What is the Diran 50:60?
The Women's Diran is a brilliant value, uncompromising rucksack which is designed for trekking and travel use. The tough outer fabrics guarantee years of reliable use and abuse, while an adjustable backsystem allows you to fine-tune the pack for the perfect fit. It’s one of those packs that just gets on with the job.
What is it made of?
After your footwear, your pack takes the most abuse of any of your kit. Lowe Alpine use an ultra tough 420D nylon and 420D polyester throughout the pack to ensure it’ll shrug off the worst that you’ve got to throw at it. Both of these fabrics are treated with a durable water repellent to allow water, snow and mist to bead off the surface.
What is the backsystem?
The Diran uses Lowe Alpine’s Women's specific V-Trax carry system. It’s called a carry system rather than a back system as it encompasses the back panel, the hipbelt, the shoulder straps and essentially every contact point. Starting with the back panel, you’ve got a thick, heavily padded foam to prevent items jabbing you in the back while you’re on the move; this has a grippy netting layered over the top for added stability.
The shoulder straps follow the same theme, with plenty of padding and a grippy netting over the top. These shoulder straps are attached to a Velcro panel which can be adjusted up and down depending on your back length. The length of the back panel will depend on your back length rather than your overall height, so we’d recommend giving the video below a watch to learn how to fit it correctly.
Let’s move down to the most important part of the carry-system, the hipbelt. A pre-curved design means the belt hugs you even before its tightened up; this ensures the weight is sent to your hips and through your legs rather than onto your shoulders. A slit in the centre of the belt allows your hips to sit snugly between the pieces of foam, reducing the likelihood of it moving during use. To adjust the hipbelt, you’ve got forward-pull straps which feel far more natural than trying to push the straps out.
What are the features?
As you may have noticed by the title, the Diran is extendable. As standard, it features 50 litres of space, however if you extend the top lid upwards it reveals another 10 litres for extra kit. Access into the bag is achieved by a drawcord on the top of the bag, a large zip on the front and another zipped compartment in the base; this allows you to find that one piece of equipment or clothing that may not be visible from the top without emptying everything out.
Pockets wise, you’ve got two zipped pockets on the hipbelt, a massive zipped pocket in the lid, two bellows side pockets for additional storage, an internal sleeve for a hydration system and side water bottle pockets.
Other useful features include walking pole attachment points, a whistle which is attached to the sternum strap, an SOS panel to input your emergency details, side compression straps to pull the weight closer to your back, a raincover, a key clip, an ice axe loop, a front grab handle and plenty of lash points to add extra gear.
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Adjustable back-length with easy to use hook and loop backsystem
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Bellows side pockets for additional storage
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Lash points to allow additional external carry
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Extendable lid to increase volume by an extra 10 litres
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Forward pull hipbelt adjustment
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Front grab handle
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Hipbelt pockets
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Hydration compatible
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Ice axe loop
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Key clip
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Large zipped front panel allowing easy access to contents of pack
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Lower entry with zipped divider panel
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Lower side compression can be routed inside or outside bottle pocket
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Rain cover
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Secure internal lid zipped pocket
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Secure TipGripper walking pole attachments
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Side compression straps
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SOS panel
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Sternum strap with whistle
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Stretch water bottle side pockets
Getting the correct fit for your rucksack is as important as getting the fit right for your boots. A badly fitting pack can inflict misery and discomfort and completely ruin your adventure. This guide is designed to help you get the best fit and comfort from your chosen pack so that carrying all your kit becomes a pleasure and not a chore.
ADJUSTING THE BACK LENGTH
If the pack has an adjustable back length, adjust this to your correct level. Your back length is not related to your height but your torso length. Many packs, and specifically the bigger and more technical packs are available in different back lengths or feature adjustable back systems. Contrary to popular belief, your torso length and not your overall height is the key to getting a well fitted pack. Tall people don’t necessarily have long torsos, just as shorter people don’t always have a short torso length.
Your torso length can be found by measuring from your C7 vertebra (the bony protrusion at the back of your neck when looking down) to the height of your iliac crest (top of your hip bones, where you put your hands on your hips). This measurement will give you an idea of which pack back length to choose.
Once you've got the back length sorted, either by selecting the correct size pack or adjusting the back system, you can begin to follow these simple steps to help achieve a comfortable carry.
LOOSEN OFF ALL STRAPS
Before you start fitting the pack, loosen off all the straps as this will make it easier to get the correct tension later.
TIGHTENING THE HIPBELT
Fasten the backpack hipbelt, the general position is the same as where you’d put your ‘hands on hips’ This area is called the pelvic girdle, and what you can feel when you rest your hand on the area is the bony protuberance, the iliac crest. The iliac crest can support the weight from a pack comfortably, and for sustained periods. The padded section of the hipbelt should encompass this and fit securely.
Tighten the straps so the hipbelt feels secure and held firmly around your body. Ensure that the lumbar pad is centered to your lower back to give you maximum support. Remember that your hips carry most of the weight of the pack, so this should be firm but comfortable.
ADJUSTING THE SHOULDER STRAPS
Next, adjust the shoulder straps, pull them until they start to become snug, but ensure that they are not too tight as to lift the pack off your hips. Remember tightening them will stabilise the pack but will increase pressure over the shoulders. If the back length of the pack is correct the shoulder straps will be flush to your shoulders whilst the hipbelt sits in place comfortably. The point where the shoulder straps attach to the main body of the pack should be roughly half way down your shoulder blades; this ensures that the shoulder straps rolls evenly over the top of your shoulders to distribute the weight correctly.
FASTENING THE CHEST STRAP
Fasten the chest strap and pull until taut but not tight, the elastic section should not be extended. This helps keep the shoulder straps from catching in your shoulder joints and keeps the stability of the pack when moving over rough ground.
ADJUSTING THE TOP TENSIONERS
Top tensioner straps link the shoulder straps to the top of the pack. When tightened, their main function is to stabilise the top part of the pack. The optimum angle for these straps in 45º, but they will stabilise the load even when horizontal or at a more obtuse angle. Tighten them until you feel the top part of the pack rest against your pack, over tightening them will create excessive pressure on the front of your shoulders.
ADJUSTING THE SIDE TENSIONERS
Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility.
ADJUSTING THE SIDE COMPRESSION STRAPS
Side compression straps come next, pulling these tight does two things: firstly, it stabilises the load, secondly it can lift the lower part of the pack, repositioning the load closer to your back.
ADJUSTMENTS ON THE GO
Following these steps should give you a comfortable but secure fit on your pack. Sometimes adjustments will need to be made on the go depending on the terrain or the load you are carrying. The perfect fit is very much a personal preference so experiment with different tensions on the pack to find what suits you best.