Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review: Do Suspension Seat Posts Work?

As bikepackers, we naturally seek comfort and ways to reduce wear and tear on our bodies. There are many ways to do so, and suspension seat posts are a popular option. Cane Creek has been at the forefront of such posts for some time, including their newest model, the eeSilk+. In our latest video, Neil shares some general thoughts on suspension seat posts, how the eeSilk+ fared, and how to fine-tune it…

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably finished a long day in the saddle with soreness in the rear end or perhaps back pain. We all know cycling can create wear and tear on these areas, especially during bikepacking trips when you ride for multiple days and miles on end, often over rough terrain. In our latest video review, we delve into a component that’s been truly eye-opening and helpful for me this year, the Cane Creek EEsilk+ Carbon. Watch the review below, then scroll down for some stills and useful parts of the video transcript.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel to ensure we can keep making videos like this one.

Cane Creek eeSilk+ Specs

While the Thudbuster has been around for years, The eeSilk+ is Cane Creek’s latest suspension seat post designed to soften any gravel or mixed-surface roads. It falls between the Thudbuster and eesilk, giving riders 35mms of tuneable compliance. The seatpost is available in 31.6 and 27.2 post diameters in carbon and aluminum. The post has a max extension of 287mm and a minimum extension of 80mm.

The eeSilk+ uses the same linkage technology found in both their Thudbuster and eeSilk seatposts, but unlike the Thudbuster, the eeSilk series posts use a simple pin tool and a quick turn of a bolt head to detach the linkage so you can swap out elastomers, which is really easy to do. The post comes stock with the number 5 medium elastomers, but I found the number 3 elastomer to work best for me, which gives me a softer, more supple ride quality at 150 pounds. Cane Creek sells a #1 elastomer for riders under 100 pounds or firmer elastomers, such as their number 7 or 10, for heavier riders or folks looking for a more stiff feel.

  • Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review
  • Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review

The seat clamps to the post in a rather traditional manner, but it uses a titanium thumbwheel clamp bolt on the carbon version which is pretty easy to use and does help micro-adjust faster than the standard stainless bolt on the aluminum version.

Overall ride thoughts

Seat posts varey incredibly, there is a lot that goes into comfort of a seat post, like the material used, exposed length, and offset. So, when you add a tunable suspension seat post that has those characteristics, you have a lot of added comfort and compliance to make for a more enjoyable experience.

At 5’9.5”, I’m not a super tall person, and I typically don’t have a lot of exposed seatpost on any of my non-mountain bikes, but because the post has a 12mm offset, paired with the carbon variety of this post, it offers a decent amount of flex and small-bump vibration damping. If I were taller, I think I would get a bit more out of the carbon post and the improved spring rate it has over the aluminum post. But the beauty of the eeSilk is that it has the capacity to provide 35mms of compliance or travel while also lending those carbon characteristics.

Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review

I found this to be extremely beneficial, not only in the day-to-day riding of the bike, but when the riding gets a bit more rugged, the eeSilk has not only allowed me to maintain a rather natural pedal stroke but also gave me the additional comfort without being overly active like some other suspension posts on the market. It almost made me forget that any additional support was there in the first place. And that is definitely a defining feature of this seat post, plus it’s super light, coming in at 323 grams, which—for what it’s worth—is just as light as many aluminum seat posts out there.

  • Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review
  • Cane Creek eeSilk+ Review

For folks who can’t leave home without dropper posts, I hear you, and this probably isn’t for you. I found that I used the eeSilk+ only on my rigid drop-bar bikes, and normally where a dropper post would be overkill. And while this post might hold one back during steep technical descents, it’s a decent tradeoff for comfort when the grade levels out a bit more. Another downside to any suspension post is that it’s another thing to break, plus mine needs to be cleaned out from time to time, as the pins/bushings do make a creaking noise.

  • Model Tested: Cane Creek eeSilk+ Carbon 27.2
  • Weight: 323 grams
  • Place of Manufacture: Taiwan
  • Price: $320
  • Manufacturer’s Details: CaneCreek.com

Pros

  • For obvious reasons, it makes for a more comfortable ride
  • Tunable to fit your weight and riding preferences
  • Lightweight
  • Natural suspension feel without being overly active

Cons

  • It’s another thing that could potentially break
  • Can be noisy when it gets dusty
  • Expensive!

Final THoughts

The Eesilk+ post is certainly going to set you back. The aluminum variety will cost you $219, and the carbon variety is $319; that’s more expensive than many dropper posts out there. But you’re getting a product that works and has truly made a difference on my bikepacking trips and long day rides this summer, and it’s a quality product from a reputable brand. No, it’s not for everyone, and yes, there are other options out there, but the simplicity of the elastomers and the subtle nature of the compliance is a winning combination for me.

Related Content

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Bikepacking Gear

Components

dispatch  

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.

Share This

Thanks in advance for spreading the word!
art