Product Review: Chafe Zone Skin Protection
Powerful Skin Protection Disguised as Deodorant
By: Jason Giacchino
A Jaded Test Crew
We here at ATV Connection pride ourselves on testing products so liberally that we could almost boast being immune to surprise. However we recently opened a small box containing what appeared to be a stick of deodorant and guess what- surprise!
The product in question is known as Chafe Zone and its primary claim, among other interesting assertions, is that applying it to the skin just once per day will offer protection against both chafing and blistering. Another tantalizing bit of information is that members of the armed service regularly use the product as do police agencies as defense against irritation commonly caused by bulky body armor.
How does it Work?
Well, popping the top cap off and giving the base dial a few rotations with your thumb will only further drive home the similarities to using a stick of deodorant. In fact what rises up out of the canister is an off-white waxy solid with more than a little resemblance to antiperspirant as well! However, once this solid makes contact with the skin, the differences become pretty apparent.
Smearing the actual product directly to where you seek protection (or onto a finger first and then onto where you want it) reveals a surprisingly wet transition. In its gelatinous form, it becomes more reminiscent of a not-so-greasy petroleum jelly than it does a stick of Old Spice.
You simply slather up the area(s) that need protecting then gear up and ride like you normally would. It’s very easy to forget all about it almost immediately after application and we are pleased to report that it left no offensive odor behind nor did it leave marks on our riding gear.
In the Real World
So the real question on everybody’s mind at this point is surely, well, did it work? Surprisingly, yes! Riders who normally experienced blistering due to new gloves reported break-in without incident but we also found it worked exceptionally well when applied to the inner thighs to prevent chafing due to a long day in riding pants (monkey butt as it’s commonly referred). Other uses that we discovered were on the shins/ calves where riding boot gaiters make contact with skin, on the chest and ribs where the edges of a chest protector cause irritation and so on.
The bottom line is a layer of Chafe Zone anywhere you may commonly get irritated due to rubbing seems to nearly completely remedy the risk.
Of course on the flip side, we didn’t notice too much improvement in situations where we forgot to apply the Chafe Zone while riding then tried to atone for it after the fact (although it should be noted that application to pre-existing blisters/ abrasions didn’t seem to hurt either). Maximum effectiveness, in this case anyway, is to treat it as a preventative measure.
Conclusion:
So impressed were we with the results of using the product, a few of our more scientifically inclined testers did a little research on how this stuff does what it does. The answer, which impressed even us, is that Chafe Zone actually consists of fatty acids that the body relies upon to regenerate healthy skin cells (and is actually the same stuff used to close up surgical incisions). Such proven protection marketed as an over-the-counter remedy is pretty darn exciting.
We found only two minor complaints in our testing: First in direct sun and extreme heat, the solid can melt (but doesn’t seem to want to re-solidify even in cooler shade) and secondly, at a pop, it can be a little pricey for daily users.
In all though, it’s very easy to recommend this product to any rider who has experienced the discomfort of ride-induced blistering or chafing.
Contact:
Visit the manufacturer’s official site at:
Have you ever used any chafing products? Were you impressed? Discuss it here!