PRODUCT REVIEW: Turkana Gear – Built for Real Adventure

Disclaimer.  This is my personal take on Turkana gear. it is my own  opinion en experience.   I am in no way or form  a representative or sponsored bij TURKANA.    Alle gear is bought with my own  hard  earned cash

I stopped choosing motorcycle gear based on marketing… and started choosing it based on performance.** About two years ago I was introduced to Turkana Gear — a brand I had never heard of before. Like most riders, I mainly knew the big names dominating social media. That’s where I started. That changed when a good riding friend brought me to Bartang, where owner Peter (also known as the *Turkana Head Ninjaneer*) introduced me to the brand and its philosophy: **Simple. Functional. Built for real-world adventure.

🧳 First Impression: Hippo Hips 20L 

 My first piece of Turkana gear was the Hippo Hips 20L system. Since then, it has been through:

 • gravel roads

 • mud trails 

• off-road riding 

• and a few… "unplanned parking moments"

Result:Brush off the dirt → keep riding. The build quality is impressive. The system is simple, rugged, and clearly designed to take abuse.  

🔧 Design Philosophy What stands out most about Turkana: 

 • no unnecessary complexity

 • highly durable construction

 • modular setup

 • field-repairable (yes, needle & thread level) So far, I haven’t needed to repair anything......which says enough. 

🧭 Expanding My Setup After the Hippo Hips, I expanded my setup with multiple products: 

Tek Bags (5L) mounted on crash bars: 

⛑ Left → First Aid 

🔧 Right → Tools & spare parts 

Chip Cheeks for organization — upgraded with a custom **3D-printed inlay** for better gear management. This even caught the attention of Turkana co-owner Michnus, leading to contact with him and his wife Elsebie.

🌧 Weather Performance Turkana bags are water-resistant by design. 

In my experience: 

✔ multiple full days riding in heavy rain 

✔ no real issues For full waterproofing, 

Turkana uses internal drybags. When properly rolled, your gear stays completely dry.

🏍 Real-World Use Initially, 

My setup was built for riding with a pillion.  

Later, I added the rackless system "Madmules" for: 

• solo riding 

• off-road trips 

• daily use And again — same conclusion: Simple. Strong. Reliable.

💸 Value for Money Compared to many competitors, 

Turkana offers: 

 ✔ strong durability 

✔ practical design 

✔ modular systems …often at a more accessible price point in my opinion.  

My Current Setup My Turkana collection includes: 

 Madmules 

Hippohips 

Bushbabies 

Oxpacker 

Tek Bag 

Turtle Trunk 

Stowcrow 

Pelipouch 

Magpie 

Sloth 

Chipcheeks 

Towrantula

🏁 Final Verdict:

If you’re looking for a soft luggage system that is built for real adventure, not just marketing. 

Turkana is absolutely worth considering in  my opinion.

Check out Turkana Gear for more information. 

https://www.turkanagear.com

Verdict: ✔ Durable ✔ Functional ✔ Adventure proven ✔ Good value 👉 Recommended for serious ADV riders --- 

What gear do you trust when things get rough?

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