Nukeproof OKLO dropper post

THE DROPPER POST has revolutionised how many of us ride, allowing us to switch from climbing to descending without hindrance or hesitation. But with the current market leader, the RockShox Reverb, retailing for 440$, the door has been left open to cheaper alternatives. Enter Nukeproof with the new OKLO.

While many budget options have a limited drop, rely on simple pin-based locking systems and definitely won't be winning any beauty contests, the OKLO offers many features normally reserved for pricier posts. These include 125mm (4.9in) of travel so you can drop you saddle well out the way, a stop-anywhere hydraulic locking system that means the post can be set at any height within that drop, a double O-ring sealing system to keep things watertight and a triple-key design intended to keep it play-free for many miles.

To accommodate this technology, and keep the price down, it's only available in a single size - 31.6x440mm. At 704g on our scales it's nearly 200g heavier than the Reverb, and has a cable-operated lever rather than a hydraulic remote. How will it hold up under some hard riding? We'll let you know.

PRICE 270$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>