Shelter

[usmcveteran]

Lets talk about making shelter in a survival situation.

What do you have in your kit to make shelter, what other natural options do you have in case you don't have your gear or it becomes irreparable.

What kind of shelters can you use in summer vs winter ?

[phritz]

I've always got at least a 5x7 lightweight tarp in my pack, as well as an oversized poncho, paracord, and a couple emergency blankets. That's at a minimum if I'm in the woods. However, if that's not with me and I have to make a primitive shelter, my first choice would probably be whatever might already be there. A cave could be ideal, or a rock formation that may already provide a couple of walls. Fallen trees that are off the ground can make for a good ridge pole for a lean-to. All of these require consideration of safety- does a bear live in the cave? Is that fallen tree stable? Etc.
What it comes down to for me in an emergency or "survival" situation, I want to do the least amount of work as efficiently as possible, also taking into account whether a shelter or a fire should take priority, and what sort of shelter - fire combo will work best given the situation.
I will tend to prefer a lean-to over something like a wiki up, but mostly because I would almost always try to have a fire.
A shelter I've always wanted to try in winter,but haven't yet, is a version of the Mors Kochanski super shelter.
I'll stop rambling for now.

[usmcveteran]

One thing I actually saw on one of those survivor shows was using a lean-to in the winter. What I thought was interesting is that they covered the front lean-to they made and on the back wall they placed a space blanket.

Idea was for the heat from the fire to pace through the plastic and get reflected down on the people and the plastic also aided in keeping in some of the heat.

I do like the rock overhand shelters or caves as well. Especially since you can have your fire heat up the rock which will keep you warmer.

[Meketrefe]

A nice tarp covers a lot of thing specially in winter. Otherwise you better have a poncho or a blanket and always what mother nature gives you.
As kids we used to sleep outside back in the old country, dig a half trench and then hunker down, sort of like a rabbit hole. In summer we used
grass and soft broom bushes for bedding, great insulation in autumn dry leaves that is even better below and on top of you. In winter better stay at home. LOL

[usmcveteran]

Lets not forget that you can take rocks heated by the fire and bury them under you where you plan to sleep for some extra warmth.

Also important to eat and or drink before bed for your body too convert to heat.

[phritz]

One thing I actually saw on one of those survivor shows was using a lean-to in the winter. What I thought was interesting is that they covered the front lean-to they made and on the back wall they placed a space blanket.

Idea was for the heat from the fire to pace through the plastic and get reflected down on the people and the plastic also aided in keeping in some of the heat.

I do like the rock overhand shelters or caves as well. Especially since you can have your fire heat up the rock which will keep you warmer.

That's pretty much the super shelter I'm talking about. From everything I've seen and heard it works great. I really want to try it, but I never manage to get out in the winter.

[usmcveteran]

Where abouts are you? I actually have this http://www.grandshelters.com/ it takes a lot of work but the thing is solid and keeps you pretty warm considering assuming you have good under insulation and what not.

[phritz]

Where abouts are you? I actually have this http://www.grandshelters.com/ it takes a lot of work but the thing is solid and keeps you pretty warm considering assuming you have good under insulation and what not.

Snow shelter/igloo is also something I want to try out, definitely cool. Pun intended. Maybe this winter I'll find some time for an overnight.
I'm in Kingston, BTW.
And +1 on the hot rocks. It's pretty amazing what a couple can do to take the chill off.

[Smurfette]

sewing/weaving is an important skill. I never understood the early groups on Survivor that went without shelter, you have leaves and vines...you have shelter.

[Smurfette]

usmcvet you building any igloos this year?

[camper4lyfe]

Snow shelter/igloo is also something I want to try out, definitely cool. Pun intended. Maybe this winter I'll find some time for an overnight.
I'm in Kingston, BTW.
And +1 on the hot rocks. It's pretty amazing what a couple can do to take the chill off.

Snow shelters are incredibly warm. I'd take one of those over a lean to any day.

One thing to keep in mind with any shelter is its size, especially in the winter. You want them small as they're a more efficient use of what little heat you may have.

[usmcveteran]

usmcvet you building any igloos this year?

Not sure depends on snow conditions, if we we get a ton of snow I would like too .

[24Pink14Stink]

When I camp wi th out a tent, I use one of those reusable emergency space blankets. I can have it up in 5 minutes with the bungee cords and stakes I pack with it. I also carry a wool blanket with me.

It's basically a copy of this idea.

[usmcveteran]

Anybody ever make debris shelters or the ones with what's found in nature? Would love to try and make one of those.

[camper4lyfe]

I've done something along those lines. I'll be honest, it was one of the best sleeps I've had while camping.