The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: What Fenders Pinkbike's Editors Actually Use

We review a lot of kit here at Pinkbike. In fact, sometimes it can feel like a constant merry-go-round of helmets, gloves, tires, or if we're extra lucky the latest bikes. It often transpires that we spend little time on the things we actually like most and more time trying to understand why things don't fit, work or feel as good as the manufacturer insists they should.

Sometimes those preferred items aren't the flashiest, like the lowly fender here. While it might not inspire lust like other components, fenders are undeniably critical, especially for those of us who preside in wetter climes. Nobody likes mud in their eye, but we do have preferences over how we avoid such things.

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In order to keep the massive extrusion stable, the MugGuard relies on 6 zip ties or removable bands to hold things in place. The lower mounts on the fork legs are longer than typical fenders, and the double row is key to keeping the fender centered and away from the edge knobs of your tire. Speaking of those removable bands, MuckyNutz ships each fender with a roll of somewhat elastic hook and loop material that you can cut to length to affix your fender. Though I'm using standard zip ties here, I've come to prefer the removable nature of the alternative, as you can more easily swap the fender around between bikes or remove it for travel.

The only real downside to this massive mud guard is a material aversion to holding stickers very well. Because what are fenders for if not to provide a swath of sticker real estate? I'm sure a more thorough alcohol scrub or even some sanding would help, but the pebbly texture does help shed muck, so I'll leave it alone for now.


I don't imagine I'll be running this titanic fender once things dry out, but the slightly smaller MugGuard does make a great all-year item, and is less finicky to center than the long version. I'd love to use the stock Fox option, but I've had bad luck with the durability of those - especially the XL. The lower loop-style mounts always seem to break under regular usage, which results in a floppy, noisy fender.

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In my ideal world, all forks would come with a fender designed specifically for that model, one that offers good coverage and easily bolts on, no zip ties required. That's finally starting to happen, and over the last few years Fox and RockShox started making fenders that integrate well with their forks.

It's Fox's regular-length fender that's shown here, which does the trick, but I prefer the XL option - as the name implies, it offers more coverage on both sides of the fork arch. The shape works well, and I like that it leaves room next to the stanchions for mud to escape through, rather than creating a shelf that could potentially drag debris into the seals.

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Fox make a short and long version, but if you're going to have a mud guard, you may as well go all in with the XL size. Both fenders use four fixing points; two bolts at the back of the arch and one to each of the bleed valve nuts, doing away with any bothersome noises while riding. Another bonus point is that the fender doesn't rely on single-use zip ties.

Nearly all of the longer travel forks on the market have had small mounting points drilled into the back of the arches for years now, but Fox was the first to offer a factory-spec fender (although it's still an aftermarket purchase and rarely provided with bike). That means it's specifically shaped to Fox forks only, but it does come with the benefit of shedding mud from the seals, as Mike pointed out, and it also avoids sand-blasting the bottom of the fork arch, like the flexy zip tie versions can induce, since it's held firmly in place.

Due to the overall insignificance of the 92-g weight and sleek appearance, I haven't found any reason to remove it in summer months either - just be mindful of how it integrates with some tailgate pads and bike racks which hold the bike vertically by a front wheel basket.

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This fender is a little smaller than some others I've liked in the past, but it still does its job well. That's mainly what there is to say about its function. I put it on and from that point on, my tire has flung less mud toward my face.

The biggest decider is that I'm in a life moment of being really into Mexico. I've been putting way more effort than ever before into improving my Spanish, which is structured in a way that makes so much more sense than English (admittedly a low bar for sense-making). I'm a little bit in love with Mexican culture, which I think falls into the Venn diagram overlap between logical and sexy. Throw in more creativity than I see in the US, delicious food, and lots of my own great memories? I'll call it a win.


There are plenty of fenders out there that make marginal gains toward a tiny bit more effectiveness (see the rest of this article), but really, the simplest version also works just fine. My biggest complaint is that I don't love single-use zip ties. If I were planning to move this fender around (or even if I were more principled), I'd replace the zip ties with little Velcro strips, but really, this fender is staying on my personal bike, so that's a really, really minor gripe.

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My go-to is the Mudhugger EVO Long, of the Velcro strap-on variety, compatible with the latest Fox 36 and 38 forks, and the latest Rockshox ZEB (maybe others, too). The bolt-on version looks better (see Sarah's), but the Velcro one is probably the easiest and fastest to swap between bikes. That, and its massive coverage, make it the best option for me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but the coverage on this one is so good you can often get away with not using any eyewear even in the most sloppy conditions. The Velcro straps are a little abrasive, hence my incredibly careful application of Gorilla tape (that I'm sure will be appreciated by many) to the legs and arch. They'll also wear out after a winter of riding. Mudhugger sell replacement straps (4 for £4.99), or you can zip-tie.

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While I made a brief exception right after I got laser eye surgery and the doctor expressly told me not to get dirt in my eyes, I almost never wear glasses when mountain biking. I know I should, they're a great piece of safety gear, but in cooler weather, I fog them up, and in warmer temperatures, I sweat so much onto them that I have to wipe them every stop. I can usually manage goggles in the bike park as long as I make sure I don't put them on until the second before I drop in, but for the rest of the time, I rely on my fender to keep trail debris out of my eyes. It also keeps my face and clothes a whole lot cleaner, so even if you do ride with glasses, a fender is a worthwhile purchase.

In the summer, I'll generally ride a shorter fender that bolts to my fork like the one Kaz has in this article or just a cheap plastic fender that is attached with zip-ties. We had some Marsh Guard x Pinkbike ones at Crankworx a couple of years ago and I had a stash for while, but I think I've made my way through all of them. I've never actually made my own fender out of a Dollar Store placemat, but I might have to try that this summer!

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Otherwise, I tend to strap a Mudhugger or similar mudguard on when things get muddy. For wet weather, I like the longer version that extends almost a quarter of the way around the wheel for best coverage, but I will happily keep the shorter version on all year round. If I have some, I like to use reusable zip ties so it's easier to remove and re-install on another bike when needed. These seem to be easier and longer-lasting than the Velcro straps that sometimes come with mudguards.

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Reviews and Tech Editors Choice Reviews