WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE MUDHUGGER EVO VELCRO FRONT FENDERS
At one point in time, you have likely had some sort of fender zip tied to your fork. Those traditional mini fenders help stop a little mud being thrown everywhere, but they are no means a great solution. For those of us who ride in foul weather consistently, something more effective is required. The Mudhugger EVO line of fenders set out to solve this exact problem, offering maximum coverage to keep your vision clear in adverse conditions.
There are two different Mudhugger EVO mud guard options: the Shorty and the Long. The Shorty has 225mm of rear coverage and 105mm out front, while the long version sports 330mm out back and 185mm up front. The Mudhugger EVO Shorty weights in at 100g, while the long is 120g. The updated Mudhugger EVO fender is optimized to work with either zip ties or Velcro straps, or there are bolt-on versions for a range of forks to obtain the cleanest integration. The fenders ship with zip ties included for installation, but if you want to run Velcro, these can be purchased separately for an additional £5.99 / $10.99.
The updated Mudhugger EVO mud guards were designed around the crowns on the new Fox 36 and 38, and Rockshox Zeb. While these were designed with those forks in mind, they are compatible with nearly all other boost spaced forks on the market. For reverse crown forks, Mudhugger says you can drill holes to modify the guard and achieve a solid fit. The stiffness of the Mudhugger EVO mud guard has also been increased, so even the long version is permitted for DH racing at the World Cup Level.
Both Mudhugger EVO variants are essentially identical, aside from the difference in total length. They share a flared rear to help maximize mud coverage with a slightly shorter overall length. Towards the front, there is a small lip on the inside of the guard, designed to prevent spray from firing out the front.
Available in black only, the Mudhugger EVO mud guard is priced at £23.99 / $48.99 for the Shorty and £30.99 / $49.99 for the Long version.
THE DIRT
We selected to test the velcro strap option of the Mudhugger EVO mud guard, as the Velcro straps offer a secure way to fit the fender to your bike, but also allow for easy removal or swapping between bikes. Here at The Loam Wolf, we’re swapping bikes more than most, but for riders with more than one bike, it also avoids having to spend on multiple guards.
Installing the fender was straightforward. I simply fed the straps through the slits and cinched them up. There are three upper mounting options and two on the sides, with the slits precut in the fender. I opted for the lower fork leg position and the two outside slits up top. Since there are three slits up top, you can opt to position the fender biased slightly forward or rearward. I found that using the two outer slits put the fender in a great position on the fork’s arches I was testing with.
There is no listed maximum tire size, but I can confirm there was room to spare on my 2.5” Schwalbe Magic Merry. With the improved mud clearance in this new version, you can also run the Schwalbe Shredda or similar mega mud tires if you are really in the thick of horrible conditions. Note that the Formula and Ohlins forks arches are lower than that of the Fox and Rockshox options, and you may run into issues if you’re running a particularly large tire.
I opted for the Mudhugger EVO Shorty, and even though it is the “short” one, it did an excellent job at keeping mud off the riding body and downtube. but most noticeably the glasses. If you have never experienced a muddy ride with an effective fender fitted, you are truly missing out. Where I live in Spokane, WA, muddy conditions are hit and miss, so I did not feel the long was needed. But if I was living back on the wetter side of Washington State or visiting Rob in Rainland (I mean Scotland), the long would be the move. The shorty balances looks and functionality well, though the long one does not look “bad” it just sticks out a bit more.
When riding there was no unwanted movement from the fender, even on some properly scary and rough terrain. The Velcro straps did their job at keeping the fender locked in place, yet allowed for extremely quick installation and removal. Stability and movement of the fender never once crossed my mind. Additionally, I did not need to adjust or retighten the straps at all when out on a ride. The Mudgugger EVO Shorty simply faded into the background until the mud and water-stopping capabilities were called into action.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
The most common fenders out there are the mini zip tie ones that have been out for ages, and now more commonly the brand fenders that ship with forks. Both options are better than none, but they fall very short in comparison to Mudhugger EVO. The extra coverage offered out front makes a huge difference, and the refined design is very effective. There are also other brands out there doing similar long fenders, but Mudhugger may just be doing the best job.
The Wolf’s Last Word
When we get in conversations with people about the best upgrades you can do to your bike on the cheap, a proper fender is right up there, if not the best thing you can add for wet weather riding. Sure, you are going to get rain droplets on your lenses if it’s raining from above, but that’s nothing compared to the muddy slurry of crap with no fender. Not only does the fender keep mud off your lenses, it also keeps it out of your mouth.
The Mudhugger EVO is a valuable piece of equipment at a low price, which is not something we get to say often. If you have not yet tried a proper fender, you are 100% missing out! The Velcro strap option is great for riders with multiple bikes, without sacrificing function. 
Price: £23.99 / $48.99 (Short) – £30.99 / $49.99 (Long)
Website:
USA – https://www.cyclepathpdx.com/collections/mudhugger-fenders
UK – https://www.themudhugger.co.uk/
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.
Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole
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