Enduristan Motorcycle Luggage for Offroad Adventures Reviewed

Two weeks in the Balkans, 80 to 90 percent offroad, temperatures exceeding 35 degrees, and trails that are among the toughest you'll find in Europe. From the ferry in Ancona, we headed straight to Albania, spent three days traversing the Lura National Park, continued to Kosovo, circled the entire country, and then returned via Montenegro. For me, it was the most challenging offroad journey I've ever undertaken. Crashes, river crossings, steep hill climbs, and those endless meadows with panoramic views where you just feel completely free. For adventures like these, the luggage needs to fit perfectly because while you carry a lot, you'd prefer to ride as if the bike were bare. This time, we had the full package from Enduristan with us—and the highlight of the show was undoubtedly the new Blizzard 2.35 with modular Sidekicks.

When packing, there wasn't much difference between the new Blizzard 2.35 and the previous softbags. Nevertheless, they're practical, and for a two-week hardcore tour, you need the full volume. We deliberately skipped the inner bags because they simply take up too much space. So, in went the clothes, shoes, towel, and everything needed for the two weeks. We stayed in affordable hotels, leaving the tent and sleeping bag at home.

The Blizzard bags are classic Enduristan softbags—designed for adventure riders who are serious about hitting the trails. Robust, waterproof, and lightweight. That's exactly what they're made for: people who prefer being off-road than on the boulevard. With the 2.35, Enduristan has now introduced a new generation. Better material, well-thought-out fastening system, more modularity. It's not a revolution, but a clear evolution.

A real highlight while packing were the new Sidekicks. Usually, it's a hassle to securely mount additional bags—it takes forever. But here, it was a joy: dock, tighten, done. Bam, everything holds rock-solid. We used the small bags for all sorts of things: from a battery-operated tire inflator to the toolbox and even swimwear. Exactly the kind of stuff you want to have readily available. And it made life on the road much easier.

The Blizzard 2.35 were undeniably the centerpiece of our luggage on this tour. They're classic softbags as you'd expect from Enduristan, just in a new version. The material is significantly finer and easier to handle. Those familiar with the old Blizzards know they could chafe your fingers on cold days. That's a thing of the past—the new surface is smoother yet even more tear-resistant. A win-win situation.

Also new is the so-called CRR Breakaway System. In the event of a hard impact, it’s designed to save the bag by allowing a mounting point to give way and be replaced. We tested this unintentionally. During a fall, a sharp branch punctured a small hole in a bag. The bag didn't tear, but we clearly noticed: the system only works properly if the bags are tensioned straight down with a plate. Without a plate, as we had mounted it, everything gets distorted and the forces are misdistributed. An important lesson—and a tip for anyone wanting to simply attach their Blizzards to the pannier racks. It’s possible, but not optimal.

In everyday use, the new design also proved beneficial. The bags now run over the seat instead of under the seat, making them much easier to remove. Handy when heading to the hotel in the evening. Additionally, there’s a mesh element at the top where you can attach more luggage or small extra bags.

And the riding feel? Surprisingly uneventful—and that's exactly the point. Even packed to the brim with 35 liters of clothing, shoes, and odds and ends, it felt as if I were riding without luggage. No wobbling, no swaying. Anyone who's ridden offroad with aluminum panniers knows how much you feel the weight. Here, you almost forget you even have bags attached.

Not everything was perfect. The new closure with the loops offers more options for securing but can also be cumbersome. Especially when the bags are fully loaded, it can take ages to open them again. I'd have preferred a simple click fastener. Nonetheless, the conclusion is clear: the Blizzard 2.35 are well-designed, robust, and made for tough adventures.

If I had to pick a favorite product from Enduristan, it would be the Pannier Topper Large. Simple, unobtrusive, doesn't bulge—and yet offers immense space. For me, it was the mobile command center. Laptop, drone, Insta360 cameras, spare batteries, anything that runs on power was in there. Initially, the big camera too, but I moved it to the backpack due to vibrations. In everyday use, I needed access multiple times a day, and that's where the Topper shines. Open it, grab what you need, and move on—like a mini-bar on the pannier. And it's completely waterproof and dustproof.

My colleague had the Tailpack Large on his BMW. Essentially the same concept, just more compact and visually sleeker. The volume is smaller and the curves make it trickier to fill optimally. While I could throw everything into my rectangular space miracle, he had to play a bit of Tetris when packing. Ultimately, it depends on personal use. Those who want a clear rectangle for loading should go for the Topper. Those who prefer something more compact and stylish will find the Tailpack well-suited.

On a hardcore ADV journey, it's often the small things that make daily life easier. Besides the large Blizzards, the new Sidekicks, Handlebar Bag, and Hurricane Backpack have proven their worth.

The Sidekicks are the perfect add-on for the Blizzard 2.35. Available in sizes from 1 to 4 liters, they can be attached or detached in seconds. We used them for all sorts of things: from a battery-powered tire inflator to the toolbox and even swimwear. Items you need quickly without digging into the big bags. They make all the difference on tour, providing organization and quick access.

The small Handlebar Bag also served us well. Pocket knife, tire pressure gauge, energy bars—everything that needs to be within reach fits in there. Especially practical on the highway: the toll card is immediately accessible. Small, inconspicuous, but extremely useful.

Then there's the Hurricane Backpack. With its 3-liter hydration bladder, it was invaluable, especially in temperatures beyond 35 degrees. Those three liters often ran out faster than you'd expect when pushing a bike through the dirt. Additionally, the Hurricane offers enough space for a drone, camera, snacks, or water bottles. It's comfortable to wear when properly adjusted, though it can be a bit stubborn when tweaking. All in all, a space miracle and indispensable for summer adventures.

Our tour kicked off with a necessary stretch: highway to Ancona, then by ferry to Albania. From the moment we hit the Balkans, it was almost all offroad—at least 80 percent, possibly even 90.

Albania greeted us with one of the toughest sections of the trip: the Lura National Park. Anyone venturing in should know what they're getting into. It's extremely rugged in parts, and some places are only doable for very experienced adventure riders. For us, it was a highlight, but also a real test of endurance for both rider and gear.

The heart of the journey, however, was Kosovo. A country still off many people's radar, yet filled with countless dreamlike offroad tracks. We followed the TET Kosovo, with a few detours from Wikilocs, and stumbled upon breathtaking highlands near Restelica. Panoramas, freedom, endless trails—a hidden gem for adventure bikers. Add to that the hospitality of the locals, great food, and extremely cheap accommodations. A double room with breakfast for 30 euros is standard, so we didn't even need the tent and sleeping bag.

We then returned to Albania via Montenegro. There, we found everything a hardcore tour should have: river crossings, steep hill climbs, meadow passages with endless views. The downside was the heat—often over 35 degrees. Combined with long offroad days, it became physically demanding. Without a hydration bladder, we would have quickly hit our limit.

Of course, there were crashes, and quite a few. Sometimes we landed right on the bags without any damage. Then, on the last day, the classic: a slip on asphalt. My colleague smashed the rear end of his BMW F 900 GS, but the bikes held up remarkably well. And so did the bags—aside from that one hole from the branch. It's moments like these that show just how tough the gear needs to be when you're riding at the limit for two weeks.

After two weeks of hardcore ADV in the Balkans, one thing is clear: Enduristan gear is built for journeys like these. Efficient, robust, professional—three words that fit perfectly. The bags provided organization, quick access, and hardly affected the riding feel. Even fully loaded, it felt like riding without luggage.

Of course, there are details that could be improved. The new closure on the Blizzards isn't my favorite—opening them when tightly packed can be cumbersome. The Breakaway System also showed us that it only works properly with a plate. Without a plate, things can go awry. But these are nuances you only notice when pushing the bags to their limits.

In essence, the Blizzard 2.35 with the Sidekicks, Pannier Topper, Tailpack, Handlebar Bag, and Hurricane Backpack did exactly what they were supposed to: accompany us on an extremely tough journey without us feeling burdened by the luggage. Anyone who has ridden through the Balkans with heavy aluminum panniers will appreciate the difference.

For me, it's certain: on a hardcore ADV tour, I'd choose this setup again any day. And for those just out for a weekend, the smaller Blizzards are the way to go. Modularity and versatility make this system exciting for any adventure bike rider. Whether Norden, GS, or Enduro—this gear works.