Thigh chafing stops when two things are true: skin isn't rubbing directly on skin, and whatever sits between doesn't become the problem itself by rolling, bunching or trapping heat. Anti-chafing shorts are a short-leg base layer that solves the first without causing the second. The good ones are smooth, breathable and stay where you put them.
Below: why the rub some people call chub rub happens, what separates a short that works from one you abandon by August, and how the Softskin Shorty is cut for the job. It's knit as a single seamless piece in Italy, so there are no seams along the inner thigh to chafe on their own.
Why chafing happens, and what actually fixes it
Chafing is friction plus moisture. Skin rubs skin, sweat raises the heat, and by mid-afternoon the inner thigh is raw. Balms and powders lower the friction for an hour or two, then wear off. A short-leg base layer removes the contact point for the whole day.
The Softskin Shorty sits high on the thigh in super-soft microfibre, so skin glides over fabric instead of catching on skin. It's underwear, not shapewear, so nothing compresses or overheats. Seamless, made in Italy, £24.
The anti-chafing short, in two shades
The Softskin Shorty in Black
Boy-short cut in seamless microfibre, with a deep waistband that doesn't dig or roll. The Q-Skin gusset is antimicrobial and cotton-lined.
Good for: dark summer dresses, trousers, and long days on your feet.
The Softskin Shorty in Almond
The same short in a nude that disappears under light and white summer clothing.
Good for: pale dresses, linen, and anything you don't want an outline to read through.
How to choose a pair that lasts past one summer
Leg length matters more than anything. Cut too short and your thighs still meet below the hem. The Softskin Shorty is cut long enough to cover where the rubbing happens.
Then the finish. A moisturising finish is worked into the yarn during dyeing, so the fabric conditions skin through wear rather than drying it out, and breathable fibres keep the heat down. See the full range in the Softskin Collection, or browse every short-leg style in Shorts.
One short, worn all summer
Seamless construction is the point. Most underwear is cut and sewn, which leaves seams exactly where an anti-chafing short can least afford them, along the inner thigh. The Softskin Shorty is knit in one piece, so there's nothing there to rub or work loose.
Softskin is Heist underwear, designed to be bought in a multipack and worn on rotation. At £24 a pair, a short you reach for every warm day costs less per wear than the balm you keep reapplying and replacing. The deep waistband holds from morning to night without rolling down.
What to wear them under
Under a summer dress, the Almond short vanishes and so does the rubbing. Under trousers or a skirt, the black does the same work without an outline.
Not sure which underwear suits which outfit, our guide to what underwear is right for you works through it. And when the weather turns, the same smooth-base-layer logic runs under hosiery: see how to wear tights in summer for the crossover.
Anti-chafing shorts: your questions answered
What are anti-chafing shorts?
A short-leg base layer worn under dresses, skirts and trousers to stop the inner thighs rubbing, the friction some call chub rub. They replace skin-on-skin contact with a smooth, breathable layer. The Softskin Shorty is the seamless version, knit in Italy.
Do anti-chafing shorts actually work?
Yes, when the leg is long enough to cover where your thighs meet and the fabric is smooth and breathable. A short cut too high slips above the rub, and a rough or non-breathable fabric traps heat. The Softskin Shorty is cut long, seamless, and made from microfibre that lets skin glide.
Do you wear underwear under anti-chafing shorts?
You don't need to. The Softskin Shorty has a cotton-lined, antimicrobial Q-Skin gusset, so it works as your underwear and your anti-chafing layer at once. Wear separate knickers underneath only if you prefer to.
What are the best anti-chafing shorts in the UK?
Look for three things: seamless construction, a leg cut long enough to cover where you rub, and breathable fabric. The Softskin Shorty meets all three, seamless, cut long, microfibre, made in Italy. Browse the range in the Softskin Collection.
What fabric is best for anti-chafing shorts?
Smooth, breathable microfibre. It lowers friction, and unlike cotton it doesn't hold sweat against the skin. The Softskin Shorty adds a moisturising finish worked into the yarn during dyeing, which conditions skin as you wear it.
Are anti-chafing shorts worth it?
If you chafe every summer, a £24 short you wear daily costs less per wear than balms you reapply and replace. It doubles as underwear, so it earns its place in the drawer rather than sitting in it.
Words by The Heist Team.
