Anti-Chafing and Anti-Blister Creams rated by World Class Ultrarunner

Meet Stephanie Case. Ms. Case finished in the top 5 among women in what is often called the most difficult Ultra Marathon in the world, The Tor Des Geants. When not running, Stephanie works as a UN Attorney, lives in Geneva, and advocates for women in war-torn countries using distance running. Here she reviews her personal experiences with 5 well-known anti-chafing and anti-blister creams

	Effectiveness preventing chafing	Durability	Versatility (soothes, repairs)	Ease of application	Price	Total	Comments
Chafex	5	5	2	3	3	18	Most effective product out there for preventing chafing or blisters on any part of the body. While the product sells at a high price point, it is worth the investment as it lasts for a very long time. It is extremely durable and infrequent reapplication is necessary. ChafeX does not claim to soothe or moisturize – there are other products for that. It simply prevents chafing. Easy to apply, although you need to briefly wait for the product to bind to the skin.
Vaseline	2	2	3	2	5	14	The most simple and basic product out there – and the cheapest. However, you get what you pay for. It is messy to apply and frequent reapplication is required.
Squirrel’s Nut Butter	3	3	4	4	2	16	Good for the lips as well as the body. Claims to prevent chafing and also moisturize and restore skin. A solid all around product, but it doesn’t hold up under tough conditions.
Body Glide	2	2	2	2	3	11	Need to apply lots for it to have an effect. The stick makes it hard to apply anywhere other than a smooth/flat surface, like a back or underarms – using it to prevent blisters on toes, for example, is impossible.
Gurney Goo	3	3	4	4	1	15	Comparable to Squirrel’s Nut Butter. Claims to prevent chafing, blisters and also prevent infections with its anti-septic qualities. However, what it gains in versatility it loses in effectiveness in terms of prevent chafing and blisters. At such a high price point, one would expect a more durable product.