I thought the same thing. Here is my Datsusara story.
Chris offers fantastic customer support, something that most business do not do anymore, I will say that first.
I bought a BP-1 a few months ago, and I was excited to get this great bag people rave about. I took it to the gym one time and when I was leaving I go to put the bag on around my back and I hear a nice loud pop sound. The threads holding one of the shoulder straps broke. I emailed Chris and he gladly did an exchange. I didn't think the BP fit my needs, so when doing the exchange I paid the difference and Chris sent me a PGB2.
I love my PGB2, it fits everything that I need for training, and it still has plenty of room to spare. I have been using it for all my jiu-jitsu and weightlifting training. It has become my main bag, and I must tell you I am a backpack lover. It is the perfect size for me, I want to have extra space in a bag, I don't want it just to be packed to the gills, so the PGB2 was great for me.
Fast forward to tonight, I take my bag out of my car and proceed into the gym to change, I get into the dressing room and notice a nice big rip on the side pocket...on the damn THREADS. The side pocket that ripped was not overstuffed by any means, it contains a roll of tape, pair of socks, and I believe a cup or handwraps. There is nothing in my car that it could of snagged on, and I don't do anything odd with the bag. It sits on the floor when I at home, I don't cram it around and put stress on the threads. So, basically in a few weeks once the threads keep coming out then I will have one less side pocket on my bag.
I have stupid Nike gym bags that most likely cost $25 that are 6+ years old that still haven't ripped........
I paid $120 which I thought was a little high to set the price point in the first point for this bag, but I read so many great things about it, I decided to try it out. If I could go back I would order the Koral Monster Bag for $65, that was my first choice of a new bag until I started reading all of the reviews on Datsusara. I believe Chris has since lowered his prices, but I am having a hard time believing that they shouldn't be even lower.
My first one, broke the first trip to the gym. My second one broke after using it for 5-6 months. I just don't consider that a great product.
I hope I can take it to this really great lady that does seam work, I am thinking she might be able to fix the shoddy stitching, or I will just be out of a side pocket.
My $50 Under Armor bag that I used 1.5 years before the PGB2 never had any problems.
Love Chris and his customer service, but don't love the price and the durability I have experienced.
The tear is on a side pocket, upper corner, about 2-3 inches. And again, I do nothing weird with my bag, and I sure as hell don't stuff it full of shit, and I never have put anything with a point into the bag(pens, knives, etc....).