How to prevent chafing on the trail
Q. My troop just went on a weekend camp-out. After we climbed this big hill, I started chafing in my groin area. It itched so bad, it was really uncomfortable. My friends were making fun of me because I was adjusting my underwear all weekend. How do I prevent chafing?
— Chafed Chad, Belleville, Kan.
A. Ahhh, crotch rot! Don’t worry, Chad, you’re not alone. Even if your buddies don’t admit it, every guy has (or will have) problems with this. Chafing is often caused by poorly fitting clothes and/or sweating. So, wear a good pair of underwear that wicks sweat away from your body. Some guys prefer tight-fitting boxers that cover the inner thighs so there’s no skin-to-skin rubbing. High-quality underwear might seem expensive, but if you avoid chafing, it’s worth it.
Once on the trail, make sure to keep your body dry. Bring some baby powder with you. Just dump a handful into your palm then stick your hand in your pants and coat it all. Don’t skimp on the stuff. This powder will keep you dry and should soothe any chafing hot spots.
Powder is the way to move forward.
Kilts! Problem solved… 🙂
Trail Toes. Only need to rub it on I’m trouble spots a couple times a day. Talc, baby powder, corn starch all only work for a short time. You need a moisture barrier and something to reduce friction. I’m a big guy and I use sport / tight boxer underwear and Trail Toes. Works great.
Vaseline works for me.
There’s a lot of great underwear options. I like wearing jockey style underwear when I hike, that helps keep the chafing in check for me. I’ve also used Gold Bond powder. It has a nice cooling effect and has anti-itch medicine in it as well. Taking care of hygiene and cleaning up after the number two is very important as well. Itchy bum is no fun when you hike either.
For underwear I recommend those that are a bit long on the thigh like bike shorts, snug, that dry quickly. Another option is Under Armour. Gold Bond cream is a must in every troop first aid kit. One application applied overnight will fix most issues. These issues are all part of personal hygiene and become more of an issue as they get a bit older. Talk about it openly.
A layer of calamine lotion in the affected areas will keep you cool also. Been using it for years.
My troops backpacked the West Highland Way in Scotland last summer. I wore padded biking shorts. Best idea ever. 95 miles and no chafing whatsoever. I’ll never hike without them again.
Deodorant works really well
Strongly recommend anti-chaffing stick – Body Glide or Gold Bond anti friction stick. Goes on like a solid deodorant. It really works!