Anybody do this or does the barrel ride too high?

I do it. Let the slack out on the straps. It bumps once in a while but not enough to make it trouble. This is on a solo boat with a removable yoke.....thick pads. I have one of the Kondos barrel harnesses.

I do this too. I have a Magic with a removable yoke. I may feel the top of the barrel hit the seat once in a while, but it is not a real issue.

Anyone make a carrier that holds the barrel horizontal? It probably doesn't exist... yet. As you know, a lot of portage packs are designed to be wide and ride low on the shoulders to aid in carrying a canoe- maybe the horizontal barrel pack is the next big thing. Maybe not as big as the kevlar canoe from the old aluminums... but maybe.

I'll take credit for the idea if Dan or some of the other makers create one.

THEGrandRapids: "Anyone make a carrier that holds the barrel horizontal? It probably doesn't exist... yet. As you know, a lot of portage packs are designed to be wide and ride low on the shoulders to aid in carrying a canoe- maybe the horizontal barrel pack is the next big thing. Maybe not as big as the kevlar canoe from the old aluminums... but maybe.


I'll take credit for the idea if Dan or some of the other makers create one. "

That could be a good idea

Agree but I am able to lengthen the straps on my Ostrom harness so the barrel does not impact the seat. And the seat is high up for kneeling.. Yours may be lower than mine ( 9.5 inches off the floor)
Because there is a hip strap the barrel does not become unstable.

I put my 30 liter barrel in a dry bag that sits low enough not to be any problem at all. My yoke is a wood contour yoke and I think sits a bit lower than the standard foam pads, but I've never once had an issue.

I suppose it's somewhat dependent on the portage yoke and what barrel pack you're using. I use a 30L CCS Quad Barrel pack with a Wenonah clamp-on solo yoke to portage my Wenonah Voyager.

I also store my Katadyn Hiker Microfilter and Katadyn Base Camp Pro gravity filter in the top compartment of the CCS Barrel pack. Even with the water filters stuffed in the top compartment of the barrel pack, proper clearance is not an issue.

Hans Solo