5 Best Adult Incontinence Underwear For Women

Ladies, there are some things that society and culture can’t prepare us for, and one of them is incontinence. There’s no shame in having this problem, especially if you’ve had multiple children. After all, the vagina and its nearby bits can only take so much of a beating before it starts to get tired. But marketing makes the idea of using incontinence underwear somehow shady or shameful when it shouldn’t be.

To avoid this problem, you need to find pairs of underwear that make you look great, feel great, and don’t make you think of traditional adult diapers. After all, you are a grown ass woman and should be able to look and feel comfortable and sexy!

Buying incontinence underwear doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It’s only natural that, as we get older, some parts stop functioning as well as they used to. Just be thankful it’s a urethra and not the heart, liver, or brain – although many people seem to be lacking that last one.

It’s just a way to be comfortable and hygienic, and also to look and feel amazing.

So sit back, relax, take a sip of a cool drink, and let us walk you through some of the most absorbent, stylish, and downright invisible brands of incontinence underwear for you. We’ve listed many of the pros and cons, as well as some of the features we recommend looking for to get the best style.

Here's our picks for the the best incontinence underwear you can buy.

Top 5 Best Incontinence Underwear for Adult Women

Willow (Assorted Varieties)

Pro: Breathable and absorbent.
Con: Sizes run a bit small.

Feels Like Cotton: One of the best things about wearing the Willow incontinence underwear is that the design and material breathes like cotton and doesn’t feel like a synthetic. This means that less sweat ends up trapped down there, improving overall vaginal health and also stopping the entire area from feeling like one big swamp. The material also doesn’t crinkle and crack like traditional synthetic underthings, meaning you can run around and be as noisy as you want and no one will be able to tell what you’re wearing. They will probably tell you to keep it down, though.

Besides being comfortable, the Willow underwear comes in black, sand, or a variety mix that includes blue. It is available in multiple sizes, running from a small to XXL. You can order them as often as you want and they have a high rise, seamless fit for extra durability and softness. They work well with skirts and pants alike.

The only real downside is that some of the sizes can run a little small, so be sure to double check your measurements before you order any.

Always Discreet Boutique Incontinence & Postpartum Underwear

Pro: Stylish and Discreet.
Con: Padding is all up front.

Be Sexy and Feminine: One crucial aspect about incontinence underwear is that it tends to make us feel like we lost our youth or femininity, and this just isn’t the case. One of the highlights of the Always Discreet Boutique Incontinence & Postpartum Underwear is that they look and feel like regular underwear and have delicate lace and prints to make them look sexier and more palatable to wear. They are also available in bright pastel colors like lavender and peach, which help eliminate the stigma of traditional incontinence underwear.

These panties are thin while still being absorbent, and fit comfortable underneath clothes without creating unwanted and unnecessary lines. They are available in sizes S-XL, but these sizes are skewed. A woman standing at 5’4 and weighing 170 lbs. can comfortably wear the larges, and can even squeeze into the mediums with narrow hips.

The only real downside to these underwear is that the padding is centered towards the front and middle with no coverage in the back. This can be disappointing if you’re a lady who has bowel incontinence as well as issues with the bladder.

Abena Abri-Form Comfort Briefs

Pro: Simple and Absorbent.
Con: Looks like incontinence underwear.

Why Invest Extra?: Honestly, one of the best features of the Abena Abri-Form Comfort Briefs is that they are simplistic and efficient without investing tons of money in design and trying to be like other panties. These incontinence underwear are basic and comfortable, and manage to avoid chafing and extra bulging by being streamlined and soft around the hips and waist. These should fit women with hip sizes between 27-44 in., and larger sizes are also available.

These underwear are ultra-absorbent, capable of holding 122 fl. Oz. at a single time. This makes the Abena Abri-Form excellent for overnight use or ladies with a heavier flow. The only color available is white, and the only real downside is that these really look like incontinence underwear, meaning they are more synthetic and can sometimes show underneath clothes.

Hook and loop tapes are used in this model, so they don’t have the basic pull-up fit of other underwear either. They are, however, quite inexpensive and discreet during shipping.

Tena Incontinence Underwear for Women

Pro: Comes in packs with many pairs.
Con: Slightly bulky design.

For Heavy Leakage: Not everyone has an easy time with incontinence, and some women are unluckier than others. If you’re a lady who struggles with having a heavy flow throughout the day or night, then the Tena Incontinence Underwear will be perfect for you. Tena sells this underwear in sizes S-XL, which does exclude some women but the sizes are skewed so that ladies up to a size 12 can wear medium and size 24 can wear extra large. This underwear is sold in packs of 72 panties, making them great for women who like to switch pairs often or need to wear them on a regular basis.

Besides coming in large packs, this underwear is also super absorbent and designed to be worn all day or overnight. It fits comfortable around the hips and waist, but is made of synthetic material that makes the design kind of bulky. It is likely you will be able to see some lines through clothing depending on the tightness and thinness of your clothes.

However, the gusset is strong and super absorbent, and you almost never have to worry about leakage occurring during the day or even at night when most ladies are caught off guard.

Alyne Ultra-Thin Underwear for Women

Pro: Four layers of superabsorbent liner.
Con: Sizing is a bit limited.

Quilted with Diamonds: Listen, we don’t talk about it often, but some women are going to need a little extra protection against leakage. If this sounds like you, then you will probably be interested in the Alyne Ultra-Thin Underwear. Despite the name and total design, these incontinence panties actually feature four layers of super-absorbent, diamond patterned quilt lining designed to lock in all liquids that could mess up your day.

This underwear additionally has an ultrathin design so it doesn’t show up underneath clothing. Only the gusset is thick, and nobody looks at another person’s crotch on a general basis. This isn’t shaming you if you do, but most don’t. These incontinence panties are also a lovely lavender, giving them some extra color and style points.

The only downside for women is that the Alyne brand is only available in sizes S-XL, which leaves a lot of ladies out of the loop. If you do wear one of these sizes, though, then this underwear might be perfect for you.

Incontinence Underwear Buying Guide

Like regular underwear, incontinence underwear is not one size fits all, literally and figuratively. Manufacturers and designers have come a long way from making plain old diaper-like options that we wouldn’t be caught dead in. Many have designed stylish alternatives, as well as brands and models that fit comfortable under regular pants and don’t make it obvious you have incontinence.

So, while underwear seems simple, there are actually are a couple of features you should watch out for. These are the overall style, absorbency, and thinness of the design, as these will affect how comfortable the pair will be to wear during the day. They will also affect how much you, as a woman, will feel about wearing them on a regular basis.

If possible, it’s also important to find some that help with the smell, but that’s a problem that many women face. Nobody ever told us of an odor certain bits can have, especially near period time! So, having some extra absorbency or a few scented pieces built into the pads is always a good sign of high-quality incontinence underwear.

Best Looking Incontinence Underwear

Like we said, incontinence underwear has come a long way from adult diapers. Now it’s possible to get panties in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with fancy designs, appealing colors, and no unsightly sticky bits. With this in mind, it’s important that every women find something that suits their lifestyle and needs.

Some women will be more comfortable wearing traditional, plain granny panties. Others will no doubt be interested in the sexy, lace options that are currently available. Whatever you choose, make sure it is something that suits your sensibilities and makes you feel amazing, not just what you feel like you have to settle for.

However, we also know that many women aren’t too concerned about what they keep under their clothes, so we’ve also included several varieties that are plain but effective. You have to use what you enjoy while still avoiding the unpleasant diaper look of some of the oldest models.

Top Choice for Style
  • Please confirm the size before purchasing. Inapproriate size may lead to leakage issue or can cause...
  • Beautifully designed incontinence underwear made of silky-soft fabric with delicate lacy prints, unlike...
  • Super-absorbent RapidDry core turns liquid to gel, for heavy leak protection you can depend on

Most Absorbent Incontinence Underwear

No two ladies are exactly the same, and issues with incontinence will naturally vary. Incontinence is a problem amongst old and young women alike, and every lady will need a different level of absorbency to feel comfortable.

Absorbency refers to how much liquid or other substances the underwear can hold before it needs to be changed. For women who just have a bit of light spotting from general Kegel weakness, there are ultralight option. If you struggle with a more serious flow, you can get heavier options.

Our personal favorites are products that can suit women that have flows all across the board without sacrificing efficiency or appearance.

Top Choice for Absorbency
  • Abena's heaviest absorbency diaper with two refastenable tape tabs on each side.
  • Classic style with plastic (poly) exterior
  • Features stand-up leak-guards, wetness indicator.

Thinnest Incontinence Underwear

While absorbency is important, you most likely don’t want it to be obvious that you’re wearing incontinence underwear, even if there is no shame in it. The truth is the thickness of the designs tend to ruin the designs of regular clothing, and most ladies appreciate having clothes that make them look and feel good – we know we do.

So, when finding the right pair of incontinence underwear, it’s important to look at the material. Thanks to modern designs and manufacturing, you can usually find options that are only thick around the gusset (the main genital area) and thin up top. This mimics regular underwear and can make it simple to wear pants, skirts, and dresses with ease.

We suggest Willow for the best thin and discreet incontinence underwear.

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About the author

Kelsey Summers

Kelsey is the lead editor of Undywear.com. She's a fashionista who's written for Glamour, GQ and others. She enjoys breaking the stigma and taboo around underwear and writing about all things fashion.