The Level Six King may be the swiss army skirt

Pealing out of the eddy just above seven-foot falls on the Chattooga River, my focus was directly on the shark fin rock synonymous with the cleanest line on the iconic rapid. Placing a successful boof stroke and catching air, I felt the stoke. Moments later, I landed squarely on the turbulent eddy line and was engulfed by the flow, submerging. This is an exact situation where a spray skirt would implode, but luckily, mine stayed strong, giving me time to lace up a back deck role and glide into the welcoming eddy. 

My skirt was a Level Six King spray skirt, the first skirt I have ever bought, and one that has been with me down much of the Southeast's classic river runs. The combination of high-quality design married to a powerful industry-disrupting company makes the Levsl Six King one of the best sprayskirts on the market. Level Six is a young Canadian company that has rapidly developed a foothold in the whitewater world, in part due to its well-designed and affordable gear. Level Six has also gained recognition as an industry leader, working to remove PFAS from its gear. 

The King takes its name from its place in the proverbial deck of cards that make up the industry's spray-skirt offerings. While not the top of Level Six’s spray skirt line, behind both the Ace and Class Six, the skirt is built with a rubber rand, making the connection with the lip of the cockpit exceptionally strong. It is this rand that made the King formidable in the turbulent water of seven-foot falls.  Additionally, the skirt’s price is a further bonus, running just over $180, making it a great first skirt for those looking to step it up.  

While there are many positives to the King, the skirt is not without its drawbacks. It has recently become nearly impossible to order in the United States due to tariff restrictions. This fact was made more salient by my want for a replacement skirt, as mine sprang a leak along a seam mid-way through a lap on the Cheoah River. While it was hard to track down a new skirt, Level Six did take the leaking skirt and patch it for free. Ultimately, the King is a powerful skirt that is highly capable, but ultimately is a step on a path toward stronger, more reinforced counterparts.