Dropper Post Buyer’s Guide

Dropper Post
Buyer’s Guide

Dropper seatposts have revolutionized the way we ride mountain bikes with their ability to lower the saddle height before a jump or drop, instantly boosting confidence and control. Choosing an aftermarket dropper post, however, isn’t quite as easy as using one. Factors such as travel length, diameter and your frame’s minimum insertion can all play a role in which dropper post will or will not work for you. This month the wrecking crew is here to help with some dropper-post tips and a list of some of our favorite options.

Seatpost Diameter

The first and most important thing to do before purchasing an aftermarket dropper post is to find out your bike’s seatpost diameter. The most common sizes are 31.6- and 30.9mm. A less common size is a 27.2mm diameter, which is often seen on steel or titanium hardtail bikes. Larger 34.9mm diameter posts have entered the market but are still not as common as the popular 31.6 and 30.9 diameter sizes. The best way to find out your bike’s seatpost diameter is to reference the manufacturer’s website or see if the diameter measurement is stamped on the post.

Dropper Post Travel

After discovering your dropper post diameter, it’s time to move to the more fun part of picking your desired travel. Ideally, more travel is better, but, depending on your bicycle frame, too much travel can create problems. Today’s dropper posts can vary from 100 to 210mm of travel. Shorter-travel options below 100mm are often made for XC race bikes and gravel rigs. To determine which post will work best for you, you need to figure out how much of the post will be in your frame. Remember that bends in the seat tube or pivot bearings can limit seatpost insertion. You don’t want to buy a post that is too long, not allowing you to get a low-enough saddle height, or one that is too short, requiring you to pull your post out past the minimum insertion mark. Always verify with the dropper post-manufacturer the overall length, and then determine from there if it will work with your bike and your correct saddle position.

Types of Dropper Posts

A variety of posts have entered the market with different cable routing options. The most popular ones use internally routed cables that are hidden inside the frame with minimal cable exposure near the remote. Older bikes without internal cable routing will require an externally routed post. Wireless remotes are an option for riders willing to spend more for the best products possible. Wireless remotes activate the dropper post without the hassle of cables running through your frame.