12 Anti-Chafe Products Distance Runners Swear By – Self
12 Anti-Chafe Products Distance Runners Swear By Self
I asked runners what they actually use to prevent chafing while they run. Here are the anti-chafing balms, lotions, and sprays that came highly recommended.
Images courtesy of the brands
Running has always made me feel unstoppable—that is, until I started training for a marathon. All of the awesome benefits I usually experience from running managed to stick around during the early stages of my training: the sensation of a runner’s high, the endorphins I feel after crushing a challenging hill, and of course, an excuse to treat myself to a new pair of leggings.
But once my run distances got up to 13+ miles at a time, I started discovering red chafe marks in my post-run shower (“discovering” is a nice way of saying “screaming bloody murder from the water hitting my burned flesh”). They were showing up on my armpits and my lower back where my leggings have a pocket. My inner thighs took a beating the one day I decided to wear shorts.
With race day quickly approaching, I knew I had to put an end to my chafing woes, and fast. So, I decided to ask a handful of distance runners what they personally use. Their recommendations helped me figure out my own plan: I ended up using a combo of Vaseline on my toes and TriSlide spray basically everywhere else. I had periods of rain and sunshine on race day and managed to be chafe-free by the time I crossed the finish line. (My toes had a few blisters from the wetness, but hey, after 26.2 miles, that one’s a tough battle to win.)
For anyone else who’s searching for a legit anti-chafe product, here’s the full list of balms, sprays, and creams that came highly recommended to me.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
RunGuard, $12
“My go-to to prevent chafing is . I use it on my inner thighs and lower back (right underneath the waistband of my shorts), as well as on the underside of my arms, where they might rub against my shirt or sports bra. I love that it’s easy to use, not messy or greasy, and doesn’t stain my clothes.” —Emilia B., runner in Houston, Texas
Buy it: $12,
Lush Ultrabalm, $17
“I usually use BodyGlide balm and I haven’t chafed in so long. But a friend recently gave me from Lush as a gift so I also use that here and there. It’s a little pricier because it’s handmade with natural ingredients like rose wax, but it works great, too.” —Mo L., runner in Honolulu, Hawaii
Buy it: $17,
Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick, $14
“What I love about the stick (aside from its cute packaging) is that the consistency is super light. I dab it on before all my long runs, whether I’m wearing shorts or tights, and I’m confident that I won’t hit issues along the way. The citrusy scent is also really lovely.” —Emily A., runner in New York, New York
Buy it: $14,
Chamois Butt’r Original Anti-Chafe Cream, $10
“I’m a triathlete and half marathoner training for my first full marathon (New York City, what’s up!). has been my go-to in the past for biking and running—I like it because it’s not greasy but still keeps the skin on my thighs and bra line chafe-free. Since it holds up after being in water during a triathlon, I know it’ll get me through 26.2.” —Jess G., runner in New York, New York
Buy it: $10,
2Toms SportShield for Her, $14
“I use , mostly around my bra line when I’m running during longer distances and on my thighs when playing field hockey. The consistency is like a roll-on deodorant which is great for quick application.” —Natalie R., runner in Kent, England
Buy it: $14,
Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly Skin Protectant, $6 for 2
“When I ran the 2015 Boston marathon, the weather forecast called for pouring rain. The night before the race, I Googled ‘anti-chafing for running in the rain’ and the first thing that popped up was —I haven’t used anything else since. I put it anywhere a clothing seam hits my skin, on my toes, and on my butt (glamorous, huh?).” —Colleen C., runner in Boston, Massachusetts
“Honestly, I slather on petroleum jelly and call it a day. I’m not concerned with greasiness—what’s more important to me is to be able to finish my run and not be afraid of the shower.” —Mirna V., runner in Brooklyn, New York
Buy it: $6 for two,
Body Glide, $10
“I like because it’s clean and easy to apply. I put it on my sports bra and the small of my back—weird spot, but I train with a hydration pack and if I’m running in a sports bra, it’ll chafe where it hits my lower back.” —Jenn W., runner in Seattle, Washington
“I use because it has added moisturizers in it that the original BodyGlide doesn’t. I get the most chafing under the straps of my sports bra, but I also put it on my waist where my running belt hits my skin because sometimes the bounce leads to chafing as well.” —Adrianna J., runner in Chicago, Illinois
Buy it: $10, (Original); $10, (Body Glide For Her)
Trail Toes, $13
“I actually have a combo: I use KT tape under the band of my bra, back and front (this is a serious lifesaver!), on my toes and sides of my feet, and BodyGlide everywhere else.” —Meg N., runner in Oceanside, New York
Buy it: $13,
Aquaphor Healing Ointment, $5
“I use 2Toms often, but add on during every marathon or really long training run I do. It’s key in my armpits and all around the seams of my sports bra, especially front and center where it rubs the most.” —Dorothy B., runner from Leesburg, Virginia
Buy it: $5,
Squirrel’s Nut Butter, $5-14
“I love salve. It’s soft and easy to work evenly into my skin, versus some harder sticks I’ve tried. I use it for anti-chafe, primarily on the hot spots under the side seams of my sports bra and the undersides of my arms where the skin might rub during my arm swing. It’s also great as a moisturizer for dry skin.” —Melissa W., runner in New York City, New York
Buy it: $5-14,
Bag Balm, $7
“I’m a trail runner in Colorado, so I use to keep things moist during dry, dusty runs. I mostly use it under my armpits where my arm rubs against my sports bra or tank top. I ran the Leadville Trail 100 a few summers ago and it was a huge help.” —Liz A., runner in Leadville, Colorado
Buy it: $7,
TRISLIDE Anti-Chafe Spray, $15
“I love because, as a spray, it’s easier for me to get those hard-to-reach areas like the top of my neck (for my wetsuit) and back of my arms (for my sports bra). Last fall, it got me through a Half Ironman and a marathon with no chafing at all.” —Katie S., runner in New York City, New York
Buy it: $15,
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