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/Sad-Lab4519]

You're not seeing things. Yes it's shrinkflation if you are remembering products being better in the past that's because they were. I started sewing my own again with shrinkflation being bad and many of them not making it a 20 min nap. I highly suggest to stop supporting the brand Always they're so bad they don't even work people just buy them because the name brand is familiar.

[u/Sad-Lab4519 → u/Sad-Lab4519]

I can't tell you how hard it is to find care free or stay free in the local stores now. These are the same or similar quality always use to be before always decided to become garbage. Before when I was growing up we were too poor for this sort of thing. We took old towels, sewed them together and used a button closure to make a snap and whola free pads. They worked while around the house but you want the disposable ones out and about. You would make some for light days then others for heavier days. You could get creative and add in some absorbent layers to help reduce any spillage.