The 7 Best Chamois Creams for Combatting Saddle Soreness
Stop saddle sores in their tracks with these reliable, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory chamois creams.
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A great chamois cream can help prevent and relieve the pains of cycling. Moisturizing your skin—especially near the groin and thighs—with a hydrating chamois cream is a vital step to take with lengthy rides, where repetitive motion and friction can cause saddle soreness, hot spots, and aches.
When mixed with ingredients like witch hazel and tea tree oil, these creams become antibacterial, halting infections associated with chafing wet skin. While some are fragrant and packed with menthol and others are naturally scented with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, the idea remains the same: Using a reliable chamois cream is preventative care that leads to an easier recovery.
The Best Chamois Creams
What to Consider
Look for chamois creams that are water-soluble. Because creams can be applied directly to clothing for friction and moisture protection, make sure the cream will properly wash out of fabrics. Chamois cream containing petroleum can potentially permanently stain clothing, in some cases voiding warranties. If you’re worried about discoloration or stains, avoid creams that list petroleum on their ingredient labels. Water-soluble chamois creams are easy to remove from clothing through regular wash cycles, and from the skin with soap and water. Sweat shouldn't cause chamois creams to dissolve.
Also, be mindful of additional agents found in your chamois cream. Witch hazel, peppermint oil, and tea tree oil can provide a fresh cooling sensation on your skin that also helps destroy bacteria in hot spots and wet areas. If you’re not looking for a minty fresh feel on your nether regions or thighs, opt for creams that omit these tingly ingredients. A good rule of thumb: the fewer ingredients, the more natural the feel. Plant-based ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, aloe, and cocoa butter provide natural moisturization.
How We Selected
To find the best chamois creams to relieve saddle sores and other discomfort associated with cycling, we searched the internet to see what professional critics and casual riders recommend. We kept track of the most frequently cited chamois cream brands and researched thousands of user reviews and dozens of critic reviews to find the best of the best. We then compared scores and user-generated ratings on retailer websites to find the trusted and reliable chamois creams you'll find below.
For more ways to stay comfortable on your rides, check out our picks for the best cycling shorts for every type of rider.
Chamois Butt'r Original Anti-Chafe Cream
Pros
- Great value for size
- Easily washable
Cons
Key Specs
- Size: 8-ounce tube
- Scent: Unscented
The original Chamois Butt’r formula is still one of the best chamois creams you can grab. This non-greasy cream is made without fragrance or parabens and easily washes off your skin with just soap and water.
It’s also packaged in a tube rather than a tub, which makes it easier for sharing—no double-dipping! Reviewers say it’s reliable for lengthy rides and works for warding away chafing, though it does typically require reapplication if you're sweating heavily.
Pros
- Fresh, cool feeling
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May be too minty for some
Key Specs
- Size: 8-ounce jar
- Scent: Mint
If you’re seeking a fresh feel on your skin, this cream is full of agents that’ll give you a cooling sensation while you’re on the move. It’s all due to a soothing mixture of peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and menthol, which carry antibacterial and analgesic properties that’ll help ward off infections from highly moist areas and relieve aches.
A combination of cocoa seed butter and sunflower seed oil also provides moisture for your skin. Over 480 reviewers love this product, giving it a whopping 4.8- out of 5-star average rating.
Pros
- Clean and clear application
- Easily washes off with water
Cons
- Smaller packaging means frequent buying
Key Specs
- Size: 1.5-ounce stick
- Scent: Mint
While this isn’t technically a cream, BodyGlide’s Cycle Glide balm still moisturizes and helps prevent chafing on rides. Just pop its cap off, swipe around your hot spots and sweaty areas, and you’ll be good to ride.
Many reviewers note that it has a slightly minty scent and it applies clear and non-greasy, making it a great alternative to gloopy creams you need to spread over your body.
The Cycle Glide Balm is a popular product that currently holds a 4.6- out of 5-star average rating based on over 600 user reviews.
Pros
- Non-greasy formula
- Doesn't affect pH levels
Cons
- A few reviewers say it burns after application
Key Specs
- Size: 4-ounce tube
- Scent: Chamomile
DZ Nuts’ Bliss cream is made for women who are looking to prevent chafing and relieve itching created by wet skin and friction. It does so with the use of anti-fungal and moisturizing ingredients like tea tree oil and African shea butter.
Reviewers rave about the cream’s ability to stay on the skin long after application, and how thick it feels once applied. Some reviewers also point out that it hasn’t affected the pH levels of their nether regions.
Pros
- Minimal ingredients
- Safe for face
Cons
- Cream solidifies and needs to warm before application
- Pricey for size
Key Specs
- Size: 0.5-ounce jar
- Scent: Natural shea
This chamois cream is made with all-natural ingredients that won’t tingle or burn on application. Those who pay attention to labels will be happy to know this cream is made of only four ingredients: a blend of cocoa butter and oil, Candelilla wax, and vitamin E oil. This is a great option for those looking for a natural feel to their chamois cream, or who may be sensitive to ingredients like menthol and peppermint oil.
Chamois Butt'r Eurostyle Anti-Chafe Cream
Pros
- Long-lasting chafe protection
- Fresh cooling feel
Cons
- May be too tingly for some
Key Specs
- Size: 8-ounce jar
- Scent: Mint
The Eurostyle blend of Chamois Butt’r gives an intense cooling sensation that lubricates and cools the skin while riding. It blends menthol and witch hazel for pain relief and inflammation reduction, and some users say it lasts well over 100 miles after a single application on the skin. It easily washes out with soap and water, and once it’s rubbed in, it doesn’t carry a strong odor, despite the menthol in its formula.
Pros
- Thick
Cons
- Pricey for size
Key Specs
- Size: 2-ounce tube
- Scent: Unscented
If you’re looking for chamois cream that doesn’t require frequent reapplication, this chafing ointment from Salty Britches is said to be super thick and has a similar consistency to Vaseline.
The cream can safely be applied to underarms, the groin area, face, lips, and other areas of the body, and reviews say it has a reliable consistency. The product claims it’s non-staining, though one reviewer mentioned the cream has stained their clothing, so your mileage may vary.
Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.
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