ConvaTec Ostomy Bags — Options, Samples, and Care Tips
ConvaTec is one of the longest-established names in ostomy care, with a product range that covers colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy needs across a wide spectrum of stoma types, body profiles, and lifestyle requirements.
For ostomates navigating the process of finding a pouching system that works — or looking to switch from a current product that isn't performing the way it should — understanding what ConvaTec's specific product lines offer, how to access samples before purchasing, and the care practices that extend the life and comfort of any pouching system is a practical starting point.ConvaTec's Main Ostomy Product Lines
ConvaTec organizes its ostomy portfolio around several distinct product systems, each designed to address different stoma characteristics and user needs. Understanding the differences between them is the first step toward identifying which system is worth requesting a sample of.
Natura / Natura+ (Two-Piece Systems)
The Natura and Natura+ systems are ConvaTec's most widely used two-piece product lines and among the most consistently recommended by wound ostomy and continence nurses (WOCNs) for ostomates who want flexibility in managing their pouching system. A two-piece system separates the skin barrier — the piece that adheres to the skin around the stoma — from the pouch itself, allowing the pouch to be changed without removing the barrier. This reduces skin disruption and is particularly practical for ostomates who need to empty or change their pouch frequently.
The Natura+ system introduced ConvaTec's Moldable Technology barrier — a feature that allows the barrier opening to be shaped by hand to the exact size and contour of an individual stoma without cutting tools. For ostomates with irregular stoma shapes or those who find the process of cutting a barrier opening difficult due to hand mobility limitations, moldable barriers significantly simplify the application process. The Natura+ barrier is also available in a range of convexity options — flat, shallow convex, and deep convex — which matters for ostomates with flush, retracted, or difficult-to-see stomas where a flat barrier does not create an adequate seal.
Esteem+ (One-Piece Systems)
The Esteem+ line represents ConvaTec's one-piece offering — a system where the skin barrier and pouch are integrated into a single unit. One-piece systems are generally lower profile than two-piece alternatives and are preferred by ostomates who prioritize discretion and simplicity over the flexibility of a separate barrier and pouch. The integrated design means there is no coupling ring to manage and the overall bulk of the pouching system is reduced, which matters for ostomates who are active, swim, or want a system that is less visible under clothing.
The Esteem+ is available in both drainable and closed options. Drainable pouches are designed for ileostomates and urostomates who produce continuous or high-volume output and need to empty throughout the day without removing the entire system. Closed pouches are designed for colostomates with more predictable output who typically change the entire system rather than emptying it. ConvaTec's Esteem+ line uses the same Moldable Technology barrier available on the Natura+ system.
SUR-FIT Natura (Two-Piece with Floating Flange)
The SUR-FIT Natura system uses a floating flange design — the coupling ring between the barrier and pouch has some flexibility in it rather than being rigid, which makes connecting the two components easier for ostomates with limited hand strength or dexterity. For senior ostomates or those managing arthritis or other conditions that make fine motor tasks difficult, the floating flange is a meaningful practical advantage over rigid coupling systems. The SUR-FIT Natura is one of the longer-running product lines in ConvaTec's portfolio and remains widely used in hospital and post-surgical settings.
Filtered Pouches and Specialty Options
ConvaTec offers filtered versions of most of its pouch styles — pouches that include a charcoal filter to allow gas to escape while neutralizing odor, reducing the ballooning that occurs when gas builds up in a sealed pouch. For ostomates who find pouch ballooning socially or physically uncomfortable, filtered pouches are a straightforward solution. ConvaTec also produces urostomy-specific pouches with anti-reflux valves that prevent urine from flowing back toward the stoma, which is a relevant consideration for urostomates managing infection risk.
How To Request ConvaTec Samples
ConvaTec operates a sample request program that allows ostomates to try products before purchasing a full supply. Samples can be requested directly through the ConvaTec sample request page on their website. The process involves selecting the product type relevant to your ostomy type and current system, providing basic contact and shipping information, and in some cases answering a brief questionnaire about your stoma and current pouching system to help ConvaTec's team identify the most appropriate samples to send.
ConvaTec's Me+ support program is also worth registering for — it provides access to ostomy nurses for remote consultation, product guidance, and ongoing support resources at no charge. For ostomates who are newly diagnosed, recently discharged from a hospital setting, or managing a fit or skin issue without easy access to a WOCN clinic, the Me+ program provides a meaningful level of professional guidance that most ostomates don't know is available.
Working with a certified wound ostomy and continence nurse before or alongside trialing samples is the most reliable path to identifying the right system. WOCNs are trained specifically in stoma care and pouching system selection and can assess stoma shape, output type, peristomal skin condition, and body contour to narrow down which ConvaTec product line is most likely to work well for a given individual. The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society maintains a directory for locating a certified nurse.
Care Tips That Apply Across ConvaTec Systems
Regardless of which ConvaTec product line an ostomate uses, a consistent set of care practices improves skin health, extends the wear time of the barrier, and reduces the risk of leaks.
Skin preparation before applying a new barrier is the most important single step. The peristomal skin — the area immediately surrounding the stoma — should be clean, dry, and free of residue from the previous barrier before a new one is applied. ConvaTec's Sensi-Care line includes skin barrier wipes and sprays designed to create a protective layer between the skin and the adhesive barrier, which reduces skin irritation and improves adhesion on sensitive or compromised skin. Allowing the skin preparation product to dry fully before applying the barrier is a step that is frequently skipped and frequently responsible for premature barrier failure.
Barrier wear time should be monitored rather than extended unnecessarily. Most ConvaTec barriers are designed for wear times of three to five days depending on output type, activity level, and individual skin chemistry. Wearing a barrier beyond its effective wear time increases the risk of leakage and skin breakdown — changing on a consistent schedule rather than waiting for a problem is the more reliable approach. Output consistency, humidity, swimming, and perspiration all affect actual wear time and are worth tracking when establishing a personal schedule.
Pouch emptying frequency matters for barrier longevity as well. A pouch that becomes too full puts mechanical stress on the barrier seal — emptying when the pouch is one-third to half full rather than waiting for it to fill completely is a standard WOCN recommendation that reduces that stress and extends wear time.
For ostomates experiencing persistent peristomal skin issues — redness, irritation, leakage, or skin breakdown — the United Ostomy Associations of America provides education resources and peer support connections, and ConvaTec's Me+ nurse line provides direct professional guidance for troubleshooting pouching system issues before they escalate.