Note: Funky Fluff diapers are no longer sold.
Over the years, Funky Fluff has expanded to include new fabric and insert options, while always maintaining a cute and trim fit, and an array of really cool color combos. This system consists of one-size waterproof covers (or shells) and inserts that you can either snap, stuff or lay in the covers.
You can choose from 3 different inner fabric linings for the cover:
- Bamboo Terry (80% bamboo viscose and 20% polyester) – click here for my previous review
- Stay Dry (microsuede) – click here for my previous review
- Athletic Wicking Jersey (polyester)
Today’s review is of the Athletic Wicking Jersey shell, which is one of the newest options. The Joyful Giraffe diaper shop sent me a shell in the Kryptonite color (gray with green snaps), plus a set of deLUX inserts, in exchange for a review.
There are 4 size settings on the front rise of the diaper, which I would estimate as newborn/xsmall, small, medium and large. Crossover snaps at the waist may enable you get to a snug fit on a newborn or very skinny baby.
Athletic Wicking Jersey (AWJ) isn’t just for basketball shorts anymore; it’s a polyester fabric that has turned out to be ideal for cloth diapering because:
- It pulls moisture away from the skin
- It’s less prone to staining than natural fibers
- It’s soft, supple and stretchy
- It can help keep the skin feeling cool and dry
- It dries very quickly
- It doesn’t pill like microfleece
I’ve been using Funky Fluff diapers for years, so I pulled out my others to give you a comparison of the inner fabrics:
The picture above shows that none of the PUL (polyurethane laminate) waterproof material underneath touches your baby’s skin, no matter which inner lining you choose.
Here is the Funky Fluff diaper shell opened up. It can be used in 4 different ways. Tuck inserts inside for a pocket diaper. Snap inserts in and then tuck in the pocket to make a stay-dry AIO (All in One). Snap inserts in but leave them outside of the pocket for an AI2 (All in Two). Or, just do like I do many times, and use the diaper as a cover, with Funky Fluff inserts, flats or prefolds laid inside.
There is a snap at either end of the shell to hold inserts in place, if you choose to use that feature.
Here’s what the diaper looks like with an insert snapped into the shell, AI2 style:
Pictured here are the bamboo terry LUX soakers (includes a small and a large) and the bamboo/hemp deLUX soakers (includes a small and a large). All Funky Fluff inserts are double stitched around the edges for added strength. You can use the inserts alone or attach them to each other with snaps. They DO stay fastened during washing and drying.
Funky Fluff’s bamboo terry LUX insert has a touch of polyester in it, which adds some extra softness. This counteracts the tendency of bamboo to get a little bit stiff over time and is something that really sets apart their bamboo fabric. These bamboo inserts dry for me in less than 1 cycle.
Funky Fluff’s deLUX soaker set is made of bamboo and hemp, and because hemp takes longer to dry, the inserts are stitched together only at the middle. It takes me 1 full dryer cycle, and sometimes a little more if it’s a big load of diapers, to completely dry these inserts. The deLUX set is my top choice for night time use.
Performance: Funky Fluff diapers are extremely versatile because you can customize exactly to your liking, and your child’s needs. Use 1 insert for daytime, and 2 for naps and nighttime. The pocket opening is easy to stuff for extra absorbency.
Ingrid does well in any type of insert during the day; for a bulletproof nighttime solution I use the large LUX (bamboo) soaker on top and the large deLUX (bamboo/hemp) soaker on the bottom, since it absorbs slowly and steadily.
Even if you have a SUPER heavy wetter, stacking three inserts together for nighttime doesn’t result in a lot of bulk – as compared to doubling up prefolds or using a really plush fitted.
Do the soft fabric linings mean you can’t use the covers more than once before washing? That depends on how much or how quickly your baby wets, or if a #2 mess isn’t confined to the insert. Ingrid does not flood her diaper all at once, so we can sometimes just switch out inserts and use the shell again.
Durability: I mentioned above that we’ve used this brand for several years, so I can assure you they will last for a really long time. We’ve never had any problems with colors fading, failed snaps or elastics or PUL, or poor workmanship.
I find that it’s easier to get stains out of the Athletic Wicking Jersey fabric. And the open weave is breathable and cool to the touch, both of which are great for Ingrid’s skin.
Value: Funky Fluff’s decision last year to make their diaper shells available for purchase separately was a really good move. You can now grab a cover alone for around $15 and give the fit and flexibility of Funky Fluff diapers a try, without having to spend $20 – $25 on a complete diaper (with inserts).
Overall, I think Funky Fluff is a good value for the money, because I can attest to the durability of the diapers AND the fact that they are so versatile. If you spent $25 on a premium AIO diaper, it’s single use only, whereas a $25 Funky Fluff diaper comes with 2 inserts and the different components can be used in different ways.
Fit: The Athletic Wicking Jersey is a little bit stretchier than my other Funky Fluff shells (stay dry and bamboo) and I love stretchy diapers! The stretch also makes it even easier to stuff than the bamboo and stay-dry shells, which is great news for nighttime.
I’ve always been a big fan of the way these diapers fit. They are trim and sleek and highly adjustable, thanks to the double snaps at the waist (you can angle the snaps to tighten or loosen either the legs or the waist). My only issue with Funky Fluff’s design, as mentioned in a previous review, is that a 3rd row of rise snaps would be nice. This would help the front to lie flat and not pucker out, which tends to happen more as my baby starts moving around.
For the longest time, my favorite style was the bamboo diaper, but AWJ now takes the cake. I like the extra stretch, the fact that this fabric is much easier to get stains out of, and the breathability of the open-weave fibers.
At age 19 months and about 22 pounds, Ingrid wears her diaper at the medium rise setting, with one more snap to grow into. There’s also plenty of room left in the waistband.
I really want to try out funky Fluff diapers they seem like such a well made diaper and they’re so cute
Great review! I have a AWJ shell and that pretty much sums it up about how great it is! Also thanks for the chance to win the giveaway 🙂
Id love to be able to use just two inserts at night. Ive always needed the absorbency of 2 prefolds and a hemp insert for my LO to make it all night. I think the AWJ would be a great option for us
Sarah, even with 3 inserts, Funky Fluff is much less bulky than doubled up prefolds and would probably work great for your heavy wetter. Thanks for entering the giveaway! ~Anne
Would love to try this diaper out!
I would love to try these. I just love your reviews, especially since you’ve tested most of these diapers on multiple children
Lindsay, thanks so much for the encouragement! ~Anne
I love that the AWJ is stretchy, and thank you so much for including the info about the dry time of the lux vs delux inserts! It’s nice to know when the inserts are going to take longer to dry.
Thanks for doing another awesome giveaway. I’d love to try bamboo!
I’d like to add this to tomorrow’s roundup. Does it really end in 39 days?
Oh my goodness, no! It’s 11 days. Fixing that. Thanks, Maria!!
Would love to try an Applecheeks swim diaper!
LOOOOVE the AWJ! I have one in Martime and want more, but alas, I have maxed out my stash funds.
I am just loving Funky Fluff!!! I love the new moisture wicking material!!
I only have one of the awj diapers and it’s love! The delux soakers are amazing! if I could afford it my complete diaper stash for both my kids would be made up of deluxe soakers and awj diaper covers! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
Your reviews are always so thorough! I appreciate that you showed the insides of each of the type of diapers you have for our comparison.
Thank you so much, Carrie! ~Anne
This is on my list of what to try next. I think this diaper will be perfect for the summer heat.
Hi Anne! I have a question about the deLUX soakers. I seem to be terrible at explaining this, because no one ever knows what I’m talking about, but most absorbent fleeces that I’ve tried get really hard and stiff when wet. Most people tend to think I’m referring to how they get crunchy when you line dry them but that’s not it, the stiffness I’m referring to happens when the baby wets the diaper. If you poked it with your finger while the baby was wearing it it would have very little give to it and feel almost rigid. Does any of that sound familiar? If you need specific examples I’ve noticed this rigidity occurs with AppleCheeks inserts, Thirsties hemp inserts, Geffen baby hemp flats, Blueberry bamboo inserts, and (to a lesser degree) Hemp Babies boosters. (I know there are more, but I can’t remember them all off the top of my head.)
Anywho, if you do know what I’m talking about, my question is do the deLUX soakers do this when they get wet too? TIA! 🙂
Amy, I know exactly what you’re talking about and yes, I find that inserts made out of hemp or bamboo do tend to get stiff when the baby saturates them. That includes the deLUX soakers. If this bothers you, or your child, the easiest workaround is to stuff the Funky Fluff soakers into the pocket, where they won’t touch the skin. Or, if you really like the ease and convenience of just laying inserts in the Funky Fluff shell, use a thin fleece liner on top.
In the review I pointed out that the LUX bamboo inserts have a bit of polyester in them; because of that, the stiffness is not as pronounced as some of the other brands you mentioned, so that’s really good. ~Anne
Thanks Anne! While it does bother me somewhat (it just doesn’t seem like that would be at all comfy) I’ll never know if it bothers the babe. She’s apparently very stoic. Once a cover was chafing her so badly that she got a blister (and still has a scar) but there was nary a peep from her about it. I like FF’s bamboo soakers though, so I’ll just stick with those. 🙂
Since you’re the only person who’s ever understood what I’m talking about, do you mind if I take this on a bit if a tangent to ask if you know whether the premium Joey Bunz (petal style) or Oko Creations hemp inserts suffer from this foible? I have Oko’s mama cloth and nursing pads, but since they don’t really get saturated I can’t tell if it’ll be past my threshold of acceptable stiffness. For reference, AMP’s hemp is about the maximum stiffness that I’m okay with.
Thanks again! 😊
I do have some of the premium Joey Bunz and they get a little stiff but are still flexible, so they have never bothered me that much. The Oko’s I can’t speak to since we haven’t reviewed them yet. You might check with Lindsay at Maman Loup’s Den, as she has diapered with Oko products. ~Anne
I am so excited about the awj and would love the chance to try one.
Would love to try this diaper! Is it as good as ragababe? 😛
Oh gosh, can’t say! Haven’t tried the Ragababe, yet – can you believe it? ~Anne
I have a Funky Fluff Stay Dry to try with little one due in June, but I’d love to try the new AWJ (in Katniss!!!).
I had never seen athletic fabric on a diaper before! Makes sense!
I haven’t tried this diaper yet but I hear great things about it and would love to try it on my daughter♡
As much as I hate that all your latest and greatest giveaways are US ONLY, I have to say thank you for always posting it clearly! I really appreciate the time it saves me digging for an answer or entering when I cannot win.
Hi Kris,
I know it can be disappointing when the giveaway is limited, but whether its open to Canada is always up to the business sponsoring the prize, so it’s not my call. The cloth diaper shop must consider things like target audience, shipping fees, etc. While a Funky Fluff giveaway might typically be open to Canada, since that’s where they hail from, this particular retailer (Joyful Giraffe) is in the US and appealing primarily to US buyers. Most Canadians shop for Funky Fluff from CA retailers, to save on shipping. Thanks for your feedback, though! When the prize is being sponsored by me personally, I always strive to open it both countries.
~Anne
I love the new Katniss print. Feather is so in trend right now!
I just love all of the natural, ecofriendly products available at The Joyful Giraffe! It makes one stop shopping a reality!
I would love to try this brand of diapers! Thanks for the review!
I absolutely love Funky Fluff diapers! I have many. I switched my entire stash out for them really although I’ve not tried the awj yet!! I really need to get some in my stash! Awesome blog review!!!
in september we will be using cloth on our 3rd kiddo, and i still have not tried funky fluff! i love the cut of these diapers, and i love the way they look like they fit!
I’d love to try the 2 pack double soaker in bamboo by applecheeks, I need all the help I can get in keeping my guy dry!
I love the colors on the Funky Fluff diapers and the AWJ sounds really great!
We only own one Funky Fluff diaper and we love the fit. Would be great to try the new inserts, thanks for the chancd
My baby girl is very big -22 lbs at 9 months so I like that it’s still on the medium setting for this weight. There is nothing worse than having an OS that doesn’t actually fit through potty training.
I have tried a few different brands of cloth diapers and I have found I absolutely love Funky Fluff. The versatility is wonderful, the material is excellent and they fit awesomely on my little. Another thing I found great about Funky Fluff is they clean much easier than the other brands I have.
I love Best Bottoms, which they carry, but I really want to try AppleCheeks or Funky Fluff, which they also carry, (the second is rather obvious though, 😜).
Wow!! These diapers look so neat! I have yet to try one. So far I have tried Alva Kawaii baby, AnAnbaby and bumgenious. I really love that bright coral/orange diaper. It would look great for summer and spring with my daughters bright colored tie dye dresses and tops and still look good in the fall because it is the color of the turning leaves. I also really think it would be so cute under a camo dress!!
Shelby, it’s so fun matching diapers to an outfit!