This is a gear review about the best suspension seatpost for cycling, bike touring and Bikepacking 2023.
Suspension seatposts have been around for a long time. In recent years the design has improved significantly. They are now more reliable and offer a very smooth ride while you are cycling on uneven terrain such as gravel.
Without a suspension seat post, the ride can become uncomfortable even if you do have a comfortable bike seat.
In this article, I have put together the best suspension seat posts that you will be able to find right now.
Best Suspension Seatpost 2023
The Best Suspension Seat Post in 2023 are:
Best Suspension Seat Post 2023 – Overall
Cane Creek Thudbuster LT
Pros:
> Very smooth ride
> Easy Installation
> Durable
Cons:
> Quite heavy
> Price
> Can be squeaky
The Cane Creek Thudbuster Lt has a unique design which will help give you a smooth performance. The Thudbuster uses two parallelogram linkages, rather than the typical telescopic shaft.
As a result, this seat post moves up and down along the same path as the seat position. This helps make motions feel a lot more natural.
Made from aluminium, and the elastomers can be easily switched to suit a softer and firmer action, depending on where you cycle.
The Thudbuster LT by Cane Creek is easy to fit, with a single bolt saddle clamp that makes adjustments easy.
Overall, this is the best suspension seat post on the market. Due to the long travel on this suspension seat post it is best suited to hard tail mountain biking, bikepacking or cyclists spending a lot of time of rough dirt roads. For road cycling this seat post might be overkill.
Best MTB Suspension Seatpost
Cane Creek Thudbuster ST
Pros:
> Easy Installation
> Incredibly Comfortable
> Reliable
Cons:
> Not Cheap
> Can be squeaky
The Cane Creek Thudbuster ST works in the same way as the LT above but offers a little bit less suspension travel. And like the LT model this one is also well suited to Mountain Biking, Bikepacking, cycle touring, and road riding. This is just a super comfortable suspension seat post.
Like most Cane Creek seat posts, the ST supports a parallel linkage, yet this one has a square elastomer, which handles damping and spring duties. It comes with a choice of elastomer compounds which will depend on your weight and whether you want a softer or harder ride.
Their design has always been known to be effective as the parallel linkage compresses and absorbs any shocks of the bumps in any road. The linkage also dampens any ripples without affecting your pedaling efficiency.
Overall, this is one of the most comfortable suspension seatposts and suited as an MTB suspension seat post.
The KINEKT 2.1 XL2 Aluminium bike Seat Post with Suspension has been designed with two springs that are placed into a sliding mechanism, this then gives you 35mm of friction free vertical travel. You can adjust the suspension to your liking.
You choose the springs according to your weight and then you can manually tighten the lower spring, which will affect the cushioning.
There is a little bit of bounce with this suspension seat post, but the tighter you tighten the lower spring, the bounciness will decrease. This product will help you have a comfortable ride, especially when cycling through very uneven terrain such as off-road trails.
Made with aluminum, this seat post is strong and will help isolate your body from surface impacts or vibrations, which gives you more confidence and control while out cycling.
Overall, this is yet another super comfortable suspension seat post
Most Comfortable Suspension Seat Post
Cane Creek eeSilk
Pros:
> Very Comfortable
> Adjustable
> Easy to install
> Durable
Cons:
> Can be Squeaky
> Not Cheap
The Cane Creek eeSilk is one of the lightest suspension seat posts on the market right now and arguably the most comfortable seat post on the market. This seat post has interchangeable elastomers, which accommodate riders of all different weights, up to 330 pounds. This is very simple and easy to use and adjust to your liking. Cane Creek has always been known for their unique designs and the eeSilk doesn’t differ. It is made from forged aluminum, with machined aluminum linkage arms and anodized aluminum axles.
Alongside titanium mounting hardware. The eeSilk also includes a tapered seat tube end and a thumb wheel on the seat clamp for easy adjustments without any tools.
Overall, this seat post may have a little bit less travel than some of the others but the design is such that this is one of the most comfortable suspension seat posts on the market. It is suited to almost everyone but best suited to roads and gravel riding with occasional off road use. If only it was cheaper!
The REDSHIFT Shockstop Suspension Seatpost consists of an internal coil spring that uses a four bar linkage system. This product promises to upgrade your bike and give you more comfort at the saddle, which means you’ll be able to ride for much longer before your rear end gets sore.
This bike seat suspension seatpost can be easily fitted onto any type of bike whether it is an e-bike, road bike, mountain bike, or hybrid. There is a swappable spring that can be swapped out depending on the rider’s weight.
You can now stay in the saddle while the seat post absorbs all the impacts and vibrations along the way. There is 35mm of suspension travel which is very plush when it comes to comfort.
Overall, this is yet another incredibly comfortable suspension seat post that has top quality everything included. But the price is rather expensive. Looking for the best? Maybe this is for you.
The Suntour NCX Suspension Seatpost has been built using a parallelogram design, which will give you a smooth ride against big and small bumps.
This seatpost provides you with 50mm of travel and comes with a standard spring, but this can be swapped out for another spring that is more suited for your weight requirements.
The Suntour NCX Suspension Seatpost gives a very smooth ride but can give a bit of a bouncy ride at times.
Overall, this is one of the best budget suspension seat posts.
The Unisex Adult G.2 Spring Seat Post by Schulz is ideal for when you are touring or cycling over rocky paths and bumpy roads. The G.2 is matched to the rider’s weight, which will give you the as much comfort as possible.
Alongside this you can choose between different steel springs of different hardness. This then means you can adjust your suspension and comfort, depending on your personal preferences.
This seat post uses a parallelogram design, which is suitable for all kinds of bicycles. There is a shock absorbing spring that absorbs all impacts and shocks giving you a more enjoyable ride.
This suspension seat post is simple to install and well made.
Overall, this is another top quality suspension seat post.
The Satori Animaris Bicycle Suspension Shock Seatpost has built in and durable springs that does a good job at absorbing bumps and road noise.
The springs can be adjusted to tweak the tension for a smoother ride. This suspension seat post can support riders up to 250 pounds.
Overall, this is a good quality suspension seat post at a reasonable price.
Satori Harmony Bicycle Suspension Seat post
Pros:
> Very affordable suspension seat post
> Easy to install
> Lightweight
> This suspension seat post can be used by anyone of any weight
Cons:
> Not as smooth a ride as some other suspension seatposts
The Satori Harmony Bike Suspension Seatpost can suit any bicycle and is perfect for anyone who is on a tight budget. This is a light suspension seat post, that with its very simple design can feel a bit stiff but will smooth out any bumps in the road or any lumps on uneven surfaces.
This product is very easy to install and can be adjusted to suit the rider’s weight. This suspension seat post is more ideal for someone who enjoys short cycling distances, however it may not be suitable for touring or longer cycling distances.
Overall, this is one of the best budget lightweight suspension seat posts on the market. But this budget model will not offer as smooth a ride as some of the others in this review.
Buyers Guide
I’ve gone through the best suspension seat posts that you can get your hands on right now. A suspension seat post makes cycling short and long distances much more comfortable. If you enjoy riding on uneven surfaces, then a suspension seat post makes the ride a lot more enjoyable.
As your body isn’t feeling every bump along the way and you no longer feel every impact either. Overall, a suspension seat post will make you love cycling even more than you thought you did and remove the possibility of injuries from riding on difficult terrain.
Below, we have collected a few points that we think you should know and consider when buying suspension seat post.
Types of suspension seat posts
At the moment, you will find that there are three different types of suspension seat posts that you will constantly come across. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Elastomer Suspension Seat Posts
A elastomer suspension seat post uses a solid rubber bumper that cushions you against any lumps and bumps that you come across in the roads.
There is normally some sort of hinged linkage system, which reduces any chance of rebound, which essentially then gives you a more comfortable and stable ride.
The rubber cushion can wear out over time, but it is very easy to replace. Also each rubber cushion has a different amount of give, so you need to make sure that the rubber cushion you have will give you enough give for your weight.
They can make a squeaky sound when dirt and dust get into the moving parts. Adding some lubrication or even soap can reduce or stop this annoying sound.
Air Dropper Suspension Seat Posts
This is the newest kind and design of suspension seat posts on the market right now. This type offers you the chance of dropping your seat post when you need to. As these are still very new, they can seem scary or complicated.
However, they are a great alternative if you are experienced on riding on gravel roads and want to be able to change your seat’s height quickly, without having to stop and get any tools out. However a downside is that they don’t always provide the smoothest ride.
Coil Spring Suspension Seat Posts
The coil spring suspension seat posts are also quite new to the market. Yet they are very similar to an elastomer suspension seat post.
This type of seat post uses a hinged linkage, but instead of rubber they use a coiled metal spring which helps with absorbing and dampening impact and bumps while cycling. With this option, you can increase and decrease the tension depending on the terrain and surfaces you are facing.
However, you don’t want to decrease the tension too much otherwise you will have to put more effort into the pedals. Also as the spring is metal, there is a chance of squeaking so you might have to grease the spring now and then to avoid this.
Rider’s Weight
All suspension seat posts offer different levels of support and resistance. You want to choose a suspension seat post that can handle your weight, otherwise you will buy a seat post that doesn’t provide you with any real benefits.
Most suspension seat posts can handle a wide range of weights, but it is important to check this. You want to feel the benefits from the seat post, otherwise what is the point of buying one that doesn’t give you a better riding experience.
Fit
You need to make sure that the suspension seat post will fit your frame. You want the perfect fit, as you will be sitting on this seat post, so you need to have faith and trust in it.
Normally, most suspension seat posts are really easy to install, but if you can’t find one to fit perfectly you can buy seat post shims which will fill any gap that you have, so you can ensure a tight fit.
You want to make sure that the seat post fits well, otherwise this could lead to issues while you are out cycling.
Conclusion
In this article, we have given you the best suspension seat posts that you can buy right now. A suspension seat post helps make cycling on uneven or bumpy surfaces a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.
Once you get a suspension seat post, you’ll never look back and wonder how you managed to live without one beforehand.
Now you know what to look out for, you can buy your perfect suspension seat post and you can start enjoying the most comfortable cycling experience you have ever had.
Best Suspension Seatpost for Touring and Bikepacking in 2023:
Frequently Asked Questions
A suspension seat post can help you conserve energy, as it allows you to sit down for longer while on rocky paths. The suspension seat post will absorb a lot of the bumps and vibration which makes sitting down a lot more enjoyable, so you don’t have to work as hard to pedal.
Yes, suspension seat posts do a great job of absorbing the shock and vibration when riding. A suspension seat post is one of the easiest ways to make your bicycle more comfortable.
A suspension seat post features a suspension system between the top part of the seat that connects the post to the saddle.
The suspension is ideal for any rider who cycles on rough and uneven surfaces. The suspension gives you comfort, which then allows you to have a more enjoyable cycling experience.
As long as the minimum insertion length has been met, then you can cut the seatpost. However, you must always have the minimum insertion length factored in.
Once you have cut the seat post you must file down the end, to make it safe handling and to make sure it doesn’t cause any injury to you while out cycling.
You will find that there are a few materials that a suspension seat post can be made from. All of the materials you find are very durable and strong. They can be made from aluminium, steel, titanium and carbon fibre.
Sometimes you may notice a mixture of a couple of these materials used in one seat post. All of these materials are reliable for a suspension seat post.
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The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.
