REDSHIFT SHOCKSTOP PRO ENDURANCE Review
Today, we're looking at another product from Redshift, a company I've become a huge fan of. They offer a lot of solutions that are incredibly useful for many people. Today's focus is on an updated version of their suspension seatpost. As always, please note that English is not my native language. There may be some grammatical errors here and there. Please excuse this, as I am working to improve my skills.
Specifications:
Price: €325 for the Pro Endurance version (as of June 12, 2024, from the Redshift website). (Received for testing free of charge upon my request)
Weight: 502 grams (350 mm length)
Travel: Pro Endurance - 35 mm
Geometry: Available in 350 mm or 280 mm lengths, with 260 mm or 190 mm of actual usable height, respectively. Available in 27.2 mm diameter (Redshift offers shims to fit up to 31.8 mm).
The Redshift Pro Endurance seatpost is hardly noticeable on gravel bikes. And even if it is, I still find its appearance quite acceptable.
Back in 2022, we reviewed the Shockstop PRO RT seatpost (you can find the review here). This sentence is a bit harder to type because it means the blog is now over two years old. I'm constantly amazed that over 50,000 of you from around the world have read a review or another article on this blog. Thank you so much for that! But back to the test—in 2022, I tested the Pro version (with 20mm of travel) of the Redshift suspension seatpost and was relatively surprised after not getting along well with the original version of the Redshift seatpost. (You can find more about why the original version and I didn't become friends in the linked review above).
Today, two years later, Redshift has released the Endurance Pro (35mm of travel through steel dampers and elastomers), which sits between the original version with 35mm of travel (only with steel dampers) and the Pro version (20mm of travel through elastomers).
For me, the Redshift Pro RT already provided enough damping, so I was quite curious when I saw pictures from this year's Sea Otter Classic in California, where the new seatpost was first shown. The question quickly popped into my head: is this necessary? And how does the combined suspension of steel dampers and elastomers feel?
Let's first take a look at what has remained the same. The appearance hasn't changed from the Pro RT. The mechanism to adjust the saddle tilt is also the same. There's a small, magnetically attached flap over the two screws, which is secured to the seatpost with a small rubber piece, so you don't have to worry about losing it. This feature also ensures that the seatpost is completely maintenance-free for me. Overall, I still find the appearance acceptable. Of course, a regular seatpost might look cleaner on some bikes, but the Redshift seatpost doesn't stand out negatively to me. It might be less suitable for vintage bikes or classic randonneur frames, but that's something you have to live with. My wish is still for a silver version.
The functionality has generally remained the same, except now the damping is achieved through a combination of replaceable steel dampers and elastomers. It's great that these are replaceable, allowing you to fine-tune the seatpost to your personal preferences.
And how does the combination of steel dampers and elastomers feel? Very pleasant. I was somewhat worried that it would cause too much bouncing, like the original version, making it feel like a pogo stick, but that wasn't the case. I first rode the seatpost fully open to be sure, but there was no bouncing or anything. In the past week, I've been riding with the seatpost set very stiff, which gave me a feeling similar to the Pro RT. I don't feel like I'm sitting on a suspension seatpost at all when riding on asphalt, but I also don't feel any bumps. The Redshift works very subtly in that regard. When the terrain gets rougher, it's just a dream, like the RT. You have to get used to not standing up when you see obstacles, but once you do, it can be a significant speed advantage since you can keep pedaling continuously.
The increased suspension travel from 20mm to 35mm is noticeable and well-executed. For me, this means that the Endurance Pro is a personal upgrade over the Pro RT. I’m happy to take on the extra 80 grams for the improved adjustability and additional suspension. Sure, the Endurance Pro at 502 grams isn't lightweight, but the extra 200-300 grams compared to most seatposts is, in my opinion, tenfold worth it for the comfort gain. For gravel bikes, touring bikes, drop-bar MTBs, and even hardtails, the new Redshift Endurance Pro is currently my top recommendation for added comfort after a proper saddle and bike fitting. The Pro RT now seems best suited for those who count every gram. So let's summarize.
POSITIVES
- The comfort provided by the suspension seatpost is incredibly good, especially in combination with a suitable saddle.
- No special tools are needed. You install the saddle normally and you’re good to go!
NEUTRALS
- The surface is still very prone to scratching, so you need to be careful during installation.
- While I find the appearance acceptable, some might find it off-putting.
- The seatpost adds a significant weight increase of 200-300 grams compared to a regular seatpost.
- The price is certainly not cheap at €325.
NEGATIVES
- I couldn't find any negatives. Normally, the price and weight would fall under this category, but I believe these are offset by the excellent damping of the seatpost, moving them to "Neutral."
CONCLUSION
With the ShockStop Pro Endurance, Redshift has done a lot right and managed to make an already great product in the Pro RT even better. Kudos to them for that! The price may seem high at first glance, but after a few rides, it feels almost like a bargain. As you can probably tell, I’m a big fan of this seatpost and highly recommend it if you want more comfort for your backside. You won’t regret it.
