Touring bikes are designed for speed and efficiency across mixed terrain. However, with somewhat narrow tyres and a lack of suspension forks or rear shocks, they tend to transfer more shock and vibration to the rider. This makes touring bikes the perfect candidate for comfort solutions like the Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance suspension seatpost.

I’ve been using Redshift suspension seatposts for over five years, riding thousands of kilometres across Mexico, the USA, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. The PRO Endurance model featured in this review has alone carried me more than 25,000 km through Southern and Eastern Africa.

Time and again, my Redshift seatposts have proven their value, smoothing out rough terrain and greatly enhancing comfort on my off-road adventures.

This Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost has been ridden for 25,000 km across Africa.

Redshift seatposts are well-engineered, highly reliable, and compatible with virtually any bike. I’ve found that there are not many components that you can bolt on and unlock such a dramatic improvement in ride comfort.

Redshift’s latest release, the ShockStop PRO Endurance, promises to push comfort even further. Unlike most suspension seatposts that rely solely on either coil or elastomer springs, this model combines both in a hybrid system.

So, how does this hybrid spring setup perform in my real-world vibration tests? Keep reading to find out.

Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance Seatpost

The ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost is the latest addition to Redshift’s growing lineup of performance components. Aimed at gravel and off-road riders, it’s designed for those who want added comfort without the significant weight penalty.

At just 445 grams, the PRO Endurance adds only 200 grams over a standard aluminium post – yet delivers 35mm of smooth, active suspension travel in return.

Priced at US $279 on Amazon, it’s certainly a premium product, but the cost is justified by the high-quality construction and the noticeable comfort gains it provides (more on that in my vibration test results shortly).

The ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost comes in two lengths (280mm and 350mm) and is offered in a single 27.2mm diameter. It’s worth noting that the 350 mm length is Di2 battery compatible (using standard Di2 adapter) while 280mm is NOT Di2 compatible.

If your bike uses a larger seat tube diameter, you can easily fit it using an appropriate shim for a secure and precise setup. Redshift offers shims in eight different sizes from 28.6 to 34.9 mm. I currently use a 31.8 mm shim in my bike, and it has never slipped – I forget it’s there most of the time.

The seatpost is compatible with both standard round 7mm saddle rails and oval 7×9mm rails, and it’s designed to accommodate a wide rider weight range – from under 50kg (110lb) up to 110kg (242lb).

Redshift stands behind its products with confidence. The seatpost comes with a 90-day risk-free trial – if you’re not satisfied, you can return it for a full refund, no questions asked. There’s also a lifetime warranty, underscoring the brand’s commitment to durability and performance.

Let’s now discuss how the new ShockStop PRO Endurance compares to the original ShockStop Endurance.

Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance vs Redshift Original Model

Spring Type

The Redshift Original ShockStop seatpost uses only metal coil springs, resulting in a highly responsive suspension feel and excellent shock absorption. In our vibration tests, this fast-reacting coil system proved especially effective at smoothing out the small, high-frequency chatter typical of gravel roads.

However, one drawback of undamped coil spring systems is that they can introduce a slight bouncing motion while pedalling, especially on smoother surfaces or during high-cadence efforts.

The ShockStop PRO Endurance that I’m reviewing here addresses the bouncing by combining coil springs with elastomer springs. This hybrid setup blends the responsiveness of coil springs with the natural damping characteristics of elastomers, helping to tame unwanted motion and deliver a more controlled, stable ride feel.

Finish, Materials, and Sizes

The ShockStop PRO Endurance features a sleek, blacked-out design that gives it a more refined, race-oriented look. Like the original, it’s built from tough 6061-T6 aluminium, but it takes things further with weight-saving enhancements, such as hollow pivot pins and more aggressively machined linkage arms, resulting in a 50 gram reduction. It’s worth noting, however, that this weight savings comes at a $50 premium.

The original ShockStop Endurance seatpost is available in a wider range of sizes, including 27.2, 30.4, 30.9, and 31.6mm diameters, with lengths extending up to 450mm for the two largest diameter models.

In contrast, the PRO Endurance is limited to a 27.2mm diameter and comes in either 280mm or 350mm lengths. If your bike has a larger seat tube, you’ll need to use a shim to achieve a proper fit.

Tuning the Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance Seatpost

Tuning the ShockStop PRO Endurance involves experimenting with the two coil springs (inner and outer) and the two included elastomers.

At 80kg (176lb) fully loaded, I was right on the edge between two recommended setups. I began with a softer configuration: both coil springs paired with one firm (red) and one soft (green) elastomer. While I didn’t bottom out, the seatpost felt too deep in its travel and somewhat wallowy.

Next, I tried Redshift’s recommended setup, two firm (red) elastomers with both coil springs, which turned out to be ideal. I suspect this firmer setting works well for me because of my more upright riding position, which places additional weight over the seatpost and demands greater spring support.

Once I found the right spring weight, I dialled in the preload to fine-tune the ride feel. The preload adjustment sets the initial firmness of the seatpost, effectively controlling how sensitive it feels at the beginning of its travel. It’s a simple but effective way to customise the ride feel based on your weight, terrain, and comfort needs.

I started with a light preload setting but eventually wound the adjuster about 75% of the way in (setting 3). This gave me the support I was after while still allowing access to the full 35mm of travel.

Tuning The Saddle Position

I’ve changed my seat clamp to an aftermarket model with forward offset.

One interesting modification I’ve made to my seatpost is the DROP BEST UC M6 Redshift offset seatpost clamp, which shifts the saddle 20 mm forward, effectively steepening the seat tube angle of my bike.

I found the DROP BEST UC seat clamp to be an essential upgrade, as the Redshift seatpost shifts the saddle rearward under compression. This made me feel like I was sitting too far behind the bottom bracket, which impacted my position, especially on steeper climbs.

That said, not everyone will need this upgrade. Whether it benefits you depends on factors like your bike’s seat tube angle, the type of terrain you ride, your femur length, and your personal fit preferences.

In my case, the DROP BEST UC not only improved my climbing posture but also helped maintain an open hip angle when riding in my aero bars.

Functionally, the clamp works exactly as expected. However, I did run into an issue: my travel multi-tool couldn’t generate enough torque to secure the saddle properly, and it kept slipping. Once I got my hands on a longer Allen key at an auto repair shop, I was finally able to tighten it to spec and lock everything in place.

You can get offset seat clamps for Redshift seatposts directly from Fair Bicycle.

Riding The Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance

The first thing you’ll notice with any Redshift suspension seatpost is that it changes the way you ride. You no longer need to unweight the saddle over every bump – you can simply stay seated and pedal through rough sections with ease.

That said, for larger impacts, you’ll still need to lift slightly off the saddle, as the 35mm of travel does have its limits.

I’ve found that after a big hit, the PRO Endurance firms up quickly, especially deeper into its travel. In contrast, the original ShockStop Endurance feels slightly more linear throughout, blowing through its travel a bit faster.

Overall, the PRO Endurance delivers a more refined ride feel thanks to the added damping from the elastomer. While the difference isn’t dramatic, it does offer slightly more controlled and composed suspension movement. Both models, however, remain impressively responsive to ground feedback.

Now, let’s take a look at how the PRO Endurance performed in our vibration tests.

Test Bike and Vibration Measurement Procedure

Krzysztof tested the Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance on his gravel bike.

Krzysztof conducted this vibration test on his Mondraker Dusty gravel bike fitted with Spank Flare 24 Vibrocore wheels and 700C x 45 mm Challenge Getaway tires. The rear tire was inflated to 40 PSI to get the best sense of the seatpost’s capability.

A direct comparison was made between an aluminium rigid seatpost and a Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost. The spring rate of the suspension seatpost was adjusted to Krzysztof’s body weight and preferred riding style.

We have two test scenarios: a big hit test that simulates riding across a 30 mm tall obstacle like a tree root or edgy rock, and a high-frequency chatter test that simulates riding on a bumpy gravel road.

You can read more about Krzysztof’s vibration measurement procedure HERE.

Vibration Test Results

Big Hit Test

	Average Acceleration (g)	Vibrations When Compared to the Rigid Seatpost
Aluminium Rigid Seatpost	1.91	–
Redshift PRO Endurance	1.34	29.8% Fewer Vibrations

In the big hit test, the Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance clearly stood out, reducing vibrations by nearly 30% compared to a standard aluminium rigid seatpost.

With 35mm of travel, the PRO Endurance was always going to perform well in this test. The coil spring reacts swiftly to impacts, while the elastomer effectively damps post-hit oscillations, keeping things composed.

Among all the suspension seatposts we’ve tested, the PRO Endurance offers the greatest reduction in harsh impact forces, making it the standout performer for big hit comfort.

High-Frequency Chatter Test

	Average Acceleration (g)	Vibrations When Compared to the Rigid Seatpost
Aluminium Rigid Seatpost	2.39	–
Redshift PRO Endurance	1.93	19.2% Fewer Vibrations

The ShockStop PRO Endurance also delivered strong results in the high-frequency chatter test, cutting vibrations by an average of 20% compared to a standard aluminium rigid seatpost.

The combination of 35mm travel and the elastomer’s natural damping effectively smoothed out rapid, repetitive bumps, though the improvement wasn’t quite as dramatic as in the big hit test.

All of Redshift’s suspension seatposts perform well in this test thanks to their responsive coil springs, but the PRO Endurance sets itself apart with a more refined, composed ride feel compared to coil-only designs.

What About The PRO Race Model?

The ShockStop PRO Race is a shorter travel model by Redshift.

Redshift offers another suspension seatpost: the ShockStop PRO Race (review HERE).

The PRO Race is a shorter-travel model, offering 20mm of suspension instead of 35mm. This reduced travel allows it to function almost unnoticed beneath you, delivering subtle comfort without altering the feel of the bike.

It can also be run with two elastomer springs for increased damping and reduced reactivity, making it an excellent choice for road bikes or riders who stick to smoother gravel surfaces.

In our tests, the PRO Race, despite its shorter travel, still yielded fewer vibrations in the big hit and high-frequency chatter tests than the coil-spring-only ShockStop Endurance. The elastomer springs cut the bounce and oscillation after a big hit, and control things a bit better over fast, repetitive bumps.

Summary

The Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost sets a new benchmark for ride comfort. It’s the most effective suspension seatpost we’ve tested, with a 20 to 30% reduction in vibrations in our tests.

The coil spring delivers quick bump response, while the elastomer tames unwanted oscillations, resulting in a smooth, controlled ride. And with a weight penalty of just 200 grams compared to a rigid aluminium seatpost, it adds minimal bulk to your setup.

I’ve now logged over 25,000 km on it across Africa, so it’s more than proven its durability on rugged terrain.

The PRO Endurance is ideal for everything from smooth gravel to rugged 4×4 trails. However, if you mostly stick to paved roads or prefer a subtler ride feel, the PRO Race model, with 15 mm less travel and the option to run only elastomers, might be the better fit.

If you’d like to support our content, you can purchase a PRO Endurance seatpost on Amazon HERE. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps us create more valuable cycling resources for you to enjoy.