Using fenders or not is a personal preference; as are tires, saddles, pumps etc. I have them on my touring bike and find the added comfort and driveline protection worth the minor hassles. I put them on my winter bike (it rains a lot in Oregon) in the fall and they come off in the spring. For short tours try it without fenders, and make up your mind based on experience. On a two week ride last fall we had rain about a half of the tour.