Washable incontinence pants for the UK: prices shown in pounds, free delivery over the local equivalent of US$39, a plain box, and a 60-Day Confidence Guarantee. This page is for the man or woman in the UK who has been told the NHS allowance is two pads a day, has priced a month of Tena, and has typed "washable incontinence pants" into Google to see whether there is a better way. There is, with limits, and this page sets out both.
What the UK forums say
The same three things, again and again. The NHS continence service is a postcode lottery: "allowance of two pads a day only", "you don't get a choice of product", "NHS say can have pads or pull ups, not both", and a health authority that "will no longer be funding incontinence pads". The cost of buying your own is real: one man itemised "£149 this month"; a Money Saving Expert thread was titled "High cost of Tena/incontinence pants". And the products themselves: "Tena Men Active fit. Don't care what Tena says. They do not look like regular underwear." On Mumsnet, "Any recommendations for washable incontinence pants?" and "Incontinence pants stink, what am I doing wrong?" sit next to each other.
Pads or pants? The UK question
In UK usage "incontinence pants" usually means disposable pull-ups and "pads" the inserts. Washable pants are a third thing: ordinary-looking underwear with the absorbent panel sewn in and a waterproof layer to the leg edge, washed with the rest of the laundry, rated for 200+ washes. They are not on the NHS list, which supplies disposables after an assessment, and that is precisely why people who have hit the allowance ceiling go looking for them.
Our range, in UK terms
| Style | For | Holds | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M65 brief with fly | Men, after-dribble, a few drops a day | 150 ml | M–2XL |
| M66 brief | Men, moderate leaks, largest size range | 200 ml | XS–8XL |
| M96 boxer brief with fly | Men, larger daytime leaks, after prostate surgery | 250 ml | XS–6XL |
| P14 leak-proof knickers | Women, leaks on a sneeze, cough or run | 100 ml | XS–4XL |
| W01 full brief | Women, urge leaks, wider coverage | Full-coverage panel | L–5XL (Black to 6XL) |
| SLK8036 boyshort | Women, period pants and bladder leaks in one | About 12 tampons' worth | XS–4XL |
Capacities are daytime ratings. None of these is built for a full bladder release or heavy nights; for those, the NHS-supplied disposable remains the right product, and a washable pair by day is the usual combination.
What it costs against a month of Tena
Prices on the product pages are shown in pounds at the current rate. A rotation of six to eight washable pairs is a one-off purchase rated for 200+ washes; a month of disposables bought retail is a recurring one, and the forum figures of £90 to £150 a month are for heavier users. The cost comparison shows the arithmetic with the assumptions stated, in dollars; substitute your own pack prices. The practical rule most UK users land on: washables by day for the leaks the NHS allowance does not cover, NHS disposables at night.
Delivery, returns and the box
Orders to the UK are shipped in a plain box with nothing on the outside indicating the contents. Delivery is free over the local equivalent of US$39, which every multi-pack clears. Every pair comes with the 60-Day Confidence Guarantee: wear one pair for 60 days, keep it either way, return the unworn rest.
The guides, in UK terms
- After-dribble: why you still dribble after you think you're done
- After a prostatectomy: what to wear from catheter out to month six
- Period pants for bladder weakness: can you use period underwear for bladder leaks?
- Buying for a parent: incontinence underwear for your dad
- How many pairs: the arithmetic
- Do they smell: how to wash leak-proof underwear
Common questions
Can you get washable incontinence pants on the NHS?
Continence services generally supply disposable pads or pull-ups after an assessment, with an allowance that varies by area; washable pants are not usually supplied. Most people who use washables buy them to cover what the allowance does not.
Are washable incontinence pants cheaper than Tena?
Over a year, usually yes for daytime use. A rotation of six to eight pairs is bought once and rated for 200+ washes; disposables are bought every month. Heavy nights still need a disposable.
Do washable incontinence pants smell?
Not when rinsed cold after wearing and washed without fabric conditioner. Conditioner coats the absorbent fibres and traps residue, which is the usual cause when a pair smells after a few washes.
Do you deliver to the UK?
Yes, in a plain box, with prices shown in pounds and free delivery over the local equivalent of US$39.
Which pair for after-dribble?
The M65 brief with fly, 150 ml, with the absorbent panel running through the fly area. Our post-void dribbling guide covers the technique that reduces the drops.
Can period pants be used instead of incontinence pants?
For light leaks often yes; for a fast surge usually not, because period pants are built for slow flow. Our period-underwear guide explains the difference and which of our styles does which job.
NHS provision varies by area and changes; check with your local continence service. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Written by Laura Hopson, founder of Maven Nove. Last updated 10 September 2026.