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REVIEW - Yurtcraft

[From left to right: 14.5" cotton-topped fleece-backed Heavy/Ultra Birds and Flowers pad, 12.5" cotton-topped fleece-backed Heavy/Ultra Jellyfish pad, 10.5" cotton-topped fleece-backed Heavy/Ultra Pink Roses pad]

Brand: Yurtcraft

Available at: yurtcraft.etsy.com

I am a big fan of Yurtcraft pads. I would own more, but the international shipping can get quite pricey and I find that the cute patterns get nabbed pretty quickly after they're listed, so unless you're monitoring Etsy at the right time you're kind of out of luck. But that's just because these pads are so popular, it's probably one of the best-known of the independent pad maker brands. Since I don't tend to wear pads I don't like the look of (I'm shallow I guess hah, but seriously I'm just less likely to reach for it if it's not something I think is super cute), this has really limited my Yurtcraft collection. The pads tend to be cotton-topped, but flannel and minky are also available, and backed with WindPro fleece with an option to order PowershieldPro waterproof backing for custom orders.

Pros:

I would venture to say that these pads are some of the best-made pads out there, vying for the title with a couple of other brands. It's almost hard to believe that they're handmade because the quality is so consistently excellent. These pads are turned-and-topstitched, I believe.

The selection of adorable/beautiful prints is really good, however I find the prints really hit or miss for me, either I love it or I hate it. But usually I love it.

The pads are known for being quite thin despite having a lot of absorbency to them. They're not the absolute thinnest I own, but honestly the brand is one of my favourites when it comes to the ratio of thickness to absorbency. Some pad brands I have found to just be so thin that I don't feel secure to wear them out for long periods of time even if they are advertised as for heavy flow. Yurtcraft seems to have found the right balance so that the pads are thin enough to be comfortable at the same time as making me feel secure that I won't leak.

Offers all ready-to-ship products in the shop, which is good for people who like to see the product before buying it and know that it will ship soon.

Also takes custom orders, for those of you who enjoy being able to pick and choose your fabrics and backings.

The pads are super super comfortable.

They're also very absorbent and leak-resistant. I can't speak for the light or moderate flow pads, but the heavy/ultra pads are amazingly absorbent and the only time I leaked through one was when I was a beginner cloth pad user and it was fully my fault.

Cons:

As I mentioned earlier, the cutest/prettiest/coolest prints tend to be snapped up pretty quickly, so it can be difficult to get the pad you want if you're not buying custom.

The price of the pads is consistent with the quality, so it's a bit higher than some other brands. They are fully worth it IMO.

Only one style/shape of pad is offered, though there is a large variety of size and absorbency options.

Backing options are a bit more limited than some other brands, especially in the ready-to-ship products, though they do offer a waterproof option for custom orders.

I am not affiliated with any of the cloth pad sellers I review.

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REVIEW - Mama Kloth

[From left to right, top row:13" cotton-topped fleece-backed Postpartum/Overnight Alice in Wonderland pad, 11" custom cotton-topped merino wool interlock-backed Heavy Kittens pad, 10" custom Curvy cotton-topped merino wool interlock-backed Moderate Floral pad, 10" Curvy cotton-topped merino wool interlock-backed Moderate Hapi pad, 9" cotton-topped fleece-backed Moderate Star Trek pad, 9" cotton-topped fleece-backed Heavy Femme Power pad; bottom row: 9" cotton-topped fleece-backed Moderate Beatrix Potter pad, 8" cotton-topped fleece-backed bamboo core Moderate Bumble pad, 7" cotton-topped fleece-backed Moderate Brambleberry Ridge pad, 7" cotton-topped fleece-backed Light Liberty of London pad, Organic Cotton/Bamboo-topped Wrap Style Pantyliner, Merino Wool-backed bamboo/organic cotton fleece-topped Wrap Style Heather Ross Collectors Pantyliner]

Brand: Mama Kloth

Available at: MamaKloth.etsy.com - please note that due to FDA regulations, Mama Kloth unfortunately does not ship to the United States any longer

As you can probably tell by the sheer number of these pads and liners that I own, I am a huge fan of Mama Kloth (not so much a fan of the brand name, however I will get to that in a minute). I purchased all of these pads. 

Pros:

These products are quite well-made. The pads are turned-and-topstitched (I believe) and the liners are serged.

The owner offers the option of merino wool interlock backing alongside the usual fleece backing, as well as a couple of different pad designs for different body types, which I really appreciate. Merino wool interlock backing makes for a more breathable pad, and I like that it is a more natural choice.

I love love love the print options - there are a huge variety of vintage-style, nerdy, cutesy, and just plain beautiful prints, with a frequently-updated instagram account of all available fabric choices which can be found at instagram.com/mamaklothfabrics

These pads are quite thin. They're not the thinnest you can find, for example PrettyEcoIntimates' are much thinner, but they're trimmer than, say, the Sleeping Doe pads I reviewed last.

Offers some customizable listings where you can just indicate your absorbency choice from the drop-down menu, and the fabric choice in the notes to seller.

Also offers many ready-to-ship products, if you're somebody who prefers to buy on sight knowing it is ready-to-ship.

Really rapid turnaround time on custom orders. Like, I ordered two custom listings ON BLACK FRIDAY and they were done being sewed and were shipped out before the end of the day.

These are "floppier" pads but that makes them really comfortable to wear, and they're not so floppy as to fold over when you pull up your underwear.

I've never had a leak with Mama Kloth, though it should be noted that the merino wool interlock backing is less water-resistant than fleece and pads backed with it should be changed more often, accordingly.

I love the wrap-style liners, they're super thin and comfortable, and I like having the different shape than most other brands on hand depending on my mood.

Cons:

I find the brand's name really alienating, both to those who have not had children as well as to those men or non-binary folks who menstruate. I understand the owner has the right to name her company whatever she wants, but I also have the right to point out that it is problematic

These pads are a little bit pricier than some other brands but honestly the quality of the fabrics, variety and quality of prints available, and workmanship make them worth it in my opinion. YMMV

In my experience the merino wool interlock-backed pads shrink quite a bit. I do a warm water with oxygen bleach soak so that's probably why mine have shrunk, but it's a trade off in terms of staining for me if I don't do the soak. Just something to keep in mind. You can see the shrinkage in my photo if you compare the 10" Curvy Hapi pad with the 9" Star Trek pad to its right, in the top row.

I am not affiliated with any of the cloth pad sellers I review.

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REVIEW - Sleeping Doe

[Might I say that the shadows on these are from my curtains being sheer with more opaque spots, causing some of the areas to be more shadowy than others - these pads are not stained!]

Brand: Sleeping Doe

Available at: SleepingDoe.etsy.com

I really love these pads. I purchased 4 of her 11 inch pads, 2 in heavy absorbency and 2 in ultra. I generally prefer a longer pad because I feel like it gives me extra security, though I could probably get away with wearing shorter ones.

Pros:

These pads are impeccably made. The sewing is perfect, the attention to detail is amazing.

Some of the cutest prints you'll see around in cloth pads, and not cute as in this-fabric-was-made-for-children's-pyjamas-cutesy, but more of a grown-up put-together cute? I guess she also has a lot of kawaii stuff, so generally her prints are right up my alley. I would say she and Mama Kloth [review to come] are tied for seller with my favourite print selection

Pretty thin pads. Not the thinnest, but not thick at all.

Offers customizable listings.

My custom order was ready relatively quickly.

I love the firmness of these pads. They hold their shape quite well, but aren't so firm as to be uncomfortable.

You have the option to choose squared or pointed wings when you order.

Cons:

Not as thin as some brands. If you're expecting Yurtcraft [review also to come] thin, you're going to be a little let down. Note that this isn't a con for me, because the extra thickness makes me feel a little more secure on my heavy days. It might be a con for somebody else though.

Mostly offers customizable listings. If you're somebody who likes to buy from pictures of ready-to-ship products, there's not quite as many of those as some other sellers.

Not the most affordable pads on the market, but also not the most expensive - maybe a smidge more than Yurtcraft but their sizes are slightly different so can't be directly compared (SleepingDoe 11" $12.23 CDN; Yurtcraft 10.5" $11.15 CDN) - this might be due to the prices of her fabrics, as I said her prints are gorgeous and probably pricier than others'.

Her pads are turned and topstitched I believe, and all of these are cotton topped and fleece backed. The heavy core contains layers of bamboo fleece and diaper flannel, while the ultra core contains layers of diaper flannel, heavyweight bamboo french terry and bamboo fleece.

I am not affiliated with any of the cloth pad sellers I review.