The best bike fenders you can buy

Why you'll love it: The SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Mudguard is designed to help mountain bikers and road cyclists keep their rears protected from mud, water, and other ground debris.

The SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Mudguard is popular because it is easy to install and offers lots of protection. The directions consist of three simple pictures. You put the strap around your seatpost, attach and close the clasp, then tighten the bolt with the supplied hex key.

The fender is about 35 mm wide and 15 inches long so it should block anything your rear tire kicks up. The mudguard is designed for 26- and 28-inch wheel sizes, but due to its flexible design, there’s no reason you can’t use it with other sizes.

There are few expert reviews of the SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Mudguard, but Cyclocross Magazine tested it out and recommends it. The reviewer found there was a bit of an art to installing the fender just right. The left clamp needs to be strong enough to keep the guard in place while still allowing the right lever to snap in. He rode in a muddy race and some rainstorms and appreciated that the mudguard kept his backside dry. In the end, he recommends this for road cyclists, cyclocrossers, and mountain bikers.

Approximately 77% of the buyers who reviewed the SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Mudguard on Amazon gave it four or five stars. Many reviewers bought this fender because they were tired of arriving places with a wet butt. They found the mudguard did an excellent job of protecting their hindquarters from debris.

Buyers also found that installation was a breeze, but one cyclist noted that you need to be sure that you tighten the bolt enough to keep the fender from dropping down onto your tire.

Pros: Mainly for mountain bikers and road cyclists, keeps mud and water off your back

Cons: Doesn’t come with a front fender, installation takes a little finessing

Buy the SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Mudguard on Amazon for $15.99

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a cost-effective, low-profile fender that you can install in a matter of minutes, the Fifty-Fifty Mountain Bike Fender is an excellent choice.

The Fifty-Fifty Mountain Bike Fender is easy to install using zip ties. To avoid sliding, you attach the fender to your frame at four different points. You can then form the shape for a more attractive look.

The mudguard is made of one-millimeter-thick polypropylene and only weighs an ounce, which is great when you want to keep the weight of your bike to a minimum. It can be used on the front or rear and works on bikes with 26, 27.5, 29-inch, plus, and fat wheel sizes. However, this fender isn’t for bikes with caliper brake systems.

Several expert sites recommend this Fifty-Fifty product as the best mountain bike fender. Among those sites is Furious Bikes. The reviewer appreciates the mudguard’s durability, sturdiness, and flexibility. During testing, he didn’t experience any fender sliding or rattling. Also, it protected the fork stanchions and bridge from getting caked on mud.

BMX Online likes this fender because it fits a broad array of wheel sizes and is lightweight. Mountain Bikes Lab also ranks this as the top mountain bike fender.

Around 83% of the buyers who reviewed the Fifty-fifty Mountain Bike Fender on Amazon gave it five stars. Many of the reviewers mention that they felt they were taking a bit of a risk buying this fender since it’s so inexpensive and doesn’t appear to have much to it.

However, there are several comments about how easy it is to install and how it effectively keeps mud and dust out of their face and wards against the mud and water stripes on their back. There are only five critical reviews of this fender, and there are no common complaints.

Pros: Inexpensive, effortless installation, works with a broad array of bike styles

Cons: Relatively small coverage area

Buy the Fifty-Fifty Mountain Bike Fender on Amazon for $9.99

Why you'll love it: The SKS Raceblade Long Bicycle Fender Set is designed to give road cyclists the protection they need in all weather conditions.

We’ve included two SKS fenders in our guide because they are generally considered the top name in bike fenders. SKS is a German company that got its start in the 1920s making curtain rods. The company soon moved onto bike pumps, and today, SKS makes a variety of bike accessories.

Due to its slim profile, the SKS Raceblade Long Bicycle Fender Set is ideal for road bikes. The fenders are designed for 700c tires that are up to 25 mm wide. A unique feature of this model is the quick release, which allows you to easily remove the fenders when you want to change a tire or just don’t need the fenders on at a given time. The front fender is over 20 inches long, and the rear fender is more than 26 inches long so there is little chance you will get splashed by your tires.

Road.CC recommends the SKS Raceblade Long Bicycle Fender Set to cyclists who don’t have disc brakes. The reviewer found the set was more durable and fit more securely than past generations, but the disc brake frame mounting left a lot to be desired.

Road Bike Review recommends this model to anyone who rides in wet conditions. The reviewer noted that the fenders worked fine on his 26 mm tires and believes that they could fit tires up to 28 mm wide. And, Bike Commuters recommends these mudguards for people who like to ride road bikes in all weather, though the reviewer noted that the front fender rattled significantly on rough roads.

There are only 20 reviews of the SKS Raceblade Long Bicycle Fender Set on Amazon, and just two of those are negative. Several road cyclists were impressed with how well the set fit their rides, though installation could be finicky. One buyer noted that it took a little while to center the fender just right.

Another buyer recommended wedging something between the adapter and your tire so you can tighten the brake without the adapter rubbing against your tire. The quick-release was helpful and pain-free for some cyclists. Others found it to be a hassle.

Pros: Great for road bikes, effectively provides protection from ground debris

Cons: Complaints about the front fender rattling, doesn’t fit bikes with disc brakes well

Buy the SKS Raceblade Long Bicycle Fender Set on Amazon for $54.19

Why you'll love it: If you want to get from point A to point B in style without a face full of dirty water, the Topeak DeFender M1 Mountain Bike Fender should get the job done.

When you first lay eyes on the Topeak DeFender M1 Mountain Bike Fender what strikes you most is how much it resembles the front fender you might find on a motocross bike. It fits reverse crown forks and most other suspension forks and attaches to the crown of your fork.

This keeps the fender from coming into contact with your tires as you hit bumpy terrain. Though it’s designed for 26-inch mountain bikes, buyers with a wide array of wheel sizes — including 29 inches — report that it still provides good protection on their rides.

Bike Radar tested the Topeak DeFender M1 Mountain Bike Fender and was impressed with how well it kept water at bay. The reviewer also liked the looks of the fender and recommended it to people who wish they were riding a motorbike. However, he found that the mudguard’s high positioning and excessive shaking didn’t contain mud well.

BMX Online recommends this model because they liked how it’s made of durable materials and is easy to remove.

About 64% of the buyers who reviewed the Topeak DeFender on Amazon gave it four or five stars. The most helpful reviewer, S. Kovarik, liked its mean appearance. He also gave it high marks because of its durability and easy installation. When riding, he notes that he doesn’t get any rain in his face, even in a downpour.

Other buyers comment on how effortless it is to install and unclip when needed. However, there are a few complaints about the durability of this fender. One cyclist had three DeFenders break on him.

Pros: Easy to install, attractive design, exception protection against water

Cons: Questionable durability, complaints of rattling

Buy the front Topeak DeFender M1 Mountain Bike Fender on Amazon for $18.95 Buy the back Topeak DeFender M2 Mountain Bike Fender on Amazon for $24.95

The best bike racks for your car

High-quality bike racks install easily, make loading your bike an effortless task, and they keep your bike securely attached to your car.

While researching the best bike racks, we examined hundreds of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of brands. Our guide features racks that are user-friendly, can fit an array of bike types, and they keep your car from getting scratched up.

Here are the best bike racks you can buy:

• Best bike rack overall: Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack
• Best roof bike rack: Yakima HighRoad Top Car Bike Rack
• Best trunk bike rack: Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack
• Best lightweight hitch bike rack: Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack
• Best bike rack under $100: Allen Sports Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

The best bike light you can buy

High-quality bike lights are bright enough to guide the way wherever you may roam, will last you for hours of riding, and you can easily release the light to take it with you.

While researching the best bike lights, we examined thousands of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of models. Our guide features lights that have demonstrated their durability, user-friendliness, and usefulness in a variety of situations.

Here are our picks for the best bike lights you can buy:

• Best bike light overall: Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set
• Best affordable bike light: TeamObsidian Bike Light Set
• Best strap-mounted bike light: Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light
• Best high-end bike light: NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light
• Best bike light featuring side lights: Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight

The best bike helmets you can buy

There are so many bike helmets to choose from that it can seem very overwhelming. That's why we've done the research to find the best bike helmets you can buy.

The Schwinn Thrasher Adult Helmet is our top pick for most people, but you might also like the Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet, the Bell Stratus MIPS Helmet, the Lumos Smart Bike Helmet, and the Bell Sidetrack Youth Bike Helmet.

The best bike locks you can buy

Whether you live out in the country or in a major metropolitan area, there is no bike lock system that will stop a well-equipped thief. However, there are a number of locks that will either slow down or completely discourage a criminal. We've rounded up the best bike locks you can buy.

The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Bicycle U-Lock is our top overall bike lock, but the Kryptonite New York Standard Bicycle U-Lock, the UShake Bike Lock Cable, the Kryptonite Kryptolok Standard Bicycle U-Lock w/4-foot Flex Cable, and the Sigtuna Heavy Duty Bicycle U-Lock with Cable are also great.