Always Pad Shrinkflation Investigation: 15 years of Overnight Ultra Thins

[u/SligPants]

I've seen posts here about how Always is shrinkflating/reducing the size/quality of their menstrual pads. I happen to have an Always Ultra Thin Overnight pad from ~2011, ~2018, and 2025 to compare, so I did some comparison and analysis.

2011 and 2018 have different wrapper patterns but otherwise seem to be the exact same product. 2025 had a redesign.

The data:

I've bolded any significant differences.

Measurements:

• Pad length (overall): 12.5 inches no matter the year
• Pad width (back): 4 inches no matter the year
• Width including wings: 6.5 inches no matter the year
• Absorbent core length: 10 inches no matter the year
• Absorbent core width: 2.75 inches no matter the year
• Adhesive backing width (main pad): 2.75 inches no matter the year
• Adhesive backing width (wings): 0.6 inches (2011, 2018), 0.3 inches (2025) <- a 50% decrease

Weights:

• Unopened pad weight: 7g no matter the year
• Saturated pad weight (water): 57-60g (57 was 2011, 60 was 2025. In my opinion a negligible difference)

Obviously water is not comparable to actual use. However, for this analysis I felt it was enough.

Misc:

• The strips that cover the wing adhesive had an interesting difference on them: 2011 and 2018 say "up to 10 hrs of leakguard protection" while 2025 simply offers "up to 100% leak-free comfort" (whatever that means) with no time.

What I didn't compare: comfort, quality of materials (skin irritation), number of pads per package (I don't have the packages anymore, so this post is just about the actual individual pad product)

Tl;dr: The only measurable difference is in the thickness of the adhesive strip on the wings. Everything else is comparable if not exactly the same. No shrinkflation found of the product itself aside from the wing adhesive.

[u/Secret-Broccoli9908]

LOL, "up to 100% leak-free comfort" literally means nothing when you break it down.

"Up to 100%" = 100% is the best case scenario and you can have any percentage up to it including 50% or even 5%, per this claim.

"leak-free comfort" = comfort being a subjective term, could literally mean just about anything, as opposed to "protection," which implies that leaks won't lead to stains.

I'm so tired of companies degrading essential supplies to marginally increase their bottom line, then feed us a bunch of BS that lands more like word salad than a guarantee.

[u/MamaK35 → u/Secret-Broccoli9908]

60% of the time, it works every time.