Mudguards are essential for winter riding, regardless of the bike and discipline. At the very least, they keep the muck out of your face and your vision clear while descending. If you up the coverage to something more extreme, they can provide full body protection against the wet filth that's flung by your wheels. Even though the best mudguards are pretty simple in design, there's a load of stuff to look out for when buying your next one – and not every mudguard is as effective as the next.