Whether you’re a runner, a cyclist, or just someone who enjoys the outdoors and is constantly on the go – prevention is critical when it comes to chafing. Nobody likes feeling uncomfortable during an activity they love due to skin irritation that can occur from friction between your clothing and your skin. To help combat this, we’ve put together a guide of some of the best anti-chafing sticks explicitly designed with active people in mind.
Table of Contents: Anti-Chafing Products
Anti-Chafing Sticks
We’ll start by giving you an overview of these anti-chafing products. It should be noted that these products are also available in balms, creams and tubes and tubs. After showcasing our top picks, we’ll provide you with more information about chafing and how it affects athletes.
What Are Anti-Chafing Sticks, Creams & Balms?
Anti-Chafing products are perfect for athletes and anyone who suffers from this skin problem. They provide an alternative to messy creams and lotions, delivering a fast and effective solution that prevents skin irritation. These products can be used on different body parts, including underarms, thighs, ankles or anywhere else where the skin is prone to chafing.
How Do Anti-Chafing Sticks & Products Works?
The anti-chafing stick creates a smooth barrier between your skin and fabric – helping reduce friction and protect against annoying discomfort. The highly effective formula dries quickly, leaving no residue, so you don’t have to worry about stained or ruined clothes. Anti-chafing products are designed to last through long and intense activities, so you won’t have to worry about re-applying throughout the day.
Best Anti-Chafing Sticks, Creams & Balms To Buy
Now you know what Anti-Chafing Sticks, Creams & Balms are, we’ll now get to the meat of this article – showcasing our choice of the best products.
BodyGlide Anti-Chafing Stick
This is one of the highest-rated anti-chafing sticks on the market. For a good reason – it’s highly effective and easy to apply! It can be used anywhere on the body where you’re prone to chafing, and it also helps to protect any existing skin irritations from getting worse. This product contains all-natural ingredients like beeswax, olive oil and vitamin E that help soothe your skin while supplying outstanding protection against chafing all day.
VeloSkin Premium Chamois Cream
This chamois cream is perfect for long-distance cyclists. It helps reduce friction between your skin and saddle, so you can stay comfortable throughout the ride. It also helps prevent any existing skin irritations from worsening and can even help protect against saddle sores. VeloSkin is vegan friendly and has not been tested on animals. Used by professional and weekend cyclists, with a ton of positive feedback.
Squirrel's Nut Butter Anti-Chafing Stick
This is an all-natural, vegan-friendly anti-chafing stick that’s perfect for those who need a quick and easy solution to their chafing problem. It contains tea tree oil, coconut oil and lemon balm – three ingredients known for their soothing and healing properties. Squirrel’s Nut Butter has a pleasant scent and dries quickly on the skin! Hugely popular with long-distance hikers and ultra runners.
Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel
An anti-chafing gel that forms a breathable barrier on your skin to help prevent and aid the recovery of chafing generated by repeated rubbing of skin on skin or skin on clothing. Multi-use formula that fights against thigh rash and chafing when running, and saddle sore when cycling.
Pee Safe Anti-Chafing Sticks
This anti-chafing stick is perfect for those who are always on the go. It’s travel friendly, so you don’t have to worry about bringing a bulky container! Plus, it provides superior protection against chafing and helps protect your clothing from sweat stains. Pee Safe is dermatologically tested and made with all-natural coconut oil.
Athlete Performance Muc-Off CC. Chamois Cream
A luxurious chamois cream that provides long-lasting, anti-chafe protection against pad abrasion and sweat build-up for cyclists. It forms a protective barrier to ensure comfort during extended periods in the saddle. It contains natural oils and extracts to condition the skin. Muc-Off Chamois Cream is also vegan-friendly and free from nasty chemicals that can irritate.
Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly - Budget Option
Good old Vaseline is a great budget option for those who don’t want to spend too much on an anti-chafing stick. It’s simple and practical – you have to apply it directly to the area prone to chafing. It will create a barrier between your skin and your clothing. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, so that it won’t irritate sensitive skin. I’ve used this on 50km, and 100km ultra runs, which did the trick.
What is Chafing?
Chafing is a silent yet a devastating enemy of runners and cyclists everywhere. It is an uncomfortable, irritating, and often painful condition that can occur when the skin rubs against clothing or other body parts. Suppose you run your first ultra marathon, hit the bike trails, or do any physical activity that causes friction between skin and clothing. In that case, chafing can hinder your performance in myriad ways, such as;
- The development of blisters on parts of the body can lead to pain and discomfort.
- Reduction of range of motion because psychological distress is associated with movement.
- Increased risk of skin infections because of friction and heat.
- Chafing can be a natural barrier to success and a significant cause of discomfort.
- Distraction from the task at hand and even increased risk of infection.
At first glance, chafing may appear to be mild skin irritation. However, it has been known to cause extreme discomfort among athletes – with symptoms ranging from mild stinging to full-blown burning sensation! In addition, chafing can also lead to an increased risk of infection due to open sores caused by repetitive friction on the skin.
Preventing Chafing When Running, Hiking & Cycling
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent chafing when running, hiking or cycling. The most important thing is to choose suitable clothing for your activity. Make sure it fits properly and isn’t too tight or constricting around any areas of your body that will be moving. Wearing clothing with lighter moisture-wicking fabrics and spandex can help reduce friction on the skin. Finding the right underwear is also essential, so head over to our best men’s running underwear guide, where we have highlighted and reviewed our top picks.
Wear The Right Clothes
The severity of chafing depends mainly on the type of apparel worn during physical activities and how active the person is. To minimize its effects, experts recommend wearing comfortable clothes made of breathable fabric such as cotton or spandex blends – as these materials help reduce skin friction. If you are a runner, look at our guide to the best anti-chafing running shorts for more information.
Treating Chafing Sores After Running Or Cycling
If you find yourself with chafing sores after a long run or ride, the key is to treat them as soon as possible. Take a shower straight after exercise! Clean the affected area with lukewarm water and mild soap, then apply a topical anti-inflammatory cream to help reduce swelling or redness. If you have an open sore, it’s best to keep it covered with a bandage for protection.
You can also use over-the-counter products such as sticks, creams and balms to help promote healing and soothe irritation. These products are specially formulated for athletes and contain ingredients like beeswax, olive oil, vitamin E and aloe vera. With these products at your disposal, you’ll be able to get back to doing what you love without the pain.
Final Thoughts & Conclusions
Unfortunately for long-distance runners and cyclists, chafing cannot always be avoided. Still, it can be managed with effective prevention methods. With the proper preventive measures in place – athletes can keep their focus on pushing towards those personal goals instead of worrying about this pesky foe! Thankfully, with the right sticks and the appropriate clothing, you can keep chafing sores at bay. Thanks for taking the time to read our guide. We hope you found it helpful. If you did, please consider sharing it with your friends! Good luck out there, and happy running/cycling in the future.
Disclaimer: This guide contains affiliate links, and I earn a small commission from any sale that occurs via my links. This, however, does not change my opinion; I always do my best to provide the facts and suggest products that will benefit my users. You pay no more and no less for using these links. It does, however, help to sustain my blog.
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