Acerbis Mudout mountain bike fender review

The Acerbis Mudout mountain bike fender is a bit left field as far as front mudguard options go, but it has performed with the best of them. The sturdy fixings on the fork leg make this pretty stiff. It doesn’t rattle or move, and considering its size, it does a great job of fending off the mud. As long as you have a drill at home to make the holes, this fender is a worthy contender.

Acerbis recommend at least 8mm clearance between the tyre and fork arch to be able to fit the fender. As is standard these days, the fender mounts under the arch and on the fork legs with four cable ties. However, the fork leg mounts are more substantial than many other fenders which makes things quite stiff. The fender is made from 100% polypropylene, a durable, flexible plastic that should shrug off impacts with little concern. Weighing in at 68g, it's compatible with 26", 27.5" and 29" wheels.

There are multiple holes in the fender moulding giving flexibility on where to secure it. This should cover all fork options with a regular fork arch – I had no issues fitting to my Lyrik. These marked holes need drilling, so make sure you have a drill and drill-bit handy for installation. You can see the fitting guide here.

Testing was carried out in various conditions from hard pack splashy trail centres to the stickiest mud the Forest of Dean has to offer, and I have to report, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the performance. I expected the holes to let mud and spray through defeating the whole point of it, but luckily, they don’t! The fender stays firm down rough trails, even when loaded with claggy mud thanks to the rigid design and substantial fork leg mounts. I wasn’t sure about the aesthetics of the part, however, with it fitted to the bike it has grown on me. Acerbis has a motocross background, and you can see that influence in the design. I actually quite like having something a bit different to rock up to the trails with.

Retailing at £25, the Mudout MTB Fender is right on the money. However, for the same money, you can get the Mudhugger FR which is a firm favourite – see our review here. If you want full-on protection, at £30 the Crud Catcher XL front fender was highly rated by Jim, see his thoughts on it here.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Acerbis Mudout MTB Fender, it’s a sturdy option offering ample protection and stand-out looks. At £25 it's well priced, hard to argue with really. Just be sure you have a drill handy when you fit it to your bike.