Best Women's Overall

BodyGlide For Her Anti Chafe and Moisturizing Balm

$11 at Amazon View on Target $10 at Walmart

Key Specs

Type: Balm Size: 0.8 or 1.5 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Allantoin, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, vitamin F Our Overall Rating: 5/5

Who It’s For

Best for active people (like runners) who need a convenient and gentle chafing stick. 

Why We Love It 

Bodyglide’s For Her Anti-Chafe Moisturizing Balm is our top overall pick for its simple application, portability, and gentle, long-lasting formula. With the same base ingredients as BodyGlide’s Original Anti Chafe Balm, For Her has added coconut and sweet almond oils to moisturize and protect your skin without blocking pores. 

Rich in vitamins A, B, E, and F to promote overall skin health, this vegan stick is unscented and didn’t irritate our sensitive skin when we tested it. We noticed that it feels smooth and light—plus, the formula goes on clear and doesn’t leave any marks behind on clothes. 

During testing, we were impressed by how well this balm stayed on. Through long days at the office, humid summer weather, sunscreen re-applications, and even a dip in the ocean, Bodyglide’s Anti-Chafe Balm proved to be completely sweat- and waterproof. We love that the lightweight, compact tube is easy to pack during travel and daily commutes to the office or the gym. Easy to use, effective, and long-lasting, this balm is by far one of the best we’ve ever tested. 

Potential Flaws

• We noticed that this balm feels slightly sticky when first applied. But after it dries down, it feels silky smooth all day long. 
  

Best Men’s Overall

DZNuts Pro Chamois Cream

$22

$17 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Backcountry

Key Specs

Type: Cream Size: 4 ounces Scent: Light, minty Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, evodia, masterwort, vitamin E Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for athletes who run and train for non-swimming events, like Spartan races or Tough Mudders. 

Why We Love It

DZNuts’ Pro Chamois Cream wins our other top spot for its refreshing scent and healing formula. Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, it helps reduce your chances of infection while your skin recovers from chafing and itchiness. It's a great cream to layer with other antibacterial products like body washes.

When we tested DZNuts for ourselves, we liked that it went on smoothly and didn’t leave any visible clumps or residue behind. We also noticed that our skin felt nourished immediately after application—plus, we liked the light scent and cooling sensation from the cream’s tea tree oil. 

The Pro Chamois Cream proved to be sweat- and humidity-resistant, effectively preventing chafing during long runs and high-intensity workouts. It’s also anti-inflammatory, preventing further irritation when applied on skin that’s already damaged. After just a few uses, we found ourselves reaching for it regularly and feeling more confident during our sweat sessions. 

Potential Flaws

• We noticed that this chafing cream leaves a chalky, powdery residue on our hands after it’s applied. While this needs to be washed off, we like that the sensation isn’t distracting on other areas of the body during exercise. 
• Although this cream didn’t last through a dip in the pool, we were pleased by how long it lasted on land. 

Best Budget

Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick

$8

$7 at Amazon $7 at Target View on Walmart

Key Specs

Type: Stick Size: 1.75 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, ginger root extract, aloe Our Overall Rating: 5/5

Who It’s For

Best for beginners who need a simple anti-chafe stick for everyday use.

Why We Love It

Gold Bond’s Friction Defense Stick is our favorite anti-chafing product for anyone on a budget. We love that it’s unscented and feels more moisturizing than some pricier creams we tested. And the stick’s wide surface helps the product glide on effortlessly with just a few swipes. The resulting barrier is comfortable, protective, transparent, and clump-free, for easy wearing. 

During testing, this stick lasted all day long, resisting sweat, humidity, and even a day at the pool. We like that it’s enriched with healing zinc oxide, anti-inflammatory ginger root extract, and soothing aloe for sensitive skin. Conveniently pocket-sized with a rotating wheel to push more product up as needed, this Gold Bond stick doesn’t cost much (but delivers big results). 

Potential Flaws

• Like some others we tested, this balm feels a little tacky right after it’s applied. But once it dries down, we found that it’s barely noticeable. 

Best Stick

BodyGlide Original Anti-Chafe Balm

$9 at Amazon $11 at Dicks Sporting Goods $10 at Walmart

Key Specs

Type: Stick Size: 0.8, 1.5, or 2.5 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Allantoin, vitamin E Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for endurance athletes who need a long-lasting, portable chafing stick that’s quick and easy to apply.

Why We Love It

Body Glide’s Original Anti-Chafe Balm is a great option for those on the go. We love how easy the stick formula is to apply and stash in a pocket or running belt. This compact stick was the perfect companion while we ran errands, went on walks, visited the beach, and upped our pickleball game. 

The balm’s plant-based, petroleum-free formula is odorless and doesn’t leave residue behind on skin or clothes. During testing, we noticed that the stick’s shape makes it easy to reach areas like the backs of our inner thighs. We also love this balm’s lightweight texture, which feels like next to nothing on the skin (we even forgot where we applied it). Even better, it comes in several sizes and sets of two, so you can go longer between restocks. 

Potential Flaws

• This anti-chafing balm may melt in high temperatures, so we don’t recommend leaving it outside for long periods in hot weather or a warm car. 
• Although the lid wasn’t as secure as others we tried, we found that the stick never created a mess in our bags.

Best Cream

Chamois Butt'r Original Anti-Chafe Cream

$20

$17 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $20 at Backcountry

Key Specs

Type: Cream Size: 8 ounces Scent: Light Key Ingredients: Mineral oil, glyceryl stearate, glycerine, lanolin Our Overall Rating: 5/5

Who It’s For

Best for cyclists or runners who want a truly long-lasting, effective chafing cream.

Why We Love It

Looking for a cream, instead of a stick or balm? We highly recommend Chamois Butt'r’s Original Anti-Chafe Cream for its smooth, easy-to-apply formula that comes in a large tube. We wore this cream while running in the blazing summer heat and never had to re-apply. Surprisingly, it stayed put without clumping, melting, or slipping off—even when we started to sweat. 

We love that this chafing cream is hydrating, smooth to the touch, and rubs in seamlessly. Transparent with a light scent, it doesn’t make a greasy mess and comes off easily with soap and water at the end of your workout. And since it comes in the largest container on our list, we’re confident this is an investment that will last for dozens of training sessions to come. 

Potential Flaws

• Since the tube is much larger than our other picks, this cream isn’t very portable or TSA-friendly. Still, we like that this means you don’t have to replace it as often. 
• Creams like this one are harder to control compared to a stick. But we didn’t have any issues applying this one because it rubs in quickly and easily. 

Best Natural

Hiki Anti-Chafe Stick

$20 at Amazon View on Myhiki.com

Key Specs

Type: Stick Size: 1.6 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, rice bran extract, sunflower extract, rosemary leaf extract, coconut acid, aloe leaf extract, bisabolol, ginger root extract Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5

Who It’s For

Best if you want a portable, vegan anti-chafe stick for everyday use.

Why We Love It

With a long list of botanical ingredients, Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick is our top pick for a natural anti-chafing product. The application is straightforward and convenient—just like a stick deodorant. During testing, the product performed just as well as others on our list made with synthetic ingredients, keeping chafing at bay in hot, humid weather. 

Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick left our skin feeling moisturized, nourished, and healthy, thanks to a blend of coconut oil and aloe leaf extract. We also like that it’s fragrance-free and didn’t leave any marks on our clothing. Designed to be applied anywhere and everywhere, Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick is recyclable and Leaping Bunny certified, meaning it’s cruelty-free. 

Potential Flaws

• The dial at the bottom of the stick can be difficult to turn, which made it hard for us to get more product out. Still, we like how easy this product is to apply. 
• We noticed that this chafing stick isn’t waterproof, so we only recommend it for workouts on land. 

Best for Sensitive Skin

Megababe Thigh Rescue

$14 at Amazon $14 at Target $14 at Nordstrom

Key Specs

Type: Stick Size: 2.1 ounces Scent: Light, fresh citrus Key Ingredients: Aloe, pomegranate seed extract, grapeseed oil, vitamin E Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for people with contact allergies, especially if you don’t sweat much. 

Why We Love It

If you struggle to find products that don’t irritate your sensitive skin, we highly recommend Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick. Our tester, who has very sensitive skin and a history of contact allergies, used this stick almost daily during a heat wave and didn’t have any reactions. We were surprised to see these results with a scented product—since often, those with sensitive skin have to give up fragrances to prevent irritation. 

Made with aloe, pomegranate seed extract, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E, this stick feels light and hydrating when applied and goes on completely clear. We love that the silky texture melts into thighs, underarms, and more with just a few swipes. It’s also aluminum- and paraben-free, with ginger root extract to even your skin tone and improve elasticity over time. 

Potential Flaws

• We noticed that this stick wore off after a few hours once we started to sweat. Thankfully, reapplying is easy. 

Best Spray

Skin Slick Anti-Chafe Spray

$16

$15 at Amazon View on Sbrsportsinc.com

Key Specs

Type: Spray Size: 1.5 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, propane, n-butane Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for swimmers who need a chafing spray that goes on in seconds and is fully waterproof.

Why We Love It

For a truly hands-free option that requires zero rubbing in, we love Skin Slick’s All Sport Anti-Chafe Spray. This continuous spray not only reduces chafing—it also makes slipping into wetsuits and swim skins easier. We love that the aerosol application method allows us to hit hard-to-reach areas at any angle (it even sprays flawlessly when held upside down). 

We like the dry spray feel that blended seamlessly into our skin during testing. Even in hot, humid weather, it provides solid protection for multiple hours of wear. Completely waterproof and sweatproof, it also holds up in the pool or ocean. Whether we went on walks, did yard work, or went for a swim, we found it lasted longer than other anti-chafing products we tried. We also love that it’s fragrance-free for sensitive skin and doesn’t leave any kind of residue behind. 

Potential Flaws

• Although we love how well this product works, we wish it came in a larger bottle for the price.
• The formula contains silicone and other synthetics—for an all-natural anti-chafing product, we recommend Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick instead.

Best for Running

Vaseline All Over Balm

$24

$17 at Amazon View on CVS

Key Specs

Type: Balm jelly stick Size: 1.4 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Petrolatum Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for runners or endurance athletes, especially if most anti-chafe sticks are too drying for you.

Why We Love It

For runners and other endurance athletes, fitness and running coach Stephanie Hnatiuk, RD, CPT, recommends an easy-to-apply anti-chafe stick, like Vaseline’s All-Over Body Balm Stick. Compact and portable, it can be neatly stowed away in running belts, hydration packs, or other running gear. Like many Vaseline products, this one is fragrance-free and gentle on sensitive skin. 

During testing, we noticed that it helped prevent uncomfortable friction that often leads to chafing. It kept our skin feeling healthy and moisturized—plus, we never had to reapply. Still soothing even when layered on top of already-irritated skin, this stick is our go-to for hitting the pavement or treadmill. 

Potential Flaws

• This balm holds up against sweat and humidity on long runs, but it isn’t fully waterproof for swimming.
• This balm did leave some dark marks on our clothes due to its slick texture. 

Best for Cycling

Gooch Guard Chamois Cream

$16

$15 at Amazon

Key Specs

Type: Cream Size: 4.2 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Aloe, coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, tea tree oil Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who It’s For

Best for endurance athletes.

Why We Love It

For cyclists who deal with saddle soreness, we recommend Gooch Guard’s Chamois Cream, which we found to be highly effective and long-lasting. We love that it contains no parabens, petroleum, silicone, added fragrance, or common allergens, so it’s gentle on all skin types.

Packaged in a small jar, this chafing cream has a sheer, lotion-like consistency that blends nicely into the skin without leaving any sticky residue behind. Unlike other creams on our list, this one didn’t need to be washed off of our hands after we applied it. It was incredibly effective at combatting chafing and held up during long outings, even under extremely hot and sweaty conditions. Plus, at the end of our workouts, we realized the areas where we applied the cream felt smoother and more hydrated.

Potential Flaws

• Gooch Guard’s Chamois Cream isn’t as easy to apply or reapply while you’re on the go because it comes in a jar, rather than a tube like some other creams on our list. 

Best Vegan

Zealios Betwixt Sports & Athletic Anti-Chafe Cream

$15

$14 at Amazon View on Teamzealios.com View on Mikesbikes.com

Key Specs

Type: Cream Size: 4 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Organic aloe vera, glycerine, white oak bark extract, allantoin, sweet almond oil, green tea extract, chamomile extract Our Overall Rating: 5/5

Who It’s For

Best for those who prioritize anti-chafe products with gentle, vegan ingredients.

Why We Love It

For a vegan chafing cream that really works, Zealios Betwixt Chamois Cream is our top pick. It’s made from plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients, without any fragrance, petroleum, or parabens. In testing, we loved how this cream performed, keeping us feeling dry and comfortable while cycling on hot summer days. 

The product feels sheer and weightless on the skin and is easy to apply. We like that it didn’t stain our clothes and that the tube helped us control how much product we use each time. After testing, we feel that this vegan chafing cream outperformed many others we tried that are made with synthetic ingredients. But if you don’t want to pack the entire tube with you every time you venture outside, we love that this cream also comes in convenient, single-use packets. 

Potential Flaws

• This cream does leave a residue behind on your hands, and we felt the need to wash or wipe them off after applying. Even so, it isn’t sticky or messy. 

Best for Inner Thighs

Zone Naturals Anti-Chafing Stick

$19

$18 at Amazon

Key Specs

Type: Stick Size: 1.5 ounces Scent: Unscented Key Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, shea butter, aloe Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for preventing irritation in skin-to-skin areas. 

Why We Love It

Made with organic coconut oil, aloe, and shea butter, Zone Naturals’ Chub Rub Stick is ideal for protecting areas where skin rubs together, especially between thighs and under arms. The unscented formula hydrates skin to prevent dryness, while the stick packaging is compact and portable. 

In testing, we liked how easily this stick glides onto skin, leaving no trace behind on clothing. We didn’t feel a need to apply until around the six- or seven-hour mark—even during hot, humid summer nights. Bike shorts aside, this is our favorite anti-chafe stick for keeping your inner thighs moisturized and chafe-free. 

Potential Flaws

• We noticed that this product can feel sticky and slightly greasy when it’s applied too thickly. Using a thin layer resulted in a much more pleasant texture. 
• We don’t recommend leaving this stick outside in hot weather, as it can melt. Instead, store it at room temperature between uses.