While both adult diapers and protective underwear (also known as pull-ups) do a great job of keeping the user dry and leak-free, they differ in other ways, including how they’re worn and more. Let’s explore the differences so you can discover what will work best for yourself or your caree.
| Adult Diapers | Protective Underwear | |
| Keeps the user dry | ✔ | ✔ |
| Leak-free | ✔ | ✔ |
| Can put on without the removal of pants/shoes | ✔ | |
| Small and medium sizes (20 inches to 79 inches in waist size) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Larger sizes (over 80 inches in waist size) | ✔ | |
| Maximum overnight absorbency | ✔ | |
| Cloth-like material for the outer shell | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gender-specific | ✔ | |
| Can be easily disposed of (either by removing the tabs or ripping the sides apart) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Look more like regular underwear | ✔ | |
| Slimmer profile | ✔ | |
| Soft, stretchy sides | ✔ | ✔ |
For those looking for something that provides the look and feel of underwear with the adjustability of an adult brief, try Prevail’s Adjustable Underwear: these have the close fit and slim line of a pull-up, but also have Easy Lock Fasteners (ELF)’s that makes it easier to put on and take off the underwear. And the fasteners are non-sticky, so there’s never any worry of the tabs sticking to items other than the underwear.
The most important thing to keeping leak-free in either a pull-up or an adult diaper is to have the right fit. For Prevail products, you can consult their Sizing Guide.