Level Six barrel harness overview
The Level Six barrel harness is one of the best barrel harnesses on the market, and for most Ontario paddlers it’s the one to buy. It’s built for heavy carries, the straps are ballistic nylon, and the seams at the load points are double bar tacked. Buy it once and it should see you through decades of tripping rather than a few seasons.
Level Six is a Canadian paddling brand based in Ottawa. This is the only barrel harness they make, and they back it with a lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship.
I’ve carried close to 60 pounds in a 60L with it on the Serpentine Loop in Kawartha Highlands this season and it was very supportive and held the load comfortably.
Specs and summary
| Product | Level Six Bad Hass Adjustable Barrel Harness |
|---|---|
| Price | $154.95 CAD at MEC and Level Six Canada |
| Brand | Level Six, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Warranty | 100% Lifetime Guarantee to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship |
| Weight | 1.4 kg (about 3.1 lb), harness only |
| Barrel compatibility | 30L and 60L barrels |
| Body fabric | 100% diamond grid reinforced polyester |
| Webbing and straps | 100% nylon webbing; ballistic nylon straps with double bar tacked reinforcement |
| Harness | Air mesh moulded pre-curved shoulder straps and waist belt; split hip belt |
| Back support | Integrated back support system with padded back panel |
| Sizing | One size; no torso length adjustment |
| Country of origin | China |
| Barrel included | No; harness only |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stiff, supportive waist belt
- Padded back panel
- Cradles the full base of the barrel
- Straps stay tight; no retightening mid-portage
- Fits 30L and 60L barrels
- Grab handles for lifting and loading
- Ballistic nylon, double bar tacked seams
- Lifetime guarantee on defects
Cons
- One size; no torso adjustment
- Heavy at 1.4 kg
- Stiff straps get in the way in the canoe
- Rides too tall to portage a canoe over top
Level Six Badhass barrel harness
$154.95 CAD Fits 30L and 60L barrels, barrel sold separately.
Also at MEC
Carry comfort with the Level Six barrel harness
This harness carries a heavy barrel well. The hip belt is split and firm, so the weight sits on your hips rather than hanging off your shoulders. The straps across the top pull the barrel in tight and it holds there over rough ground. Nothing slipped on my trips and I never had to stop and retighten anything.
Be clear about the ceiling though. This is a rigid plastic barrel on your back and no harness changes that. A well-fitted canoe pack will always carry better. Paddlers who use it season after season describe it as about as good as a 60L barrel gets, and one long-term user on Paddling.com still reports lower back fatigue on longer carries.
How you load the barrel can matter as much as the harness does.
Pro Tip
Pack your heaviest, densest items high in the barrel and against the side that sits on your back. Cans, liquids and first-night food go there. Light and bulky gear goes in the bottom and on the outside face. Weight sitting low and away from your back pulls you backwards and you lean forward to compensate, which is what wears out your lower back on a long carry.
Fit and sizing on the Level Six barrel harness
Fit is the one thing that could put you off this harness. It comes in a single size. The straps adjust for barrel width and for strap length, but there’s no way to change the torso length. No moveable shoulder strap anchors, no ladder of attachment points. The back panel is the length it is.
Paddling Magazine found the back pad and the shape of the shoulder straps cover a wide range of torso lengths anyway. At six feet it fits me well. But one size won’t suit every build, and if the shoulder straps sit wrong under a heavy barrel there’s no adjustment to fix it.
Build quality and durability
This is the harness at its best. The body is diamond grid reinforced polyester, the straps are ballistic nylon, and the seams at the load points are double bar tacked. The straps and buckles feel overbuilt in the hand, which is what you want under a heavy barrel.
Mine shows no wear after a season. No fraying at the strap edges, no stretched webbing, no buckle problems, and nothing has gone soft after being packed away damp.
The longer-term evidence is better than mine. Voyageur Tripper has used the same harness since 2017 across roughly 200 nights of tripping and reports it’s still in good shape. Level Six covers defects for life on top of that.
Weight and bulk of the harness
At 1.4 kg this is the heaviest of the three harnesses worth considering. Minimalist harnesses weigh a fraction of that, but they’re typically a few straps rather than a padded belt and proper suspension. The extra weight buys load capacity and lifespan, which is worth carrying if you trip frequently or plan on packing heavy loads.
One note: the stiff straps don’t fold flat and can be in the way when you’re packing gear around the barrel. Small trade for straps this solid.
How the Level Six barrel harness compares to other barrel harnesses
There are three popular barrel harnesses worth considering for Ontario tripping. All three cradle the barrel and all three fit a 30L and a 60L, so those aren’t the things to choose on.
| Harness | Price | Barrel sizes | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level Six Badhass | $154.95 CAD | 30L, 60L | Cheapest of the three by a clear margin. Split hip belt handles heavy loads well. One size, no torso adjustment. Heaviest at 1.4 kg |
| North Water Quick Haul | $219.95 CAD | 30L, 60L, odd loads | Cradle system holds the barrel off your spine; wide dual density waist belt with four micro adjustments; rigs wanigans and hard cases; made in Canada |
| RBW Expedition | Approx. $200 USD direct | 20L, 30L, 60L | Moveable shoulder strap attachment points for taller torsos; fits a 20L as well; strap tension adjustable while you’re wearing it |
The Level Six is the value pick and it does most of what the North Water does for $65 less. Pay up for the North Water if you want the barrel held clear of your spine, you rig odd loads like hard cases or wanigans, or you want a harness made in Canada. Choose the Recreational Barrel Works Expedition if you’re tall or the Level Six doesn’t fit you, because it’s the only one of the three with moveable shoulder strap anchors.
There’s also the RBW Minimalist at around $40. It isn’t padded and it isn’t meant for portaging. It’s for moving a barrel between the canoe and camp or hanging it at night.
What other reviewers say about the Level Six barrel harness
| Source | Verdict | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Paddling Magazine | Top pick | Named one of nine top canoe packs and harnesses; praised the snug barrel fit, the split hip belt, the double forward pull waist straps and the sewn-in grab handles |
| Voyageur Tripper | Top recommendation | Calls it the harness to buy after roughly 200 nights of tripping since 2017; rates the full-base cradle as the feature that separates good harnesses from bad ones |
| Paddling.com community | Would buy again | A season with a 60L in the Adirondacks; strong marks for padding, attachment points and durability, with some lower back discomfort noted on longer carries |
| Rokslide forum | Mixed | One long-time user found it no more comfortable than other barrel harnesses on long portages, and argues the barrel format itself is the limit rather than the product |
They agree on more than they disagree on. Nobody reports the harness failing. Where people are lukewarm it’s about comfort, and on a one-size harness that comes back to fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Level Six barrel harness worth it?
Yes, if you portage. At $154.95 CAD it’s the cheapest of the three serious barrel harnesses on the Canadian market, it carries a loaded 60L barrel well, and the build quality and lifetime guarantee mean it should last decades. The main risk is fit, since it’s one size with no torso adjustment, so try it on with a loaded barrel before the return window closes.
Does the Level Six barrel harness fit a 30L barrel?
Yes. The Badhass adjusts to fit both 30L and 60L barrels, and switching between them takes a few minutes of strap adjustment. That’s the main reason to choose it over a cheaper single-size harness.
How much does the Level Six barrel harness weigh?
The harness alone weighs 1.4 kg, or about 3.1 pounds, according to MEC’s listed specifications. That’s heavier than minimalist barrel harnesses, which is the trade-off for the padded back panel, stiff waist belt and heavy-duty webbing that let it carry a full 60L barrel comfortably.
Is the Level Six barrel harness comfortable on long portages?
It’s comfortable for a barrel harness, which isn’t the same as comfortable. The split hip belt puts the load on your hips and the back panel keeps the curve of the barrel off your spine. Long-term users describe it as about as good as carrying a 60L barrel gets, with some lower back fatigue on the longest carries.
Does the Level Six barrel harness come with a barrel?
No. The Badhass is sold as a harness only. A 60L Level Six barrel costs around $110 CAD and a 30L around $90 CAD, so budget roughly $245 to $265 for a complete 60L barrel and harness setup.
Can you carry a canoe while wearing the Level Six barrel harness?
Not with a loaded 60L barrel. The harness has no height adjustment to drop the barrel lower on your back, so a full 60L rides too tall to clear the hull of a canoe on your shoulders. Plan on the barrel and the canoe being two separate carries, or double carry the portage.
What size barrel do you need for a canoe trip?
A 60L barrel holds food for two to four people for about five to seven days and is the standard group food barrel. A 30L suits solo trips, weekend trips, or a second barrel for kitchen gear. The Level Six harness fits both, so you can start with one size and add the other later.
