An absorbent material comprises a flexible, skin-conformable, moisture-absorbent sheet member, optionally a net member in sheet form overlying and associated with the absorbent sheet member on at least one face thereof, and a hydrogel disposed on at least one of the net member, when present, and the absorbent sheet member in an amount of less than about 500 g of hydrogel per square metre per face, wherein the aqueous saline absorbency rate of the absorbent material through the face on which the hydrogel is disposed is less than about 300 seconds. Absorbent articles comprising the absorbent material and methods of manufacturing the material or articles are also described.