A composition for the manufacture of a porous, compressible article, the composition comprising a combination of: a plurality of reinforcing fibers; a plurality of thermoplastic fibers; optionally a plurality of polymeric binder fibers; and continuous spaced carrier fibers; wherein the polymeric binder fibers have a melting point lower than the thermoplastic fibers; methods for forming the porous, compressible article; and articles containing the porous, compressible article. An article comprising a thermoformed composite is also disclosed, wherein the composite is not supported by a scrim layer and the composite exhibits improved conformation to fine mold details to which the scrim layer could not accurately conform.