Two Piece Coupling System

Many two piece pouching system manufacturers offer a mechanical snap coupling system allowing you to snap the pouch onto the baseplate, like snapping a lid on some tupperware. The coupling is pretty secure, though you do run the risk of having the pouch separate from the baseplate if your pouch gets caught on something and pulls it in “just the right way”. You have the flexibility of rotating your pouch to a different angle by uncoupling and then reattaching it. You also have the flexibility of changing your pouch separate from your baseplate, allowing you to use a different sizes for different activities if you like (bigger pouch at night, smaller pouch during intimacy, etc).

One disadvantage to the mechanical snap is the hand dexterity it requires. You have to be able to squeeze the two pieces together all around the pouch coupling to make sure it’s securely snapped in; people with arthritis in their hands, or other hand dexterity troubles may struggle with this kind of system.

Coloplast offers a snap and lock system, where you snap your pouch onto your baseplate and then effectively “lock” it into place. You have the freedom to unlock and rotate the pouch as you please without completely uncoupling the two pieces. This also offers a sense of security if you’re worried about the pouch being pulled away from the baseplate for any reason. As with the mechanical snap, some people with hand dexterity issues have trouble with this system.

Adhesive coupling allows the pouch to attach to the baseplate with a strong adhesive. The benefit to the adhesive coupling is the low-profile it allows you to have. Adhesive coupling two piece systems are relatively similar to a one piece system. Having a low profile and no plastic ring to connect the pouch and baseplate allows the system to contour to your abdomen better. This is especially useful is your abdomen has divots or other imperfections.

The disadvantage to the adhesive coupling it making sure you stick the pouch on to the baseplate in the right place and get it secure. It is easy to think you’ve stuck it on snugly and later find out there was an air pocket, which inevitably leads to a leak between the pouch and baseplate. One way to get around this would be to stick them together before you apply them to your body, but then you might as well wear a one piece.

Some manufacturers of adhesive couplings advertise that you can remove the adhesive pouch and stick it back on without compromising the adhesive, though that is not always the case. When removing the pouch sometimes output gets onto the part where you need to stick the adhesive, forcing you to clean it off before trying to stick the old pouch (or a new one) back on.