If you’re yet to experience chafing, you’re one of the lucky ones. Chafing can put a huge strain on some of our favourite activities, especially methods of exercise. However, all is not lost, as it’s possible to choose clothes that are designed to prevent chafing – or at least not make it worse. Here are some of the most popular options:

Avoid cotton clothes

Cotton is a fantastic material when it comes to lounging clothes, so feel free to continue buying these for everyday use. It’s important to bear in mind that as soon as you start sweating, cotton is not the material to go for. Cotton takes much longer to dry than synthetics, which leads to saturated, wet clothing and irritated and painful skin when it rubs.

Ensure clothes are tagless and seamless

Seams or tags rubbing against your skin can be a major cause of chafing, but luckily, this is easily fixed. Try to buy seamless clothing for exercise or other activities where chafing is worsened, and make sure to cut out any tags. When you’re trying on clothes, pay attention to how they feel as well as how they look. If something starts rubbing in a changing room, it will inevitably be worse when you start exercising.

Chafing underwear

This tends to need a bit of trial and error to find which underwear is best for your anti chafing needs. Some running shorts include built-in briefs, but these only tend to benefit few people and for most they will not work at well. If these don’t improve your chafing, you might want to look at buying some specific chafing underwear for underneath your shorts. Alternatively, a pair of compression shorts can sometimes do the trick.

Make sure your clothes fit

Baggy or tight clothes can increase chafing, so it’s essential to make sure your clothes fit properly to reduce this issue. For example, a sports bra that is too tight or has seams in the wrong place can cause big problems when you begin to exercise.

Always secure your running pack

Most runners choose to carry a pack with them. We do recommend this, as staying hydrated can reduce the effects of chafing, so it’s important to drink plenty of water while you exercise. However, if your pack is bouncing or shifting as you move, you’re likely to experience chafing on the shoulders, back or waist. To avoid this, make sure the straps are tightened as much as is comfortably possible, which should stop the pack from moving around.

Use anti-chafe thigh bands

These are two specifically designed bands of fabric that are worn around your thighs. The design is unique, and it’s also extremely effective. The fabric acts as a protective barrier, preventing your thighs from rubbing together. The patented design ensures that they stay in place, meaning you don’t have to worry about them falling down or moving around, during exercise and strenuous activities. These thigh guards are extremely flexible, making them ideal for all your movements.

If you struggle from the effects of chafing, don’t hesitate to contact No More Chafe for guidance.