Cycling · Head-to-head
Velo Orange 700c Smooth Fenders, 55mm vs Portland Design Works Poncho Recycled Fenders, 700x45
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Bike Fenders: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Velo Orange publishes everything you need to know before ordering and includes the hardware to mount them almost any way your frame allows, which is the whole battle with fenders. The PDW Poncho costs less, will not dent, and adds the front safety release tab that alloy sets here do not mention.
Velo Orange 700c Smooth Fenders, 55mm
Buy itFull-coverage alloy fenders with the most completely specified hardware kit here.
- Velo Orange publishes the dimensions that matter: 55mm wide, tires up to 45mm, rear fender 120cm and front 90cm.
- Both fenders arrive pre-drilled for stays, and the front is pre-drilled for a fork crown mount.
- The hardware kit is itemised: 5mm aluminium stays, R-clips and screws, L bracket, reinforcement plates, closed eyelet bolts, fork crown daruma, sliding bracket and leather washers.
- Velo Orange says the kit is as universal as possible and that you may still need one or two extra bits for your particular build.
- Aluminium dents, and a dented fender is difficult to make quiet again.
- There is no mention of a safety release tab at the front, which the PDW sets include.
Portland Design Works Poncho Recycled Fenders, 700x45
Buy itRecycled polycarbonate full-coverage fenders with proper stays, mudflaps and a front safety release.
- Front safety release tabs let the fender break away if debris jams between it and the tire, which is the failure mode that hurts.
- Thick 6mm stays and sturdy polypropylene mudflaps, so the coverage extends past the fender itself.
- Made from recycled polycarbonate, which will not dent and does not need polishing.
- PDW states a maximum tire size of 700x35mm, narrower than the Velo Orange set's 45mm.
- PDW does not publish the fender lengths, only the nominal size.
- The hardware supplied is for bikes with brazed-on eyelets, so a frame without them needs extra parts from PDW's separate fit collection.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Velo Orange 700c Smooth Fenders, 55mm Our pick | Portland Design Works Poncho Recycled Fenders, 700x45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | A commuter, tourer or all-road bike with eyelets, where the fenders should outlive several drivetrains. | Daily riders on 35mm or narrower tires who want full coverage without worrying about dents. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Material | Aluminium alloy | Recycled polycarbonate |
| Coverage | Full wrap, front and rear | Full wrap, front and rear |
| Fender width | 55mm | 45mm nominal |
| Maximum tire width stated | 45mm | 700x35mm |
| Fender length | Rear 120cm, front 90cm | Not published |
| Mounting | Pre-drilled for stays and fork crown, itemised hardware kit | Hardware for brazed-on eyelets, 6mm stays |
| Safety release | Not published | Front safety release tabs |
| Mudflaps | Not published | Polypropylene mudflaps included |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Velo Orange 700c Smooth Fenders, 55mm if
a commuter, tourer or all-road bike with eyelets, where the fenders should outlive several drivetrains.
Know before buying: velo Orange says the kit is as universal as possible and that you may still need one or two extra bits for your particular build.
Pick the Portland Design Works Poncho Recycled Fenders, 700x45 if
daily riders on 35mm or narrower tires who want full coverage without worrying about dents.
Know before buying: pDW states a maximum tire size of 700x35mm, narrower than the Velo Orange set's 45mm.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Velo Orange 700c Smooth Fenders, 55mm - Full-coverage alloy fenders with the most completely specified hardware kit here. Choose the Portland Design Works Poncho Recycled Fenders, 700x45 instead if daily riders on 35mm or narrower tires who want full coverage without worrying about dents.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Bike Fenders: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).