I don't have an A-III, but I do have the Becker Patrol Pack - I've carred this pack EVERY day for about 5-6 years - The back padding is torn, and my stainless cup has worn through a side pocket in one spot, but the condition is really good for a pack with this much use
The have said "send it in, we'll fix/replace it", but I have not been able to spare the pack, and truthfully, I don't feel that they owe me anything - I have MORE than gotten my monies worth out of the pack!! The have said that the BIGGEST problem they have with their repair policy is getting people to send them back - the woman I talked to on the phone said "It's almost as bad as a babies binkie - you guys don't want to give them up"
She's right