Time to talk about friction - a power ranking, a reference text

I have tried almost every thigh chafing product on the market, and I'm here to inform.

Much to my dismay, it has once again become summer.

I know I mentioned it a couple years ago, but I don’t thrive in the summer’s heat and humidity. It makes me anxious. But I try to cherish what the summer uniquely offers – I love to sit in the shade, the abundance of watermelon and corn pleases me, nearly every flower charms me, and I love swimming outside. Additionally, the Minnesota State Fair wouldn’t be the same without slipping through a sea of sweaty shouldered fellow Midwesterners, searching for the same foods on sticks.

But no weather will keep me from Taking a Nice Walk. And when I’m on these jaunts, I am usually dressed for the weather. Which means my thighs are OUT and rubbing together as I wander, as they have been for decades.

I say all this so you know you can truly trust me when I say I’m well-versed in the issue and the MARKET of presented solutions. When it comes to what is so often referred to as “friction protection” products, I have read the reviews, I have scrolled through the forums, and I have clicked every article containing lists like this one. I’ve laid down my own dollars and spent my own time testing all of the most popular solutions. So this has basically become a reference text.

What follows is a power ranking YEARS in the making and beside which I stand firmly.

Ranking at #7 – Body Glide For HER

One day I’ll untangle myself from Jeff B*zos completely. But until then, I maintain my Amazon Prime membership. And if you are on That Website searching for thigh chafe solutions, this is one of the first ones that displays. With a brand name like Body Glide, one might assume they know what they’re doing. But with a gaudy-pink stick and the tacked-on branding “for her,” they reveal a cluelessness that extends to the product itself. As applied, it’s very thin and virtually worthless beyond a thirty-minute jaunt. This can be ordered online and delivered quickly, but I would advise not.

Ideal for: those with Amazon Prime memberships and no expectations.

Okay I actually do wear bike shorts frequently. Including here.

#6 - Wearing Bike Shorts Under Everything

I know this is a go-to solution for people I know, love, and respect. But it’s not for me. Bike shorts as a firm choice are fine, but as an under-thing and solution to skin meeting skin, I believe we can do better. And I don’t believe in adjusting lengths and layers of clothing all day.

Ideal for: those that value a barrier method and infrequently stray.

#5 – Anti-Chafe Stick by First Aid Beauty  

Coming in at $20 for the stick, this is the most expensive product on the list. And it does work, it has staying power, and its application is relatively simple with the stick. For me, it comes in at number five truly just because the price turned me off so much considering what else is available and comparable.

Ideal for: those that equate cost with quality (often I do, so I get it).

#4 – Uberlube  

Someone I follow on social media posted a question regarding thigh chafe solutions and was generous enough to post some of the responses they received, mostly revealing the other solutions on this list. But there was one recommendation of this specific type of lube, and I was intrigued. Somehow, I’d never considered such a thing. But I purchased a little glass pump of this and it still sits on my desk (I work from home!), and I reach for it nearly every time I use my walking pad. This stuff definitely works and lasts longer-term, but its application isn’t simple and there’s nothing portable about it.

Ideal for: those that never plan to take their chafing solutions on the road.  

#3 – Friction Defense by Gold Bond

This is the first thigh friction relief product I ever met, and for a while I was a loyalist. Gold Bond has earned a space in my mind as safe and reliable, and this is a compact and portable stick. And it’s consistent. But unfortunately, it sometimes needs to be reapplied during the day, so the travel-ability of it matters. Unless you’ve planned strategically for reapplication, your level of pride matters, too. I have applied this specific product to the insides of my legs street-side and lived to regret being so shameless.  

Ideal for: those with mild friction concerns that value the classics.

He’s investigative but far from a consumer.

#2 – Thigh Rescue by Megababe

A couple of years ago, Megababe was a brand you couldn’t find at every retailer, but now they’re pretty much everywhere and rightfully so. The only concern I’ve heard raised regarding this product is its weight, sometimes a “goopy”-ness that reminds you that it’s there when you’re wearing it. But sometimes that’s a good thing! As much as I have to say about thigh friction defense here, sometimes I neglect myself or forget. If I’ve been burned recently (literally), the Megababe stick is what I reach for because you can build up to a desired thickness barrier. With just a swipe or two, it can transform from lotion-vibe to near-ointment. And I personally love to be coddled.

Ideal for: those that have been hurt recently or are looking for something that FEELS like it’s working.  

Precious to me - my dog and this well-loved tube of Monistat chafing gel

#1 tip top – Chafing Relief Powder Gel by Monistat

This is The Elite. And we hardly found each other. I discovered this little tube of friction cream when I was reading reviews for the Megababe brand. I was wary of a product blaring MONISTAT because, we have to be honest, parading these products in the street sends a message and it’s clearly “I’m nursing a vaginal issue.” And that’s FINE but something I’m not eager to share AND irrelevant for this specific product. When I attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour last year, I knew this Monistat tube was the one worth packing in my clear bag to the event space. It was worth the judgmental gaze I feared while going through security that never came (great reminder that no one thinks about me as much as I think about me).

This is rightfully called a powder-gel. It squeezes out from its toothpaste-like tube as a gel. As it’s applied, it holds on but transforms to a baby-powder feel. It lasts a long time, and it’s very lightweight. AND it’s inexpensive in comparison to the rest of these products (costing under $10 at every distributor I can find at this time) and incredibly compact in its thin tube. If squeezing it onto your fingers and having to apply it slows you down, maybe it’s worth a pivot to something else. But I’ll be singing Monistat’s praises for some time.

Ideal for: those that want the BEST, and whose confidence won’t be damaged if anyone spots this amongst your belongings.  

All My Children

Technically, I’d prefer to be walking into a giant pile of DEAD leaves or even a half-frozen lake. But until then, I’ll be cherishing what is special about summer through strolls. And comfortably at that.

As always, I could not be more open to discussion when it comes to this list. There are products I’ve tried that weren’t even worth writing about, but if I missed something that you think is truly top caliber, enlighten me!

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