Granite Gear Vapor Flatbed Barrel Harness

For traditionalists in the BWCA who insist on Duluth packs, this is the wrong product. For everyone else in the 21st century, this is the way to go. Plastic food barrels are more durable, bear resistant, and all around more reliable than any canvas food pack. The problem is how to transport them. This Granite Gear harness is well constructed, seems quite durable, and adjusts easily to most body types. Anyone who has struggled with a heavy food pack can appreciate how nice it is to have the weight properly distributed across your shoulders and back. I have a strong positive history with this company's products, and this barrel harness is no exception. None of these products is cheap. But this one seems to offer good value for the money. There are more expensive harnesses out there, but I doubt if there is a better high quality value.

You're not getting the barrel

Love this, and it's high quality as you would expect from anything made by granite gear, hoping to put it to long term use soon in the Amazon jungle.

works great... use it all the time...

A great convenience in the Boundary Waters.

It's well made and well designed. However, the harness is only available in Reg size. I'm 5'11", pretty proportional, and the frame is quite short. For the stabilizer straps on top of the shoulder straps to be functional (i.e. stabilize the load, and pull it closer to the shoulders to bring the center of gravity closer to the body), they must attach to the pack at least level with, and preferably higher, than the shoulder straps when the pack is worn. With the too-short framesheet, the stabilizer straps contour downward with the shoulder strap thus rendering them useless. The upshot of this is that for people of moderate height, the harness just hangs from your shoulders, and cannot be snugged up like conventional (sized) backpacks. I don't know why GG doesn't use their backpack knowhow to correct this.

This is my go to pack for camping with lots of paddling and portages. It locks air tight and carries nice. I am 5'9, 155lbs. marathon running athletic frame. While I wouldn't use this to hike on a 10 mile trail, it is comfortable to carry short distances and does its job at keeping whatever is in it DRY. I don't have to worry about my photography equipment getting banged up in this as the plastic barrel is heavy duty. The barrel must be purchased separately and this harness can take either a 60L or 30L barrel. This pack also makes for a nice seat when its time for a break!