Assos chamois creme isn't the least expensive option, but having tried several other leading brands, I find it to be the best. It protects over long rides, and works really well in hot & humid conditions. You don't need a lot to protect from chafing ' I find a container lasts about a full season of riding.
If you use chamois cream, give this a try. Chances are that this will go farther than any other product to help protect, even help work against worsening of irritation. It won't cure saddle sores, and doesn't claim to.
Since most of my cycling is commuting (~21 miles round-trip), I don't feel the need to use chamois cream very often so haven't had any for awhile. However, recently i had some issues where it would be beneficial so bought this kind again and was reminded what I had been missing! Yes, it's on the more expensive end for chamois creams, but you don't need to use a lot for it to be effective and since I don't use it very often the previous container lasted me about 3 years. I've also never had any issues with residue on my gear which I've read can be a problem with other brands. It's even helped me extend the usable life of some shorts where the chamois material had become rougher with age to the point I would have tossed them if not for this cream.
Stays on well enough during the swim of a triathlon but washes off easily in the shower. While it doesn't feel like a necessity for me most of the time, for any races/longer group rides/anytime I feel like I need some extra chafing protection, I'm really glad I have it.
This is my go-to chamois cream. I used to use stuff like diaper rash cream, but it was clogging my chamois up and ruining it, so I had switched to the Assos stuff. It works well, and always washes out.
I would say it doesn't last the entirety of a long ride (over 4 hours), and not in the hottest of hot weather, but I don't think anything does honestly.
And it seems expensive. I guess you have to pay somehow, otherwise you get cheap diaper rash cream, but wreck your shorts. Pick your evil.
