Shelters

CSG

CSG

Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Messages
1,407
I see a number of threads about building shelters by whacking down trees, etc. Now, I may not be the experienced woodsman/bushman that some of you are but shouldn't you be carrying some sort of tarp or garbage bag or something when wandering the boonies? Sure, it's fun to see if you can make a debris hut of some sort and is a good skill to know but a lightweight tarp is pretty fast and easy to set up and requires not much more than some paracord and knowledge.

I understand discussing the need to build a shelter and not having a tarp when in a true survival situation where, for some reason, you walked into the woods with only your knife and loincloth but I would much rather set up my shelter using something easier.

Yeah, I know, tarps can tear or whatever but my point is being prepared for an unplanned overnight or two or three and carrying the appropriate gear before you even head out for your dayhike is the wiser move IMO.

I think some of you just want the excuse of having big ol' chopping blades! ;)
 
I do love my chopper. However, one thing to consider is a debris shelter is considerably warmer than an A-frame tarp shelter. But I agree with you a tarp or survival blanket is a great thing to have with you at all times.
 
Survival blanket- Yes. Tarp-No. FOR ME the tarp is just too big and bulky. A quick lean to can be easily made that is very wind and rain resistant, and I have always found that making a good tarp shelter takes about as long as well. Plus I like chopping wood.
 
You need to learn more about tarps, CLAK. A sylnylon tarp is extremely lightweight and not bulky. No way you are going to build a shelter quicker than setting up a tarp properly.

Now, if you like chopping wood and it does little harm to where you do it, knock yourself out. I don't like wasting my energy on that. ;)
 
I'm With CSG.

If I'm out in the boonies and need a shelter... then I need it right now!!

From years of playing around with both, it is far easier for me to set up a lightweight tarp with some sticks and para-cord, then add some cut coniferous branches around to break the wind, if need be, than to go through several hours of constructing a debris shelter.

Once I have my shelter, then I can build a fire, if possible. I'm more interested in getting through the night so I can get out next day and return to civilization, than anything else.

As the cliche says, "Others' mileage may vary." :)

L.W.
 
Yes, I carry a tarp. It's good to set up shelter quickly, and you can pile on branches, leaves, etc to increase the insulation in cold weather.
 
I like chopping just like the next guy but a survival blanket or poncho and some para-cord bingo bango shelter ,not wasted energy....I'll do that making firewood......even though debris shelters are fun ... they take time and energy ,unless you plan on spending more than a few days, I prefer the ole poncho/tarp ...
 
+1 on carrying a tarp - I consider it on the same priority level as a knife, fire, canteen, metal cup, and cordage.
 
I always carry an 8 x 10 ripstop nylon tarp in the daypack. Weighs a half pound or less, so I barely notice it. It is a good idea when you are hiking to plan to spend the night in the woods, so a compass/tinder/matches/lighter/first aid kit/cord/water/emergency rations (preferably single malt) and of course, a good blade may save your bacon.
 
It's just all the topics about monster knives got me to thinking about this subject. I mean really, what's the main use of these giant choppers? Building shelters, cutting firewood (that's not really necessary if you know what your doing in firebuilding), testosterone?

It seems to me that building shelters out of natural materials should be a last resort. If you're caught in the snow or very cold temps, a tarp won't keep you warm but a fire will. I made a debris hut once to see if I could do it. It was a lot of work and wasting resources to practice strikes me as not a great idea.

There are basically two types of survival situations as I see it. One, you're an outdoorsman who got stuck for some reason but are prepared with your field kit for an unplanned overnight or, two, you are in a wilderness of some sort unprepared and untrained. If you survive a plane crash, car crash, boating accident, etc. you still should have had something in the way of a survival kit either in your transportation or on your person.

Survival skills training can be fun when practiced at a school or after reading a book, watching a video, etc. but a good scout will have the gear in their pack to not have to do all of these hard things. Building a shelter with a tarp or garbage bags or some sort of space blanket (save for those mylar ones) is probably a faster, easier, smarter solution than taking your giant chopper and clear cutting your local environment IMO. ;)
 
As a good scout, I always make sure I'm "prepared." That includes the space blanket. I've never been one for tarps, but I have been one for tents :D. I only HAD to use a tarp two times and both times were for scouts, and it was a willing situation that was required for the "wilderness survival" award. I took it twice, so those were my two times :D. We had to construct a shelter and a ground tarp to make a shelter for the night and we had to sleep in it. We were all covered in ticks the next day, but it worked for the rain. My troop was always cursed with rain everytime we went camping (kind of a blessing when it was hot). I like building debris huts, but only for fun unless I really have to while running away from the soviets and cubans (red dawn) :p.
 
A good tent is way better than a tarp IMO and what I'd bring if I know I'm going out overnight but even a little tent is a lot biggerin your pack than a tarp and weighs 3 pounds more.
 
I build a watertight debris shelter, then put a tarp on top! it makes it quite fool proof. Even if the shelter is waterproof without the tarp, you can sleep on it.
 
Silicone coated nylon (silnylon) tarps are made by a number of manufacturers now. Golite, Six Moon Designs, Integral Designs and Backpackinglight.com have good examples. Smaller tarp shelters should be used with some sort of bivy. For day hiking, a poncho shelter like the one made by Golite and an Adventure Medical bivy make a great ultralight and relatively inexpensive combo. Add some line and a few aluminum or titanium tent stakes and you could handle some pretty wild weather if you got caught out overnight.

Search on "ultralight tarp" -- you'll find all kinds. Expect to pay a bunch for a decent sized tarp like an 8'x10'. You will find flat tarps and catenary designs-- those that have a curve built into them for a better pitch and wind handling.
 
Hi everyone speaking of shelters and cutting up trees here is one I built. Total time to build it was about 3 hours or so. I was not in a rush since it was for fun not for real:D If my brother inlaw gets his way this 30 acre pasture will get cleared of the ceders for more cattle grazing. Here are the
pics enjoy. I used my Lee Reeves Nessmuk double bit to build it.
This first pic is the tree that I selected for the boughs and to use the trunk as my cross member between to more trees.
101_0327.jpg


This next pic is of the tree with most of the boughs off the top part was to high to cut them off so I left them on to cut off after I cut the tree down.
101_0328.jpg

This is the trunk set up as a cross bar between two other ceders at about 3.5 feet from the ground.

101_0332.jpg

The next two pics is the finished brush shlter and then me in there with my tarp and wool blanket:D
101_0333-1.jp

101_0335.jpg


Take care all,
Bryan
 
As it is recorded in the Book of Murphy, New Revised Edition, "Strangely, many emergencies do not go according to plan." That admonition suggests that knowing how to get shelter without a tarp/tent is a Good Idea.

Still, I plan to have at least a tarp with me.

My 8' x 10' silnylon tarp with metal grommets and ridge tie tabs weighs 14 oz. (Campmor sells one advertised as 15 oz.)
[.175 oz/sq. ft]

My 10' x 10' ripstop tarp with cloth tie tabs weighs 2 lbs.
[.32 oz/sq. ft.]

My 8' x 10' nylon taffita tarp with metal grommets weights 1 lb. 14 oz. That's the same taffita as is used for regular model Timberline tent floors.
[.375 oz/sq. ft.]

8' x 10' gives enough material to close at least three sides. A pair of shear poles at each end to support a ridge pole, and you're ready to pile on the insulation. (Learn lashings.)
 
I think this topic is akin to saying that you shouldn't bother carrying or practicing with a ferro rod or friction fire, because carrying a lighter is easier and quicker. While this is true, the reason you familiarize yourself with other skills is in case your ideal tool or method is unavailable.

Of course a tarp, space blanket, garbage bag will be quicker to construct with less energy used, but what happens if for some reason, you don't have your tarp? what happens if for some reason your tarp was torn badly and rendered useless? It would be unfortunate for you if you did not know how to build a sturdy shelter out of natural materials, or if you did not have the tools to do so.

Anyone with common sense, takes with them the ideal materials to support them in what they are doing. But if they are knowledgeable about how to make do without there ideal materials, they will be able to SURVIVE when all or most of there gear is lost, or ruined. That is the idea behind survival and bushcraft, being able to accomplish a task using various methods. Like some people back up there equipment, a survivalist/bushcrafter backs up his knowledge and skills. But, just because you know how to do something primitively doesn't mean that you wont bring modern materials and tools to make your life a little easier.

ETA: looks like Thomas Linton beat me to it. Yes, just think of Murphy's law.
EETA: Sicily - looks comfy!
 
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