Best Fat Bike Fenders for Tires in 2021

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Riding a bike is fun, and it’s even more exciting when you’re taking on big adventures such as riding through tough terrains and difficult bike trails. The only thing is, you never quite know what’s bound to happen, and next thing you know, you and your bicycle are covered in mud.

That’s why fat bike fenders exist-to protect you and your bicycle from the elements, whether it’s the dust, dirt, mud, and pools of water on the road. After all, you don’t want your face to get splashed with these things, nor your bike frame get caked in dirt, do you?

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve reviewed the best fat bike fenders for tires in 2021 that are guaranteed to offer you the best protection and give you the best value for your money, and even provided a helpful buying guide so you can confidently make your choice.

Best Fat Bike Fenders

Take a look at these six best fat bike fenders that will surely keep you and your bike free from the elements as you ride off to your next destination:

Fat bike fenders buying tips

When it comes to finding the best fat bike fenders for you and your bicycle, there are lots of things that you need to consider. For one thing, do you want just a front or rear fender, or both? What size should they be? What material should they be made of?

These are just a few of the many questions you should ask before buying bike fenders. To help you further, below are the most important factors that you need to take into account so you can end up with the right fenders that will work for you:

Why do you need fenders?

First of all, let’s talk about exactly why you need fenders, and what they can do for you.

To put things simply, as the name suggests, bike fenders fend off dirt and other elements from splashing on different parts of the bicycle, as well as on the rider. This works by covering the bike tires with a protective barrier, usually made of plastic or metal or other materials.

This is important, because one, no one wants to get dirty even when riding on less than stellar road and weather conditions, and two, a dirty bike is more difficult to clean, and is also more susceptible to premature wearing and even damage.

Plus, you will also be protecting the other riders around you from getting sprays of water and mud as you ride on puddles and whatnot, so, everyone benefits from fenders, not just you but your fellow cyclists as well.

Bicycle fenders are an easy yet effective and economical solution to prevent all these things from happening, and as such, are a definite need for any cyclist out there. In fact, there are even 20×4 fat tire fenders for electric bikes.

Fenders materials

One of the main things you need to first decide on is what type of material you’d like the fenders to be made of, since this will largely determine how heavy, durable, and modifiable the fenders will be.

Common fender materials include plastics and polymers, as well as metals like aluminum, or even more expensive options such as carbon fiber or even wood. These will all come at a wide range in cost, and will offer different pros and cons as well.

Ultimately however, regardless of the material, what’s important is that the fender is rigid and high quality, so it doesn’t lose its shape, as this will lessen its coverage and protective abilities, and may even cause rattling noises as it flaps around or bumps on your tires while you ride.

Adjustability

When it comes to how easily the fenders can be adjusted to perfectly fit your tires, plastic fenders are your cheapest option, and you can easily bend and trim them to fit your bike perfectly, and are also generally portable and easy to pack in case you want to remove them.

But, they won’t be anywhere as durable as carbon, which may be expensive, but will surely last a long time, and can even be custom made for your bike tires.

Other more rigid materials may also offer you some form of adjustability, such as in angled mounting, length and height adjustable hinges, and so on, so you’re not entirely limited to plastic fenders if you’re looking for a perfect fit and coverage.

Installation

It’s also important to think about how easy the fenders will be to install or mount on your bike, what tools (if any) you might need, how long it will take to mount and unmount the fenders, and where you’re even supposed to install them in the first place.

Another thing is that the fenders’ installation mechanism also affects how adjustable the fenders will be, which is important in making sure that they fit as perfectly with your bike tires as possible, so that you can get the full protection that the fenders can offer.

And as for attachment points, different fenders are designed to be mounted on different parts of the bicycle, depending on what type of fenders they are and whether these are front or rear fenders. For example, front fenders usually go on the fork or down tube, while rear fenders go on the frame, seat post, or seat rails.

Bolt on fenders

There are types of fenders that are designed to be screwed into place and are meant to be permanent for all year and all weather riding. These are secure and durable, and offer the best protection that you can ever hope to get from bike fenders.

But, they will require a few tools to install, although this shouldn’t be that much of a problem even if you’re not a skilled mechanic, since the process is fairly straightforward. The only thing you need to make sure of is whether your bike has the necessary mounts and clearance.

That said, the beauty of these things is that they are guaranteed to stay on securely no matter how roughly you ride your bike or whatever road conditions you’re riding on, so there’s little risk of fenders rattling against your tires, or worse.

Clip on fenders

Generally speaking, fenders that are easy to install and do not require any screws and bolts are more convenient especially for those who don’t have a lot of handy DIY experience. They are also more suitable for bicycles with no mounting spots or little clearance for fenders.

Plus, clip on fenders are lightweight and geared for performance oriented riders. And, one benefit of easy to install fenders, especially those that feature quick release mechanisms, is that you can remove them from the bike when it’s time for a cleaning session, or when your bike needs some repair that involves taking apart the wheel.

One definite downside, however, is that these won’t be as durable nor will offer as much coverage, and are only secured with zip ties, rubbers, and velcro straps, so you risk having them come off even when they’re not intended to do so.

Fender locations

You also need to decide on where you will be needing to install fenders, since not all bicycles require both a front and rear fender, which largely depends on the type of bicycle you ride and your usual riding condition.

Of course, if you prefer, you can always mount both a front and rear fender as this is what ensures that you and your bicycle, as well as other riders around you, stay lean and dry at all times no matter where and how you ride.

Front fenders

For example, front fenders are great for deflecting mud, rocks, sticks, and dust that are all common when you’re doing some off road riding, so these things don’t come into contact with your bike’s fork or your face.

Now, most mountain bikes are engineered with a wide clearance and mounting spots for front fenders, so you can easily install one on your fork, down tube, or steer tube, depending on what your bike allows and how much coverage you want.

These are minimalist and lightweight, and are also shorter than those for urban bikes, which often come as full length fenders. When it comes to road bikes however, you’ll rarely find bolt on options, so you might have to settle for clip on mudguards.

Rear fenders

On the other hand, rear fenders do better when it comes to preventing splashes of water and mud from spraying your backside and those other riders around you, so they are highly useful in keeping things and people clean and dry.

When it comes to mountain bikes, mounting on the seatpost is best, especially if you want the best protection against sprays and splashes, although if you have a dropper seatpost, this may not be possible.

In such case, your alternative would be clip on mudguards, similar to those used for road bikes. These also come in full length options if you want maximum coverage. These are meant to be mounted on the seat rails with a few zip ties or velcro straps.

Summary

It’s a simple fact that fat bike fenders are a must if you want to keep you and yourself clean and dry when riding your bicycle on any road condition and under any weather.

Large and sturdy fenders protect you from mud and grime, and even prevent clogging and grits when mounted on the down tube. Compact and easily detachable fenders are a great solution to ward off rain water, and can even be used on different bikes as needed.

The harsher your riding conditions, the more important it is that you install fenders on your bike. The good news is, finding great ones is easy. Just take your pick from the best fenders we’ve reviewed just for you!

Are you ready for your next adventure? Don’t forget to protect your car and bike with these best tailgate bike pads.

• Category: Buying Guide