Thigh chafing used to be a much bigger problem for me than it is today.

I have always had fairly big thighs, and when I was heavier the problem was more noticeable.

But losing weight was not the thing that solved it.

The biggest change was much simpler:

I stopped wearing underwear that rides up.

Once I switched to underwear with enough leg coverage and, more importantly, a fit that actually stays in place, thigh chafing basically stopped being something I had to think about.

That sounds almost too simple, but for me it has made a bigger difference than creams, powders or any other solution I considered.

What thigh chafing felt like for me

My problem was mainly on the inside of both thighs.

When walking or training, the skin would rub against itself.

Sometimes normal clothing, especially something like jeans, could also add friction.

The result was a burning feeling on the inside of the thighs.

It was not usually an injury that would leave me unable to move for several days.

But it was uncomfortable.

Sometimes I could still feel it the following day.

And perhaps more importantly, once you know that a walk is likely to end with burning thighs, it becomes much easier to decide not to go.

That mental barrier was probably a bigger issue for me than the pain itself.

For me, distance was not really the main problem

It would be easy to think that chafing only happens on long walks.

That has not been my experience.

On one recent walk in the wrong underwear, I could already feel the familiar burning after only a couple of kilometres.

If I wear underwear that stays in place, I can walk considerably longer without thinking about chafing at all.

So for me, the difference has been less about:

How far am I walking?

and more about:

What is happening between my thighs while I walk?

The real problem was underwear riding up

For years I simply wore normal underwear without thinking much about it.

The problem was that some pairs would gradually ride upwards.

Once that happened, the fabric was no longer protecting the inside of my thighs.

At that point, skin was rubbing against skin.

That is where the burning started.

I looked at creams and powders a few times.

I had seen runners and athletes using different anti-chafing products and knew those solutions existed.

But I never really got into the habit of using them.

If I am being realistic, I was more likely to skip the walk than build another preparation step into my routine.

Changing the underwear turned out to be a much easier solution.

What actually solved it for me

The underwear I use most often now is from Built Different.

The important thing is not simply that it is longer.

For me, the difference is that the material and fit help it stay where it is supposed to stay.

The legs do not immediately work their way upwards when I start moving.

That means the fabric continues to separate my thighs while I walk.

So yes, enough leg coverage matters.

But staying in place is the real key.

Since switching to underwear like this, chafing has basically stopped being a normal part of walking or training for me.

I have written separately about the specific underwear options I looked at and what I now use.

Best Walking Underwear for Heavy Men

The important lesson here is broader than one brand:

the best anti-chafing underwear is not very useful if the legs will not stay in place.

I accidentally tested this again recently

A few weeks ago I was reminded how much difference the underwear actually makes.

I had gone to work wearing an ordinary pair.

That was completely fine during the working day.

Later, when I came home, I decided to go for a walk.

I did not think about what underwear I was wearing.

After the walk, I could feel the familiar burning starting on the inside of my thighs.

It was not especially bad.

But I could tell that if I had continued for another few kilometres, it probably would have become painful.

That was a useful reminder.

My thighs had not suddenly changed.

My walking technique had not changed.

The underwear had.

Losing weight has probably helped too

I have lost around 15 kg, and I am several clothing sizes smaller than I was.

I think that has probably helped reduce the problem.

There is simply less body mass than before.

But my thighs are still big.

They have not suddenly stopped touching when I walk.

So while weight loss may have reduced the amount of friction, I would not describe it as the main solution.

The biggest practical change was still finding underwear that stays in place.

What about shorts?

I do not think the outer shorts are usually the first thing I would try to fix.

I have walked in several different types of training shorts.

Some are lightweight synthetic shorts.

Some are looser.

I have even walked in thicker cotton lounge-style shorts.

As long as the underwear underneath is doing its job, I generally do not have much trouble.

That said, shorts can still make walking more comfortable.

I prefer enough room around my thighs, and secure pockets have become more important to me as I walk more often.

I recently wrote a separate guide to the different types of walking shorts I would consider for bigger men.

Best Walking Shorts for Heavy Men

For chafing specifically, though, I would start with the layer directly against your skin.

What I would try first if your thighs chafe

Based on my own experience, I would keep it simple.

1. Check whether your underwear is riding up

This would be my first question.

If the fabric starts between your thighs but disappears upwards after ten minutes of walking, it is probably not doing much to prevent friction.

2. Try a longer leg that actually stays in place

Length helps, but length alone is not enough.

The fit and material matter too.

A longer pair that constantly rolls upwards can still create the same problem.

3. Test it on a short walk

You do not need a 10 km walk to figure this out.

A normal 30-minute walk is probably enough to see whether the setup works for you.

If you start noticing friction early, you already have useful information.

4. Only add creams or powders if you actually need them

Those products may work very well for some people.

I simply never found that I needed them once I fixed the underwear problem.

Personally, I prefer solving the friction mechanically before adding another product to my routine.

What if you are already chafed?

My own approach is fairly basic.

If the inside of my thighs already feels irritated, I do not want to keep rubbing the same area for another long walk.

For me, mild chafing usually settles relatively quickly, sometimes by the following day.

I would rather let the skin calm down and fix the cause before doing the same thing again.

If irritation is severe, persistent, broken, bleeding or showing signs of infection, that is no longer something I would treat as normal training discomfort, and I would get it checked by a doctor or pharmacist.

You may not need a complicated solution

When I first thought about thigh chafing, I assumed the solution would involve creams, powders or some specialist running product.

For me, it did not.

I just needed underwear that stayed in place.

That has made chafing go from something that could make me avoid walking to something I barely think about today.

I still have big thighs.

They still rub.

The difference is that there is now a layer of fabric between them that stays there.

Final thoughts

If thigh chafing makes walking uncomfortable, I would not start by buying five different products.

First, look at what is happening with your underwear.

If it rides up, the inside of your thighs ends up rubbing together.

That was the problem for me.

Underwear with enough coverage, the right material and a fit that stays in place solved it almost completely.

And the fact that I recently managed to recreate the problem simply by wearing the wrong pair was a pretty good reminder that the solution is still working.

Sometimes the simplest fix really is the one that matters.