The original Ass Savers Win Wing was a rather revolutionising mudguard that thoroughly changed wet bike rides for me and the updated version pictured here continues to impress with its well-thought-out design. This simple, yet incredibly efficient gadget barely adds any weight or clutter to the bike, yet it keeps your backside dry even in the wettest conditions. Read on to find out where it stands among the best MTB mudguards.

The Liv Devote is one of the few women-specific gravel bikes available and the newest iteration has been made racier and more performance-oriented. Targeted at those wanting to dabble in gravel racing, it remains one of the best women-specific gravel bikes with an effective and direct ride quality.

The Surly Bridge Club off-road touring is basically a flat-bar gravel bike that can do a bit of everything. It is fun, affordable, versatile and capable and, though there are a few things that might limit its suitability for you, overall there's little to fault about this steel distance bike. For me, it's been great at re-igniting the thirst for off-road adventures because of its versatility, comfort and I think most importantly if you're touring – serviceability.

The pros have already hopped back into racing, while I am still coughing out the dust from Sunday's chemins blancs – the infamous white gravel segments incorporated into Stage 9 of 2024 Tour de France. Ahead of the pros rattling and running through the gravel segments, I got transported to Troyes at Shimano's invitation right after the Eurobike 2024 show.

The Restrap Short Race top tube bag is a compact top tube bag with stunning quality, well-thought-out details and a lifetime warranty. It packs just enough snacks and spares without taking over your top tube fully, stays sturdy even when not fully loaded and never rubs on the legs when pedalling. The new strap attachment system and chunky padding inside are not perfect but despite those this is one of the best top tube bags I've tested and one I'd certainly consider buying myself. 

The Camelbak Chase Race 4 Hydration Vest is designed for race-focused cyclists who need a lightweight and efficient way to carry essentials during long distances and bikepacking trips. The lightweight vest is a compact package that is hard to fault – except for the strong plastic-like bladder taste and the one-size-only fit. 

The Restrap Race Hydration vest is a robust, cycling-specific hydration option that can carry plenty of fluids and perhaps even the kitchen sink. It makes a great, well-made companion for any long-distance ride and is especially good for races where you want to eliminate stopping time and carry as much as you can with you. Though it does look quite heavy to the eye, this bag has turned out to be spacious without being bulky, and overall it's straightforward to forget about wearing it while on the bike. 

There is little the Orbea Terra gravel bike doesn't offer. It's fun and efficient to ride, it powers up climbs as nicely as it tracks down descents and it's as much fun on a chilled pootle as it is on a gravel track. Come winter, you can bung on mudguards and, if you want more squish, it can even take a dropper and a suspension fork. Enough said – this bike has been fun to ride and it's left me impressed.