Assos Chamois Cream (4.73 oz.)

Product Information

The aim of chamois cream is to reduce the friction or chaffing between your cycling shorts and your skin. On the other hand, this numbing feeling won’t suit everybody. It also goes without saying, but if you are allergic to menthol, any chamois creams with this added ingredient will be a no go for you. The same can be said for any other ingredients used, so please make sure you read the label beforehand. We've recommended the 'standard' formula, which doesn't come with any promises of cooling. The brand does offer a 'Euro Style' formula, which adds in Witch Hazel and Menthol, thus giving that freshening effect which is so 'marmite' among riders. Knowing how much product to use can make a huge difference for your comfort levels and overall experience while cycling. Therefore, ensuring that you get this right based around your own personal needs is really important. With huge experience, they're really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.

Arguably the biggest benefit to using chamois cream is the anti-chafing support it offers. The cream works by creating a barrier between your skin and any areas that may chafe, therefore reducing friction. You may notice chamois come in all different shapes and sizes depending on the rider's individual needs. However, the original chamois within cycling shorts for men (and cycling shorts for women, once the industry saw fit to manufacture them) were actually made of leather from a chamois goat, not the antibacterial synthetics you see fitted today.But, subsequent to the constant washing of the old school leather pad, the insert would become tough and uncomfortable after a while. Thus, chamois cream was created to help soften the pad and improve upon comfort. Now that the pads have moved on, people still use chamois cream as it carries many benefits. What are the benefits of chamois cream? This is important because chafing can lead to very sore and swollen skin. In some cases, this can even escalate into abscesses and saddle sores. Unfortunately, when it gets to this point, you will need time off of the bike and potential medical assistance. Chamois cream will usually also have anti-bacterial properties which may help prevent saddle sores developing or getting severe. Should you always use chamois cream? However, the amount needed will differ vastly depending on the individual. This being said, you may need to apply a little more product if you are planning a particularly long ride, whereas you may not need any at all on shorter rides.

Chamois Butt'r from Paceline Products is a regular addition to sportive goody bags and from our experience, most riders seem to get on with it well. It softens and soothes skin and helps to avoid chafing, as promised. Aqua Hydrogenated Polydecene Octyldodecanol Synthetic Beeswax Glyceryl Stearate Se Glyceryl Propylene Glycol Cetearyl Alcohol Sorbitan Stearate Polysorbate 60 Cyclopentasiloxane Menthyl Lactate Phenoxyethanol Panthenol Dimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer Menthol Hamamelis Virginiana Water Tocopheryl Acetate Bha Alcohol Denat. Citric Acid. This should help them reduce friction between your bib shorts, skin and saddle for longer before washing away. Men’s vs women’s chamois cream Some riders cover long distances without ever needing it. Others think they benefit from using chamois cream even on short rides.It prevents inflammation and has antibacterial properties. Apply directly on the skin (avoid intimate areas) before each ride. Furthermore, after every laundering, apply a thin layer onto the shorts insert. This will maintain suppleness, elasticity, and antibacterial properties. All of the best chamois creams will contain the perfect blend of both lubrication and anti-bacterial properties to help prevent chaffing and infections.

Therefore, you should ideally apply it before you leave your house. But if you absolutely must do it in a semi-public place, remember to just awkwardly stare at the ground to avoid any uncomfortable exchanges. What should I look out for when buying chamois cream? It’s safe to say that there are often misconceptions as well as confusion over where chamois cream should be applied. With the old school leather chamois, the cream was best applied directly to the chamois. There is also a women's specific version, which aims to cater for "women’s more neutral skin pH" - however, neither of our two female testers have had issues with the unisex formulas, so whilst nice-to-have this isn't a product we feel is a 'must have' for women, based on our experience. Buyer's guide to chamois cream What is a Chamois? Some brands make women’s-specific chamois cream, which contains different ingredients from the men’s version. Although chamois cream is a really great tool to prevent chafing while riding, not everyone uses chamois cream nor is it always needed.

This method of application can still be a great one to try. However, many people opt for applying directly to the problem areas once they have their kit on. The same can be said for those who race: if you are competing in a stage race, it’s a good idea to protect yourself early doors against any friction that may occur. This is because, once the skin is damaged it’s hard to recover and heal without taking a day off the bike. In general however, roughly around one scoop using two fingers (a highly accurate measurement) should be enough to cover most friction prone areas. But this will largely be a trial and error process, as everyone's needs of course differ. Where do you apply chamois cream? Apply directly to the skin (avoid intimate areas) before each ride. You should also apply a thin layer of creme to the pad of your shorts after every wash, this helps to maintain suppleness, elasticity and anti-microbial properties. Assos Chamois creme is used by a huge number of professional and enthusiasts alike, regardless of the brand of their shorts, don’t set off without it. For example, on shorter rides (anything around an hour or so) you most likely will be fine without dipping into a pot. Alternatively, if you are heading out for a day long exploration then it’d be recommended to apply some in any troublesome areas.