Laurier Superguard Max 40cm (Super Heavy Flow/Night-Use) Review

So I finally mustered myself up and started grabbing all the notes on this to write this review. I must say, this pad although my favourite throughout my trip in Hong Kong, was the worst pictures ever. I guess at that point, I was still fiddling around with settings on it and trying to learn how to better utilize all the features, adjustments and gadgets of the camera – that I probably had some settings wrong and really messed up the quality of the picture. I’ve already used Picasa to adjust the pictures to some degree and that’s about as good as they’re going to get. However, without further ado, I present to you, Superguard Max 40cm Sanitary Napkin, designed for super heavy flow/night-use, by Laurier. The package comes with 3 pieces for HKD$13.90 – so you can see, it’s not one you’d want to use every day… well, unless you have a lot of money to spend.

For Leakage Prevention In Any Sleeping Position

Double-Powerful Absorbent Cushion
1) Centre Absorbent Cushion
Embraces body contours to prevent bunching and twisting. Quick absorbency of sudden flow to Absorbent Cushion core for extended protection even on extra-heavy nights.

2) Back Absorbent Cushion
Fits to hip shape and absorbs back flow quickly

Safety Fit Gather
With high T-shape fit to your body and prevent side leakage in any sleeping position

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Front Pad Package

These are another one of those super-duper huge pads and if anything, Cherrie will be the first one to say, “How do people wear this? This pad is bigger than my underwear!” LOL. That is right, the pad is 40cm and it is definitely thick. I’m not even going to kid you that if you thought the Always Overnight Extra Heavy Flow pads were thick enough, these things are monstrous. As you can see, the package is fairly large and I think the picture may not justify itself when there’s nothing else of-size to compare it to, but as indicated in the corner, just three pads make up this entire package, meaning the contents within are sizable! The front of the pad package gives a quick overview of the 2 outstanding differences compared to other and even their own line of overnight pads, that they have not one, but TWO absorbent cores and also has a wider and longer back-end.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Side Pad Package

Sophia is probably going to freak out if she looks at the actual content of the pad as I was just ranting to her about gel-based pads the other day. While posting this picture up, I realized there’s a funny spelling mistake 😛 It’s so nice that Laurier has a Hong Kong location and availability – it’d be nice if they brought it to Canada as well! It’s of course important to remind users not to flush the pad and to be aware of any irritation or other maladies while using the pad that one should stop usage.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Top Pad Package

The “super guard” technology is not specific to night-use pads though and they do offer variations for regular day use. Super guard is one of the best pad technology I’ve seen as the heightened walls truly prevent side leaks unless there is massive overflow. Often, side leaks occur not as a result of the pad not being absorbent enough or overflowing, but rather, because the pad is not close enough to the body and where “gaps” are, menstrual fluid flow out of the coverage-area of the pad and thus, accidents occur. With super guard technology, it catches even “run offs” from skin and provides a seal redirecting any would-be-leak flow back onto the pad for absorption. While many pads and manufacturers use raised edges on their pads to replicate this effect, only the Laurier and Sofy “walls” provide one which is much taller than the usual side barriers or frilly edges.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Rear Pad Package

I found it kind of funny that the picture exaggerates the rear wings so much as it is actually quite small in comparison to other brands. However, with the design of the pad and the super guard edges, it does not need very large rear wings to provide the support to prevent rear leakage. I truly like the packaging in Hong Kong because it is written in both Chinese and English. Although I admit to my weak reading/written Chinese, the wording they use is so complex that it makes buying pads/tampons seem like buying parts for a space shuttle. The English is considerably easier to understand and even many Asian girls I know who have great command of Chinese prefer reading the English and get easily confused by Chinese terminology for sanitary napkins or tampons. Even bebe admits that there’s just “way too many words” when she walks down the feminine hygiene aisle in Hong Kong that it becomes confusing what the pad/tampon features.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Unopened Pad in Wrapper

You will however notice, that just like the Sofy Soft Body Fit pad I reviewed before, the package is very similar, including the cloth-type wrapper. In order to open the pad up completely, it is folded into 4 sections and again, akin to the Always Overnight Extra Heavy Flow pad. For convenience of the user, the pad wrapper has the length written on it so that if this was mixed with other pads, it would be easy to identify the pad immediately within say, a bin or purse.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Fully Opened Pad with Wrapper

You may wonder why I’m so sloppy with extending the pad to get a good picture of it, but it is because of the design of the pad to be “contoured” to conform to the body. The pad is actually impossible to get “flat” or “straight” without using something to hold both ends (which you really don’t want to do, since that destroys the natural curvature of the pad). At the “rear” of the pad (right side), you will notice the adhesive automatically detaches from the side wings and rear wings as you open the pad – quite ingenious and paper-saving. The pad is extremely comfortable and with two absorbent/raised cores, the material and design – it is as comfy as a pillow floating in heaven. Can you tell I’m a big fan of Laurier Super Guard? HAHA. Maybe I should not be writing this review with such positive bias!

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Pad Closeup Front

I think by looks, the pad appears to be very lumpy when in fact, it is quite comfortable and it “fits” the body perfectly. The raised core provides great contact and coverage to prevent leaks. The pad cores are raised relatively high, which you can see have very deep grooves around the core, thus acting as a “drop zone” and channel flow deep into the pad. With this close up (you will have to click on the thumbnail), it gives you a better view of the “super guard” – or – the raised stretchy edges. These edges are pulled tightly and this is also the reason why the pad won’t go completely flat. Since the crotch area is similar to a “U” shape, the pad is also designed to imitate and follow the body’s natural formation. The wings in comparison to what you would expect for a overnight-designed pad are actually quite short, but also because of the tightness to wrap/hold to the side of underwear. Applying this pad requires more “pressure” and “power” than others because the pad was designed to be very elastic-like and while that’s great from a protection point-of-view, it requires more maneuvering and application of force to get it in the proper place.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Pad Closeup Rear

As you will note, the rear wings are actually not very prominent, although when the pad is fully applied to underwear, it automatically stretches out and provides considerable protection. The protection is not offered simply by size, but by the overall design of the entire pad, thus slightly obsoleting the rear width. Suffice to say, I think it is very obvious that this pad will likely interfere with most people sitting down. The length of the pad I think would overwhelm the size of most women and thus the recommendation of this pad is not even to consider it for day-use as it almost seems impractical, unless you have a very very heavy period.

Many pads often have a “thinner” rear compared to the thickness found in the front or middle of the pad – but with this pad, it is not the case and it maintains a consistent thickness throughout the pad (with exception of the raised portions).With the rear being JUST as thick, it eliminates almost any gap between the butt and pad. Poh Ching will absolutely love this if she could find it 😛 I actually do believe this version is sold in Malaysia, haha. The super guard portion does eventually taper off as it’d be impossible to extend the walls throughout the entire side of the pad as it would induce a lot of discomfort – or should I say – even further discomfort. Rest assured, with this pad on the job, leaks aren’t very likely!

When testing this pad, the pad held up against a wide range of movements without fail. Because of the elastic-like edges, the pad would easily “become” any shape and also “return” to its original form without issues. The pad itself does tend to restrict or make certain movements difficult and it is also very noticeable – it is hard not to be aware of the existence of this pad! The adhesives provide excellent security and is not overbearing like the “U by Kotex” pads where it practicality destroys fabric upon removal. However, because the stickiness of the adhesive does not run from the front to back of the pad, it may curl at the extremes of the pad if not secured properly in the first place, particularly with the natural tendencies of the pad to curl due to the design. This is NOT a problem if applied correctly and firmly at the start-of-use.

The deep channels in this pad truly allow fast and secure absorption of flow. The dampness of the pad does not surface until prolonged use and in which case, it should be changed anyways. While I would not say this pad has the best stays-dry feeling, it is definitely able to keep the top dry for a sufficient amount of time. However, through prolonged and heavy use, changing is required to keep things comfortable. This is more notable with this pad not perhaps because it is a failure, but rather, because the pad forms a seal around your body and the pad where air-flow is limited and thus, dampness accumulates or is more easily felt. Since this pad is designed for overnight use, the particular discomfort arising from dampness is not an issue as I would assume most change it in the morning. What is important is that upon waking up, there aren’t any stains on underwear or the sheets and the discomfort can be alleviated quickly upon pad removal. Speaking of removal, this pad is in no-way discrete when thrown away. After testing, I actually had to take it and throw it away directly into the building dumpster to avoid it being noticed in the washroom. When it is saturated however, it rolls up well (quite easily due to the natural elastic tension) and becomes quite soft.

Laurier Superguard 40cm Night-Use - Leftover Wrapper

I can’t say I was particularly happy with the wrapper in terms of re-usability for wrapping the old pad. This exhibited the same problem as Sofy pad wrappers where the used pad cannot be reliably secured when rolled up and risked dropping out the sides (urg, gross). Although, I guess this pad is a bit better because of the huge size, stickiness and general design that it would be much harder for it to fall out from the wrapper. Nevertheless, the smoothness of the wrapper internal and lack of stickiness of the wrapper-tab, it’d be much easier to wrap it in toilet paper or use an elastic band to secure the saturated/to-be-disposed pad. The pad does also have a tendency to open up since it has elastic edges which try to “force the pad” to return to the original “U” shape form. I’m sure not all-too-many people really want to see a bloody pad unfolding.

All in all, the pad has made leaps-and-bounds since the last time I tested a Laurier pad 2 years ago. Back then, the super guard already amazed me and now the 40cm version even has two cores, one front and one back. The absorbency speed is amazing and you never have the feeling that the pad has “left your body” because of the way it conforms and stays secure. I would dare say that the pad itself without wings would operate just as well!

If you have access to this pad and you have heavy periods that perhaps result in leaks, this is the pad just for you! You’ll be waddling around if you try using it for day time, but it’s not so bad at night when you just want to sleep peacefully and wake up knowing it won’t be a murder-scene.