MTB mudguards – three of the best

By in Reviews,Tech

Like it or loathe it, mud affects the way we ride on a frequent basis in the UK, and usually through out the year. Over the last few years there has been an increase in mudguard development – with a very differing aim to conventional mud guards found on town bikes. These were designed to keep the rider clean and dry, and to help stop rusting on the bike from constant road spray.

The MTB mudguards we see tend to be designed primarily to make off road riding in the mud faster – by keeping the mud out of your face. At low speeds, mud is flicked up towards your down tube – and face – so guards like the original Crudcatcher still serve brilliantly for many riders. But those travelling faster off road in bad conditions need protection from the spray that travels forwards through the gap between fork arch and crown, and under the arch – and back in your face.

Something to consider when buying a mud guard is the tyre clearance you have – the Rockshox Pike an excellent fork, but the achilles heel is the lack of clearance between tyre and fork arch that it offers compared to other models of fork. We chose the Pike for this exact reason to test the following mud guards, and used the same Maxxis Minion DHR II in a 2.3 casing in each test.

Here are three of the best performance mud guards on the market at the moment:

 

Enduro Guard

 

Mudguard test

Enduro Guard – small but surprisingly effective

This is about as simple as a spray protector gets. The Enduro Guard is a simple flap of polypropylene with a good shape, and holes in the right places for quick and easy fitting.

There are two sizes available for different fork travels, seven different colour options and it’s the cheapest model on test by a long way.

Likes

  • Robust – the polypropylene construction doesn’t warp or lose shape
  • Dirt cheap
  • Good protection for fork seals
  • High profile at rear catches a lot of spray
  • Best clearance of the three mud guards on test
  • Light, minimal and discreet
  • Easy to unclog – pretty much whack the guard and the flex removes the build up
Mudguard test 9

Good seal protection, and a high rear flap catches a lot of spray

Mudguard test 1

Good clearance thanks to the simplistic design. Even when clogged it frees easily.

Gripes

  • Not as much protection as guards with extended forward flaps
  • Spray protection on a Rockshox Pike is great as the guard sits low to the tyre, but on a Fox 36 it sits much higher and accordingly you get more spray in the face.
  • You can alter the angle, but the difference is minimal.

We say

An excellent little guard that does a brilliant job considering the overall small size. Once on your bike you’ll barely notice it – unless you opt for the brighter colours – and at under £9 your wallet won’t either.

If you’re against the look of mudguards, you can even keep one in your riding pack with some cable ties – should the conditions overcome. 


 

Mudhugger

Mudguard test 11

We like the flattering shape that follows the wheel

Made from a much sturdier recycled plastic than the Enduro Guard, the MudHugger has a formed shape, and follows the curve of the wheel. It also has a slight extension to the front and has an optional extension piece on the rear, for bigger wheels and increased coverage.

Likes

  • Strong, formed shape
  • Good protection for fork seals
  • Front extension aids spray protection
  • Effective against sloppy mud
  • Blends in to the shape of the wheel – nearly invisible at a glance
  • Excellent low speed mud flinging protection with extension piece
Mudguard test 8

Good spray protection – but might be better with a curved profile at the back

Mudguard test 12

The extended front helps keep spray to a minimum

Gripes

  • Very limited clearance on our test set up – we clogged ours in thick mud
  • When clogged with thick mud, you need to stop to unclog it
Mudguard test 3

Barely any breathing space with a 2.3in tyre when fitted to a Pike

We say

As far as stopping spray goes, the Mudhugger works really well and looks good to boot. We’re impressed with the build quality – but there is very limited clearance when used on a Rockshox Pike, particularly in thick congealed mud. 


 

Rockguardz

Mudguard test 7

We love the shape of the Rockguardz fender, but it costs a lot of money!

This is the longest and most expensive guard on test – but is definitely a performance item.

Hand made from carbon fibre, the Rockguardz unit looks amazing when fitted, and has a shaped front extension that forces any remaining spray down on to the tyre.

Likes

  • Rear section has a curved end, which catches lots of additional spray
  • Amazing looks
  • Good protection for fork seals
  • Excellent spray protection – only rivalled by the Powa products Dfenda
  • Very light considering size – just 100grams.
  • Good low speed protection
Mudguard test 10

Long back and a curved profile catches almost all the spray

Mudguard test 4

Shaped extension on the front forces spray down – and works excellently

Gripes

  • Can clog on a Pike, but the open shape clears OK.
  • We managed to deform ours when our bike was in the back of a van with others, so you might need to take a little care with yours.
  • Expensive.
Mudguard test 2

We love the Rockguardz, but managed to deform ours when another bike lent on it

We say

For out and out protection, the Rockguardz unit is the best of the MTB Mudguards here, and even though it sits close to the tyre manages to clear mud quite well. We did clog ours, but it only took a couple of hard front wheel strikes on the ground to get things rolling again – the only thing that annoyed us was deforming our guard – though we may have been unlucky.  The carbon fibre construction looks stunning – and can really add to the finish of your bike – but only you know if it’s worth forking out the extra cash.


 

 

 

 

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