The Best Running Underwear to Beat Burn on Your Bits

Runderwear’s popular running briefs are made to prevent chafing no matter how many miles you log. In fact, Runderwear offers a no-chafe guarantee. The 92 percent recycled polyamide and 8-percent elastane fabric mix is knitted in a circular motion, for a smooth and comfortable finish that feels great against the skin. But the real anti-chafe ace in the hole is the seamless design that significantly reduces your risk of unwanted rubbing.

In testing, I tried out the 5-inch boxers but there are longer leg versions and budgie smuggler-style briefs that work better with the shortest shorts, plus options for men and women. The lightweight, breathable material is textured, so it’s not quite as silky against the skin as the shiny, smooth blends on the CXP or the Under Armour boxers. But it’s nicely breathable, doesn’t overheat and offers reliable sweat-wicking. The broad waistband has a pressure-free, stay-put fit with no cutting in or rolling up. The legs also have silicone grips that are fairly effective at preventing ride-up, but silicone on skin might not be ideal for everyone. The fabric is durable and holds its shape. I’ve had a pair that’s still going strong after a year with frequent trips through the wash cycle.

Fifty bucks might sound steep for a pair of briefs but if you’re a runner, don't you deserve to feel special while you’re out there conquering the streets? Well, maybe not. Still, the Brighton Briefs are wonderfully soft, made from a high stretch fine gauge Merino wool, blended with nylon and elastane. They wick well and dry quickly too.

There’s also no seams here and that means less risk of chafe-inducing rub. In testing I happily ran up to 90 minutes without any friction. I also tested the Boxer Brief version and they’re excellent too with the same disappearing comfort. You can slip these on and basically forget you’re wearing them. Like all Tracksmith kit, they have an old-school style, and I won't lie, I frequently wear these as daily undies too.

Strictly speaking, these are short running tights rather than running underwear, but they can be worn as base layer shorts, or you can go commando. They’re part of the Adizero Control collection, a collaboration between Adidas and material experts RHEON Labs. If you were watching closely, you would’ve seen plenty of athletes at the Paris Olympics sporting these.

Paid up members of the tights-no-shorts brigade can happily smash out track intervals or fast road miles in just these shorts. But for those of us who prefer to run a little less exposed, they’re excellent as a base-layer short. Particularly for shorter, faster runs. The zebra stripes on the shorts aren’t just for style, they’re actually strategically placed strips of a reactive super polymer that stiffens dynamically to support your muscles during high-energy runs. They’re made to keep everything locked and loaded for maximum muscle efficiency. Slipping into these instantly makes you feel armored up and ready to run hard. If you want a second-skin, highly locked-in feel, these are excellent, delivering maximum support.

As part of their AIRism range of activewear, Uniqlo has designed a pair of briefs that are great value, extremely comfortable and free of potentially irritating seams.

At $15 (£13), they're half the price of a pair of Runderwear, but don't feel cheap, and offer a surprisingly secure all-round fit. The fabric used has a two-way stretch which really keeps the goods contained, and I really like the soft waistband, which stays in position. They're not specifically designed for running, and lack any extra grip on the legs, but they don't ride up as much as a regular pair of boxer briefs. And they really are seamless, with overlayed panels creating an irritation-free 3D pouch up front.

They're wonderfully comfortable for daily wear, but what about running? I was skeptical, but after a couple of miles I realized I would make it back unscathed. There's enough support, and while the legs did bunch, the lack of seams meant they remained relatively smooth. In fact, my only issue was the lack of breathability. Made from 71 percent polyamide and 29 percent elastane, they did get sweaty quickly. Uniqlo offers a mesh version in the summer months, which hopefully fixes this problem for over heaters like me. —Chris Haslam

2Toms Sportshield is a roll-on style oil that acts as a brilliant barrier against unwanted friction burns. You can use it on thighs, underarms, feet and all the bits where chafing can be a problem. It’s really easy to apply, even in the hard to reach nooks and crannies, and one application lasts all day. The tube is really portable and it also washes off the body easily. It doesn’t tend to leave grease spots on clothes like Vaseline can.

There’s also a Sportshield Xtra ($14) version that offers more waterproofing and contains aloe, green tea extract and shea butter for a bit of a helping hand at softening and soothing your delicate bits. Plus, calendula and horsetail plant extracts to boost its antimicrobial powers. This is the best anti-chafe solution and has been my go-to for a decade. I used it in the desert at the Marathon des Sables and on my 1,830 mile run across Europe, and I apply it every time I tackle a longer run.

Bodyglide offers a reliable range of anti-chafe balms, sticks and creams but if you want an anti-chafe option that’s a cream, with none of the stickiness that hangs around with Vaseline or the solid sticks, Bodyglide Skin Glide is a great non-greasy option.

The sweat and water resistant cream is made from plant-based ingredients and comes in a 1.6-oz moisturizer-style squeeze bottle. It’s easy to use and relatively portable if you want to do any last-minute, pre-run application. The hydrating cream acts like a moisturizer and has the benefit of being easy to spread for good coverage in the trickier places. But it’s also quite thin, so you need a lot of it to ensure you’re getting the full effect.

It has a tendency to soak into your skin or clothes and for runs longer than a couple of hours, I found I had to reapply. So you can rip through a tube quite quickly. Thankfully it doesn’t mark your clothes with grease spots, and it washes off skin easily with soap and water.

Premax anti-friction balm has a consistency somewhere between a lip balm and Vaseline. It’s designed to be absorbed into your skin to protect from within, rather than leave a thick protective coating on top. It comes in a nicely portable 1.7-oz squeeze tube, although I wish there was a bigger option, too. The lip-balm-style slanted nozzle is designed to make it easier to apply anywhere you need protection, though in testing I still found it easier to squeeze it onto my fingers to apply.

There are different varieties with slightly different plant extracts for men and women, like evening primrose oil, tea tree and aloe vera. It doesn't leave greasy residue on your clothes, as you tend to see with Vaseline. I used it while running seven marathons in seven days, and over the course of the week, it worked really well. Like the Bodyglide Skin Glide, this tends to need more reapplication than the 2Toms. But for marathons and shorter everyday runs, it’s highly effective.

The anti-chafe balm of choice for legendary ultra runner Courtney Dauwalter, Squirrel’s Nut Butter is a plant-based barrier is made from cocoa butter, beeswax and Vitamin E oil. You can buy it in tins, tubs or as a stick. The tin is best for when you need to apply more, while the stick is a bit more portable. Good if you want to take it to the start line on race day.

In testing, I used the 2.7oz stick and the tub. I prefer the solid stick that’s much like Bodyglide or a traditional deodorant stick. It was easier—and a little less messy—to apply. I found the hard compacted stuff in the tub more tricky to get out and apply. This weatherproof salve is harder to apply than the oil-based 2Toms or the BodyGlide cream, but Squirrel’s Nut Butter creates a reliable, non-greasy protective layer, without leaving too much residue.

These patented guards use a strong adhesive that means they stay put during longer runs—something Band-Aids can't do. It’s quite an odd sensation the first few times you wear them, but they’re lightweight and much more comfortable than the painful alternative.

NipEaze nipple guards take a slightly different approach to the NipGuards, with discreet adhesive covers that stick directly to the skin. There are different sizes to fit your areolas rather than the skin (and hair) around your nipples. That helps them stay firmly in place even when you’re sweating, and makes them easy to get off after your run.