There’s nothing better than sitting in a field, can of Red Stripe in hand, listening to James or Madness as the sun beats down. That’s exactly how I’ve just spent my weekend at Tramlines festival.
Of course, there’s much to love about the Sheffield-based music event - from the array of food stalls and pop-up shops, to discovering artists big and small across four incredible stages.
However, 40,000 steps and three full days of exploring Hillsborough Park can take its toll - but it’s not the itchy sequin dresses or aching feet from wearing Dr Martens for 72 hours that I was worried about. It was the dreaded ‘chub-rub’.
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Regardless of your shape or size, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced chafing of some description. It’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about, but I’ve found not enough people talk about it.
In recent years, the phrase ‘chub-rub’ has been coined to describe the way your thighs, and other parts of your body, rub together when walking or dancing. This can often cause an unpleasant rash, and in some cases, painful blisters. A sunny weekend, live music, festival outfits and 49 acres of parkland is pretty much a recipe for sore legs.
Before heading to the festival, I discovered a £6 gel that promised to help prevent the discomfort my size 10 thighs would likely give me during the three-day weekend - and boy did I put it through its paces.
I picked up the Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel for £6.30 at Boots and applied it to my inner thighs where they meet in the middle. The days of dancing 17 hours a week which maintained my ‘thigh gap’ are long gone, and I’m okay with that.
I gave it a quick test in my Premier Inn room, doing the kind of walk you do when you try on new shoes in the shoe shop. All seemed to be in order, and I was ready to go and enjoy the festival, friction free.
The way the Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel works is by forming a breathable barrier on your skin to ‘prevent and aid healing of chafing caused by repeated rubbing of skin on skin or on clothing’.
I found that a small amount goes a long way - I’m talking a pea-sized amount for my legs - and as it’s odourless, dries clear and is non-greasy, no-one would ever know you were wearing it.
My boyfriend and I made our way to Hillsborough Park and arrived just in time to catch the end of Shed Seven’s set before heading off in search of food. We fuelled our afternoon with a pepperoni pizza, going on to enjoy sets from Jade Bird on the Main Stage, and walking over to T’Other Stage to listen to Orla Gartland.
By the time Manchester’s own James made it onto the stage, I thought my legs would have begun to feel uncomfortable, but they still glided past each other without catching or discomfort as I danced to Sit Down and Laid.
Headlining the night was Sam Fender, kicking off at 8.30pm - a whole eight hours after I’d applied the gel, and still there was no rash to be seen or itching felt. Even a 40 minute walk to catch an Uber back to the hotel felt like a breeze.
The following day, I applied the gel once more, and walked a total of 14,125 steps between the Leadmill Stage, Main Stage, T’Other Stage and Library Stage to watch Leigh’s The Lottery Winners and Inhaler, Bono’s son’s band who supported Kings of Leon at the AO Arena last month.
I dashed from Crawlers at The Leadmill Stage to T’Other Stage to watch Eurovision hero Sam Ryder, catching sets from The Vaccines and Alfie Templemen before rounding the night off with Kasabian. By this point, my legs would have typically been sore, angry, red and painful, but the only complaints I had were about my aching feet. So when someone can make a miracle gel for that, please let me know.
I repeated my ritual on Sunday morning, putting on my festival outfit and bright headdress, before applying a small amount of gel to my legs. The gel has a really silky finish and feels really pleasant on the skin, and not at all sticky. The Boots website states that the product, while age restricted to buy, is suitable to use on adults and children, and is gentle enough to use anywhere, everyday.
I was feeling pretty smug when I made it to T’Other Stage to watch Salford comic Jason Manford and back to the Main Stage for The Coral with no chafing. And by the end of the festival I’d watched more than 20 acts, walked more than 40,000 steps, danced to The Wombats, Kelis and Madness and yet returned home with my thighs completely unscathed.
This little tube of gel got me through an intense few days, and will be my go-to when I go on holiday later this year, too. I was really impressed that I wasn’t at all uncomfortable despite so much walking, and never once felt as though I wasn’t able to do something or walk somewhere as a result of chafing.
You can buy the Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel for £6.30 at Boots here.
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