sinjun

what are the best fenders for the front and back on a mountain bike ?

mlh122

That's like saying "what are the best hubcaps for a car", there are many types that are better for different uses. My wife just got a Kona Smoke with "full coverage" fenders, they basically encase the tire preventing it from getting anything on you.
If you want a motocross look, look up "THE" fenders.
If you want very good coverage there are "planetbike freddy's" but they look kinda like cruiser fenders.
I had the seatpost fenders with the adjustable knobs, but if i bumped it with my foot or anything it would snap right off (broke 2 and gave up).
Then i went to the "zefal cruzer" fender, it looked kinda cruisery so it looked funny when i was on backwoods trails but it worked pretty well. I gave up on those because i couldn't get them to not interfere with my rear v-brake. they had a metal frame so they were very sturdy but when i upgraded to discs i needed those holes back.
I also had a frame-mounted rear rack, worked as a mediocre fender by itself, worked pretty well with a newspaper attached hanging off the back, but also, uses the holes that i needed for my BB7s.
now i have no fender in the rear.
I only had one front fender, a standard steerer tube one, but took a large jump and it broke off, i'm not sure how as it was very fast, i'm guessing my tire hit it somehow.
now i have the downtube mounted "mud guard" not as good of a fender but stays out of the way.

FreeRidin'

I picked up a front "the" fender in someones trash during spring cleaning. I'll sell it to ya for $7.

Raiyn

When I actually run fenders I use Topeak DeFenders. They work OK and have the benefit of being easily removed when not needed.

Gravity Worx

I use them sometimes for muddy courses.
I went to the local cycle salvage and got a couple front fenders for a KX-60 and cut them down to work propperly.
The front was east to mount.
Put a star nut in the bottom of your steer tube and drill a hole in the fender.
Use a machine screw and a fender washer to mount it there when needed.

I took the front 8 or so inches of the other front fender and drilled some holes to be able to mount it up to the seat rails and seat post with zip ties when needed.

It helps to use a dremmel tool to shape propperly for mtb mounting etc.

alexaschwanden

Today i decided to put fenders on my trek mountain bike, so i went to two different bike shops and got a pair of front and back fenders and a free fender stay and modified them using my creative brain, body reamer, rc scissors, alot of zipties, a half our of labor. it was alot of measuring and test fiting and fun, cant wait to hit the rain days or the trails.

gopromiller

good info to me , thanks , and i will Put a star nut in the bottom of your steer tube and drill a hole in the fender

RidingMatthew

i wouldnt ride most trails on a rainy day. most of them around actually have signs across trail to stop people from riding them after serious rain. plus they use a twitter feed. < which is genius, imo>