I'm looking for recommendations for a new 60L Barrel Harness. For the last 15 years I've been using a Headstrong harness. It's been amazing, but the stitching finally failed on the load lifter straps. Headstrong is no longer around and I can not find a local tailor with a heavy enough machine to make the repairs needed. So my search starts for a replacement. FYI, I do not want a pack for the barrel, just a harness.

Does anyone have a recommendation or experience with the following harnesses?
- Granite Gear Vapor Flatbed Barrel Harness
- RBW Expedition Barrel Harness
- Level Six Bad Hass Barrel Carrying Pack-Deepwater

Thanks in advance.

I have a Granite Gear Vapor Flat-back harness which worked good.
It has good padding and a nice hip belt. It will work on a 30 or 60 liter barrel.
If you have a shoe repair shop in your area they could repair it. I have one in town that will fix it better than new at such a cheap price it requires a healthy tip.
Carl

Maybe just me, and the way I swing the barrel up fully loaded, but I have had to fix/sew the shoulder strap on my GG Vapor harness twice. I don't use a barrel much anymore, but if I did, I would splurge and buy the barrel pack from CCS instead of using a harness. Only reason I didn't do this in the past is I wanted a way to carry either 60 or 30l barrel, and the GG vapor accommodates both in one harness.

BigCurrent: "I can not find a local tailor with a heavy enough machine to make the repairs needed. "

Try researching local tack shops that repair things like horse harnesses and related stuff. They have the heavy-duty sewing gear to get it done. I've gotten several portage packs patched and repaired for a fair price at a tack shop near me.

pd

portagedog09: "

BigCurrent: "I can not find a local tailor with a heavy enough machine to make the repairs needed. "

Try researching local tack shops that repair things like horse harnesses and related stuff. They have the heavy-duty sewing gear to get it done. I've gotten several portage packs patched and repaired for a fair price at a tack shop near me.


pd"

Thank you, good idea. I will keep searching. I've used other harness in the past and nothing really compares to the Headstrong one.

I have the Level Six and it works fine for both 60 and 30. The previous suggestions to approach a tack shop are good ideas I hadn't thought for other gear fixes so I appreciate picking up something new.

portagedog09: "

BigCurrent: "I can not find a local tailor with a heavy enough machine to make the repairs needed. "

Try researching local tack shops that repair things like horse harnesses and related stuff. They have the heavy-duty sewing gear to get it done. I've gotten several portage packs patched and repaired for a fair price at a tack shop near me.


pd"

How about a canvas repair shop? You know, the guys that repair RV awnings and such.

BigCurrent: "
Does anyone have a recommendation or experience with the following harnesses?
- Granite Gear Vapor Flatbed Barrel Harness
"

I have the Granite Gear harness. It has worked well for a 60L barrel. I have used it about once a year for the last four years.

If I needed a new harness, I would also consider the Ostrom Outdoors harness.

I had a shoe repair shop stitch up a couple of straps on a granite gear pack.

After that repair I discovered the "speedy stitcher sewing awl". A great tool that I wish I had found 25 years ago.. it has been mentioned before on this board.

I have been able to repair packs and multiple items that were way beyond what typical sewing machines can do. I wish I had known before paying the shoe repair shop.

I use a Headstrong harness for 10+ years and decided to check Granite Gear Vapor. With 60L barrels weighing over 55lbs I found Headstrong to be more comfortable. I also like its design better. Did you try Speedy Sticher to fix the problem yourself? I used it to reattach load lifters to my canoe pack - it worked.

I'm going to mention that Portage North did an overhaul on theirs last year and it has built-in adjustability so if you ever went smaller than a 60 L for say a trip with fewer people or fewer days, it can adjust down. And they are still made in Ely which is nice. It's 1000 denier and has some contoured padding.