At BALM, we believe the best experiences outdoors begin and end with happy skin. Whether you're running, cycling or hiking, BALM is there for you so the rub never gets real. BALM provides protection for all bodies that sweat, ensuring that your skin can keep up with all your epic adventure goals.
Meet the Founders
Hey y'all! We’re Abby and Jay — partners in life and adventure for over a decade, and the folks behind BALM. We LIVE for time spent outdoors, whether we’re hiking, running, cycling, climbing, we've always got some kind of adventure planned. But over the years, we kept running into the same problem: most anti-chafe products weren’t quite cutting it.
They were either made with synthetic ingredients that we didn't want on our skin, or they didn’t perform in the cold, dried out mid-run, or just straight-up didn’t smell good. And as we compared notes with friends, one thing was clear — our community was settling for products that almost worked, or just really didn’t work at all.
So we decided to make something better.
Why BALM?
BALM was born from a desire to create a product that actually did what it promised — protect your skin during activity, support it after, and feel good while doing it. We wanted something that reflected our values:
🌿 All-natural ingredients
🌈 Gender-inclusive design
🧊 All-weather performance
💚 Recovery support
We didn’t want it to have the overused branding strategy of hyper-masculine humor. We didn’t want pink-washed packaging or a product that disappeared in the bottom of your pack. We wanted BALM to be for everyone and anyone. We wanted it to feel like a low-key essential — the kind of thing you always have in your go-bag, reliably making every adventure experience better.
The Scent
We chose BALM’s signature scent because we wanted it to feel like stepping out onto your favorite trail: earthy, herbal, grounding. It’s inspired by the evergreen forests and wild places we love — especially the ones near our home in Michigan — but subtle enough that it doesn’t overwhelm your senses or your experience outdoors. We love it because it's inviting but not intrusive, unique but not loud.
BALM Is for the Long Haul
We're not a big corporation — just two people who love the outdoors and believe deeply in making products for real people chasing their goals. From sweaty bike commutes to trail ultras, long hikes to short climbs, BALM is built to move with you and support your skin before, during, and after the effort.
Our full-size tin is perfect for pre-race rituals, multi-day treks, or your gym bag. And our portable push-up stick (BALMY!)
is the pocket-size pal for everyday use — from thighs and toes to underarms and everything in between.
Michigan and Beyond
Our products are proudly made in Michigan and while our label pays homage to Hogback Mountain — one of our favorite wild places in Michigan — BALM isn’t just about one peak or one kind of adventure. It’s made to go everywhere you do.
We made BALM because we needed it.
We share it because we believe you’ll love it too.
— Abby & Jay
Co-Founders, BALM
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