e*thirteen Vario Infinite Dropper Seatpost

The latest offering from e*thirteen is its revised Vario Infinite Dropper Seatpost and Vario 1x Lever. Most notably there are now more travel options. The prior model offered four sizing options (120-150mm in 30.9mm or 31.6mm and 150-180mm in 30.9mm or 31.6mm) and the updated Vario Infinite Dropper now offers seven sizing options: 90-120mm in 30.9mm or 31.6mm, 120-150mm in 30.9mm or 31.6mm, 150-180mm in 30.9mm or 31.6 mm and 180-210mm in 31.6mm.

Highlights

Guaranteed to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for 5 years and a Lifetime Warranty on the air cartridge, e*thirteen stands behind its product. With the infinite travel, many size options from 90mm-210mm, 28-degree seat angle adjustment, an extra 12 mm of fore/aft saddle adjustment, and tool-free travel adjustments in 5mm+/- (30mm range), the Vario Infinite Dropper is extremely adjustable and customizable to get a precise fit.

The Vario 1x Lever was well thought out to accommodate either a bar clamp or Matchmaker mounting options. The forged alloy body and lever paired with cartridge bearings made for a consistent feel. The larger bolts on the lever made them less prone to stripping out when adjusting the lever reach, which proved to be a plus as well as having the high traction lever for extra security while dropping and raising the dropper in hairy situations.

The Vario Infinite Dropper has lots of options that range in drops from 90mm to 210mm. The issue that we found off the bat was that with seat tube lengths varying between manufacturers, it is crucial to look at the Vario Infinite Seatpost Frame Fit Chart to determine if the post length will work with your frame. Something else worth mentioning is that e*thirteen claims that their proprietary cartridge requires 20% less force to compress than the competition for ease and speed when dropping in technical situations.

The Vario 1x Lever gave riders the option to go with either a bar clamp or Matchmaker mounting option. It is well built with cartridge bearings, a high traction lever, and the ability to adjust the reach of the lever for different-sized hands.

The Lineup and Initial Impressions

The Vario Infinite Dropper is competitively priced at $219 as well as the Vario 1x Lever at $49.95. We were excited to see e*thirteen almost double the sizing options from the previous model and were amazed at the ease to change the amount of drop tool-free by basically removing the seat collar and sliding the white line on the bushing to the desired travel. Out of the box, we were curious to test the claimed 20% less force required to compress the Vario Infinite Dropper in technical situations.

The Vario Infinite Dropper uses AL-7050-T7 forged stanchions that exceed ISO standards for MTB (even in the 210mm offerings). e*thirteen believes in this so much that they offer a 5-year warranty from the original purchase date.

On The Trail

For a majority of the test, we opted to go to The Basin Gravity Park located approximately 15 miles from Boise, ID. With a range of trails from flow, to pedally, to rocky chunder and loose, we felt there were plenty of areas to put the Vario Infinite Dropper and Vario 1x Lever to the test.

The Vario Infinite Dropper and Vario 1x Lever both performed consistently while on the bike. We chose the Matchmaker option and loved the smooth feeling of the cartridge bearings. We noticed that the dropper tended to be slightly slower to return than others. After double-checking the seat binder torque, the slower return was still there. Another thing worth noting is that during testing, while off the bike and lowering the dropper, the post seemed to feel like it was binding. This did not transfer while on the bike. Our test did reveal the need to occasionally check the seat collar after a few rides. After snugging it back down, we didn’t encounter the problem again. At the end of the day, the Vario Infinite Dropper delivered a consistent feel while on the bike, but the claimed 20% less force required to compress in technical situations was not noticeable in any of our test situations.

Unique Features

The Vario 1X lever was the star of the show. Smooth feeling and the ability to fully customize the fit. This would be a great upgrade to any cable-actuated dropper post. During our test, the return of the post was slower than others on the market, but only slightly. We did like the fact that there was very little play in the post.

Things That Could Be Improved

We would like to see the ability to adjust the return speed of the post in the future as well as a slightly shorter lower post to get more of the post into the bike. In our test bike (Santa Cruz Nomad size XL) we had 2-inches of post exposed when fully slammed. We opted for the 180-210mm option for the post. We had to reduce the drop from 210mm to 180mm due to the post being so long. Riders should be cautious when ordering and refer to the Vario Infinite Dropper Seatpost Frame Fit Chart to order the correct size seatpost.

Long Term Durability

After each ride, we noticed a slight oil residue that was easily wiped off. During our test session, we also noticed that the seat collar had become loose. After snugging it up, the issue never returned. The post performed consistently and flawlessly throughout the test. Having a 5-year warranty against defects in materials or workmanship and a Lifetime Warranty on the air cartridge gave us confidence that e*thirteen will take care of us if any problems occur down the line.

What's The Bottom Line?

In the dropper game, reliability, size options, and affordability are key factors when considering options. With seven different options from 90mm-210mm, the Vario Infinite Dropper has a size to fit your bike. Although the return was slightly slower than other brands, we felt it was minimal and didn’t affect the consistent performance in a wide range of test terrain. Another observation worth noting is that there was almost no play in the post. The Vario Infinite Dropper paired with the Vario 1x Lever made for a perfect match. We felt that the Vario 1x Lever would be a worthy upgrade to any existing cable-actuated seatpost you’re currently running, due to its adjustability and smooth feel thanks to the cartridge bearings and seemed to steal the show for performance. If you're looking for a great value with up to 30mm of adjustability in each size, paired with a consistent feeling and reliable seatpost, check out the e*thirteen Vario Infinite Dropper and the Vario 1x Lever.

About The Reviewer

John Palumbo- Age: 47 // Years Riding MTB: 26// Height: 6'1" (185cm) // Weight: 205-pounds (93 kg)

John has been riding for over 26 years while racing most cycling disciplines along the way. Currently the Executive Director for Southwest Mountain Bike Association, he has dedicated his life to cycling, trail design and maintenance, and growing his local mountain bike community.