Dropper Post recommendation (or warning)

From my last stint working at a bike shop, I'd say go with what you like and get another Reverb. It could be a cheap rebuilt one for the beater, or more travel for your prime steed. Just get your own bleed kit and watch a video and your good to go.

Random story. YEARS ago I bought the first adjustable seat post that I saw on the market. It was marketed by Price Point in their paper catalog. The first ride was mint! All the joys of your Reverb (Aside from it not having a remote lever.) By the second ride a few days later it had transformed into a suspension seat post. And the next issue of the catalog changed it's description accordingly.

My giant dropper has been going strong for 2 seasons without an issue,but i'll be getting a oneup for my next dropper, good price, there products work well and a 200mm drop for my 6'4" body sounds pretty good. PNW seem like another good option that wont break the bank

i ride a lot in the winter (cold temps here) and have had really good luck with the e13 TRS dropper (i've heard some droppers get a little sluggish in cold temps). Granted, the limited/fixed position adjustment isn't for everyone, but I personally have come to like it as it gives some consistency/predictability in terms of saddle height.

Have you serviced the giant dropper? It's easy to do, and improves the action significantly.
Also, costs a lot less than a new post.

I found it easy to service, you can even leave the cartridge part alone if just doing the slider and keyways. The hardest part was getting the upper nylon bushing back inside.
Good luck.

9.8 Fall Line is one of the only droppers out there with offset. I don't have one yet but its on the wish list for sure.

I've been using droppers since the Maverick Speedball hit the market. I've pretty much had them all. I'm in the process of building two new bikes and I'm going with PNW Bachelor posts. I've been using a 170mm for about the last year and it's only the second post I've had that went a full season without even a minor issue (the first was a ~2015 9point8). Works great, exceptional customer service, and a serious value.

I've had my fair share of dropper posts from different manufacturers, including some shady ones from China (a couple of Gravity Dropper knockoffs). So far, the one that I like the most is the Bikeyoke Revive.

It's absolutely smooth (I'd say the smoothest one out there, bar none) and has a low stack height, which allows a short guy like me (5'6") to be able to use a 160mm travel dropper post. It also doesn't use an IFP (Internal Floating Piston) which makes it more reliable. Another feature that I like was that it also comes with a release valve if any unwanted air gets in, which can happen with any dropper post. You don't have to take the post out and the the dropper will feel as good as new.

The weather in my part of the world is either: very rainy/muddy or very hot. I've never had to service the dropper post nor even need to use the release valve. Mine is over a year old now and it is as smooth as when I got it in 2018.

We compared a bunch of them a while back, this might provide some useful info for you: https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Vital-MTB-Face-Off-The-Best-Dropper-P….

Bear in mind this was before we tested the OneUp droppers, we have now done so and this feature will need to be updated accordingly. The OneUp will charge into the top 5 here for sure, it's a great product (available at a great price too).

I have a 9.8 Fall Line 150 travel it is awesome and can serviced easily, the travel can be adjusted quite easily as well.

I have had no issues with this seat post bought in June 2017

Re: the notchy lever, I would recommend swapping it out for a Wolf Tooth lever. Super smooth, easy to install and it has some nice grip on the thumb section.

I’ve also heard great things about the PNW Loam Lever.

I have a oneup 170mm dropper and over the winter here in the northeast it's been stopping about halfway up its travel, even if I keep the lever pushed. I commute daily with the bike and I feel that being left out in the rain is causing problems. Most likely I will go with a PNW next as they seem to know what they're doing with the rain, while being equally as cheap.

I recommend oneup. A really good dropper for a reasonable price. My only kind of complaint is if you feel you need to put some more air pressure in the post, the shock pump valve is located under the seat so the entire seat has to be taken off to adjust air pressure, which can be kind of a hassle, but only for something you do maybe once a year, so it's not that big a deal. Besides that, it goes down easy, comes up promptly, and is the best upgrade I've made to my bike so far.

I have had multiple issues with my giant one. Had it warranty once and then had to have it rebuilt again all within a year.