Up, down, up, down, up, down. It wasn't so long ago that you had to dismount and use the quick release to operate the Vario support. Today, all you have to do is press a button. The first dropper posts had annoying teething troubles. A lot of play in the dip tube, susceptibility to dirt, loss of pressure and sticky levers. Even today, many vario stabilisers struggle with quality differences. I tried the PNW Loam Dropper from the young US label PNW Components. After almost a year, it still does what it's supposed to do: lower and raise. Again and again. Under all conditions. The rubberised Loam Lever has a good grip and is comfortable to use, you can choose the colour of the rubber coating and match it to the ring on the support.
Tool-free adjustment of the ONW Loam Dropper
Clever: The stroke of the dropper post can be adjusted without tools. If you unscrew the rubberised aluminium ring, a white spacer is revealed, with which the stroke can be adjusted in 5 millimetre increments. For less stroke, simply unscrew, reposition and tighten. The price is fair, and PNW sends the seatposts without any plastic packaging. Available with 125, 150, 170 and 200 millimetre travel.
Weight586 grams (31.6/170 mm, without clamp)
PriceApprox. 240 euros with remote lever.
Info: mountainproducts.com
Conclusion on the Vario support PNW Loam Dropper Post 170:
Reliable dropper post with up to 200 millimetres of travel. The price is fair.
STRENGTHS: No defects, function, price
WEAKNESSES: none
