swell so much when wet that they create gaps. This not only makes the MegaMax a far less discreet option (which matters to most only in the daytime, I realize) but also makes them prone to leaks after they’ve been worn for any period of time.
The Supreme, on the other hand, had far less super-absorbent polymer (SAP) and far MORE “fluff,” allowing it to not only wick the wetness throughout the diaper, but also doesn’t swell or create gaps around the legs, making it, for me, the far more reliable diaper for extended use.
One other consideration is that the MegaMax has a plastic “landing zone” for the side tapes. This is great for ensuring that the diaper remains snug and the tapes don’t migrate, but removing the tapes can be difficult and quite loud. If the wearer has arthritis or just hands that aren’t as strong as they used to be, or they need to change in a public area, this could be a problem.
All of that said, NorthShore is a FANTASTIC company to work with and I rarely buy my supplies from anywhere else.
Thanks so much for your response. It’s great to hear from someone who has used the products themselves. I’ve personally experimented with some other brands, but not Northshore