Questionable durability and warranty - Granite Gear Blaze 60 Backpack - Men's

The Granite Gear Blaze 60L Backpack checked many of the boxes when I was shopping for a new backpack. It is relatively comfortable when carrying heavier loads, and the backpack itself is reasonably lightweight. I was planning to use it only once or twice a year for a few days at a time, so I expected to keep it for many years. Because of that, I was specifically looking for a product with good quality and a strong warranty. However, this one may not last as long as expected, and the warranty is not as strong as it is presented.

The foam used as padding tends to compress and crease very quickly. I used this backpack for only one week and then stored it in my closet with my other backpacks. Within a year, the padding in the shoulder areas creased and is not returning to its original shape.

When I contacted Granite Gear customer support, they replied that this issue is not covered by the warranty. Their representative also stated: “The creases in the shoulder straps should not impact the pack’s comfortability; I have had some customers come to me with similar concerns regarding creasing, and after they have hiked with the pack they have reported that it is still comfortable.”

I have owned more than 20 backpacks, and none of them have ever developed creases in the padding like this one, even though they were stored the same way for much longer periods of time.