Shafing

S

sasha

Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
2,435
O.k you go on a long day hike toward the end of the hike it could be the inside of the thighs. Or today it was my arm against the shirt. It might not kill you but with the right condition it can right down brutal. Any advice on how to beat the problem..
 
The best preventative, hiking/bicycling shorts with a built in liner of wicking material.
 
Might not kill ya, but then again, infections suck, depending on the conditions you find yourself in. I tend to go for synthetic baselayers that breath out and are less effected by water than cotton. Also when something is rubbing, take the time to fix it. an ounce of prevention as they say.
 
I had a chafing issue awhile back that ended as mysteriously as it began.
In the meantime, I "tested" rollon Sports Shield, Lanacane gel, and Gold Bond Friction Defense(bar like deodorant).
They all worked well. The rollon goes on wet, so I liked it least. The bar is the most convenient, and the gel was the most compact, so a bar stays in my gym bag, just in case, while a partial tube of Lanacane goes in the FAK in my pack if I'm going to be out for more than a couple of days.
Bodyglide and Hydropel are other popular ones.
 
Underpants that do not bunch up at the groin. So that means either briefs or long thigh boxers. Material should be quick drying or at the very least not stupidly thick so as to retain a lot of moisture. A damp crotch is a chafed crotch... (and a crotch susceptible to crotch rot).

You can use products to remove moisture like gold bond or you can put some vaseline on there to reduce rubbing friction.
 
Apart from webbing burn this isn't something I have a great deal of experience of. That said, I did have a midlayer that would give me teets-of-flame by the end of a good walk. It took about three goes to pin down the problem, 'cos I wasn't anticipating something like that getting to me through the baselayer.

That sort of after the fact type thing attracts me to Lanacane, or anything with a numbing agent like Benzocaine in.

I've never tried anything beyond plain old thick zinc creme as a preventative. And that was for the webbing thing. I've come close though. I like the R2 saddle on my bike very much but if I start doing distances significantly more than 50 miles I definitely start to get the firefly jacksy kicking in. I tend to stop short of that as a consequence. Tonight we will do a 35 miler and I'll be fine. I do know though that one day when I push for my first century ride I will have to breakdown and start doing the basting with one of the many chamoise cremes - just for illustration. So far I've been actively swerving that.

If I had a fairly trivial underlying condition that got aggravated by activity then I'd strongly consider bombing that with a hydrocortisone prep during the run up. I don't know what you have over there but here the “Hc” version of Eurax is probably the top banana OTC.
 
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Try Bag Balm. This is a thick, antiseptic gel originally used for cows udders, but runners, cyclists and hikers have found it works very well to prevent and ease chafing.

I have used it myself and it works better than anything else I have tried.
 
I believe it's called "Pro Glide"? it comes in a gel form, and I got it at Dick's sporting goods. It worked great on a 36 mile endurance event in + 90* temps, and on a Tough Mudder. When you feel those hot spots starting to come on you just apply it wherever.
 
Many excellent suggestions. :thumbup:

A natural sponge seems expensive, but I still have mine after forty years. When wet, it is quite soft and allows a quick "sponge bath" of the critical crotch area.
 
I have found, when having to do a lot of hiking in the high desert while living in a tent for weeks at a time (for work), gold bond powder works pretty well if the chafing has already occurred. Ultimately, non-bunching quick drying underwear (already mentioned) is the best defense against the development of chafing. But for me, when in hot climates, the drying action of gold bond powder is much more pleasant than greasy options. Scorpion crotch is no fun.
 
abbydaddy said:
I have found, when having to do a lot of hiking in the high desert while living in a tent for weeks at a time (for work), gold bond powder works pretty well if the chafing has already occurred. Ultimately, non-bunching quick drying underwear (already mentioned) is the best defense against the development of chafing. But for me, when in hot climates, the drying action of gold bond powder is much more pleasant than greasy options. Scorpion crotch is no fun.
Click to expand...

I live, work and play by the Seaside and what he just said applies here as well.

I started buying these a few years back and have never had the itch, crouch chaffing issue since. https://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mens-buck-naked-performance-boxer-briefs-76015.aspx

Also there jean and work pants have a gusset in the front to allow for more Ball Room and I can't wear anything else now.

I don't work for Duluth Trading but I sure love their products for work & play clothing. They don't make skinny jeans!;)
 
Thank you guys. Been away from my pc for a while. Its great to get all the advice from everyone. I guess I would start with Gold Bond. Been wearing the proper underwear and a good base. But even then it can happen and when it can ruin an otherwise a great day of hiking.
Thanks again for the great advice guys.

Sasha
 
Pantyhose are still hard to beat for the legs. Cut them off in the summer, leave them long in the winter and they'll keep you surprisingly warmer too.
 
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Wickers men's boxers are great if you're wearing shorts or the long legged ones at REI, but they wick moisture away well and help prevent friction. The powders are great too, but up here in the bay it can get pretty humid and one has to re apply every few hours. I learned the silk thing from buddies in the forrestery service who used the silk sock liners to prevent blisters. Bike shorts would be great if you could find a lightweight merino type without any padding or elastic around the hips and legs.

http://www.amazon.com/Wickers-Mens-Softsilk-Boxer/dp/B0009JI95K

http://www.rei.com/product/802212/rei-silk-long-underwear-bottoms-mens
 
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