How long does it take you to build a shelter?

troutfisher13111

troutfisher13111

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I was practicing shelter building this weekend and was trying to keep track of time of how long it took me. I am figuring a hour to a hour and a half if there is plenty of wood laying around. Thats for a quick lean too to get me out of the elements. So, my question is, how long does it take you to build a shelter? Assuming all the materials are readily available.
 
I guess about 1.5 hrs also and that was my first one using only dead wood for the structure and limbing trees for the roof. Now, that was half ass work too, I was just playing around and trying it out. I'm sure it would take me longer to make it right and actually hold up in the elements.
 
What kind of shelter are we talking about? Building complicated shelters isn't always a necessity. If I just want something to keep me from getting soaked by the rain and away from the wind, I'll just gather some green branches, find a nice large spruce with a lot of long branches, slap the extra branches in strategically selected spots to make a nice watertight roof and then get under there. The longest I've managed to spend doing this, I think, is about 15 minutes. Depending on the size of the spruce tree, it's going to be reasonably comfortable to very comfortable under there, and certainly not wet or windy.
 
About an hr alone. The main labor portion is the 12 inch thick floor as its the most important especially in winter.

Am teaching a survival course in 2 weeks and will be covering this in great detail.

Skam
 
I was not building a house or anything like that.:confused: I was just playing around and tried it once, which was my first one. I'm sure if I tried it again and put some real effort in it I can change that time it took me to build that half ass one.;)
Now you got me wanting to go out try for real this time and time it.:p Thanks.:D
 
A tarp makes quick work for the roof and cuts time down a great deal. Important to know how to do a roof with natural materials but a lightweight tarp is invaluable.

The biggest mistake I see students make is they make it MUCH! to large and they never get warm as there is too much air circulating in the structure.

The walls and roof should only be a few inches from you. A good shelter is more like a sleeping bag you crawl into with a bit of space to spare.

Skam
 
I can build a crappy shelter in 30 minutes , but it's pretty crappy.

I can build a shelter that I would stake my life on in about 2 to 4 hours, depending on terrain, vegetation, etc. This is considering there are elements to protect ones-self against. If it's summertime, in a temperate zone, you may not need a shelter to protect to below freezing.

As always, the broad general questions have numerous answers.
Maybe give more detail, geographic area, time of year, wind, low temps?

I would suggest if we notice the sun is going down in an hour or two, we shouldda started our shelter an hour or two prior to that.
 
I can have a tarp up in 15 minutes.

If building a Tracker School type shelter (debris hut with lots of insulation, it can take up to 4 hours (if materials are handy).

Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
 
I normally use a poncho and make a thick bed of grass for sleeping on, total time 15 min to a half hour depending on clearing brush and how much grass there is.

The longest I've ever taken to build a shelter from natural materials is 4.5 hours but it was the Bush Hilton when we were done. Bunk bed under a rock overhang with a poncho to protect from rain spray on the lee side of the rock. We also used bark for alot of the lashing. Mac
 
If all the materials are ready i would construct a quick a-frame lean to type of shelter that would not take but 30 mins. If i wanted a more complex shelter with some comforts like a sleeping platfor it could take about 3 hours
 
Macclint said:
I can have a tarp up in 15 minutes.

If building a Tracker School type shelter (debris hut with lots of insulation, it can take up to 4 hours (if materials are handy).
Click to expand...

Sounds about right.

Absent a trap, some areas have lots of material available and some do not.

Are you trying to block wind, snow, or heavy rain?

Do you have a tree or bank to give you a start or are you on the plains of Kansas?

How about another answer, "Often, longer than you think."
 
A tent goes up in mimutes. A tarp shelter can be slightly longer. Cave? Hollow log? Debris hut a few hours in the fall. In winter - never. Snow quense' - half a day. It all depends on the season. location, materials and style of shelter. As well as what equipment you have for warmth or cover. A log cabin might even take weeks. To build my favourite debris hut I discarded my knife for a rake. The grass mat floor probably took 4 hours. A shelter takes as long as is necessary.
 
Tarp, 10, 15 minutes tops, most of that spent finding a spot. Maybe another five minutes if I've got a hammock to put under it.

Snow trench, hour, hour and half, depending on the snow.

Debris shelter, hour to three, depending on the availability and quality of debris.
 
I haven't done it in a while but 1-2 hours would be my target. Winter may be up to 3 depending on how cold it is. In winter I would shoot for a roof at least a foot thick including tarp and a bed of boughs/leaves knee high.

This also depends on what tool you have. A large knife can be faster than a hatchet which is faster than a saw which is faster than a small knife which is faster than doing it by hand.
 
i would have to say that it all depends on what resources are around me at the time i wish to build the shelter.

my usual camping/trekking kit always has a tarp (i carry the MEC scout tarp). if its the dry season i'll just throw down my bivy with a bedding of fresh spruce boughs or pine needles (always use green ones) depending on whats locally available and throw up a tarp. i take out the ol fiskars hatchet and some paracord, knock off some tent pegs and set it up.. totaly time was about 15 minutes last time i tried. IIRC when i did it in the rain it seemed to take longer (approx 20 min).

in good weather conditions and if i am setting up a permanent base camp shelter i think it takes me about 2-3 hours. the shelter consists of a low-sloping a-frame with the raised bed (US fm-21 "swamp bed) and the end where my feet lie closed off.

in both situations whatever i do after the initial shelter is complete is just an added comfort. i will usually find a pole about 3-4 feet long with a Y shaped split at the top. here i hang my boots and canteen cup as well as my hat. just an example of an added luxury.

cheers.
 
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