16 of the best dropper posts in 2025, and our buyer's guide

The best dropper posts are a good example of how fast and far mountain bike technology evolves. Fewer than 10 years ago, dropper seatposts were a relative rarity, but it's near impossible to find a mountain bike without one now.

A dropper post is a telescopic seatpost that, at the touch of a button, lowers your saddle out of the way, improving control and comfort in steep or technical terrain.

A dropper post is a must-have these days if you're riding anything remotely technical, opening up a far wider range of riding – without having to stop and manually move your post up and down when tackling steep trails.

Our expert team of testers have reviewed dozens of dropper posts, and this list represents the best of the best. Whether you're looking to fit a dropper post to your bike for the first time or upgrade your current dropper, you'll find something here.

For more information, read our full buyer's guide to dropper posts at the bottom of this article.

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Editor's note: We updated our best dropper posts list on 15 August 2025 with our latest high-scoring reviews, including the new Fox Transfer Factory Neo. We have also removed entries that are no longer available for purchase.

Which are the best dropper posts?

OneUp V3 Dropper Post

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• £290 / $270 / €300 as tested (plus £44.99 / $44.99 / €49.99 for OneUp Dropper Post Remote V3)
• Pros: Lightweight; impressive performance and serviceability; low stack height
• Cons: Nothing yet to report

OneUp's latest dropper post offers incredible performance, with easy actuation and setup making for a post that's easy to live with.

At 488g, the post competes with some of the lightest droppers on the market and the replaceable air cartridge means easy servicing.

A lower stack height than on the previous generation enables you to drop the seat even lower.

• Read more: OneUp V3 Dropper Post review

Specs

Stroke length | 90mm, 120mm, 150mm, 180mm, 210mm, 240mm Diameters | 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 488g

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RockShox Reverb AXS

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• £750 / $861 / €886 as tested
• Pros: Crisp actuation; fast drop; easy installation; good connectivity
• Cons: More stroke lengths would be welcome

RockShox's Reverb was one of the first electrically actuated dropper posts on the scene, and this latest iteration provides a fast, responsive and refined drop that is hard to match.

The ergonomics of the lever and fast return make using the dropper a pleasure, with our tester finding they dropped the post more often than usual with the Reverb.

It would be good to see longer stroke lengths for taller riders.

• Read more: RockShox Reverb AXS review

Specs

Stroke length | 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 170mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 708g

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RockShox Reverb AXS B1

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• £535 / $549 / €600 as tested
• Pros: Easy installation; light and fast actuation; loads of travel options; well-priced against competition
• Cons: Stack height could be smaller

The Reverb AXS B1 addresses all the problems of the outgoing model, now featuring up to 250mm of travel.

The wireless design makes installation easy and, with SRAM's AXS network, it can be paired with various levers for a customised setup.

We found the dropper quick to return, with actuation feeling fast and requiring only a light touch of the remote.

The Reverb AXS B1 is priced competitively against the previous model and the competition.

If we're nitpicking, the stack height could be shorter.

• Read more: RockShox Reverb AXS B1 review

Specs

Stroke length | 100mm to 250mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 679g (175mm, 31.6mm)

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BikeYoke Divine

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• £270 / $289 / €300 as tested (plus from £45 / €45 for remote)
• Pros: Self-bleed reduces sponginess; small stack; good compatibility
• Cons: Not the fastest return speed

BikeYoke’s Divine is one of the best posts out there – the less sophisticated hydraulics make it a little cheaper, but more importantly, enables easy travel adjustment.

It still has the German brand’s auto-refresh mechanism, to ‘bleed’ itself and prevent sponginess, along with its super-slim collar.

The neat ability to twist the bottom activator out of the way of bottle bosses and other seat tube interruptions allows for maximum insertion. You can reduce the drop in 5mm increments using the included spacers.

Because of higher operating pressures, the longer Triggy Alpha remote is recommended to exert more leverage.

The return speed won’t be as fast as some riders prefer, but this is a top-quality, lightweight post that’s smooth, easy to service and totally reliable.

Specs

Stroke length | 125mm, 160mm, 185mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm Weight | 491g

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• £209 / €169.99 as tested (inc. remote)
• Pros: Quick travel adjustment; good reliability; solid feel
• Cons: Stack height isn't the lowest

With a maximum drop of 150mm, the SP-T13B isn’t the best for taller riders but is internally adjustable in 5mm increments for perfect extension up to that height.

It has an excellent reliability record, which is unsurprising because there’s not much to go wrong with a sealed cartridge and an actuator that looks identical to the Ascend’s.

This post has a slightly more solid feel and smoother action, though. That's due in part to less side-to-side shaft play, but also the stiffer and more positive-feeling forged-alloy, sealed-bearing ‘Blaster’ remote.

The collar isn’t the shallowest and the height markings look naff, but this is a proven product with a quality remote for a bargain price.

Specs

Stroke length | 100mm, 125mm, 150mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm Weight | 583g

9Point8 Fall Line

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• £379 / $349 as tested
• Pros: Long-travel options; smooth action; good reputation for reliability
• Cons: Leakage issues with our sample

One of the longest posts on the market, the Fall Line is light and loaded with great features, but we’ve had irritating leakage issues with our samples.

The ‘DropLoc’ cable shuttle needs to be set up exactly right, but having the cable anchored at the lever end makes it easier, and once you’ve got it sorted the whole mechanism can be unscrewed for easy removal/refitting.

There’s a wide range of stroke lengths, with super-long 175mm and 200mm versions available for an extra £40. It’s both lightweight and short for its travel.

The saddle clamp features large titanium bolts for security and separate angle adjustment, and there’s a layback head option for £35.

Whether you choose the ‘universal’ remote or the sweetly-machined shifter-style ‘Digit’ unit seen here, the action is very smooth. Return speed can be altered and stop-point modulation is excellent.

The 9point8 post has a great reputation for reliability too, although we’ve had gradual pressure leakage problems.

Specs

Stroke length | 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm, 200mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm Weight | 623g

Crankbrothers Highline 11 Dropper

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• £400 / $400 as tested (£69.99 / $69.99 for Highline Premium Remote)
• Pros: Fast actuation; consistent, quick return speed; quality feel
• Cons: Pricey; not the lightest considering materials used

The Highline 11 Dropper is quick and easy to set up and provides consistent dropping with quick return speeds.

A carbon quill is used alongside golden titanium hardware for the extra bling factor, though this had little impact on the post's feel when riding.

Despite its best efforts, the post isn't that competitive when it comes to weight savings, although it remained a good performer over a long test cycle.

• Read more: Crankbrothers Highline 11 Dropper review

Specs

Stroke length | 60mm, 80mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 170mm Diameters | 30.9, 31.6mm Weight | 537g

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Crankbrothers Highline XC/Gravel

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• £225 / $250 / €250 / AU$425 as tested
• Pros: Smooth action; dual-action lever works well; quick return speed
• Cons: Not the easiest to install

The Crankbrothers Highline dropper seatpost is designed for cross-country cycling and gravel riding, so it comes in a narrow 27.2mm diameter and with relatively short stroke lengths, at 60mm to 125mm.

There is a quick-connect system for the cable and, while this is straightforward, it's worth spending some time to get the installation right.

Despite using the post through a wet winter, the seatpost action remained smooth and we found using it on a Santa Cruz Stigmata made a brilliant bike even better.

One of the most ingenious aspects of the Crankbrothers dropper system is the dual-action dropper lever, which can be used with your forefingers when riding on the top of the bars or by your thumb on the drops. Unfortunately, it isn't included in the Highline's price and will need to be purchased separately for £49 / $50 / AU$125.

• Read more: Crankbrothers Highline XC/Gravel Dropper review

Specs

Stroke length | 60mm, 80mm, 100mm, 125mm Diameters | 27.2mm Weight | 450g

e*thirteen Vario Infinite

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• Price: £200 / $179 as tested
• Pros: Easy to adjust travel; reliable action; good remote
• Cons: Slow; developed some play

e*thirteen’s post offers 30mm of tool-free travel adjustment in 5mm increments, without needing to remove the post from the bike. It’s quick and easy to adjust, although we questioned how often you’d change your travel after the initial setup.

The post’s stanchion and head are forged as a single piece to add rigidity, although the post did develop some play during testing. e*thirteen says its gas-sprung cartridge is designed to reduce the force needed to drop the saddle. We found return speed a little slow though and it isn’t adjustable.

We really liked the Vario remote, which is sold separately for £50 and has an angle-adjustable paddle. It comes with a standard bar clamp and is also SRAM Matchmaker compatible.

• Read more: e*thirteen Vario Infinite review

Specs

Stroke length | 120mm to 150mm, 150mm to 180mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm Weight | 628g

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• £290 / AU$500 as tested
• Pros: Solid construction; positive-feeling return; nice actuation
• Cons: Cable mounted at post end

KS’s LEV is light, well-priced, flex-free, available in lots of options and more reliable than most of its rivals. It's been on the market for a while now, so we've had plenty of time to work out what it is – and isn't – good at.

Its large-diameter upper shaft means it flexes noticeably less than most posts when pedalling in longer lengths and on bikes with slack seat angles.

The low weight will appeal to XC/trail riders, and there’s even a 27.2mm version (100mm stroke) for hardtails and older frames. It’s got a smooth and easily controlled stroke with a solid top-out thunk that leaves no doubt that it has re-extended.

The way that the post extends if you pick the bike up by the saddle is a pet hate of some people. We do still occasionally get LEVs that need a nudge or pull to extend them too, but that’s less common than it used to be.

Our main criticism of the LEV is how the cable is mounted – it's clamped at the post end instead of the lever. This means accurate cable tension and length is needed to get it working well and it takes longer to set up than posts where the cable is clamped at the remote end.

• Read more: KS LEV Integra dropper post review

Specs

Stroke length | 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm Diameters | 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 484g

PNW Loam

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• £197 as tested (plus £65 for the Loam Lever Gen 2)
• Pros: Great value for money; on-bike travel adjustment; reliable actuation
• Cons: Some sided-to-side play

PNW offers good value for money across its range of products and its Loam dropper post is no exception.

The Loam dropper comes with some nifty features, including customisable speed return and easy on-bike travel adjustment.

The 55mm stack height is reasonable and still leaves a decent amount of room to move around when the saddle is dropped.

There is noticeable side play when wiggling the saddle, which made the post feel less sturdy but did nothing to impact performance.

• Read more: PNW Loam dropper post review

Specs

Stroke length | 125mm, 150mm, 170mm, 200mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 553g

Tranz-X EDP01 Wireless Dropper Post

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• Price: $499 as tested
• Pros: Great value for money; quick return speed; easy installation
• Cons: Not much feedback from remote

Tranz-X's EDP01 is one of the cheapest electric dropper posts on the market, retailing for around half the price of the RockShox Reverb AXS.

The post isn't quite as fast as other electrically actuated droppers, but it is consistent and you aren't left waiting for the post to clamp into position.

We felt the remote let the post down a little, and that it would be nice to feel some positive feedback rather than relying on the noise of the servo in the post itself.

• Read more: Tranz-X EDP01 Wireless Dropper Post review

Specs

Stroke length | 150mm, 170mm, 200mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm Weight | 767g

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X-Fusion Manic

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• £240 as tested
• Pros: Decent value for money; good actuation; smooth drop
• Cons: Cable mounts at the post end

The latest Manic is proving to be an excellent, cost-effective post.

While the neat shifter-style remote wobbles a bit from new, it has plenty of leverage for such a light action.

The stroke is smooth and easily controlled in both directions, with reasonable return speed and an easily felt top-out clunk.

Setting the post up can be tricky, with the cable mounting at the post end. This also limits aftermarket remote upgrades.

• Read more: X-Fusion Manic review

Specs

Stroke length | 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 170mm Diameters | 30.9mm, 31.6mm, 34.9mm Weight | 610g

How we test dropper posts

Our testers spend hours putting dropper posts through their paces in real-world conditions out on the trails.

We run long test cycles on dropper posts to establish their reliability and how easy they are to maintain.

Ultimately, our dropper post reviews are based on the following criteria:

• Installation – and how easy the post is to set up.
• Actuation – and the amount of effort required to drop the post.
• Stack height – if this is too high, the saddle will be in the way when dropped.
• Value for money – are you getting a good deal?
• Features – such as travel adjustment.
• Maintenance – how easy is it to service and how often is this needed?

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Dropper post buyer's guide: what to look for

What is a dropper seatpost?

A dropper post is a height-adjustable seatpost that enables you to lower your saddle quickly and easily on the fly by pushing a handlebar-mounted remote.

Why do mountain bikers use dropper seatposts?

Mountain biking is a dynamic sport, with riders moving all around the bike. Dropping your saddle down gives you much more space to get behind the seat on steep downhill sections, moving your weight back on the bike.

Dropper posts aren't just for getting rad on the descents – a tap of the remote lever pops your saddle back up to the correct height for efficient pedalling, without having to stop.

Having the ability to gain standover height is beneficial for nearly every type of mountain biking. In fact, even gravel and cyclocross riders are embracing the added control, where being able to switch quickly from grinding uphill to attacking a descent is essential.

How much travel do I need?

Travel refers to how much the post slides up and down, and it dictates just how far out of the way you'll be able to get your saddle while still having the best position for pedalling.

Less expensive posts often have less travel. The longer the travel, the stronger and more precise the internal mechanisms have to be.

The starting point for most dropper posts is 100mm. That amount of drop makes a noticeable difference, but we’ve found that longer-travel posts do a much better job of maximising the clearance while maintaining a proper seated pedalling height.

The typical amount of drop is around 125mm to 170mm of travel, which works well for most riders.

Longer-travel posts do exist, from 170mm up to 210mm, but they can be difficult to use for shorter riders or on certain bike frames. That said, longer-travel posts are becoming more and more common as technology improves and bike manufacturers design frames with shorter seat tubes.

To figure out how long a drop you can use, measure your existing seatpost from the saddle rail to the top of seat collar, then compare this to the length of the dropper post from the saddle rail to below the post's collar.

If the number is the same or less, you're in business. If the dropper post's length is longer, you'll have to use another option.

Fixed or infinite travel adjustment?

There are two travel styles for dropper posts: those that have fixed height settings where the post stops (20mm down, 75mm down, etc), and those that do not, often referred to as stepless or infinitely adjustable.

Stepless posts enable you to stop the saddle anywhere within the post’s travel range. The majority of posts on the market are stepless designs.

Dropper seatpost internal workings

All posts require some sort of spring to return the saddle to the fully upright position and a locking mechanism to hold it in place.

Early designs simply used coil springs and pins to do the job, but these were less refined and often returned the saddle back towards your bottom at an unnerving speed.

You can still find mechanically locking designs with an air spring, but most dropper posts now use a fully sealed hydraulic cartridge that contains both a pressurised charge and a mechanism that allows the adjustment.

There are a number of advantages to this, namely that the body of the post, which needs to cope with very heavy loads, doesn't also have to be airtight and so lower-friction seals can be used for a lighter action.

If something does go wrong with the post, it's also much quicker and easier to switch in a replacement cartridge rather than repairing the entire post.

Dropper seatpost remotes

On most droppers, lowering the saddle is done by a handlebar-mounted remote.

The remote lever commonly sits under the bar, taking the place of the front shifter paddles on bikes equipped with a single-ring drivetrain. On bikes with a front shifter, remotes that integrate into the lock-on grip collar or sit above the bar are available.

SRAM's Matchmaker and Shimano's I-Spec standards allow you to combine a dropper and brake lever on one mount to keep the handlebar tidy.

On bargain-priced dropper posts, the lever may be just under the saddle on the post's head. The obvious downside to this style is having to take a hand off the bar, something you don't want to do when riding into a section worthy of dropping the saddle.

Most remotes on the market use a cable to operate them but some, such as the RockShox Reverb, use a hydraulic system.

There are drawbacks and benefits to each. Cables are cheap and easy to replace if they fail, but over time they become stiffer to use as dirt enters them.

That isn't a problem for hydraulic units, but they are much harder to fix should you damage one in the field.

Cable routing

The overwhelming majority of dropper post cables are internally routed. This requires a hole in the frame to route the cable up through the seat tube – virtually every modern mountain bike, and the latest gravel bikes, have this option.

The other cable option is an external cable that either attaches at the dropper post's collar or up at the head where the saddle attaches.

The benefits of an internally routed cable include clean looks, better protection from dirt and debris, and zero cable movement when dropping the post. But, like any internally routed cable, set up can be tricky, and swapping cables and housing can be a chore.

The upsides to an externally routed cable are compatibility with any frame and a simpler setup. The negatives deal primarily with cables that attach to the seatpost head, because the cable can interfere with the bike's rear tyre or hit your leg if not routed carefully.

The final option does away with the cable completely – the RockShox Reverb AXS is an example of a dropper post that uses a wireless, electronic system. Removing the mechanical cable from the equation makes installation easy and also makes swapping the seatpost from bike to bike a reality, provided they share the same seatpost diameter.

Gravel dropper seatposts

Gravel bikes have started to adopt dropper seatposts to clear room for you to move around on technical descents.

They are usually a thinner diameter than on mountain bikes, with this leading to smaller travel drops, which is less of an issue with gravel bike geometry.

Some of the best gravel dropper posts will feature a small amount of suspension to smooth the ride when seated, such as RockShox's Reverb AXS XPLR.