Squirt Barrier Balm

The Barrier Balm from Squirt offers to protect skin by adding a layer to protect your nether regions from getting chaffing on long rides. It's antibacterial and anti-fungal abilities also are aimed at stopping fissures or sores.

It's a really thick balm, and I found best left in a warm place to help apply it easier - otherwise it's all over your fingers and not where you want it to be. The ingredients are listed as containing Lanolin, Dimethicone, Melaleuca and natural wax - some googling reveals Lanolin as a wool wax from sheep, Dimethicone to be common ingredients in barrier or cosmetics. Melaleuca is Tea Tree oil, which has supposed health benefits, and natural wax - likely to be from soy, bee or palm. All pretty standard and gentle stuff.

Applying it is straightforward and simple - put on the area where chaffing occurs. Once warmed up, the Barrier Balm worked really well and protected any sore areas or places where chaffing can occur. It's also easy enough to wash off and didn’t get tuck or built up on padded shorts. After 4+ hours rides, the balm begins to break down a little, but it's still effective.

The obvious benefits of the antibacterial and anti-fungal properties are clear, and the balm has no overly strong smell, just a vague tea tree fragrance, and just does the job. If you have never used chamois cream or balm before, this is as good a place as any to start.

It's worth considering if you are doing longer, more frequent rides, as best applied as a preventative, rather than a cure. Times like Alpine holidays with days of back to back riding, where you are most likely to suffer or develop soreness. Using the Barrier Balm will go a long way to reduce that and keep you more comfortable for longer.