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12 best anti-chafing shorts in 2025, reviewed by a Cosmo editor
Including the best styles for value, comfort and support 👌
As the heatwaves become longer and more frequent, we’re gonna brave it and declare that summer 2025 is officially here. And if there’s one thing the warmer weather calls for (alongside yet another wedding guest dress), it’s anti-chafing shorts. Instead of jeans, we’re reaching for our summer dresses and miniskirts, so protecting our thighs from that dreaded red rash and subsequent waddle is a top prio.
Shop the best anti-chafing shorts, according to a Cosmo editor
What do anti-chafing shorts do?
Chafing is a painfully unbearable side-effect of summer and if you’re anything like us, every year you swat up on how to stop it happening – from dousing yourself down in baby powder to rolling on deodorant. But a pair of trusty anti-chafing shorts is the fool-proof solution that will prevent the waddle of shame, no patting, rolling, sticking or moisturising involved. They prevent that sore, red rash that forms when your thighs continuously rub together by creating a barrier that minimises friction and vary in length and material.
Do anti-chafing shorts work?
To make sure you’re covered, our curve editor Lauren Nicole tested and reviewed five of the best anti-chafing shorts on the market to help you find the perfect match. What’s the criteria, you ask? She rates them on comfort, fit, length, material and, of course, effectiveness, so you can rest assured every pair has been thoroughly put through its paces. The best part? They’re all under £20 and there’s a style for every preference.
Whether you’re looking for a seamless solution for under your wedding dress (brides chafe too, guys), or shopping for cute festival outfits, anti-chafing shorts should defo be in your summer capsule wardrobe. Here are the best ones to shop...
Pros
- Supportive
- Breathable
- Affordable
- Shorter leg
My only experience with Magiscuplt has been wearing their swimwear and shapewear, so I was interested to try their shorts too. As the brand is renowned for keeping you snatched, I wanted to see if that rang true for their anti-chafing collection. And if so, would that be appealing on a warm day?
True to their brand ethos, the anti-chafing shorts have some support – and while it's not the kind of support you'd find in shapewear, the material definitely felt like it was holding me in. The shorts were also an ideal choice for wearing with a mini skirt or dress as they sat about 4 inches above my knee (I'm 5’7”, remember).
The material resembles that of thin tights, meaning they’re very breathable. While they weren’t incredibly restrictive, I found them slightly less comfortable than the other shorts.
They are reasonably priced and allow for shorter styling, but I personally prefer a softer fabric that feels freer. If, however, you are looking for a bit more sculpt and support, this is a great option.
Size range: UK 10 - 32
Material: 95% Polyamide, 5% Elastane
Care: Hand wash
Pros
- Comfortable
- Moisture and heat repellent material
- Breathable
- Barely-there feel
Our Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Writer tried out these bad boys, and it’s safe to say they’ll be a long-term staple in her capsule wardrobe.
“I’ve never seen a slinky maxi dress I didn’t like. But my penchant for body-clinging frocks comes with the unfortunate consequences of chafing: the penguin waddle and red-raw inner thighs.
Reluctant to give up on my favourite kind of dresses, I picked up Thigh Society’s Cooling Short. I was super-impressed with the range of colours and sizes available and, of course, the anti-chafing results.
The shorts come in lengths from 5" (upper-thigh) to 21" (mid-calf), so you can customise your fit according to the length of your dress and where you experience chafing. They’re also made from silky, hi-tech performance fabric that pulls heat and moisture away from your body.
After a day sipping margs in 25 degrees on an East London rooftop and dancing the night away until the early hours, my thighs stayed cool and dry under my denim wiggle dress.
Sorry for the TMI, but these shorts were so comfy that I literally felt like I’d gone commando. The best part? There was no VPL in sight!”
Size range: UK XS - 6XL
Material: 78% Sensil® Breeze nylon, 20% elastane, 2% cotton
Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Pros
- Mostly cotton
- Comfortable
- No digging
- Machine washable
Sloggi’s MO is making comfortable underwear, so I expected nothing less from their briefs. Available in sizes 12 to 26 and one of the more expensive options I trialled (though at less than £20, they’re still super affordable!), I wanted to see how they’d hold up compared to their less expensive counterparts.
And I can confirm: there are no complaints to made about these shorts. Not only do they fit really nicely, but I could also see myself wearing these around the house.
Unlike the other brands, Sloggi hasn’t used tights material; instead, they’ve opted for cotton. Whether this makes them a better option is totally down to personal preference – for me, I like the more lightweight and softer tights fabric better.
They’re comfortable, and the detailed elastic band on the waistband and leg opening fits easily without digging into the skin. I'd be less likely to reach for these on a sweltering day, but they do exactly what they say on the tin.
Size range: UK 12 - 26
Material: 95% Cotton, 5% Lycra Elastane
Care: Machine washable
Pros
- Good quality
- Discreet
- Good value
- Breathable fabric
The main thing that stuck out to me about Snag’s shorts was their incredible sizing. Not only do Snag offer sizes 4 to 36, but they also offer fit depending on your height and figure.
Whether you’ve got more of a prominent bum and/or tum or yours is on the smaller, flatter side, they’ve mastered the correct size for you. The best part is, they’re under £10.I really liked this pair as they could work with my slightly shorter dresses and skirts without being seen or rolling down throughout the day.
My first audible response when taking them out of the packet was “oooh”. The material is so soft. And, as detailed on Snag’s website, the shorts are made from tights material and enhanced with special yarn to help you keep cool in the heat. I can confirm that this is 100% true!
My experience with the Snag’s stay cool chub rub shorts was a breeze from start to finish. From finding the perfect fit for my body with their inclusive size range, to wearing them on my weekly long walk, they were a dream.
Size range: UK 4 - 36
Material: 94% Polyamide, 5% Elastane & 1% Cotton
Care: Wash before wearing. Wash with similar colours by hand or in a lingerie bag.
Big Bloomers Anti chafing long leg slip shorts
Pros
- Comfortable
- Offer long and short leg
- Ribbed at the hem to prevent them riding up
- Available in different colourways
Big Bloomers is another brand that offers incredibly inclusive sizing, from sizes 12-36. Offering long and short leg lengths means the anti-chafing presentation is possible for all those who need it, no matter your height or hem length.
There are no complaints I can make about this pair. The ribbed cuff means there’s no room for riding up – joy, oh joy! And the fabric is incredibly comfortable and breathable.
I would say that if you’re in between sizes, you might want to potentially size down. For example, I found my size 18-22 shorts slightly too loose. Had I sized down, I might have received more support around the tum. But despite feeling a little loose around the waist area, the ribbed cuff meant they didn't move an inch. So they are definitely anti-chafing foolproof, and in my book, that’s a win!
Size range: UK 12 - 36+
Material: 93% Polyamide, 7% Elastane – Latex-free
Care: Hand or machine wash at 30°
More anti-chafing shorts to shop now
Lauren Nicole Coppin Campbell is the Contributing Curve Editor of Cosmopolitan UK. The former curve model and digital content creator has worked in the fashion industry, specialising in plus-size fashion content, for six years. Known for her excellent eye for style, captivating imagery and witty sense of humour to match, Lauren Nicole continues to inspire women to live boldly through their clothes.
Find her on TikTok
Shadé (pronounced sh-ah-day) is the Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. From what to shop in the latest Revolve flash sale to how to style the hottest new trends, she shares shopping advice, reports on new collabs and reviews your fave fashion brands.
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