The Key to Chafe-Free Clothes

The age old question remains—what can I wear to avoid chafing? Well, the first thing you can do is understand and research what types of clothes trigger the painful skin irritation and then go from there. We recommend chafe-free clothes that keep you dry and comfortable, but that can look different for everyone depending on gender, as well as activity level. Follow along for a few of our recommendations on chafe-free clothes.

Preventing Chafe: What to Wear 

One of the biggest keys to preventing chafe is knowing what to wear in order to stay dry and reduce friction. But the answer isn’t always obvious and many still wonder, “how can I keep my clothes from chafing?”

For Men

Guys are typically prone to chafing in their groin, armpit, and thigh areas—especially when they’re keeping active. These areas attract sweat and moisture and are usually more hairy which is another common cause to an irritating flare up. We recommend the following types of chafe-free clothes for the guys:

• Shorts with built-in briefs
• Compression shorts
• Compression shirts

For Women

Ladies can also suffer from chafe in similar areas around the thighs, buttocks, and armpits. However, a woman’s wardrobe needs and chafe-free clothes ensemble may differ, so we recommend the following:

• Proper-fitting sports bra
• Bike or compression shorts
• Compression shirts or tanks

Staying Active, Staying Chafe-Free 

As an active person, you may be particularly concerned about what you can wear to avoid chafing. Plus, as an athlete or amateur sportsman, knowing how to stop your thighs from rubbing against your pants is imperative as it could impact performance. Of course, thighs aren’t the only area affected by chafing, but it’s one of the most common (and uncomfortable). If you’re a runner, chafe-free clothes may include a handful of the items previously mentioned like compression shorts and shirts. Or if you’re a cyclist, we highly recommend looking into a proper-fitting pair of bike shorts to prevent thigh and buttocks chafing. And last but not least, as avid water guys ourselves, any swimmer or watersports-goer should definitely grab a pair of chafe-free swim trunks. These trunks are super soft, look great wet or dry, and have a sewn-in liner that prevents and protects men from chafing—they’re also available in boys’ sizes for aspiring swimmers. Need more prevention tips on warding off chafe beside our chafe-free clothes guide? Check out our other blog article, 'DryGuys’ 101: How to Get Rid of Chafing.'

At the end of the day, knowing what you can wear to avoid chafing can be a matter of personal preference. Understanding your body and what types of fabrics and activities irritate your skin can greatly impact or improve your situation. If you’re interested in other DryFins’ apparel that’s not necessarily considered chafe-free clothes (but still very good looking), browse our selection of graphic t-shirts and hats. Or, read our blog to gather some pool safety tips that will come in handy the next time you’re supervising the kids.