Wolf Tooth ReMote Light Action Dropper Lever: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Dropper posts are one of the best inventions to happen in the mountain bike world since sliced bread. However, the levers that come with most of them have left much to be desired. Thankfully, Wolf Tooth decided to change that and make the most epic and simple dropper lever out there. Fellow rider, John Thompson, gives his review below. Check it out!

Introduction 

I have to admit. At first, I was skeptical. How could any dropper post remote, regardless of quality, looks, durability, ergonomics, etc., justify a hefty price tag when a lot of dropper posts come with a usable remote straight out of the box? Why would I buy an aftermarket remote when I could simply use the plastic remote that came with my post and is what the manufacturer intended for me to use?

Fortunately for me, the most recent dropper post that I bought did not come with a remote, which meant that I had a choice to make. I could buy a bargain basement, plastic remote which would mimic the feel of a shift lever and get the job done (get my saddle out of the way of my tender bits the 10-20 times I need it while doing a few laps of my local trails), or I could splurge a bit and get what seems to have universal good reviews online and that I have seen on a few of those YouTube dream builds.

Quality and Performance 

Before I used the Wolf Tooth Light Action Dropper Lever, I never really considered how a remote felt and whether it can feel "good" to drop your saddle. It was simply something that had to be done. Much like the first time I used a dropper post way back in the mid 2010s, I didn't realize what I was missing until I tried it, and afterward, I could never go back. First, this remote is made out of metal and feels much more substantial than any plastic lever. I'm sure it adds a few grams, but they are well spent because you feel like you could mash this all day or ding it off of a rock garden with no ill effects.

Second, the lever has a smooth and substantial resistance that's just enough to make sure you don't drop your seat on accident, but not so much that you have to labor to get low before you roll down a technical downhill. Part of this has to do with the long lever that feels a lot like a Shimano or Sram front shifter from way back when, but a bigger part has to do with that giant sealed bearing. The other remotes I have used cannot compare to the feel of this lever because that bearing makes it feel like you are supposed to be using this lever and pulling that cable.

Third, you know exactly what will happen when you press this remote. The lever is machined with a lot of grooves so your thumb immediately catches when you press it. Yes, you can put skateboard grip tape on a lever to get a similar feel, but isn't it nice to get that straight out of the box?

Installation

Finally, this was idiot-proof to install. In the past, I have spent the better part of an hour assembling the different parts of a lever and threading the cable through a tiny opening, all while trying to make sure that a minuscule screw does not fall underneath my workbench. The Wolf Tooth remote is 3 pieces (remote lever, screw, and bar clamp) and as easy as possible to install. Just screw it on to your bar, thread the cable through and around that giant bearing, and tighten the bolt holding the cable in place. No fuss.

Final Thoughts

This remote looks good, feels great, was easy to install, and feels like it will last the life of my bike. Before I tried it, I thought the price was exorbitant. Now that I have tried it, I can't go without it and would likely replace other stock remotes with this model. Do yourself a favor and give it a spin.

Check out how the Wolf Tooth lever stacks up against some other industry favorites in our dropper lever shootout!