Bikepacking Saddle Sore Prevention | How to Care for Your Butt on the Trail

Bikepacking saddle sore prevention is something every rider should take seriously—because nothing ends a trip faster than a wrecked undercarriage. Whether you call it saddle sores, Funky Butt, or good old Crotch Rot, this is one of cycling’s most painful—and most common—issues. We’ve all been there, and none of us want to go back. That’s why I wrote this guide: to help you avoid saddle sores and keep your downstairs happy on long rides. (They’re also one of the top injuries I mention in this breakdown of the most common bikepacking injuries.)

We’ll cover what causes them, how to prevent them, what to do mid-ride, and how to treat them if things go south. Like most cycling-related injuries, bikepacking saddle sore prevention comes down to knowledge and a few key habits. Let’s get into it.

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Causes of Saddle Sores

Understanding the causes is the first step in effective bikepacking saddle sore prevention. The main culprits are moisture, pressure, and friction—a perfect storm brewing in your shorts. What starts as mild irritation can quickly escalate into a raw patch, an inflamed pore, or a painful boil. It usually shows up at saddle contact points, but other high-friction zones in your shorts aren’t off the hook either.

Several other common culprits can make matters worse:

Improper Bike Fit: If your saddle height, tilt, or fore/aft position is off, your weight won’t be evenly distributed—amplifying pressure and friction.
Wrong Saddle: Not all saddles fit all butts. Shape, width, and padding can make or break your comfort.
Chamois Quality & Fit: A bad chamois (or one that doesn’t match your body) leads to more movement and irritation.
Lack of Conditioning: If your butt isn’t used to long hours in the saddle, you’ll feel it fast—especially on multi-day rides.
Too Much Time in the Saddle: Even seasoned riders need breaks. Non-stop grinding can wear anyone down.

The good news? Every one of these issues is fixable—with a little patience, trial and error, and smart prep before your next ride.

Saddle Sore Prevention Before Your Ride

Successful bikepacking saddle sore prevention starts long before your wheels hit dirt. Every rider’s body, setup, and riding style are different, which means there’s no universal fix—only what works for you. This section focuses on strategies you can dial in at home or during training, before the ride even begins. A shakedown ride is perfect for testing your saddle, bibs, and getting your butt conditioned for the real thing.

Bike Fit: A properly fitted bike distributes your weight evenly and reduces pressure. It’s essential for long-term comfort and injury prevention. Don’t guess—get a pro fit or measure twice.
Saddle: Skip the trendy picks and find what actually works for your anatomy. A good saddle takes trial and error—but once you’ve got the right one, your butt will thank you.
Bibs/Shorts: Not all chamois are created equal. Test different brands and models to find a high-quality pair of bibs/shorts that fit well and doesn’t bunch, shift, or rub.
Saddle Time: Build up your tolerance with regular rides. A well-conditioned butt is less likely to develop sores, especially when you’re grinding out back-to-back big days.

Figure out these four basics ahead of time and you’ll drastically reduce your chances of developing saddle sores when it counts. Invest in yourself now—your future self in the middle of nowhere will appreciate it.

Brooks B17 saddle commonly used for bikepacking saddle sore prevention.

How to Treat Saddle Sores While Bikepacking

Successful bikepacking saddle sore prevention starts long before your wheels hit dirt. Every rider’s body, setup, and riding style are different, which means there’s no universal fix—only what works for you. This section focuses on strategies you can dial in at home or during training, before the ride even begins.

Clean: Wash the affected area thoroughly whenever possible to reduce bacteria buildup and irritation.
Dry: Keep the area as dry as you can—sweaty, damp skin is a breeding ground for saddle sores.
Cream: Apply an antibacterial cream or ointment to help reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Rest: Take a break if the pain becomes too much. Sometimes even a short rest can help reduce swelling and irritation.

For years, thru-hikers have cleaned and dried their feet during breaks to avoid blisters. Same logic applies here—clean, dry skin is happy skin. A few minutes of maintenance can mean the difference between pushing through or pulling the plug.

Bikepacker explaining the importance of saddle choice for bikepacking saddle sore prevention.

On-the-Bike Saddle Sore Prevention & Treatment

Even with perfect bikepacking saddle sore prevention, things can still go sideways out on the trail. Treating saddle sores while bikepacking is a challenge—what’s easy to handle at home is much harder in the backcountry. When prevention fails, these steps can help keep you riding instead of calling it quits.

Wipe First: Before wiping after a bowel movement, use the wipe to clean the sit-bone area and groin first. Removing sweat, salt, and grime beforehand helps reduce irritation and lowers the risk of infection.
Clean Before Bed: Repeat the wipe routine before sleeping to avoid stewing in sweat and bacteria overnight. Clean skin heals better and stays healthier on long rides.
Air Out: Take advantage of breaks or cooler nights to let everything breathe. Sleeping without bottoms, when conditions allow, can make a big difference.
Dry Your Chamois: Turn chamois inside out at night to speed drying and prevent buildup of moisture and bacteria.
Shift Positions: Mix up hand and saddle positions throughout the day to reduce constant pressure on any one area.

Some riders carry two pairs of chamois and rotate them to give each one a chance to dry. Others ditch the bibs altogether and ride in wool boxers with baggies. I did this for the AZTR and only had minor irritation. With the right prep, you might not even miss the padding.

Whatever your system, it should revolve around two key concepts: cleanliness and dryness. A daily routine like the one above can be the difference between powering through or tapping out early.

I’m not a huge fan of it on multi-day rides, but chamois butter can help on longer single pushes. Just keep in mind: layering it up day after day tends to create a nasty mess.

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On the Bike Prevention/Treatment

When it comes to bikepacking saddle sore prevention during your ride, the little things matter. Daily maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your undercarriage happy. I call my routine “Scathole Maintenance”—a simple but effective system to stay clean, dry, and irritation-free on the go.

My routine is this:

Wipe First: Before wiping after a bowel movement, use a fresh wipe to clean the sit-bone area and groin. Removing sweat, salt, and grime beforehand helps reduce irritation and lowers the risk of infection.
Clean Before Bed: Repeat the wipe routine before sleeping to avoid stewing in sweat and bacteria overnight. Clean skin heals better and stays healthier on long rides.
Air Out: Take advantage of breaks or cooler nights to let everything breathe. Sleeping without bottoms, when conditions allow, can make a big difference.
Dry Your Chamois: Turn chamois inside out at night to speed drying and prevent buildup of moisture and bacteria.
Shift Positions: Mix up hand and saddle positions throughout the day to reduce constant pressure on any one area.

One can also carry two chamois, switching them out to give them a chance to dry. One could also rinse or wash one, while switching them out. Some people ride with wool boxers and baggy shorts (I did this for the AZTR and only had minor irritation). This set up offers much better breathability and carrying two pairs of boxers is much less bulky than two bibs. With proper training one shouldn’t miss the padding of a chamois.

Whatever system you settle on, be sure it addresses the key points to preventing saddle sores: Cleanliness, and Dryness. Having a daily routine like the above one can really help and should make your time in the saddle much more enjoyable.

I’m not a fan of it on multi day rides but for longer rides, chamois butter is a great option to help reduce friction and saddle sores. On multi day rides I feel one’s chamois gets too nasty with multiple applications.

Final Thoughts on Bikepacking Saddle Sore Prevention

Hopefully, this guide gave you some practical ideas to make your next ride or adventure more comfortable. A few of these steps might seem like a hassle in the moment, but trust me—when a saddle sore hits mid-ride, you’ll wish you’d done the work ahead of time.

Bikepacking saddle sore prevention comes down to a few key things: the right gear, proper prep, and a consistent daily routine focused on cleanliness and dryness. Nail those, and you’ll be miles ahead—literally.

Take care of your butt—and let the miles come.

MORE RESOURCES

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PLANNING / GEAR RESOURCES

PLANNING AIDS

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Checkout all our Planning Aids at our store. (Tour Divide, GDMBR, AZTR, CTR, Kokopelli Trail, TNGA, Coconino 250, and Bay Circuit Trail). SOBO & NOBO, as well as metric versions are available depending on the route.

TRIPLE CROWN GEAR

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Dive into all three gear lists from the Bikepacking Triple Crown, and find pros & cons; things I’d do differently; and tips.

“IF I RODE…” SERIES

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In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide, CTR, AZTR, Kokopelli Trail, and Bay Circuit Trail again.

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Curios to know what gear other riders used to get to the finish line? Checkout our Rider Surveys to find out what works or to take the survey yourself.