19 Best Underwear to Prevent Chafing For Active Men & Women

There's nothing worse than going for a run or walking for a long time and having your inner-thighs feeling like their lit on fire as they rub against each other. Chafing isn't fun.

Choosing the best anti-chafing underwear can be the perfect cure for thigh sweat and  painful chafing.

If you don't want to rely on messy creams and chemical filled lotions, anti-chafing underwear is hands-down the best way prevent thigh chafing once and for all. Ditch your old uncomfortable underwear and buy the best anti-chafing underwear on the market.

Not sure where to start? 

Here are the best anti-chafing underwear you can buy.

Top 9 Best Anti-Chafing Underwear For Women

You'll probably have an easier time finding your soulmate than finding a girl who hasn't experienced chafing, at least once, during the summer. Particularly girls without thigh gaps (AKA normal people).

Because during the summer, those thunder thighs will be fusing together like mermaids as soon as you sit down, and hurting like third degree burns the moment you try to separate them.

It seems funny, but chafing is no laughing matter, especially when you're on the receiving end. It's compounded by the fact that there's nothing straightforward about shopping for the best anti chafing underwear for women.

Honestly, most girls just end up in the men's underwear section and call it a day. And that would have been fine, if men's underwear didn't come with pouches that cause their own set of problems to the fairer sex.

Ultimately, the right thing to do will be to take a deep breathe and delve into all the cuts, colors and designs of feminine panties and find the perfect anti chafing underwear. But this is the millennial age, so you can just reap the knowledge benefits of other people's time and money, spent in their search for the best anti-chafing underwear.

Here's a look at the 10 best anti chafing underwear for women:

1. Elastic Anti-chafing Thigh Bandelettes

Versatile and sexy: Lace may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of anti chafing fabric, but these bands are surprisingly helpful (and sexy) when the going gets tough. You'll need to place the band wraps around your chub rub region so that it prevents direct thigh on thigh contact. 

These are literally just bands (not lingerie with garters) so you can prevent thigh chafing even if you decide to go au naturel (beware of pulling a Marilyn Monroe though). The best part, an outsider will probably just think you're wearing naughty lingerie garters and not dealing with a chafing problem.

2. Liang Rou Women's Ultra Thin Stretch Short Leggings

Loose enough not to cut off blood flow: This is basically an extra short legging but with lighter fabric and reinforced bands at the waist and legs. It has some lace details at the legs so it isn't just one boring fabric. Since it's a little loose and thin, it is great during the summer, however note that that also means it may roll up whenever you take a seat. 

It's 95% Modal, so you know it's going to feel super soft and silky against your skin without creating any static, even if you wear a form fitting dress.

3. Vassarette Women's Comfortably Smooth Slip Short Panties

Slim fit: This has a panty hose sort of feel and look to it. It smoothens the appearance of all dimples and jiggles, and effectively keeps all your business private whenever a sudden wind blows. It's just above the knee and snug, so it won't roll up when you're walking. 

Note that this slip short is designed with a continuous seam, right at the crotch, so if you need to wear a panty liner, it won't stick. That means if you're on your period, or just spotting, you'll need to wear something beneath this. Or a different underwear, honestly, cause subjecting your lady bits to double panties during the summer is just wrong.

4. Boody Body EcoWear Women's Full Brief

Non-slip Waistband: Boody has been making everyday essentials from one of the softest, hypoallergenic yarns for less than a decade, yet the quality they provide has turned them into a household name. This particular underwear has a double fold waistband design - which is great since it stops the underwear from rolling downwards. However, a double fold design can be a double edged sword if the elastic in the waistband doesn't seat flat, as is the case with this. Perhaps it's because of the extra fabric, cause it can feel a bit uncomfortable.

The idea behind wearing bamboo briefs as an anti chafing underwear, is to make sure sweat doesn't move to your thigh from your crotch, especially when you're wearing jeans. Most undies can't take the heat, but this will. So don't hesitate to snag a pair.

5. Undersummers Women's Ultrasoft Lace Slip Shorts

No visible panty line: The problem with most lace anti chafing underwear is that, while they may solve your initial thigh chafing problem, the lace fabric tends to have problems of its own, so you might experience itchy lace syndrome during or after use.

To prevent this itchy syndrome, this undersummer underwear has a layer of sheen fabric between your body and the lace. So you'll have a functional but sexy anti chafing underwear that you won't be ashamed of even if you have a Marilyn Monroe moment.

6. Boody, Body EcoWear Women's Boyleg Briefs

Full coverage: If you've been fan-girling men's briefs, this is for you. This boyleg brief is organic and super light, which is great when the weather feels like a thousand degrees. You'll get full frontal and rear coverage, just like you'd get in granny panties, except this is significantly less hideous.

What brings this eco-friendly underwear down a notch is that the leg holes can be a little tight. And because the underwear itself isn't very stretchy, it might feel a bit constricting to someone who moves about a lot. You can solve this issue by just ordering one size up.

7. Caramel Cantina Nylon Spandex Hipster Boy Shorts

Your wallet will thank you: Chafing doesn't discriminate. So even girls with thigh gaps sometimes experience it (though their chub rub region will be much higher or lower than most girl's).

These nylon boy shorts are great for keeping moisture off the skin, and they're long enough to cover an upper chafing region without requiring a mid thigh anti chafing underwear - the goal is to avoid extra covering when its hot. You get 6 of them at a steal price, so you should definitely check them out. Note that you can keep wearing them even after summer's over, as they don't have a limited use like most of the underwear on this list.

8. Jockey Skimmies Mid-Thigh Slip Shorts

Great fitting and length: Jockey has been making underwear for more than a century now, and though they're famous for their jockey briefs, they've long diversified into making women's underwear. This pair of skinnies is a little thick, so more suitable for girls who are thinner. If you're a little chubby, you'll want the almost sheer skimmies wicking slip short reviewed next.

9. Jockey Women's Underwear, Skimmies Wicking Slipshort

Ultimate sheer summer Skimmies: This is extremely sheer, so it's not something you can wear alone and go outdoors. But this extreme "sheerness" means it's nirvana during the summer. It's also full rise and seamless in case you need to wear a form fitting dress without jiggling like a blob of fat. Fair warning, the fabric will pill easily if you throw it into the washing machine, so you need to care for it manually.

Top 10 Best Anti-Chafing Underwear For Men

You can't escape chafing even if you wear a Scottish kilt. Because chafing comes in different forms - each with different pain thresholds. You have chafing that'll feel fine after using some powder or lubricant, and nuts that go "tssss" when doused with cold water like you've just put out coal.

Chafing is definitely no joke.

And seriously, the firms designing men's underwear need to "tighten" up their definition of chafing cause mainstream underwear just aren't designed to protect the boys. That said, if you've spent a considerable amount of money (and time) looking for the best anti chafing underwear for men, and still haven't found it, this article's for you.

But first, some lessons. Friction can leave your skin tender, which will up your chances of getting your thighs or man parts rubbed (and not in the right way). It could be thigh against thigh (so going commando won't prevent it) or crown jewels against really crappy fabrics. Your first lesson is thus to avoid ridiculously cheap underwear if you want to prevent chafing. Here are a few other lessons you'll want to keep in mind.

Ready to grab a pair of new underwear that won't irritate your skin? Here are our picks for the 10 best anti chafing underwear for men:

1. Adidas Men's Sport Performance Climalite Boxer Brief

Great active wear: As one of the biggest names in sportswear, Adidas is probably one of the first names that come to mind when you think of a guaranteed anti chafing underwear. And they don't disappoint. This climalite boxer brief carries on the tradition of high quality craftsmanship. Made from Polyester and spandex, so wicks sweat away from the skin. It features a logoed elastic waistband and a double lined mesh pouch, thus providing the much needed support and climate control you'll need during intense physical activities or hot climates. 

While this is generally great, you'll need to take special care during laundry, which will suck if you're a "throw 'em in the washer and leave 'em" kind of guy. You can machine wash with cold water, but you shouldn't use a dryer on high heat (better yet, line dry) if you want them to last.

2. ExOfficio Give N Go Boxer Brief

Wash and go: These briefs dry pretty fast and are so insanely comfortable that you can wear them to swim at the beach, and they'll dry off before you go home (2 hours give and take). You can wear this slim brief under fitted pants without worrying about chafing. It may come off as a little pricey, but life's too short to subject your man parts to torture. 

It's made from nylon and lycra spandex, so will feel super soft on your skin but with some stretch. If you're not too psyched about colors and patterns, you'll love the minimalist design on this boxer brief. As with all lightweight materials, you'll need to wash this really carefully to avoid pilling.

3. Hanes Men's Comfort Flex Fit Lightweight Mesh Boxer Brief

Super slim design: This isn't as well known as the previous brands, but it's great none the less. Consider this boxer brief as your bang for buck. If you're not willing to part with tons of cash, but still don't want your crown jewels hurting, you can try this pack of 3. Firm's name is branded on the waistband, so it doesn't have those annoying tags that irritate from behind. 

It's made from polyester and elastane, so you get a soft underwear with a lot of give to move about in multiple directions.

4. Puma Men's Tech Boxer Brief

Supportive fit: These briefs go up to mid thigh, which is really great if you want to avoiding thigh chafing (especially on days you're in denim). Puma's an easily recognizable brand, so you'll be paying for the brand name as well as the brief. Get it when you're ready to splurge on something really nice. 

Made from polyester and spandex, this has a 360 degree stretch, is super soft, breathable and has great moisture wicking technology. It's the undy you'll want to have for intense physical activity, so you can buy a two in one pack, and save them for specific activities. It's also tag free, so yay!

5. Calvin Klein Micro Modal Trunk

Very form-fitting: This is another underwear whose waistband you'll want to show off. The micro modal material is super soft, virtually on the same comfy scale as bamboo and cotton. It's particularly great for guys with thick thighs who find boxer briefs too constricting.

Fits like a second skin, and the reinforced pouch means you can wear it without adjusting your junk every single time. The length is also great because you can turn your trunk to an every day underwear, especially when the weather gets too hot.

6. Saxx Men's Kinetic Boxer

Friction-free support: This kinetic boxer was the last and most advanced to be released amongst its peers. It's the only Saxx (in this line) specifically designed for sports. It goes way past your mid thigh, so your quads and hamstrings will be covered as well. It has flat lock seams which drastically reduce irritation in your nether region. 

Because it's made of nylon and spandex, none of which has natural anti-microbial properties, Saxx uses its anti-odor technology to keep you feeling refreshed down there. It also has a semi compression fit, so it's breathable and supportive without restricting your movements.

7. Reebok Men's Performance Boxer Briefs

High intensity sports and everyday wear: Even though most guys start out with tighty whities, these boxer briefs are pretty good alternatives for everyday wear, particularly for those who work in heated environments. They cover up all the important parts, and keep your thighs from rubbing the (no doubt tough) material of your pants or jeans. 

Moreover, this Reebok's boxer brief has a super slim fit design, so won't be bunching up at the waist or rolling up at the thighs. The only issue you may have with this is that, like most boxer briefs, this has no fly, so you'll have to go all the way over the waistband when you want to pee.

8. David Archy Men's Ultra Fast Dry Performance Boxer Briefs

Get three unique briefs for the price of one famous brand: This 3 in 1 pack has three different versions - a mesh with no fly, solid with no fly and a mesh with fly. So you can switch them on days you anticipate being in the office or gym. Each version (solid or mesh) is made with different mixtures of polyamide and spandex. 

Aside from being very affordable, you also get to pick the color you want before submitting your order. So if you need something to make your day less gloomy, you can opt for brighter colors, instead of getting the default black. They do come with those dreaded tags (despite the waistband being branded), but the firm says you can easily tear it off with your hand.

9. Clevedaur Men's Antimicrobial Micro Modal Underwear 6" 

Friction-free stitching: This is made from a biodegradable Beechwood so its eco-friendly. This design is as minimalist as it gets. The brand logo printed matches the color of the boxer brief you choose, so it's barely noticeable. It's also tagless, which is always great. 

Fits like a second skin, so it's like you're naked underneath your pants. You can wash this in a washing machine without worrying about it pilling or shrinking.

10. Adidas Men's Sport Performance Climacool Boxer Brief

Form fitting, with cooling technology: It's only fitting that this list starts and closes with Adidas. Like the climalite, this climacool from the sport performance is built with high intensity activities in mind. If you want an underwear with some prestige attached, and a reputation to protect (ergo guaranteed anti chafing), get something from this sports performance line. 

Keep in mind that you may not like wearing this daily (no easy access), especially if you wear dress pants, because you'll need to unbuckle every time you need to take a piss. One difference between this and the climalite is that climacool is 6" while the other is 5". The deciding factor between these two should be where your chub rub line ends.

Anti-Chafing Underwear for Women: Buying Guide

One of the best ways to prevent chafing during the summer is to rely on underwear, and not long leggings - so your sweat won't feel like lava that's about to catch fire.

But all chafe-free underwear isn't created equal. Here's what to look for in the best anti-chafing underwear for women.

Fabric

The type of material used in making your underwear is perhaps the most important factor to consider. Know this, as much as chafing sucks for you, guys have it worst.

Girls mostly have to worry about chafing on their thighs and not their lady bits. So just stopping skin on skin contact should prevent certain parts of your anatomy from trying to make a run for it.

Even though it's probably been drummed into you to always get cotton panties, you'll want to ditch that advice when selecting anti chafing underwear. Because despite being breathable, cotton takes a really long time to dry (once you sweat), and wet thighs will only make chafing worst for you.

Synthetic and natural fabrics like polyester and wool are great moisture control fabrics, so be on the look out for them. Note that synthetic fabrics tend to be more durable and cheaper than their wool counterparts, so you'll have to choose wisely.

Hygiene

No one needs to tell you that your lady bits abhor stuffy spaces - mostly because they create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria (not the good kind).

So as much as you'll want to get anti chafing underwear made from synthetic fabrics, because of their moisture wicking properties, you'll need to check how hygienic they are for your hooha because synthetic materials like nylon tend to trap bacteria - which can lead to odor and all kinds of infections.

These days underwear manufacturers apply artificial antimicrobial ingredients to their products, so you don't need to worry about this. However if you prefer eco-friendly antimicrobial ingredients, then go for underwear made from bamboo or Merino wool.

Style

Women's underwear are incredibly versatile in terms of design and functionality. Hence it shouldn't be surprising that there are a lot of unique anti chafing designs. Here are just three of them:

• Bandelettes are absolutely gorgeous bands you wear only around your thighs to prevent skin on skin contact. Some come in such pretty lace designs that you won't mind the occasional summer breeze lifting up your dress. The downside, they always feel like they're sliding down, so you may feel paranoid most of the time you're out and about. 
• Boy shorts were likely designed to keep women out of men's underwear sections. The idea is to keep your lady parts cool, so sweat won't trickle down to your thighs and exacerbate your chafing situation. Note, you can have mild chafing without any moisture, which can be cured with some powder or lubricant, but it's a whole different level of pain when you add sweat to the equation. 
• Mid-thigh briefs are like men's boxer briefs, but without the pouch. They're the best anti chafing underwear for women, particularly athletes.

Anti-Chafing Underwear for Men: Buying Guide

Blisters and rashes from chafing can take a while to heal, but you usually won't have that much free time to sit around and recover.

Here are a couple of features you'll want to look out for when shopping for the best anti-chafing underwear for men, and to prevent inner-thigh blisters.

Moisture Control

The journey of a thousand miles is usually filled with sweat, which can amplify chafing in your nether regions. So a rule of thumb is to pick fabrics with good moisture control. Silicone and latex are obvious NOs in terms of underwear fabrics. They'll stick to your skin when you sweat and will hurt like a thousand burning suns when you try peeling them off.

Cotton underwear are less obvious NOs, but if you want to avoid chafing, you'll need to ditch them. Because even though cotton is generally considered the go-to fabric for breathable underwear, they take too long to get dry. And as you've seen, sweat or moisture in general, will amplify soreness in your man parts.

You'll want synthetic fabrics if you want to prevent chafing. Materials like nylon and polyester are great for moisture control. They're also cheap and durable.

High-end brands use Merino wool because it has some natural properties that help with moisture wicking. If you can't afford expensive underwear, you can rely on underwear made from synthetic fabrics to get the job done.

An even more obscure way to prevent chafing, by controlling moisture, is to stay hydrated. Without drinking lots of water, your sweat will be too salty, which isn't a good combination with blisters. So remember to stay hydrated.

Waistbands & Seams

Generally, thinner waistbands (not all) tend to roll down, which could be irritating to your waist. So you'll want to look for something with a thick but gentle band.

You should also look for underwear with as few seams as possible. Ensure the seams aren't directly located between the inner part of your thighs. If an underwear has a lot of seams, they should at least be enclosed, or be flat lock seams. Also look for underwear with no tags, cause those are annoying as well. 

Chub Rub Line

You'll need to figure out where your chafing line is and pick an underwear style that's at least 2" longer. Now underwear typically come in three major styles;

• Boxers which are extremely loose-fitting and go all the way to mid thigh levels. Nothing's compartmentalized, so it's breathable. It usually has a fly for pee breaks. You'll want to wear this whenever you're lounging about in loose pants, cause they'll bunch up when paired with tight or formal pants. 
• Briefs are your typical tighty whities and have been around forever. They're like bras, but for guys. They cover up all the important stuffs but leave your thighs exposed, so not the best anti chafing underwear for men. 
• Boxer briefs are TYPICALLY shorter than boxers, but more form fitting. They'll come with a pouch instead of a fly to hold up your junk, so they're the gold standard for athletes.

Most anti chafing underwear are different variations of boxer briefs.

For more insights on the boxers vs. briefs debate, check out this video:

Anti-Chafing Underwear FAQ

Thigh chafing is something almost everyone deals with, especially during the hot summer months. Both men and women alike face this problem at some point in their lives.

If you’re someone without a significant thigh gap (which is most of us,) you probably know this problem too well. Chafing happens when your skin touches and rubs against itself, causing friction, which leads to painful irritation.

When combined with sweat and moisture, it gets even worse.

Trying a bunch of different methods to treat chafing can get expensive and aren’t all guaranteed to work. If you’re tired of dealing with the burning, stinging and overall frustration that comes along with your thighs rubbing together, here’s how to prevent chafing.

What Does Thigh Chafing Look Like?

Chafing is usually easily distinguishable. In certain areas, it may just start as tender skin. As time goes on, you may also notice painful rashes and even blisters in areas where your skin rubs together constantly.

This is extremely painful and uncomfortable, so it is important to find effective ways to treat and prevent skin chafing. Give the following tips a try to see which method works best for you.

How to Prevent Inner-Thigh Chafing

For most people, they deal with chafing after the fact. Their thighs will rub together, start burning and stinging and then they’ll look for some type of ointment to soothe the pain.

However, the best way to prevent chafing is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some of the most effective ways to stop chafing.

1. Baby Powder

One of the most popular ways to treat and prevent thigh and groin chafing is using cornstarch or baby powder. Applying the powder creates a barrier for easily irritated areas of skin. It’s also fairly cheap and accessible. Almost every grocery or drugstore should have it available.

The downside of baby powder however, is if you tend to sweat a lot down there, the powder can become a little pasty and make you uncomfortable. Some people also don’t like the idea of putting powder in sensitive areas due to potential health issues. You can read more about that here.

2. Bandelettes

Both stylish and functional, bandelettes are thigh bands specifically designed to prevent skin chafing for women. These are perfect for when you want to wear a dress or skirt but want to avoid your thighs rubbing together.

They are made from non-slip materials, like silicone, so you won’t have to worry about them slipping or rolling down your legs. These are highly recommended among fashion and beauty bloggers worldwide.

Not only are they functional, but they are sexy too! You can choose different colors and lace styles to suit your liking, all while preventing painful chafing. You can grab a pair here.

3. Anti-chafing Balm

Balms specifically designed to prevent chafing are also an option. They provide a barrier that prevents skin friction and painful blisters, similar to lip balm, but for your legs.

This is an especially good choice for people who are active and for athletes who exercise in shorts and sweat quite frequently.

There are a ton to choose from, but we suggest Body Glide because it’s vegan, safe for children and plant-based. Plus it’s endorsed by some of the world’s best athletes, so how can you go wrong?

4. Moisture-controlling Underwear

While all the methods above can be effective, hands-down the best way to prevent chafing and thigh blisters is to invest in the right underwear.

Sweat amplifies chafing in certain skin areas, so it is essential to find a good type of underwear with good moisture control to prevent chafing before it happens.

If you’re constantly chafing, there’s a VERY good chance your underwear are a big part of the problem. Ultimately, your underwear should give your thighs protection and comfort, which prevents your thighs from rubbing up against each other, or against your pants.

Let’s take a look at how to choose the right underwear to prevent chafing.

What Underwear Do I Need to Prevent Chafing?

To prevent your skin from chafing, you’ll want to avoid underwear made with silicone and latex. Since these materials tend to stick to sweaty skin, they will only worsen the problem. Cotton underwear are also ones to stay away from.

While they may have a reputation for being comfortable and breathable, they actually take a fair amount of time to dry out completely, meaning they will absorb, and hold sweat for longer. For both men and women, this will only make chafing worse on your thighs and nether regions.

Underwear made from synthetic fabrics are a good choice since they have adequate moisture control. Nylon and polyester underwear are also cheaper and tend to last longer, so you won’t have to replace them as often.

However, for women specifically, be cautious of synthetic materials, since they tend to harbor bacteria. Most underwear available on today’s market are treated with artificial antimicrobial ingredients, so this isn’t a huge issue to worry about. Just be conscious of your hygiene down there.

Merino wool is also common among more expensive underwear brands since it has great moisture-wicking properties. Since this material tends to come with a higher price tag, if this is out of your price point, the cheaper nylon or polyester underwear will do just fine. But if you’re willing to invest in a few Merino wool pairs, you’ll understand why they’re priced higher.

What's the Best Underwear Style to Prevent Chafing?

Trying out a different style of underwear can be an easy fix to your chafing problem.

For women, boy shorts or mid-thigh briefs are a great choice. Boy shorts are designed to keep your crotch area cool to prevent sweating. Mid-thigh briefs are essentially men’s boxers, but they don’t have the pouch that men’s styles do and are more form fitting.

For men, boxers are pretty common. They fit very loosely which allows more air to flow through. This will help prevent sweating. Briefs are also a good choice, since they involve less material.

However, this can also be a con. Since your legs aren’t covered, this enables thigh rubbing. Boxer-briefs are a happy medium. They tend to be a bit shorter than boxers and are more form-fitting. Most popular anti-chafing underwear styles are a variation of boxer-briefs.

Try to look for underwear with as few seams as possible, away from the thigh area. This will minimize irritation and chafing. Also look for styles that have a thicker waistband, but nothing too heavy-duty.

Bigger bands tend to roll down, which irritates the waist. 

Does Underwear Prevent Chafing?

As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” In certain contexts, this is untrue, since there are many cheap finds that turn out to be good quality.

However, when it comes to your undies, if you’re someone that has a persistent issue with chafing, it isn’t a bad idea to invest in more expensive, higher-quality underwear. You have to ask yourself if saving a few bucks on underwear is really worth the amount of pain and discomfort you’re in.

Instead of having to constantly try different low-end brands that end up not working for you, try to find a higher quality brand that you can stick with. It may be strange to fork over more money for something like underwear, but if it helps with chafing, they’ll be worth every penny.

Higher-end underwear are usually more expensive for a reason. They should be manufactured with comfortable but durable materials that are easy to take care of. Be sure that the underwear you’re considering is worth the price.

Do your research! Pay attention to the materials used. Be sure to read customer reviews to pinpoint any cons or issues and be sure they are made to be durable. If you’re still having to replace them often, are they really worth the cost?

Goodbye Chafing!

In conclusion, the majority of men and women alike have had to deal with skin chafing at some point in their lives. We can all agree, it’s pretty awful. Luckily, there are many different options to prevent it. If you notice your skin rubbing, becoming tender, or developing a rash, it may be time to find a new type of anti-chafing underwear.

For women, you can choose from styles like boy shorts or mid-thighs briefs, which will help control moisture and prevent your thighs from rubbing together. Try to pick underwear with synthetic materials, like nylon or polyester, but be mindful of your hygiene to prevent bacteria from sticking around.

Men can choose from styles like boxers, briefs, or boxer-briefs. Boxers and briefs are very different, but boxer-briefs are the best of both worlds.