TopHat Reviews

Read recent TopHat reviews from leading MTB media, industry veterans, elite racers, and customers.

*Ride886 does not directly sponsor any athletes at this time. All riders chose to use or race with TopHat equipped forks after conducting their own independent testing.

MTB MEDIA

BLISTERREVIEW.COM

"The TopHat makes a notable improvement . . . I’m able to set the fork up to get the midstroke support I want while maintaining better initial sensitivity than with the stock spring, and the resulting bottom-out resistance ends up being about where I want it without needing to add any volume spacers.”

“Installing the TopHat is extremely easy."

"Ride886 has done a very nice job of streamlining the process in the TopHat. 

Their baseline recommendation is straightforward.”

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BlisterReview.com - TopHat vs Runt

“The bulk of the impact of the Runt happens a bit later in the stroke than it does with the TopHat."

“TopHat feels a bit more linear while the Runt is more progressive deeper in the travel... (The Runt also takes up more room in the fork leg than the TopHat).”

“The overall tuning window afforded by the TopHat is wider.”

FREEHUB.COM

“Immediately noticeable, and provided more support from that sag point down.”

“I really like how that change feels on the trail, especially when compared to stuffing volume spacers in a single positive chamber.”

“I don’t enjoy the super progressive feel that more volume spacers give . . . I’m trying to get more support, higher in the stroke, which volume spacers typically remove. That support makes it easier to be active on the bike, push into it, and pump through terrain.”

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ATHLETES AND INDUSTRY

Norcal. MTB Legend

Mark Weir

"This TopHat is badass. . . I love that the fork is supple and rides higher in the travel, and I still get full travel.

'We tried another version and [TopHat] works way better.

I'm super stoked with it so far."

Worldclass enduro racer

Dim Tordo

"Really good! It offers so much support on big compressions while still providing great grip."

2026 UCI Enduro World Cup 10th overall elite, 3x Czech national enduro champion

Vojtěch Bláha

"It's been awesome."

"I rode my Podium fork and the 38 equipped TopHat and the 38 was easier on my hands which is sick."

Former World Cup Downhill and Enduro racer. World Cup Team manager. Owner of No. 55 Bikes Innerleithen

Nigel Page

"Tried a few runs with the TopHat today and feels great with the recommended set up and air pressures.  Still had the great suppleness my Zeb has for the roots and rocks here in the Tweed Valley, but much better mid strike support and control with harder hits."

"Gives better midstroke support and bottom out control for the big hits, especially on the E-bike... Super easy to install. Pressure calculator is bang on. Great work guys!"

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

  • Aaron, USA

    "I just wanted to write you a note. The Tophat is the single best upgrade I have done on my Fox 38. I noticed the difference immediately.  I’ve spent two years tweaking the Fox 38 to get it where it should be, and the Tophat addressed it instantly. Bravo! You have a customer for life, and I will tell everyone I know about the Tophat."

  • Joe, USA

    "I've been struggling with setup on my 38 for three years and this solved all my issues pretty much overnight. Finally I get the grip I want at the beginning without the fork diving under braking or in corners.  Seems like an absolute must for bigger riders and hard chargers too." 

  • Robert, Australia

    "I had my first ride today with the TopHat today. First impressions are fantastic! I’m looking forward now to dialling it in. I told a few people on the trails how good it was, I will tell my suspension guy about it, he is always interested in something new. For me, first ride with TopHat Zeb felt better than my EXT Era."

  • Ben, USA

    "Hey that TopHat is f@#king amazing by the way. Two rides on it. Major improvement, especially with that [2025] version of the Zeb.

  • Mark, UK (3 x customer)

    I've certainly been enjoying the top hat I've already got. I've put it into the 38 on my Ebike and it's performing very well. . . You've probably guessed I'm happy with it and that's why I've come back for a couple more.

  • Flo, Germany

    "Very well done! Recommend pressures are nearly spot on. I had been using a Runt previously and it always felt a bit too chattery for my liking. The TopHat feel is MUCH improved, very impressed."

  • Thiago, Mexico

    "I installed it on my 2027 Fox 36. I have one ride on it and it already makes a pretty significant difference in ride quality." 

  • Ryan, USA

    "The Zeb feels legitimately brand new.  Increases the small bump sensitivity so much. The bottom 20% [of travel] feels totally unlocked and it feels like a downhill fork."

  • Sam, Australia

    "Loving this thing so far. Seems to be a cracking product, team. Doing exactly what I wanted it to do- softer off the top with more mid stroke and solid bottom out. Bravo"

  • Race Ready Tuning, USA

    "Dude, setup is SO easy. Installing first time for a customer the auto calculator for set up was incredibly useful/spot on. We didn’t actually have to do anything after that… It was good to go! The potential for tuning these things is pretty exceptional too. It’s really cool how this is something that would improve the feel of a bike for literally any level rider, I’m a big fan of that as well."

  • Evan, USA

    "Super straightforward! Put in what I was running for psi before into the calculator and haven’t touched it yet. Thing is super impressive, made small bumps pretty much disappear, and It feels a lot more supportive on bigger hits."

  • Eric, USA

    "I didn't expect to be able to discern much of a difference but even an initial ride around and smashing off of stuff was pretty telling.  There is an immediate and obvious change in the way the air spring feels for the better.  Cliche to say, but definitely coil like with a lot of initial sensitivity and a nice progressive build into spring support without a knee of ramp up.  I'm pretty stoked to try this thing out and put it through it's paces... It's a more obvious change of before/after then the vorsprung secus has been on a 38 and 36 from my experience."

  • Matt, USA

    "I've been running one for a couple months now on a '25 Fox 38 and it really opens up the ability to change the character of the fork without cracking it open. I am very satisfied. It does what is claimed; more top end sensitivity. I find I'm running less compression damping than with my previous 2 spacer setup at Fox recommended pressures . . . Overall I highly recommend."

  • David, USA

    "Off the top it matches the feel of the coil spring on my rear shock. Super sensitive and still supportive on the steep trails we have here. Feels bottomless but still uses full travel, one of the best upgrades I've put on my bike in recent memory. Great job!"

  • Martin, UK

    "I've received my TopHat and boy am I pleased with it. It feels great on suggested settings but I'm going to play around with it to get it totally dialed in. Thanks again very much."