I just got my Osprey rucksack returned after using the Osprey guarantee service, the actual repair service is done in the UK by Scottish Mountain Gear - and both companies deserve some kudos, I was really impressed with the whole thing.
The pack is from the Momentum range designed for cycle commuting. I've had it a bit over 10 years and the pack is pretty perfect for my cycle commute and has lasted very very well. I've tried to work out how much use it has had - about 5 years ago I bought a second slightly smaller version with an improved 'air back' which is my summer commuting bag, so it only gets used for half a year now, but I commute about 3000 kms a year, so I guess the old one has been on my back for about 15000 kms: 90 minutes a day, 3 days a week during school terms, for a decade. It has a zip entry into the laptop holding panel of the pack which was starting to rip between the teeth and where it's sewn into the body of the pack. I also noticed the webbing on the shoulder straps was quite worn where it was through the buckles of the straps. The waist buckle was also half broken. Osprey/SMG fixed all those things with matching coloured parts and sent it back in about 3 weeks. To put the zip in they must have needed to take a significant part of the body of the pack apart. It's really impressive work.
If I can get another decade out of the pack, I realised (frighteningly!) I will be only 5 years away from retirement age! 😆
I've always got on with Osprey gear, but this experience really is a good reason to look at their offerings in the future also, while obviously being great for sustainability too. And SMG deserve a shout out too for doing such quality work.
