BPL Community Profile

Raymond Estrella (rayestrella) - BPL Professional Member

My Locale Northern Minnesota
About Me I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, plus many western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round in all weather, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I make a point of using lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. Doubting I can ever be truly UL, I try to be as near to it as I can yet still be comfortable. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring/chilling. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with brother-in-law Dave.
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All Forum Posts by Raymond Estrella

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Post

Forum » Thread
New Tarptents
The CB3 looks pretty nice Henry. Love the center pole option. "Wait. There's ALSO gear porn!?!!?! My late night web searches have been far too narrow..." Travis you need to work...

In GEAR » New 2013 Tarptent Models
March 01, 3:31pm
carbon fiber tent stakes: any users?
Yes I have used them quite a bit. http://tinyurl.com/9fysgze

In GEAR » carbon fiber tent stakes: any users out there
February 27, 4:09am
theft
The blue foam you see is my sit pad. At 9:30 he woke me up saying that his arm kept falling on the snow where the down would compress and then get him cold enough to wake him. I gave him the sit pa...

In GEAR » Examples of "Stupid Light"
February 23, 1:28pm
Stupid Heavy
We met these guys as they were on the second day of a three-day trip. They were lost so I gave them directions to where they needed to go and a map. (No, there was no room for that I guess.) I aske...

In GEAR » Examples of "Stupid Heavy"
February 23, 1:21pm
Stupid Light
Well I don't want to call my BIL and best friend Dave stupid, but climbing San Gorgonio in winter without a tent or sleeping bag was pushing it. I took this shot at 1:00 am when I got up to, ah...

In GEAR » Examples of "Stupid Light"
February 23, 1:16pm
Golite Quilt Stuff Sack
"I don't know how long a conversation there is to be had on stuff sacks." Newbie... ;-) The kids and I rarely stuffed out GoLite quilts is stuff sacks, prefering just to stick t...

In GEAR » Golite Quilt Stuff Sack
February 23, 1:02pm
Condensation
What I would expect for any single wall tent. At the temps I was at it is impossible to get away from. The vents work well, especially if I had the door dropped. But no matter what there was frost ...

In GEAR » Brooks Range Propel 4-season tent
February 22, 5:00pm
Custom 20 oz Feathered Friends Vireo
That is one nice looking bag.

In GEAR » Custom 20 oz Feathered Friends Vireo with 6"+ loft.
February 22, 8:38am
Brooks Range Propel 4-season tent
While I am not UL I do appreciate light weight and low volume, and this one works pretty well. Better for shorter folks though. http://tinyurl.com/b9qqe5w

In GEAR » Brooks Range Propel 4-season tent
February 22, 5:40am
Quilt Stacking
While originally I planned to do quilt-on-quilt experimentation this winter, I ended up getting a Thermarest Altair bag so used quilts with it to take to down to -24 F so far. My son also used a qu...

In GEAR » Quilt Stacking
February 20, 3:13pm

All Reader Reviews by Raymond Estrella

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 | Page: 1
 

Review

Category
Osprey Exos 58
Osprey Exos 58 Backpack Size: Large Year manufactured: 2009 Weight listed: 2 lb 10 oz (1185 g) Actual weight 2 lb 9.8 oz (1180 g) Volume listed: 3700 cu in (61 L) Load weight capacity sugg...

In Backpacks - External Frame
June 15, 7:47pm
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2
I bought one of the first Seedhouse SL2s in 2004. Last year I bought the new, lighter version pairing it with carbon fiber poles and Ti stakes to make a total weight package of 2 lb 15 oz (1.33 kg). I...

In Shelters - Double Wall Tents
February 16, 3:37pm