hmmm, here is a simple question, what is the "best" fender on the market?

but I suppose that I should define best, as driest fender.

Simple answer.

Honjo/Gilles Berthoud with Mudflaps.

You mean like these?

woodysfenders.com

There are very few functional differences between SKS and Planet Bike's top of the line fenders, for the "chomo-plastic" varieties. Some might argue that various metal fenders (Berthoud, Velo Orange, etc) are better, but that is more a matter of personal taste or opinion than functionality. You are talking about pretty basic, simple technology here. I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about which one is "best" but would base my decisions on what looks best and serves your particular needs. I prefer plastic fenders over metal because they are lighter weight and don't dent, but I'm sure than metal fans have their reasons.

I use SKS Chromoplastic.


Those others are beautiful but not for me. On the bike that has fenders, it's covered with snow, road salt and/or mud a lot of the time. The fenders get beat on. I've had sticks blow into the spokes and wreck a fender. I wouldn't want to put on any fenders that I really cared much about whether they were dirty or got broken.

I have heard that the fancy aluminum ones are lighter than plastic, but don't know if that's true.

PB Cascadias with the long front mudflap are great. Rear mudflap can be removed, and saved as a spare.

Velo Orange stainless steel. You can bolt a tail light to them, they are sturdy, don't wear out, and don't rub or rattle.

If you judge best by lightest weight there is a carbon fiber mudguard set as well,
for 700c wheels from Berthoud and Bruce Gordon.

the Q with a Q us Best for what?

Adequate .. I get Esge/Blumels/SKS chromoplast, but in 20" I got PB ..

their polycarbonate even fit over my 1.75 tire , nicely

You know, just what is "Chromoplastic", really? The name just says coloured plastic, but there might be more to it than that.

M.

Best can be defined by various criteria. What are your criteria?

They all fend off water and mud and grit equally well, for a given size. I've used Bluemels and SKS. The Planet Bikes look good, too.

Chromoplast, in German where they are made is their product- trade name.

they are a laminate .. a metal foil
(it can be a wiring path to a taillight, because there are stripes that are actually separating the foil strips)

in between layers of a Thermoplastic that is the structure , of the mudguard .

I have several sets on various bikes , the black is the color of the plastic*
as is the silver-transparent, plastic, showing the foil .

*meeting your definition.

Yeah, that is a cool feature. I have those fenders on my Volpe which has dynamo lighting. Maybe I should use the feature to eliminate some wires. So if wiring is your main criterion, then SKS Chromoplastic fenders are the best.

This one:

https://www.bikeforums.net/member.php/46029-fender1

+1 The most practical solution for a commuter. Easy to install. Great looking. No rattles.

I put a set of SKS plastic fenders on my drop bar mountain bike and they rattle quite a bit. Not sure how much/little fenders normally rattle but these are a little annoying. Maybe I'll try a set of the Velo Orange.

Where did the word "fender" come from? I'm from the UK and we call them mudguards here, so why fender?

Just one of those mysteries like why you guys call the "trunk" the "boot" and why y'all drive on the wrong side of the road.

"fender(n)
late 13c., shortening of defender. Used of attachments to boats at first, of fireplaces since 1680s; application to automobiles is 1919."

-https://www.etymonline.com

I also call them "mudguards" since a Welsh associate explained that "mud" is a British euphemism from the days when horse drawn vehicles were common on roadways. I live in a fairly rural area with working ranches & farms & "low water crossings" to cycle though after the rains. Planet Bike Mudguards for me.

-Bandera

I've got the PB Cascadias on my bike, and I love them. They look good and they work well, which is all you can ask for from a fender

Have someone look at that for you. Mine don't rattle at all.

I have, and really like, the PDW "Full Metal Fenders" on my bike. They are narrow to fit in a frame with tight clearances, stiff and silent, an inconspicuous gray, fit even if your bike has no eyelets, full coverage. My commute bike is a road bike with 25 mm tires and no eyelets up front. I tried RaceBlades but they didn't work well enough for a daily Portland commute. Unfortunately, these cost $120.

Fender is also something to place between the Boat hull and the dock .

not to forget the Guitars made by the company Leo Fender created .

+1. No rattle with my SKS fenders/mudguards either. It took a bit of fiddling to get them positioned properly.

Just put a set of Cascadias on my beater the other day, very pleased with the fit. Had SKS fenders on another bike years ago and was quite pleased with those as well. There was very little difference between the SKS and PB Cascadia as far as hardware and fit, I really like the mudflaps on the Cascadias though.