DROP IN: Why Dropper Posts Are Better Than Ever

We tested five top models to help you decide what’s right for you.

The single most definitive development in mountain biking in the last 30 years is the dropper seat post. Here’s why: by getting your saddle lower and out of the way, it makes technical terrain easier, faster, and more enjoyable.

Don’t believe it? Try a giant step-up or steep roll down without a dropper. Can you do it? Maybe. Is it way less fun? Absolutely. Did you crash (or almost)? Very likely.

Sure, disc brakes were a massive improvement, but V-brakes still stopped you.

Suspension made the ride easier and faster, and more comfortable, but I’ve seen guys on rigid steel frames slam through rock gardens and big drops just fine.

Tubeless tires are the only development that come close to the global effect of a dropper: If your tire is flat, you can’t ride; if you ride tubes, you have to run too much air for optimal traction and it sucks; if you’re not tubeless (even with some of the eccentricities of setup and continuous inflation and gunked valves), this conversation probably isn’t for you.

Look, we can talk wide bars, modern geometries, fatter (and sturdier) tires. And all of those things are incrementally important. But neither you nor I am pushing off the hardest line we’ve ever done—successfully—without the seat post dropped, and the seat out of the way.

Okay, you’re persuaded. Dropper seat posts are indispensable…verging on doctrine. But you know what sucked for a long time? Dropper seat posts.

At a bike test of 30 separate models that we ran in 2015, eleven RockShox Reverbs stopped working within two weeks. (That’s about as bad as tubes, except you were talking $300 for a post versus $8 for latex.) No matter how good the concept, if it doesn’t work, it’s just useless weight, saggy inefficiency, and lots of repair dollars.

The good news is that, after a decade of development, most of the bugs are gone. We tested five of our most popular dropper seat posts over the course of three months, and none of them had a single durability issue. Prices vary, setups vary, but you can’t really go wrong with any of the posts that Thunder Mountain sells these days, and that’s a testament to the R&D that’s gone into this segment.

However, there are differences and benefits versus disadvantages to each.

Read on to find out more about our top-picks and which one might be right for you.

OneUp Dropper V3 The OneUp V3 is the most affordable post we carry at Thunder Mountain, but don’t let the price fool you. It’s smooth, reliable, easy to maintain, and packed with smart features that outperform many higher-priced options. This might be the best-value dropper on the market. 👉 read the full review

Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 Dropper Post The Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 solves one of the biggest headaches in dropper post design - serviceability. With silky smooth action and an easy on-the-bike bleed, this German-engineered post stands out. Find out why it’s a mechanic’s dream dropper.  👉 read the full review

Fox Transfer Factory Dropper Post The new 2025 Transfer Factory Dropper builds on the rock-solid reliability of the original with sleek updates, easier maintenance, and refined performance, without losing what made the post a favorite in the first place. See what’s new and decide if it’s worth the upgrade. 👉 read the full review

RockShox Reverb AXS A2 Dropper Post The RockShox Reverb AXS A2 delivers wireless convenience and rock-solid performance, even for riders who prefer old-school mechanics. Quick setup, tool-free swaps, and impressive durability make this one of the most user-friendly droppers on the market. Is it worth the investment for your ride?  👉 read the full review

Fox Transfer  Neo Factory Dropper Post The Fox Transfer Neo Factory builds on everything great about the AXS A2, and then levels up with more drop options, better hardware, and smarter design touches. If you’re looking for the smoothest, most refined wireless dropper on the market, this just might be it. See why the Neo is setting a new standard. 👉 read the full review

by Aaron Gulley Aaron has been writing about cycling, travel, and the outdoors and reviewing gear for the likes of Outside, Bicycling, Velonews, and others for over two decades.