Chamois Cream: Originally, “chamois” referred to the leather padding in cycling shorts. As shorts advanced, the term persisted, even with the advent of synthetic padding. The chamois cream is a viscous cream applied to this padding, or directly to the skin, to reduce friction, prevent inflammation, and ward off bacterial and fungal infections.

Women can also use non-specific chamois creams, but we would advise caution around products containing menthol. Female cyclists typically report higher levels of discomfort when using menthol chamois creams than male cyclists.