Best chamois creams 2025 — keep your bum happy on long rides and turbo sessions

Sudocrem seems to do the job for me.

I was just going to ask, apart from the price tag, is there any difference between any of these products and sudocrem

Suducrem is very sticky but does work. Chamois cream I find is better, I apply some to the padding and the rest to delicate parts, for many hours comfortable saddle time

Sudocrem is an extringent, which means it will dry your skin out. Bepanthan is a better cream for that purpose and would work well as a chamois cream, it is longer lasting and better in sweat or wet conditions than sudocrem because it is more oily. Personally though, just use chamois crème. I use the assos one twice a day for commuting through winter and a tub lasts 6 months (mine is close to running out after starting to use in October). I do 140 miles a week, 1 hour each way (10 hours a week).

Helpful article, as an ex-MTBer I was never quite sure what the "application protocol" was. Having only applied directly to bot/nads up to this point, there is a simpler way. You learn something every day.

if you read the instructions on many chamois cream packages, it says "not to be applied to mucous membranes" (I think we can guess what those are...)

this means chamois cream should only be applied to the 'cheeks' of your buttocks, rather than more intimate areas

I'd suggest using something like Savlon if required on those intimate areas, and chamois cream for the rest?

there was no mention of the differences between men's and women's chamois creams in the article, Elite for example do a women's version which does not contain menthol or other irritants

a great tip given to me by a pro cyclist some years back was to use wet wipes after visiting the toilet, especially before application of chamois cream, as dry toilet paper often leaves faecal matter on your behind, and you don't want that on your shorts when doing 100km

Bristol Buttr!

http://www.bristolbuttr.co.uk/ (link is external)

Old country remedy - udder mint. Anti bac, cooling, cheap, designed to prevent sores on cow boobs, will lubricate and prevent your delicate areas from cracking. Somewhat tingly when first applied so use sparingly.

I must have missed the bit in the article where it told us where to apply the cream. So much for a beginners guide! I've only used it a couple of times, not noticed much difference. I got a free sample of some Rapha stuff and I applied it to cheeks, nuts and pad - other than a legendary cold feeling (think the opposite to deep heat) I can't say chamois cream has made any difference to me.

Vaseline works for me

Another vote for Udderly Smooth as being a great nut butter. I smear it everywhere, paying close attention to my... um... taint.

Quote:

Don't stick chamois cream up your bumhole.

I think the mucous membranes bit probably applies to women using it. I doubt many cyclists manage to apply it, errrmmm, internally.

I'm a fan of the Morgan Blue solid chamois cream, it's akin to beeswax which may be close to the truth! Particularly good for wet rides.

Must try one of these specialist products one day, but coco butter (the hard stuff) works wonders, and it is cheap as chips.

If you do have any sores, then metanium (nappy rash cream) works wonders. Caution, you only need a pea sized amount unless you want to cover your entire body. Much better than Sudocrem which blocks pores.

Tried Udderly, wife also nabbed some for her sewing! Looked at the ingredients, almost identical to Cetraben emolloient cream which I happen to get on prescription. It isonly about £7 for a 500gm dispenser and is a moisturiser that lubes your rear end rather well. As some suggest you can put loads on, very good when I am on hols in SW France, stands the heat well. Also means you are not putting any additional medications on as with Metanium and sudocreme etc. Does give a temporary watrming sensation at first to sensitive skin, but that rapidly passes.

I've started using Crotch Guard, it's an oil specially formulated for long days in the saddle. I can say for me it's been a revelation and I know others say similar. I've never been as comfortable after hours in the saddle with chamois cream as I have with Crotch Guard. It's easier to apply as you just give a couple of squirts from the bottle and you don't get any of the cold damp clammy feeling you get from chamois cream, I can't praise this product enough it's really been that good for me. It's only available direct from the US but they have just announced a deal with a UK distributor.

I use a 50% Lanolin product, "Lantiseptic". Lanolin is a byproduct of wool, it is the oil from the sheepskin that must be separated from the wool before making clothing. Having suffered a couple a sebaceous cysts in the past, this seems to be working so far.

Wait... you spread the chamois on the pad?

Not on your...

Right.

Moving swiftly on

*whistles*

I've tried both Assos (good but expensive) and Conotrane (cheaper, longer lasting and possibly more effective).

I also give the whole area a good wipe with anti-bacterial wipes before applying the cream.

Sudocrem is good if you are a bit sore after the ride, although if you have been doing the lubrication right, it shouldn't happen. However I don't think Sudocrem has enough of a lubricating action to make an effective chamois cream.

You're right Andy. Sudocrem is an 'after' cream. Chamois cream is a 'before' cream.