Comparing Coloplast SpeediCath with Hollister VaPro? Both are prescription, single-use hydrophilic intermittent catheters, and both come ready to use straight from the package, with no water to add and no gel to apply. The real differences are how you handle them and which formats each range offers:
- SpeediCath is packed in a saline solution that keeps its coating wet. You hold it by an uncoated grip area (Standard), a handle (Compact), an insertion grip (Soft) or a dry sleeve (Flex). It offers more compact formats and a dedicated paediatric line; both ranges have female and coudé options.
- VaPro has a protective tip and a sleeve over the whole catheter, so you can grip it anywhere without touching the tube. It comes in standard, pocket and bag-attached (Plus) formats.
Quick verdict: pick VaPro if you want a full sleeve so you can hold the catheter anywhere. Pick SpeediCath if you want the smallest pocket formats, paediatric sizes or the widest Fr range (6–18 Fr here). Need a bag attached? Both brands make one.
Your French (Fr) size, tip and catheter type come from your prescriber or continence nurse. This guide compares the two ranges so you can understand each format and reorder the right box.
Coloplast SpeediCath vs Hollister VaPro at a glance
| Feature | Coloplast SpeediCath | Hollister VaPro |
|---|---|---|
| How it is ready to use | Hydrophilic coating kept wet in saline | Hydrophilic coating plus a hydration fluid (HydraBalance on Pocket, Plus, Plus Pocket and F-Style; check your box leaflet) |
| How you hold it | Standard: uncoated 5 cm grip area, no sleeve; Compact: handle; Soft: insertion grip; Flex: dry sleeve | Protective tip and full-length sleeve on every VaPro (no-touch) |
| Pocket formats | Compact Male, Compact Female, Female Plus, Eve | VaPro Pocket, VaPro Plus Pocket |
| Bag attached | Compact Set, male and female | VaPro Plus, Plus Pocket, Plus F-Style |
| Coudé tip | Standard Male Coudé, 10–16 Fr | VaPro Coudé, 12–16 Fr |
| Fr sizes we stock | 6–18 Fr | 8–16 Fr |
| Box size | 30 (Compact Set: 20) | 30 |
Which one should you buy? Match the format to your day
- Mostly at home: SpeediCath Standard or a straight-tip VaPro.
- Pocket or handbag: SpeediCath Compact Male, Compact Female or Eve, or VaPro Pocket.
- No toilet nearby, travel or long days out: a bag-attached set, such as the SpeediCath Compact Set, VaPro Plus or VaPro Plus Pocket.
- Prescribed a coudé tip: SpeediCath Standard Male Coudé or VaPro Coudé.
- Weaker grip or less hand control: VaPro's full sleeve, or the SpeediCath Soft and Flex grips. Ask your nurse which one you can handle comfortably.
- Children: SpeediCath Standard Paediatric, 6–10 Fr, as prescribed by the child's care team.
Bag attached: the Hollister VaPro Plus range
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Coloplast SpeediCath range: Compact, Standard, Soft and Flex
Coloplast says SpeediCath was the first instantly ready-to-use catheter. The coating stays hydrated in saline, and the eyelets are polished smooth. Every SpeediCath is single-use and sold by prescription.
Coloplast SpeediCath Compact: Male, Female, Eve and Set
- Compact Male: a telescopic catheter that Coloplast says is less than half the size of a standard male catheter. It comes in one size, labelled 12/18 Fr, and can connect to a urine bag.
- Compact Female and Female Plus: about the size of a lipstick, with an easy-grip handle. Compact Female comes in 8–14 Fr here; the Plus is slightly longer and comes in 10–14 Fr.
- Compact Eve: mascara-sized, with a triangular shape for grip, a one-twist opening and a cap that reseals for disposal. 10–14 Fr.
- Compact Set (male or female): the compact catheter with a bag attached, in boxes of 20, for times when no toilet is nearby.
SpeediCath Compact Male and Compact Set Male
SpeediCath Compact for women
SpeediCath Standard, Soft and Flex
- Standard: the full-length catheter in a peel pouch. Coloplast's guide notes that the first 5 cm are free of coating, giving you somewhere to hold it. We stock male straight (8–18 Fr), male coudé (10–16 Fr), female (8–16 Fr) and paediatric (6–10 Fr).
- Soft: a soft male catheter with a flexible insertion grip, so it goes in without you touching the tube or tip. 10–16 Fr.
- Flex: a soft male catheter with a dry sleeve, a soft-squeeze grip and a flexible tip designed to follow the curves of the male urethra. It recloses for disposal. 10–16 Fr.
SpeediCath Standard, 14 Fr shown: male, female and male coudé
SpeediCath Soft and Flex for men
Hollister catheters: VaPro, Plus, Pocket and F-Style
Every VaPro has two parts that keep your fingers off the catheter. Hollister says the protective tip helps shield the sterile catheter from bacteria in the first 15 mm of the urethra as it goes in, and the protective sleeve lets you hold the catheter anywhere. VaPro was originally known for vapour hydration. Hollister now calls its lubrication HydraBalance, a hydrophilic coating paired with a hydration fluid, and says the catheter is ready to use with no extra steps. Wording varies by version, so check the leaflet in your box.
- VaPro: male length of 40 cm (16 in), with a straight or coudé tip, both in 12–16 Fr. We also stock a female VaPro in 14 Fr.
- VaPro Pocket: the same no-touch catheter in pocket-size packaging, 12–16 Fr.
- VaPro Plus: a closed system with an integrated 1000 mL collection bag, 12 and 14 Fr.
- VaPro Plus Pocket: bag attached and pocket packaging, 8–16 Fr, plus a 20 cm (8 in) female version in 12 and 14 Fr.
- VaPro F-Style and Plus F-Style: versions with a firmer tube, 40 cm (16 in) long, without a bag (12–16 Fr) or as a closed system with a collection bag (12 and 14 Fr).
Our Hollister catheter supplies also include Advance Plus, Apogee and Infyna Chic intermittent catheters.
Hollister VaPro, VaPro Pocket and F-Style
How to use Coloplast SpeediCath and Hollister VaPro
Learn the technique from your nurse or urologist first; the leaflet in your box always has the final say. Here is a summary of each maker's steps.
Safety first: never force a catheter. If you meet strong resistance, feel pain, see blood or cannot pass the catheter, stop and contact your nurse or doctor, and seek urgent care if you cannot empty your bladder. Also contact them if you notice signs of a urinary infection, such as fever, burning, or cloudy or strong-smelling urine. Do not use a catheter whose package is damaged or already open.
How to use SpeediCath Standard and Compact
- Wash and dry your hands, and clean the genital area the way you were taught.
- Standard: open the peel pouch at the ring-pull. You can hang it by its adhesive spot. Compact Male: twist the lid open, then hold the connector and pull the catheter up out of the tube.
- Insert gently until urine flows. For Compact Male, Coloplast's guide adds 1–2 cm more so the eyelets sit in the bladder.
- When the flow stops, move the catheter slightly to finish draining, then withdraw it slowly.
- Put it back in its tube or a disposal bag and place it in household rubbish. Never flush a catheter.
How to use a Hollister VaPro catheter
- Wash your hands. Open the pack by pulling the finger hole toward you, at least halfway down.
- With a Plus version, break the paper band and unfold the bag.
- Remove the cap from the protective tip. Through the sleeve, advance the catheter until it fills the tip without poking out.
- Hold the catheter below the tip's plate and insert the tip until the plate touches the urethral opening.
- Push the catheter forward through the sleeve until urine flows. When it stops, withdraw slowly, pausing if urine flows again.
- Drain a Plus bag at the tear notch, then put everything in a waste bin. Never flush it.
These VaPro steps follow Hollister's male guide. The full VaPro Plus guide for men shows each step with pictures, and women should follow the female VaPro Plus guide.
What users say about SpeediCath and VaPro
These themes come from public reviews and independent catheter review sites, not from our customers. Comfort is personal, so treat them as pointers to discuss with your nurse.
- SpeediCath, liked: it is ready the moment you open it, the Compact formats are discreet and easy to carry, and some find the firmer tube easier to guide.
- SpeediCath, criticised: the Standard has no sleeve, so you hold it near the funnel. One independent review site found its coating grainier than VaPro's, and the short Compact Female may not suit everyone (the Plus is longer).
- VaPro, liked: the sleeve and tip keep fingers off the tube, the finger-hole packs open easily, and the pocket versions with a bag are handy away from home.
- VaPro, criticised: the price, especially for the Plus range. The catheter is wet along its whole length and can dry out if left after opening. Some notice a smell, and bag systems create more packaging waste.
French size and tip: keep to your prescription
Fr measures the catheter's outside diameter (1 Fr is one-third of a millimetre). Coloplast's own guide says not to change the size recommended to you without talking to your healthcare professional, and the same goes for switching between straight and coudé tips. If you change brand, match the Fr size, tip and length on your prescription, and practise with the new pack at home before relying on it while out. Our Intermittent Catheters 101 guide explains sizes, lengths and tips in more detail.
Buying SpeediCath and Hollister catheters in Canada
Your nurse sets how often you catheterise; at 4 to 6 times a day, a box of 30 lasts about 5 to 7 days. Reorder when you open your second-last box.
- Free shipping: every SpeediCath and VaPro box we sell qualifies for free standard shipping (3–5 business days).
- Running low? Express shipping is $20 and arrives in 1–2 business days.
- Processing: orders are processed in 1–2 business days.
- Discreet: plain, unmarked boxes, with tracking sent by email.
- Insurance and benefits: we provide detailed receipts you can submit with a claim.
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Opened urology products cannot be returned for hygiene reasons, so check the Fr size, tip and length before you open a box. See our shipping and returns page for details.
SpeediCath and VaPro FAQ
Can you reuse a SpeediCath or VaPro catheter?
No. Coloplast labels SpeediCath single-use and says to discard it after use, and Hollister's VaPro instructions say not to reuse it. Use a new sterile catheter every time.
Can I switch from SpeediCath to VaPro?
Often, yes, but talk to your prescriber or continence nurse first and keep the same Fr size and tip. Both makers offer samples, so you can try a format before buying a full box. Once you have settled on one, you can reorder SpeediCath or VaPro here. A nurse specialised in continence care can help, and NSWOC Canada has more on these nurses.
Does Coloplast SpeediCath come with a coudé tip?
Yes. We stock SpeediCath Standard Male Coudé in 10–16 Fr, and SpeediCath Flex has a flexible tip. On the Hollister side, VaPro comes with a coudé tip in 12–16 Fr. Only use a coudé tip if it is prescribed.
Where can I buy Hollister catheters in Canada?
We carry the VaPro family and other Hollister intermittent catheters, and ship across Canada. Hollister Incorporated is based in Libertyville, Illinois, and Coloplast is a Danish company. We are an independent retailer, not affiliated with either brand. Our ostomy bag comparison covers the same two makers.
What size intermittent catheter do women use?
Your prescriber sets the Fr size. Female catheters are shorter than male ones: Hollister's female VaPro is 20 cm (8 in) against 40 cm (16 in) for men, and the SpeediCath Compact Female is lipstick-sized. Here, female SpeediCath comes in 8–16 Fr and female VaPro (VaPro Female and VaPro Plus Pocket Female) in 12–14 Fr.
Ready to restock?
The best catheter is the one your care team prescribed and you find easy to use every time. Take clinical questions to your nurse, NSWOC, doctor or pharmacist. This article is general information, not medical advice.
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