TMB Review: OneUp Dropper Post V3

The OneUp Dropper Post V3 is the least expensive dropper we stock at Thunder Mountain, and here’s why: Sure, you can get a post for less than this; but what you will pay in service, time and again, and then eventual replacement will in the long run outweigh the cost of the V3.

This isn’t a cheap post; it’s a premium design that costs less than the competition. OneUp delivers a very smooth stroke that’s easy to actuate courtesy of a gas cartridge as opposed to an air spring. The gas spring means there’s no topping up with air, ever, which can be laborious on other brands. On the V3 we’ve been testing for over two years, the stroke has remained consistent, no bleed has been necessary, and there’s zero lateral play in the head.

Options are a big selling point, with four diameters (27.2mm, 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9) and six lengths (90mm, 120, 150, 180, 210, and a whopping 240). And the V3 is generally shorter and lighter in a given size than the competition, making it easy to maximize drop length on your frame. It’s also easy to reduce the travel of any of these posts by up to 20mm using the included travel-reducing pins. It’s a simple process that’s doable at home, and the adjustability means you can easily maximize the amount of travel on your bike.

The only thing we don’t love is that the peripherals are sold separately, including the V3 Dropper Remote, which is a nice trim design with plenty of reach adjust and better, the V3 Dropper Clamp. This is a complaint with many other posts, though, and makes a little sense in the case of the clamps, which vary between bikes and shifters. On the other hand, for the cost, it feels like you should get everything you need in the box. The upshot: A complete setup here will run you $330.

	OneUp Dropper Post V3 Bottom Line: You can find posts cheaper, and you can find them with more functions (built-in bleed valves, wireless install, etc.). What you won’t find is a smoother post that’s more reliable for the money. This is THE set-it-and-forget-it option. Shop OneUp Dropper Post V3
OneUp Dropper Post V3 Bottom Line: You can find posts cheaper, and you can find them with more functions (built-in bleed valves, wireless install, etc.). What you won’t find is a smoother post that’s more reliable for the money. This is THE set-it-and-forget-it option. Shop OneUp Dropper Post V3