Raw legs - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Hi everyone…just wondering how to prevent the red, sore inner thighs while hiking so many hours, day after day? Are spandex-type shorts the answer?

jackie

#2

Many ways to do this. Biker shorts is one—they fit tight and snug and prevent chaffing, which is the problem which causes the raw legs. Chaffing is generally a problems when thighs get wet from rain, mist or sweat-----a skirt worn over shorts often will prevent it, if caused by rain, i.e. rain hits skirt, runs off, no chaffing problem. Try also nylon stocking or long john bottoms, with shorts over them—snug fit will prevent chaffing. Also gels (vaseline and the like) can be used to prevent the chaffing and also certain type of powder to help cure the chaffing once it starts. But better not to have it in the first place, by taking preventive measures listed above. You can also duct tape thighs. Immediately when chaffing starts, take action. If you don’t it will just get worse and worse and you thighs can get really raw. Chaffing has ended many an AT thru hike. Hope this helps. :slight_smile:

Maintain

#3

I went to a ranch in Montana and rode horses for six months before the hike. I had such a case of bow legs that I looked like the St.Louis Arch coming down the trail. No chance of chaffing when you walk like a wishbone

Virginian

#4

Take a look at Underarmour.com You may be able to find some at a local sports store. I found mine at Hibbets Sporting Goods.

Nooga

#5

If you get chaffing, a good healer is some stuff called “After Sun” that is sold by Amway. Stings a lot when you put it on, but the next day, the chaffing is much better, and usually the day after that it is gone. I wear Supplex pants now and rarely have any problems with chaffing, but when I used to wear shorts that would ride up, I had problems that were usually solved by wearing longjohns under them for a few days.

Spirit Walker

#6

That would be chafe and chafing.

nycman50

#7

I hike in umbros which have flat seam on the inside of the legs so they don’t rub, their light weight nylon which dries quickly and doesn’t retain odors like lycra. The biggest problem with bike shorts is they tend to retain odors which can get bad as you hike. Make sure your shorts don’t have raised seams on the legs or wear a skirt/ kilt.

If you do get chafe then vaseline, hydrocortisone cream or even polysporin work great to relieve the pain. I also had good luck with benedryl cream since it relieves the swelling but it stings when you put it on. Gold bond powder can be used to help you stay dry which will prevent to rubbing.

Darth Pacman

#8

Oooo, just remembering the chafe gives me pain. And I didn’t have it just on the inner thighs. Oh heck, I’m talkin’ about the sports bra, under-boob chafe. :o) (Or was I was the only one???)

Anyhoo, Vaseline was my best friend. The inner thigh chafe went away after I got in shape and lost that excess flab. And longer shorts sure helped. Didn’t ride up. But I personally don’t advocate for the bike shorts. No breathing room, so to speak. And … well, I guess the kind with the panel in the important place may not do this, but–how do I put this?–they sorta work their way UP where they shouldn’t go as you hike. (Or was that just me TOO?)

Geez, this is embarrassing. Maybe I should click “Post Reply”. Oh, what the heck. We’re all hikers here.

Ramkitten
www.DebraLauman.com

ramkitten

#9

I meant maybe I SHOULDN’T post that. Whatever. Too late now.

ramkitten

#10

Aquaphor healing ointment is worth it’s weight in gold. Joey and the twins were bad off until it came to the rescue. It doesn’t burn when applied and helps almost immediately. If you’d like, I have a bunch of sample size tubes that are perfect for hiking (small and light),so I could send you some.

Zydecajun

#11

This comes up periodically in Forums. There’s a bunch of strings in old posts. “Shorts”, “chafing” or “commando” text searches might bring up some other suggestions.

Fair skies and flat trails

Jim2

#12

Ah, Chafing!!! I remember it so well…

Like everyone else I had my share of chafing. I finally fixed it with a pair of Mountain Hardware Pack shorts. For many reasons I found them better than bikes shorts. One, I raced bikes for 8 years and wore enough of bike shorts. Two, breahtability. Let’s face it, bike shorts don’t and you get swamp ass. Three, the Mountain Hardware shorts or pants (they have both) have micro fleece around the waist and in the crotch where the rubbing occurs. Having the fleece like material in the crotch was like silk. My chafing was gone in no time. Four, they have great pockets, front and rear. With most hiking shorts the rear pockets become usless once you put a pack on. Not with these.
Hands down the Mountain Hardware pack short/pants were the signal best buy I made while on the AT.
Shit, I sound like a salesman!! haha

Scatman

#13

I wore Duofold CoolMax Boxer Briefs whenever I hike. In fact I liked them so much on my '98 thru hike that I purchased several more and have worn them everyday for the last five years. I recently ordered some more and found that they changed the style and now have lycra in them. I prefer the old style. If you do try them out, the new style run smaller.

Next I will try the REI or Patagonia boxers. They look nice although they are two to three times the price of the Duofolds.

Farther

#14

Another option might be tights. I wear light flexible long john bottoms and long pants to hike in, so never have a chafing problems. However hiking in shorts, tights beneath them should prevent the chafing and also perhaps look better than long john bottoms. Saw some wool ones for sale on ebay at a great price. Also tights, full length stockings, and long john bottoms not only prevent chafing; they help keep the bugs, briars, poison ivy, etc off of you and otherwise help protect your legs a bit and keep them warm also. :slight_smile:

Maintain

#15

Swamp Ass so that was what that was. I thought I had used Stinging Neetles as toilet paper. Using a collapsable bucket for washing every night and a skirt cured my agony.

Blue Jay