Quote from: majorhavoc on October 12, 2026, 08:31:14 AMApropos of this discussion El Cheapo Lightweight Rectangular Sleeping Bag.

Not for serious cold weather conditions, obviously. But for helping to stay warm in a stranded car in the winter, this might make sense.  It's an inexpensive addition to a winter car emergency kit.  The fact that it's rectangular means it can unzip into a comforter, so it could be shared with someone else in the car with you.

That's a theft proof price!

Quote from: DarkAxel on October 11, 2026, 01:47:31 PMNothing really to add to the conversation but this:

Illegal camping laws and ordinances are gaining a lot of traction, so you may want to read up on them. Some of the things that can be considered illegal camping aren't immediately obvious either. In my state, sleeping in your car with a pillow and blanket on public land or right-of-way can get you a ticket, and repeat offensives can get you jail time. Camping on public land in any location other than a designated camping site is illegal here, too. Due diligence is the order of the day here, and this topic may be important enough for a thread of it's own.

Not something I even thought of but you're not wrong.

Quote from: Crimson_Phoenix on October 12, 2026, 11:23:21 PM

Quote from: DarkAxel on October 11, 2026, 01:47:31 PMNothing really to add to the conversation but this:

Illegal camping laws and ordinances are gaining a lot of traction, so you may want to read up on them. Some of the things that can be considered illegal camping aren't immediately obvious either. In my state, sleeping in your car with a pillow and blanket on public land or right-of-way can get you a ticket, and repeat offensives can get you jail time. Camping on public land in any location other than a designated camping site is illegal here, too. Due diligence is the order of the day here, and this topic may be important enough for a thread of it's own.

Not something I even thought of but you're not wrong.

I remember back in the 70s. When "Overlanding" was what you did with your family in a truck and camper. Or the family station wagon. You pulled over in any wide spot, gathered some rocks, made a fire. Camped over night. No body gave a shit. And there wasn't a 2bn off road industry trying to sell you "essentials" that if you didn't have you probably wouldn't survive. Lol! What a joke.

But then after the housing crisis I would drive into the national forest. The roads are lined with camping spots every few miles that people have used over the years. Nothing more than worn out turn outs with old fire pits. Each one was full with a fairly nice trailer. That had enough stuff outside it you could tell these were professional campers. Making the required move every few days. So as not to violate any Forest Service ordinances. And that was like there permanent camping situation. Not homeless. Not crapped out RVs full of meth heads like in LA. Just regular folks who couldn't afford to live in a rental.

Now we have laws. It's pitiful. My youth was spent most weekends driving around public lands. Fishing, hunting, camping, foraging. Learning the outdoors. It was wonderful.

Now it's a subdivision.