Step 1: Buy backpack
Step 2: Abuse backpack for 7+ years
Step 3: Send in backpack to manufacturer
Step 4: They call and say "uh... this is not repairable"
Step 5: Receive latest model in Z mail
Some dork with said backpack (how about a shave goofball?) in 2007 on JMT:
New backpack:
7 more years of bliss...
Point is... Gear manufacturers are pretty great.
Stuff I've gotten repaired / new over the years:
Granite Gear: above... brand new pack (no cost other than shipping pack to manuf)
MSR: Dragonfly stove wore thru... new one for about 25 bucks
MSR: Snowshoes. brand new ones due to ... well... wearing out (no cost other than shipping old to manuf)
Gregory: Multiple repairs and parts sent. no charge
Leki: sent new bottoms to poles a couple of times. no charge (currently spring is broke in one... may just buy new pair now) no c
Now I need to work on getting Osprey pack fixed up
Have fun