Absorbent articles with channels and/or pockets

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a front waist edge defining an edge of a front waist region;

a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge, the rear waist edge defining an edge of a rear waist region;

a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge and a lateral axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising superabsorbent polymers, wherein the absorbent core comprises a channel network substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers wherein the channel network comprises a perimeter channel, a first longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, a second longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, and a plurality of connecting lateral channels wherein the plurality of connecting lateral channels connect one of the first longitudinal channel to the second longitudinal channel or the perimeter channel to the perimeter channel; and

wherein the plurality of connecting lateral connecting channels, the first longitudinal channel, and the longitudinal second channel frame one or more lateral struts within the absorbent core and wherein the one or more lateral struts each comprise a lateral length within 20 mm to 50 mm and a longitudinal width of between 5 mm and 25 mm, wherein the plurality of lateral connecting channels is disposed in the crotch region, and wherein the one or more connecting lateral channels comprise a length of 20 mm to 50 mm.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises less than 15 connecting lateral channels distributed equally along the length of the absorbent core.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal channel and the second longitudinal channel comprise a longitudinal length of between 50 mm to 200 mm.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein one of the first longitudinal channel or the second longitudinal channel comprises an arcuate portion facing the longitudinal axis, wherein an angle between a tangent line of the arcuate portion and the longitudinal axis is greater than or equal to 20 degrees.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lateral connecting channels are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 2.5 mm and 15 mm.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 3 mm and 10 mm.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 4 mm and 7 mm.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of about 5 mm.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral struts have a longitudinal width of between 10 mm and 20 mm.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the lateral struts have a longitudinal width of about 15 mm.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter channel, the first longitudinal channel and the second longitudinal channel frame one or more longitudinal struts and wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of between 3 mm and 15 mm.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of between 6 and 12 mm.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of about 9 mm.