THE QUICK ANSWER
Training pads are sold on absorbency and shipped by volume, so the two things that decide the business case are the core construction and the carton cube. Settle the stated absorbency with its test method, the core weight and SAP content, the pack count, the backing spec and the compressed carton volume before any price is meaningful.
1. What absorbency figure, by what method?
A millilitre figure without a stated test method cannot be verified or compared between suppliers. Name the volume and the method together, and require the same method on each production lot.
2. What is actually in the core?
Fluff pulp and superabsorbent polymer behave differently: pulp gives bulk and speed, SAP gives retention under pressure. State the core weight and the SAP content separately, because two pads with the same total weight can perform very differently.
3. Does the backing survive the use case?
The liquid-barrier backing is the difference between a complaint and a repeat order. Specify the film and require an edge-leak check under load, not just a flat absorbency test.
4. What is the pack count, and is it printed?
Pack count drives both the retail price point and the reorder rhythm. Decide it early, because it changes the bag, the carton and the artwork at the same time.
5. What is the compressed carton cube?
Pads compress, and freight is charged on the greater of actual or dimensional weight. Ask for the packed carton dimensions and weight before comparing FOB prices — the cheaper pad can land more expensively.
A useful comparison
| Question | What to record | Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Absorbency | Volume + test method | Claim on pack |
| Core | Core weight and SAP content | Performance under pressure |
| Backing | Film spec + edge-leak check | Return rate |
| Pack count | Units per bag and per carton | Price point and reorder |
| Carton cube | Packed dimensions and weight | Landed cost |
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