The Look
Freestyle: These diapers are seriously art-forward. Yes, you read that right. With a swirled green print created in collaboration with a legit artist (not of the preschooler variety), these would be described more accurately as “stylish” than “cute.” And that’s exactly what Freestyle intended.
Kudos: While these are definitely not in the “stylish” category, Kudos’ prints overachieve too. The size 3s we tested sported a “geography” print made to “foster shape recognition and eye contact” with the googly eyed characters in the print. Not sure how much time babies spend interacting with their diapers, or whether that’s even real science, but this is a clever thought nonetheless.
Absorbency
Freestyle: “A full 12 hours of leak protection,” the packaging claims. “55% better absorption compared to the leading plant-based diaper,” says the website. While, believe it or not, our testing isn’t sophisticated enough to confirm these numbers, we’re here to report the proprietary bamboo core soaked up everything it needed to–even overnight.
Kudos: Kudos doubles up on absorption layers, claiming they’re also suitable for overnight wear: In our experience, this is true. The wetness indicator stripe goes nearly all the way up the front of the diaper, so it was easy to do a quick wetness check without fully stripping Baby down.
Comfort
Freestyle: Given how crazy absorbent this vessel is, it’s remarkably thin and unbulky. Its outer layer is smooth with a slight sheen and the inside is clothlike: Wearing this must be comparable to slipping on a brand new hoodie. The waistband has plenty of give and held up with no issues. The side tabs could use a little reinforcement, as we had one tear during a change.
Kudos: Next to Freestyle (which sets the bar super high in this category), these may as well be sandpaper. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but the softness–especially on the part that touches Baby’s skin–just doesn’t compare. The waistband also doesn’t expand to fit Baby as well as Freestyle’s. Side tabs are plenty durable but could use more length for ease of application.
Notable materials
Freestyle: While Kudos touts their sustainably harvested wood pulp makeup as a boon for fast absorption, Freestyle tells us that bamboo is actually superior in terms of absorbency and that using it in place of wood saves a whole lot of trees. You’ll find zero tree products in these, and they’re also free from fragrance, chlorine, and parabens.
Kudos: Aside from aforementioned trees, sugarcane and cotton feature prominently. In fact, this is the first disposable diaper offering a liner made from 100% cotton–making them great for sensitive skin. “No extra yucks,” they tell us: meaning they’re also free from fragrance, chlorine, and parabens.
Cost
Freestyle: From $.39 each (freestyle.world)
Kudos: From $.41 each (mykudos.com)
Freestyle diapers are a full 5% cheaper per diaper, which can really add up when you’re filling and tossing these things every day. That, coupled with the fact that Freestyle was softer and absorbed more than Kudos, made a huge impact on where we landed in this head-to-head comparison. And on that note…
The Verdict
Both solid products from companies that are innovating when it comes to style and are exceptionally thoughtful about the materials they source. But where Kudos can’t touch Freestyle is in the total absorbency, price and comfort categories–and isn’t keeping Baby dry for a reasonable price the #1 priority when it comes to diapering? Couple this with Freestyle’s refreshing, envelope-pushing take on parenthood (check out their Instagram for a taste), and we’ve found ourselves a winner.
