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Interested in identifying the best dropper seatpost for your beloved mountain bicycle? Don't sweat, we have you covered. We have spent years researching virtually every dropper post on the market. We agonized over the details and purchased over a dozen of the most compelling options. We rode these seatposts for years for this comparative analysis review. A dropper post is essential these days, getting your seat down and out of the way is a huge step in maximizing your shred factor. There are a whole lot of marketing jargon and technical terms flying around when researching dropper posts. Lucky for you, our team of professional mountain bike testers love this sort of thing. They sifted through all of this propaganda and tech so you don't have to. Then, they spent hundreds of hours riding these seatposts in multiple weather conditions and types of terrain, all in the name of finding the best post for your needs and budget.
When the Revive 2.0 was recently released, we were eager to see how it matched up against the original. Perhaps predictably, it is amazing. The stroke is incredibly smooth, consistent, and absent of any hitches or sticky points. It takes very little weight on the saddle to drop the post, and the Triggy Alpha remote has excellent ergonomics and high levels of adjustability. The redesigned post features more bearing overlap, a one-piece head, and a new CNC actuator. This hydraulic dropper post functions beautifully, and should any air work its way into the system, causing saddle sag, Bike Yoke's Revive Valve is an incredibly easy-to-use tool to purge any air out of the system. This process is very quick and only requires a 4mm Allen. Taller riders will benefit from the increased travel on the updated version, which now offers strokes up to 213mm (tested).
While this is one of our favorite posts we have used, it isn't all peaches and cream. Weight weenies might be concerned about the weight of this post. At 639 grams (31.6mm, 213mm travel), it's not the lightest. It also isn't the heaviest. That being said, this is noteworthy as plenty of riders count grams. In addition, upon arrival, our Revive 2.0 had about 25mm of sag off the top. After a couple of quick cycles of the Revive Valve, the issue was resolved. Yes, the Revive Valve is very easy to use and quick. Still, we would have preferred not to have used it right out of the box.
Tranz-X offers some of the least expensive aftermarket dropper posts on the market. The Kitsuma Air is about the most affordable model we've ever tested, yet we were pleasantly surprised by its consistent and reliable performance throughout testing. Installation is easy, and you can use any remote lever you choose. We opted to test it with the Tranz-X 1x remote, which is affordable and has good ergonomics and a light lever feel. We were thoroughly impressed by this post's super-smooth travel in both compression and extension. It also features an air spring that allows you to adjust the rate of return. A simple but sturdy two-bolt clamp secured the saddle rails and gave us no issues during testing.
The 200mm post we tested is among the heaviest in the test. That said, it's also the longest post we tested, and its weight is reasonable considering the drop length. It is sold as a post only, meaning you'll have to purchase a remote if you don't already own one. Extended post lengths are also longer than some of the competition, so fitment could be an issue for some riders and bikes. Beyond that, we were extremely impressed by the performance of the Tranz-X Kitsuma Air, especially for the price.
The OneUp V3 is one of our favorite all-time dropper posts. The newest iteration of this classic seat post builds off of the success of the previous versions. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, rather it updates a few key areas. The latest model features a gas-filled cartridge instead of an air spring and claims to require much less force to actuate the post. Performance continues to be stellar. We were impressed by the reliable performance and consistent feel. The post performed flawlessly throughout our testing period. We tested the ultra-long 240mm travel version, and it was excellent. OneUp has pushed the envelope to maximize drop by utilizing a saddle clamp with a super-low stack height. A shim system allows you to easily reduce the travel, which allows riders to purchase a long post and reduce the travel to maximize every millimeter of drop they can fit on their bicycle. This post is also quite light. While the price has increased significantly over the years, the price-to-performance ratio is strong with the OneUp V3.
As with previous versions, the V3 does not include a remote lever. While it can be frustrating to purchase a remote separately, it allows you to get the lever you want. It also adds to the total price of the package. OneUp has always been reasonably priced, but we have seen those prices creeping up in recent years. We purchased the OneUp V3 remote to test with the V3 post and found them to work very well together.
Wolf Tooth Components is an American company that produces a wide range of components. Although they have sold a quality dropper post remote for some time, the Resolve is the first dropper post they've produced. Our 200mm travel dropper post hit the scales at 545 grams (post only) and 592 grams with a remote. That makes it the lightest post in our test class — quite impressive, given its generous amount of travel. Plenty of riders opt for the lightest components possible to minimize the overall weight of their bike. The Wolf Tooth post is an excellent choice for the weight-conscious rider. Not only is it light, but the on-trail performance is also rock solid. This model also has some very cool features, such as a self-bleeding cartridge to prevent unwanted sag, travel reduction, and the ability to swap the lower tube to a different diameter in the event you get a new bike frame. In addition, Wolf Tooth has parts available and some excellent technical resources to help users service their products at home.
As much as we liked this post, it's certainly not cheap. Riders on a tight budget can get a highly-functional post at a significantly lower price. And while the Wolf Tooth Resolve is beautifully machined, lightweight, and adjustable, and the self-bleeding feature is neat, it may be more than many riders are willing or able to spend. That said, Wolf Tooth makes great products, and we expect this post to last long enough to justify the expense.
The RockShox Reverb AXS is one of the most exciting new dropper posts to hit the market in some time. By combining their proven Reverb design with their AXS technology, RockShox has finally brought wireless technology to the masses (the masses who can afford it anyway). Without cables or hoses, it couldn't be easier to install and remove, and it allows for a super clean handlebar setup. The post moves very smoothly in compression and extension, and we did not find it to be sensitive to cold temperatures like the standard Reverb Stealth. Should your post ever develop sag, RockShox has also added a Vent Valve so you can fix it at home. The saddle clamp is solid and user-friendly, with a single bolt clamp and a separate tilt adjustment. Finally, the remote is outstanding, with a large paddle-shaped button that requires far less force or movement compared to any cable-actuated system.
The biggest issue with the Reverb AXS is its price. It is super pricey, and the cost may be prohibitive for many riders. It's also a bit heavy — somewhat surprising considering its high price tag. Our 31.6mm diameter 170mm test post weighed in at 768 grams with the remote and battery, the heaviest in the test. It has a claimed 40 hours of ride time, but you've got to remember the extra step of charging your batteries every so often. Caveats aside — and if you can justify the expense — the Reverb AXS offers next-level ease of installation, outstanding performance, and one of the best remotes on the market.
Measured Weight: 733g (175mm) | Remote: Transfer 1x remote
REASONS TO BUY
Short stack height
Easy to install
Smooth and consistent
Great remote lever
REASONS TO AVOID
No travel adjustment
Above-average weight
The Fox Racing Shox Transfer Performance Elite is one of our favorite posts. Fox targeted some weak points of the older model and improved them considerably in their latest version. With a lower weight, shorter stack height, redesigned saddle clamp, and shorter overall length, this post made the jump from a mid-pack offering to one of the best posts available today. It uses the same buttery-smooth internals as the previous version, which provides fast and easy adjustment on the trail. It doesn't take much weight to drop the post, and the return is fast and reliable with a nice thump at top out. In addition to the post updates, Fox also redesigned their 1x remote lever. The new large, high-leverage, textured thumb paddle mimics a shifter and operates using a sealed cartridge bearing for consistent, smooth action. On the whole, the post and remote package was one of our favorites in the test.
While the update offers a whole lot to like, this post still has a couple of minor weak points. Despite the fact that Fox lowered the weight, it's still on the heavier end of the spectrum. At 4.2 grams per mm of travel, it isn't a lead weight, but it doesn't match the lightest posts available. Additionally, the Transfer lacks some features offered by other new posts on the market. The travel is not adjustable to dial in the fit, and the return rate is fixed. These things certainly aren't deal-breakers, but they would be nice options to have.
After countless hours on this post, we think it's a worthy purchase.
Credit: Zach Wick
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Testing dropper posts requires lots of hours in the saddle, our testers aren't complaining.
Credit: Laura Casner
How We Test Dropper Posts
Our testers are obsessive riders and gear nerds who keep up on the latest product releases throughout the season, and our test selection features eleven of the most compelling models on the market today. In testing these posts, we started by weighing and measuring everything for consistency. Each post was then installed on our tester's personal bikes to examine the ease of installation/setup and saddle clamp design. Each post was cycled through its travel in our workshop hundreds of times to closely examine its smoothness and functionality. The majority of our testing took place in the field, where our testers scrutinized the design and performance of the remote levers and posts during compression and extension to see how they fared during repeated and extended real-world use. Posts are swapped out often for back-to-back comparisons. We kept and compared detailed notes, rating the posts across our metrics when testing concluded to determine what each dropper did best.
Our testing of dropper seatposts is divided across five rating metrics:
Smoothness and Functionality (30% of overall score weighting)
Remote (25% weighting)
Saddle Clamp (20% weighting)
Ease of Setup (15% weighting)
Weight (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Our dropper post test team consists of two mountain bike testers. Our lead tester is our former Senior Mountain Bike Review Editor, Pat Donahue. Pat has spent the past couple of decades working in the bike industry. He has a very critical eye and is adept at finding weaknesses in products. At nearly 200 pounds, he is also good at testing the durability and strength of products.
We built a testing apparatus to test dropper posts side-by-side in the lab.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Jeremy Benson and Zach Wick join Pat as dropper post testers. They spend an inordinate amount of time on bikes testing, riding for fun, and training for races. They are constantly analyzing and scrutinizing the performance of mountain bikes and equipment, and they are especially hard on and critical of gear. Benson is also the author of Mountain Bike Tahoe, a guidebook for the Tahoe area published by Mountaineers Books. Wick has been riding and racing just about every kind of bike you can think of for the last twenty years and has spent years working in a bike-industry test lab. He's developed a keen sense for what comprises a good product and has done his fair share of both destructive and non-destructive testing.
Testing these dropper posts side by side gives us a better idea of which ones perform better.
We take these posts and run them through real-world testing, noting what each one does best and where they are lacking.
For those who truly need the lightest load possible, we were sure to take note of the added weight.
Comparing dropper posts side by side gives us a better view of nuanced details that set them apart.
Analysis and Test Results
Dropper seatposts first hit the market in the early 2010s. There was a time when these telescoping posts were only found on the premium build kits with really ugly price tags. Long-time mountain bikers viewed this wacky invention as unnecessary as they had survived with their posts jacked up for decades. Additionally, early dropper posts were not the most reliable and were prone to failure. In fact, one might say they were unreliable.
As the years rolled by, we all gave in, and dropper seatposts became ubiquitous. They've slowly but surely found their way onto almost every new mountain bike. These days, even most budget models come with one. We would venture that the dropper post is the single most transformative innovation in recent mountain bike technology. Having the ability to adjust your saddle on the fly opened the door for faster, more aggressive trail and enduro riding. The moral of the story is: if you don't have a dropper, get one.
Almost all frames now feature internal routing, where you can feed the cable and housing through your frame for a super clean look. Meanwhile, the proliferation of 1x drivetrains has freed up handlebar space for dropper post remotes.
What's the Best Value?
We don't score products solely on price. We do our very best to focus on the on-trail performance and try to ignore price when ranking these products. That said, everyone loves a good value. Price and performance often go hand in hand, but that is not always the case. The Tranz-X Kitsuma Air and PNW Loam are a couple of the least expensive models we tested, yet they rival the performance of the more expensive competition.
On the other hand, the RockShox Reverb AXS costs 2-4 times more than any other post. The Reverb AXS brings cutting-edge wireless technology to the market, along with a very impressive performance, absurdly easy installation, and the best remote we've tested to date. The Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 is another example when price is correlated with quality. Whether or not you can justify the additional expense is up to you.
The impressive OneUp V3 post sits somewhere in the middle. It is significantly more expensive than the cheapest options but isn't crazy expensive. That being said, it offers excellent performance and is available with a crazy amount of travel. In other words, it strikes a nice balance between a decent price and killer performance.
Testing the dropper posts side-by-side in a controlled environment on our custom made OutdoorGearLab testing unit.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Smoothness and Functionality
How smoothly and consistently a dropper seatpost raises and lowers your seat is the most important aspect of its performance. When the time comes to adjust your saddle height, you often only have a split second to do so. You need to know that your post will drop or rise reliably and consistently. To rate each dropper, we asked ourselves a series of questions: Is the post easy to compress? Is it reliable and predictable? Does it have any free play in the saddle, sag in its air pressure, or other flaws in its performance? Is the travel dampened at the top or bottom of the stroke? Does it have an adjustable rate of return like the RockShox Reverb or 9point8 Fall Line? Or is it set at a fixed speed like the CrankBrothers Highline 7 or Fox Transfer?
We tested each post's smoothness and functionality by putting in hundreds of miles of real-world trail riding on each one. We also ran them through a gamut of tests and cycled through their travel by hand hundreds of times. We used a custom-made OutdoorGearLab test apparatus, mounting the droppers side-by-side in a controlled environment. This mount allowed us to scrutinize every aspect of the dropper post's functionality, from the ease of actuation, compression, and extension to travel smoothness and remote ergonomics. Most importantly, it gave us the opportunity to compare them directly.
A smooth, consistent, and reliable dropper allows you to focus on the trail ahead.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Several seatposts impressed us with their unflinching smoothness. The Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 impressed us with its smooth performance. The Revive 2.0 drops like a rock beneath your body weight and is buttery smooth in compression and extension. It takes little weight and effort to get this post to drop. It also has a Revive Valve to quickly and easily bleed air out of the hydraulic system should it ever develop sag. The One Up V3, Reverb AXS, and Fox Transfer also set the bar high with incredibly consistent and smooth travel on the way up and down. They also have little to no saddle play and offer a solid feel and predictable performance. The 9point8 Fall Line and RockShox Reverb Stealth also performed impressively well and came close to meeting the high standard set by the top scorers.
The OneUp V3 and PNW Loam deserve an extra mention in this category for delivering solid performance with a travel adjust feature. These posts both allow riders to reduce the travel of their post—the V3 in 10mm increments and the Loam in 5mm increments. Riders who want to get the most possible seatpost travel can buy a longer post and shorten the travel by up to 20mm with the v3 or 25mm with the Loam to achieve the optimal fit. We assume most users will not fiddle with this feature, but it's nice to have the option.
The ultralight Wolf Tooth Components Resolve posted a decent score in this metric. We used this post quite a bit in well-below-freezing temperatures without a dip in performance. This post offers a smooth stroke and is easy to compress; plus, it has a self-bleeding cartridge that purges air from the hydraulics, so it should never develop sag or squishiness.
The Revive's Triggy lever is one of the best we've ever used.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Remote
All of these droppers are actuated by a handlebar-mounted remote for quick and easy access on the fly. Not all dropper remotes are created equal, however. Some have better designs and functionality than others. In testing them, we considered each remote lever's ergonomics, mounting positions, actuation force, and compatibility with shifters or brake levers.
It is worth noting that we only tested the remotes that came standard with each dropper post. Many posts are sold as a post only, so you can choose to use whatever remote brand or style you prefer. In these cases, we purchased the remote lever that was designed to go along with that post. An example is the Tranz-X Kitsuma Air. The Tranz-X post is sold by itself, but Tranz-X also sells three affordable remotes. We purchased and tested the Tranz-X 1x remote to see how it performs alongside the Kitsuma Air post. The OneUp V3 is also sold as post only. For testing, we bought each brand's remote to accompany its dropper post.
We loved the wireless AXS remote on the Reverb AXS. Essentially a paddle-shaped button, this remote required the least force and movement to actuate the dropper. It may sound trivial, but the ease of pressing the AXS remote makes saddle height changes that much easier and allows you to focus more on the trail ahead.
It may not look all that revolutionary, but the AXS remote is next level.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
The Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 has another stellar remote lever dubbed the Triggy Alpha. This machined lever has a very light feel, excellent ergonomics, and can be mounted multiple ways to suit the rider. The Fox Transfer post features another excellent lever. The Transfer 1x lever has a thin CNC construction, a nice ergonomic shape, and a large, textured thumb paddle. The quality of the design and execution really stands out as stellar. We would recommend this lever for use on any cable-actuated dropper that clamps the cable at the remote. Another of our favorite remote lever designs came with the 9point8 Fall Line. You can orient the Fall Line's thumb lever vertically, horizontally, or under the left side of the bar if you have a 1x setup. We love that versatility.
The Loam lever is fantastic, plus you can buy it aftermarket to work with other dropper posts.
Keep in mind that the remote design that works best for you may depend on your drivetrain. Most new remote styles are made to work with 1x systems, mounting in the spot where the front shifter used to live. Others may function better with a 2x or 3x drivetrain, but those are much less common these days.
The best saddle clamps make it easy to install and remove your saddle, and they don't make any unwanted noise while you're seated.
Credit: Laura Casner
Saddle Clamp
While it's not flashy, the saddle clamp is important and can make or break an otherwise incredible product. The saddle clamp attaches your seat to your dropper post. Good ones go unnoticed. Poorly performing saddle clamps are often noisy, self-loosening, or make it difficult to remove or install your saddle. Additionally, the saddle clamp design plays a key role in the post's overall stack height. The shorter the stack height, the more travel you can squeeze onto your frame. Most of the dropper posts we tested feature a relatively standard two-bolt head design, fore and aft, to adjust the angle and grab hold of the seat rails. Many posts hide a valve to adjust the dropper's air pressure under the saddle clamp.
The Reverb AXS has a unique saddle clamp design necessitated by the presence of the wireless system at the top of the seatpost. This single bolt clamp is super user-friendly, and mounting a saddle couldn't be easier — plus, it has a separate angle adjustment screw. The 9point8 Fall Line features an innovative design that allows for easier saddle installation, independent fore and aft angle adjustment, and quick and easy access to the air valve. The Crankbrothers Highline and Fox Transfer are also noteworthy, with their unique slotted heads and swiveling design, a user-friendly departure from the standard two-bolt saddle clamp.
The Wolf Tooth Resolve has a very low-profile clamp. As a result, this post has a very short stack height of 32mm. This is quite impressive and cannot be overlooked, especially for shorter riders trying to maximize dropper travel. The OneUp V3 also has an impressively low stack height, making it another great option for squeezing as much travel as possible onto your bike.
Weight
Virtually all mountain bike gear is subject to weight scrutiny, and dropper posts are no exception. Folks like light bikes. We don't blame them. A dropper is always going to be heavier than a standard post, although most riders are willing to accept the weight penalty for the performance gain. To compare these droppers, we weighed each with its cable, housing, and remote.
We tested a few different dropper sizes, somewhat complicating the results. In an effort to directly compare the weights of different length dropper posts, we calculated each post's weight per millimeter of travel by dividing the total weight by the length of travel.
The Wolf Tooth Resolve is a very light post with some interesting adjustability features.
Credit: Pat Donahue
The lightest post in this review was the 200mm Wolf Tooth Resolve post. Not only was it the lightest, but it was also among the longest travel posts we have tested. At 545 grams (post only) or 592 grams (with OneUp Remote), it was extremely light.
The 240mm OneUp V3 is also extremely light, given its absurd amount of travel and overall length. In contrast, the heaviest dropper we tested was the RockShox Reverb AXS at 768 grams for the 170mm travel version.
With no cables or hoses, the wireless Reverb AXS is astonishingly easy to install.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Ease of Setup
Manufacturers recommend having a professional mechanic install your dropper post, and we won't argue with that. Not only do we need to patronize our local bike shops to keep them around for parts, service, and camaraderie, but they will probably do a great job at this somewhat arduous and occasionally complicated task. Installing a dropper post can also be done at home, assuming you have some basic mechanic skills and the right tools for the job.
If you're the DIY type, then you're probably interested in how easy it is to install your own dropper post. We've become quite proficient at installing and removing dropper posts and identifying the ease or challenge of each model. This includes everything from attaching the remote to the handlebar, how the cable attaches to the post and remote, and how easy or hard it is to service each post in the field.
Arguably, the most challenging part of installing any internally routed seatpost is routing the housing through the frame. After that, most models vary in setup. Many models like the 9point8 Fall Line and Crankbrothers Highline 7 have quick connect systems which, once installed, allow tool-free post removal. It is good to note that the 9point8 Fall Line is a bit more finicky to set up.
There is nothing too exciting about the saddle clamp on the OneUp V3. The most noteworthy aspect is the low stack height which works to allow riders to use the longest drop possible.
Credit: Quentin Koch
For cable systems, whether you cut the cable to length at the remote end or the post end makes a difference in how difficult your dropper is to install. For example, you connect the barrel, or uncut, end of the cable to the bottom of the seatpost on the Fox Transfer, SDG Tellis, Tranz-X Kitsuma Air, OneUp V3, Wolf Tooth Components, and PNW Loam posts. Then, you pull tension on the cable and cut it at the remote end by the handlebar. This gives you more space to work with, resulting in less guessing and double-checking. We found all of these posts to be pretty easy to set up.
The RockShox Reverb Stealth presents serious installation challenges due to the hydraulic fluid in its housing that actuates the seatpost. If you have to shorten the hydraulic hose, which is quite likely, there is a good chance you need to bleed the system to remove any air. Yes, RockShox uses the Connectamajig quick-connect system to attach the hose to the post without letting any air in. This is a nice touch. That said, unless you ride an XXL frame, you will likely need to shorten the hydraulic line, and bleeding it is generally a job for the professionals as it can get messy in a hurry.
In stark contrast to the Reverb Stealth, the Reverb AXS is the easiest dropper to install that we've ever tested. Without cables or hoses, installing it is as simple as sliding it into your seat tube, attaching the remote to your handlebar, and pairing the wireless connection by holding the buttons for a few seconds.
Internally routed dropper posts are connected at the bottom of the seatpost for a very clean look and no cables outside of the frame.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Types of Dropper Seatposts
Infinite or Multi-Positional Travel
All of the dropper posts we tested feature infinite travel adjustment, meaning they can stop anywhere in their travel between fully compressed and fully extended. Older-style dropper posts might have fixed stopping points, but these are quickly disappearing.
Internal or External Routing
Routing dropper seatpost cables and housing inside your bike's frame is the norm for modern mountain bikes. This routing style cleans up your bike's appearance by limiting the number of cables running along the outside. It also makes your bike physically easier to clean. There are still a few externally routed dropper posts on the market, which are great for frames that do not allow for internal routing. Externally-routed dropper posts are often easy to install but lack the clean look of an internally routed post.
Sizing
Dropper posts are available in various travel lengths, typically 100mm, 125mm, and 150mm, with many brands offering 170, 175, 180, or even up to 240 millimeters. For example, the 9point8 Fall Line is available in an astounding six travel lengths. The length you choose will vary based on your height, personal preferences, and what you can fit on your bike. Important numbers to have on hand are your seat tube length, the maximum insertion length of your seat tube, and the minimum insertion length of the dropper post. Ideally, you want the dropper's highest point at your ride height, and you want it to drop as low as your bike will allow. The OneUp V3 has an impressively low stack height and extended length, plus they have a system to adjust the travel length so that riders can theoretically squeeze more travel onto their bikes.
All of the posts we tested are available in the standard seat tube diameters of 30.9mm and 31.6mm. Most models are also offered in the newer diameter of 34.9mm.
Hydraulic, Mechanical, Cable, or Wireless Actuation
Nearly all dropper posts feature a cable-actuated hydraulic cartridge or air spring. The Rock Shox Reverb Stealth is one exception that actuates hydraulically. It uses hydraulic fluid in the housing as opposed to a standard cable. The Reverb AXS is the first post we've tested that uses wireless actuation. This technology is currently quite expensive, but we found that it works incredibly well and helps to simplify the installation process.
A good dropper post will undoubtedly make your riding experience better.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
Dropper seat posts have increased exponentially in terms of reliability in recent years. These posts are better than ever and offer more travel and clever features. It is important to be cautious when ordering a dropper post to ensure you get the appropriate post diameter and travel for your bike. We hope this review has helped you hone in on the best seat post for your budget and riding style.
