5 Best Adult Training Pants and Absorbent Briefs

Adult training pants and absorbent briefs handle light to moderate absorbency without compromising on bulk. Although, some of these items can tread the line for higher absorbency without veering into diaper land. Overall, they may or may not have a waterproof layer and are designed to look and function more regular underwear.

The blanket term that companies often use to cover these products is “protective brief.” Since “protective briefs” covers a really wide range of products and options from leakproof underwear to heavy absorbency options, the goal of this post is to focus on those that offer light to moderate protection. Leakproof underwear is a vast realm that deserves its own post.

What are adult training pants?

Typically, in the toddler world, training pants are absorbent briefs without a waterproof layer. In the adult incontinence garment world, this definition is much more loosely used. Adult training pants may or may not have a waterproof layer, as you will see in the list below. However, they do share the common attribute of having an absorbent layer and mimicking regular underwear.

What are adult absorbent briefs?

As far as I can tell when trying to decipher why companies call their products certain things, adult absorbent briefs tend to have the common denominator of sitting lower on the body and have a cut that is similar to a brief style.

And that is where any commonalities seem to end. “Absorbent brief” and “protective brief” are essentially the same thing and again, both cover a WIDE range of products and functions.

Are you confused yet?

For the sake of this post, I am focusing on products that offer light to moderate protection. With the exception of a couple of the training pants, these particular absorbent briefs tend to have a full waterproof outer and a good amount of absorbency.

5 Best Adult Training Pants and Absorbent Briefs

1. Rearz Adult Training Pants

$26.99

As a brand, Rearz may blatantly cater to the ABDL community, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have great products even if you’re just looking for something discreet to manage incontinence and don’t prescribe to the whole ABDL thing. While their prints vear into baby land, they do have a couple of solid color options.

I have linked this to InControl Diapers because the price is $6 cheaper than on the Rearz site, so if you’re looking for print options, you’ll need to go to Rearz.

These training pants have a thick center absorbency that can hold almost a full bladder, but have NO waterproof layer. Remember, how much a product can absorb is not an indication of how it will function in real life. In this case, without a waterproof barrier, even absorbing almost a full bladder will still leave you with a bit of a mess.

That said, if you want to use these for anything more than light incontinence, you need to pair them with a separate waterproof cover.

Features of Rearz Adult Training Pants

Good for light incontinence alone, or for moderate absorbency with a waterproof cover.
Absorbency can hold almost a full bladder.
Available in white or assorted patterns.
7 sizes fit waists of 22”-58.”

*Photo credit: rearz.com

2. Threaded Armor Adult Training Pants

$54.95

Threaded Armor specializes in a line of adult cloth incontinence briefs that range from training pants to protective briefs that double as a heavy duty diaper. Their products are designed to look more like regular underwear and are high quality with really great reviews.

The stretchy side bands allow for a flexible fit. So even though the training pants are only available in 4 sizes, they fit a wide range of bodies. Their sizing chart is based on a ratio of height and weight, making it easy to find your size without needing to take waist and hip measurements.

These are more pricey than other brands, but they do have a bulk discount available. Though, as always, I recommend buying only 1 item first and trying it out before purchasing more of the same.

Threaded Armor allows for returns of new, unwashed items for in-store credit.

Features of Threaded Armor Adult Training Pants

Waterproof zone with stretchy lycra tabs.
Athletic mesh lining.
2 layers of sewn-in microfiber absorbency can hold 200 ml – 340 ml (depending on size).
Available in 7 colors.
Size ranges from S-XL.
Can be used with additional inserts for greater absorbency.

3. Tiger Underwear Men’s Training Briefs

$44.99

When I initially created my Ultimate Guide to Cloth Incontinence Products, I put these briefs in the underwear category. As I learn more and untangle the twisted knot that is navigating incontinence products, I think I will just have to rearrange my categories for the upcoming revision of the Ultimate Guide.

Anywho, Tiger Underwear is a private label company that specializes in manufacturing vintage style briefs like those in the 1960’s and 70’s.

Their men’s training briefs are regular underwear with 4 layers of fabric in the center of the panel of the briefs. It stretches from the front waistband through to the back waistband. These briefs look exactly like real men’s briefs. The only exception is that the front fly is sewn shut to prevent leaks.

Like the Rearz’s training pants, these have no waterproof barrier and would need an additional cover if used for anything other than light incontinence.

Features of Tiger Underwear Men’s Training Briefs

Regular men’s briefs with 4 layers of fabric in center panel.
Front fly is sewn shut to prevent leaks.
Perfect for light incontinence or more moderate with a cover.
Available in 23 colors.
Size ranges from waist 32-46.
Can be used with additional inserts for greater absorbency.

4. InControl Protective Briefs

$21.60

Available only in black, InControl’s protective briefs mimic regular underwear. They feature a polyurethane hidden water waterproof panel and sewn in absorbency that runs from front to back. The outer fabric and sidebands are regular fabric with thick elastic along the waist and leg openings. Meant for light to medium incontinence.

These protective briefs come in 7 sizes from S – 4XL and fit waists from 21” – 54.”

*Photo credit: incontroldiapers.com

Features of InControl Protective Briefs

Hidden waterproof layer.
Comes only in black.
Thick sewn-in core for light to medium protection.
Available in S-4XL.

5. Snap-EZ Adult Stuffable Briefs

$31.00-$41.00

While these Snap-EZ adult stuffable briefs are called “briefs,” they are actually more similar to a diaper than the other products on this list. That said, the all over PUL waterproof out and stuffable pocket enable these to manage heavier incontinence than the other options while still offering a lower rise and trimmer fit than a traditional cloth diaper.

The dance between absorbency and bulk can be an awkward one at times, but the upside to having the option to choose your own absorbency means that you are not limited to a manufacturer’s fabric choice or quantity. Most adult protective briefs use microfiber or some other polyester option for absorbency. These fabrics absorb quickly, but tend to be bulky and not so great at holding on to moisture for the longer term.

Snap-EZ’s stuffable briefs gives you the option of choosing your own absorbency. This style also has side snaps, though it can easily be pulled up and down when worn. While it also comes in youth sizes, adult sizes range from small to extra large and fit hip/waists of 22” – 45.”

Features of Snap-EZ Adult Stuffable Briefs

PUL outer and microfleece lining.
Fold over elastic around waist and legs.
Pocket for stuffing needed absorbency.
Lower rise than actual pocket diaper.
Side snaps for easy removal.
Sizes fit hip/waist 22″-45.”

6. CareFor Pull On Heavy Absorbency Brief

Just to be clear, I’m ONLY including this item because it showcases the variety in protective briefs that are available. I am not impressed with Salk’s customer service (dead silence) and I find it questionable (okay, maybe a little shady) that their products have no reviews despite the fact that I looked at listings for this product on at least 10 other sites and NOTHING!

If you have any experience with Salk and/or this particular product, please comment below or email me at hello@littleonioncloth.com, because my curiosity is piqued. They seem like a reputable company and claim their products are made in the USA, plus they have a solid blog section that covers issues surrounding incontinence. Which is nice, but is no indication of whether a product is quality and functions like it should or not.

I can only speculate on its efficacy from a design standpoint. It appears that the entire outer is waterproof and the seams are not made from a fold over elastic or cotton. This means that any wicking at the legs is probably minimal. Of course, leaking at the legs is dependent upon whether the absorbency in the center is actually as effective as they claim….