Pad-holding Underwear: Types, Sizing, Pad Combinations and Precautions [2026]

English edition of a Japanese guide by Hiroshi Yagi. Japanese original: first published January 16, 2026; updated October 7, 2026. Read the Japanese original (Japanese).

Pad-holding underwear keeps an incontinence insert pad close to the body and in position. The underwear itself has no absorbent core: absorbency depends on the pad used with it. This guide explains its types and construction, choosing a size, combining it with pads and points to watch during use.

Pad-holding underwear

Products differ in shape, leg length and fit. Choose one that suits the pad size and the wearer’s body shape and movement. Check how well it keeps the pad in position and how easy it is to put on.

Basic features

Many of the products discussed have longer legs. Stretch fabric fits around the thighs and supports the pad to help keep it in position. A range of colors is available.

• No absorbent core: designed to hold a pad
• Washable and reusable
• Breathable fabric
• Can be combined with a range of compatible pads

Hiroshi Yagi

I have also put together a guide to pad-holding underwear products. Please use it as a reference.

Pad-holding underwear: product guide Japanese ↗

Construction

The underwear is designed to support the pad firmly. Some products can feel tight and be difficult to put on.

Absorbency

It does not absorb urine on its own and must be used with a pad. The combination’s absorbency comes from the incontinence insert pad.

Breathability

Pad-holding underwear uses breathable fabric that can also absorb sweat. This may be a more comfortable option for some people troubled by trapped moisture or itching; it is not a treatment for skin problems.

To make use of the underwear’s breathability, pairing it with a breathable pad may improve comfort.

Learn more about incontinence insert pads

Incontinence pad construction and performance ↗

Water repellency

Hiroshi Yagi

The fabric of pad-holding underwear can absorb sweat. Moisture may remain against the skin inside a pull-on adult diaper, and this can contribute to itching in some cases.

Choosing the right size

Sizes may be given by waist or hip measurement. Measure carefully before buying and use the measurement point and size range specified by the manufacturer.

Differences in bulk and outline

Pad-holding underwear and a pad can give a slimmer outline. Adding a pad to a pull-on adult diaper layers absorbent materials and adds thickness.

Combining the underwear with a pad

Use a compatible incontinence insert pad. Check its length, width and shape, how easily it can be kept in position, and the manufacturer’s instructions. After fitting the combination, check for shifting during movement and gaps around the legs.

Some pad-holding underwear can be used with large incontinence insert pads. As the pad holds more urine, its weight may make it harder to support, creating gaps and increasing the chance of leaks. If urine volume is large or the flow is strong, review the pad’s performance as well.

Advantages of pad-holding underwear

Reusing it can reduce costs

Washing and reusing pad-holding underwear can reduce costs. A pull-on adult diaper can become soiled by sweat and other body residues even when it is not wet with urine. The Japanese source recommends changing it at least once a day in this situation; soiled diapers need changing sooner.

Fewer bulky items to carry home

Packs of pull-on adult diapers and tape-fastened adult diapers are bulky and heavy. Carrying them home after shopping can be burdensome, particularly for older households.

A design closer to ordinary underwear

Compared with some disposable adult diapers, pad-holding underwear looks more like ordinary underwear and may be less noticeable to other people.

Points to watch

Fabric wears with repeated washing

As repeated washing stretches the fabric, the underwear and pad may shift more easily, contributing to leaks.

Some products take effort to pull up

A small number of products can take effort to pull up when the skin is wet, such as after a bath. Other products use softer materials and are easier to put on.

The front and back can be hard to tell apart

Some products have a similar-looking front and back. A tag can help identify the orientation, although it may also be noticeable.

The pad may show through

Hiroshi Yagi

Some sheer products have the advantages of a lower price and good breathability. If a person is concerned about the pad being visible to others, consider a more opaque product.

Movement can shift the underwear and pad

Turning over in bed and other movements can pull the underwear down and shift the pad. Check its position regularly and pull it back up when needed.

Japan: check medical expense deduction eligibility

Do not assume that pad-holding underwear qualifies for Japan’s medical expense deduction in the same way as eligible diaper expenses. Eligibility depends on Japanese tax rules and the person’s circumstances. Confirm the treatment of the specific product with the tax office. Japan National Tax Agency: medical expense deduction procedures Japanese ↗

Summary

Washable, reusable pad-holding underwear can reduce costs and may be an alternative to pull-on adult diapers for some people when used with a suitable pad. Some designs open and fasten at the sides, in a similar way to tape-fastened adult diapers.

Openable pad-holding underwear: types and selection Japanese ↗

Hiroshi Yagi

Close-fitting ordinary underwear may sometimes provide an alternative. Try a compatible incontinence insert pad with underwear that holds it securely, following the pad’s instructions. If it still shifts or leaks, consider purpose-made pad-holding underwear.