STEP 22 Gear Review: Tenkile Tech Pouch – The Perfect Adventure Companion
I first discovered STEP 22 Gear at Overland Expo Pacific Northwest 2024. Wandering through the event, overwhelmed by the sheer number of vendors, one booth stood out with its tough-looking gear – rugged black bags with bold red highlights. As someone who spent nearly two decades in law enforcement, testing and destroying gear bags, I can quickly spot quality. STEP 22 Gear immediately grabbed my attention.
While I’ve previously shared my interview with founder Adam Wood in another blog post, today I’ll give you my in-depth thoughts on one of their standout products: the Tenkile Tech Pouch.
Putting the Tenkile to the Test: An Alaskan Cruise
A few weeks ago, my wife and I embarked on an Alaskan cruise – the perfect opportunity to test the Tenkile Tech Pouch. I needed a reliable way to organize and carry my GoPro accessories, iPhone, and Apple Watch gear. With constant filming and the need for quick access to batteries, chargers, and mounts, organization was essential.
First Impressions: Built for Durability
The Tenkile Tech Pouch boasts a rugged, high-quality design. Its 1000D Multicam Black Cordura Nylon exterior combined with STEP 22’s CRAWL™ all-weather layer ensures this bag can take a beating without missing a beat. The pass-through front zipper allows for easy access, making it convenient to charge devices while keeping things neatly organized.
Perfect Organization for Any Adventure
What really impressed me was the thoughtful design of the interior. Despite its compact size (9" x 4.75" x 5.5"), the Tenkile fits a surprising amount of gear. My GoPro accessories, charging station, power bricks, and various cables all had their own place. The velcro dividers made it easy to customize the compartments, allowing me to fit everything from batteries to large accessories. The front panel, with its dedicated slots for batteries and zippered pouches for cables, helped keep everything in order.
All of this would be useless if the bag deployed poorly. With the diagonal zipper, it opens up into a functional workspace, creating a self contained series of compartments that wrangle whatever you've sequestered inside.
For larger gear, such as drones, the dividers can be removed to create one larger open space.
Seamless Travel Experience
The Tenkile Tech Pouch was perfectly suited for my carry-on luggage, fitting snugly alongside my other essentials. It felt like the bag was made to nest next to other travel items like my Tortoise toiletry kit – a perfect travel companion.
The “Wish List” & What’s Next
What would have made the experience even better? The optional shoulder strap. There were moments when having the Tenkile easily slung over my shoulder would have been a boon, especially during quick battery swaps.
Aside from that, I couldn’t find a single thing to complain about. The Tenkile Tech Pouch delivered in every way, from design to functionality. Just as I wrapped up my trip, STEP 22 announced a larger version, the Tenkile Grande Tech Pouch, which I’m already eyeing for my drone gear.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Have for Adventurers
I highly recommend the Tenkile Tech Pouch. STEP 22 has a talent for designing purpose-built gear, and this pouch is no exception. Its rugged construction, thoughtful organization, and sleek aesthetics make it the perfect companion for any adventurer.
While I’d love to stock their products here, STEP 22 Gear is currently available through brick-and-mortar stores. Until then, I’ll continue to be a proud user of their products.
Tenkile Tech Pouch Specifications
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Capacity: 2.4L
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Exterior Dimensions: 9" x 4.75" x 5.5" (22.9cm x 19.1cm x 14cm)
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Interior Dimensions:
- Main Storage: 7.5" x 3.5" x 5" (19.1cm x 8.9cm x 12.7cm) *Can be divided into 2, 3, or 4 sections
- Cable Pocket: 8" x 4.5" (20cm x 11.4cm)
- Dual Access Pouch: 8" x 4.5" x 2.5" (20cm x 11.4cm x 6.4cm) *Available usable capacity determined by main compartment load
- Card Slots: 2" x 2.25" (5.1cm x 5.7cm)
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Materials:
- Exterior Rear: 1,000 Denier Nylon + CRAWL™ (Coated Rugged All-Weather Layer)
- Main & Side Panels: TreadWeave™ / Cordura® USA Nylon MultiCam® Black
- Interior: IllumiClean™ Antron with Carbonate Coat
- Zippered Pockets: MonoMesh
- Easy Write Patch: SynTough™ + hook
- All exterior panels: Padded foam
- Zippers: YKK RC zippers with reflective paracord pullers
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What is Included:
- 1x Tenkile™ Tech Pouch
- 1x Easy Write Patch
- 8x Easy Write Card Slot Patches
- 2x MOLLE HooKIt D-Ring Assembly
- 1x Micro SD Card Zipper Puller
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Weight: 0.7 lb (0.32 kg)
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Build:
- Materials sourced from: USA, Japan, Korea, Vietnam
- Final Assembly: Vietnam
If you're looking for the perfect way to organize your tech gear, the Tenkile Tech Pouch is an excellent choice.
