With a proper shelter site picked out, the next step to getting you under some shelter is to build the best shelter for not only the conditions, but the supplies you have and can find.
Part two of this series on sheltering in a survival situation will show you the basic types of shelter structures and give you the basics on building each. Obviously there are more types of structures out there and a nearly infinite number of alterations you can do to these to fit your needs, but by learning these, you increase your chances of sheltering effectively and surviving in the wild.
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So Why Build a Shelter?
Before getting into these, you might be wondering why knowing how to build a shelter is important, especially if you have a bug-out location already planned and a detailed escape plan to take you there.
The truth of the matter is that things rarely go as planned, and knowing how to survive in the wild is your insurance policy against these surprises. Be it a broken down car, or worse yet, getting stuck far away from your home or bug out location when the SHTF, there will be things that make traveling by foot through the woods a necessity, and being able to build an effective shelter is one of those things.
Poncho Lean-To/Tent
A shelter built out of a poncho is one of the easiest shelters to build and yet is very effective in keeping you dry and warm. All you need for this is a poncho, 6-10 ft of rope, 3-6 stakes, and two trees to tie the shelter between.
As you can see from the image above, the basic idea is pretty simple. A few tips to help your shelter succeed that you can’t see are:
- Tie drip-sticks to each rope very close to the grommets at the top of the shelter. These will stop rain water from running down the line and into your shelter.
- If your poncho doesn’t have grommets, get a small rock and bunch it up in the corners of your poncho. Tie ropes around these. Never cut holes to tie your poncho down.
One-Man Shelter
Field-Expedient Lean-To
A field-expedient lean-to is a much more involved and detailed type of shelter than the basic poncho lean-to, but if you’re in a wooded area and planning on staying for a little while, this type of shelter can be a big help.
As you can see in the image above, it’s easiest to build this type of structure between two trees that are around 6 ft apart. These could easily be replaced with poles, but we’re trying to do this with only a survival knife as a tool.
The small fence you see at the front of the shelter is actually a fire reflector. If you’re sheltering in colder weather you can build one of these out of green wood to reflect the heat of the fire back at you instead of out into the open. Here are a few tips to make this type of shelter work:
- Always place the back of the shelter into the wind.
- Tie everything together with rope if available and if not, vines or thin saplings will work, too.
- The covering of the shelter consists of brush, leaves, pine needles, and grass. Start at the bottom and work your way up the shelter, placing the larger items on first.
- Place the same materials you used for the roof on the ground for bedding.
Swamp Bed
A type of shelter that is often overlooked is one that keeps you dry and safe in a marshy area or swamp. Less of a traditional shelter and more of a bunk bed, the Swamp Bed will keep you up and off the ground.
Ideally the 4 corners should be trees, but sturdy poles can serve as a viable stand-in for any missing trees. Make the bed as long as you are tall, and as wide as your shoulders. The smaller it is the more likely it will not collapse on you, but you don’t want it so small that you’re hanging off of it.
Lay sticks and branches across the entire bed, starting with large, leafy branches and working down to pine needles and grass.
Debris Hut
A debris hut is one of the most common types of shelters built in a survival situation. They are very warm and best of all, easy to make.
The easiest way to build a debris hut is to make it in a tripod layout. You can start with a stump or large rock as the top of your shelter, or lash the center pole to a live tree high enough that you can enter the shelter.
The basics of the debris hut are simple:
- Get a large center pole, lean it against a stump or lash it to a tree.
- Lean branches against the center pole, decreasing their length as you get towards the bottom.
- Cover the framework you just built with debris from the woods including branches, leaves, moss, grass, and other items.
- Lay down a layer of leaves, pine needles, and grass inside the shelter to lay on.
If built correctly, this type of shelter requires no binding materials like rope, and will be waterproof. Best of all, depending on how hilly the terrain in your area is, these shelters can be made to blend in seamlessly with the surrounding area.
SEE ALSO: Surviving a Nuclear Attack: Shelter
Wrap-Up
Building shelters can mean the difference between life and death in a survival situation. Not only will shelters like the ones above keep you dry, they will also keep you warm. In many parts of the country it gets quite cold at night, meaning you’ll expend precious energy at night trying to keep warm.
A good shelter is important for anyone determined to survive disasters, and above that, can help in an emergency today if you became lost in the woods or hurt. Shelter = life, so practice now and be prepared for later.