How to build a reliable shelter when SHTF

By hrseditor // 2024-10-15

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Knowing how to build a shelter is an important skill, especially if you often take part in outdoor activities. If you know how to build a tarp shelter that you can sleep in, you can protect yourself from the elements when SHTF. Read on to learn more about different shelters that you can build when disaster strikes. (h/t to ScoutLife.org)

Choosing the right spot

Before you build your shelter, choose the right spot. It should be the driest one in the area because nothing absorbs your body heat faster than wetness. If it isn't too cold, you can build a shelter on high ground. This way, you'll be easier to spot if a search party passes nearby. If a cold wind is blowing, find a spot sheltered by trees. Don't build in the bottom of deep valleys or ravines where cold air settles at night. You also need a bed to sleep in. If you lose your sleeping bag, gather dry leaves. Make the bed a little bigger than the space your body covers and at least eight inches thick.

The A-frame

To make an A-frame shelter, you will need two sticks that are four or five feet long and one stick that is 10 to 12 feet long. Prop the two shorter sticks up to form the letter "A." Prop the longer stick up at the top of the "A," then tie the three sticks together where they meet. The three sticks should be in the shape of an A-frame tent with one end down against the ground. Prop up more sticks against the longer stick, and pile leaves and other material against the sticks until you have an insulated shelter open at the high end.

The cocoon

If you are in a hurry, gather dry debris such as bark, leaves or pine needles from the forest floor and make a pile two or three feet high and longer than you are tall. When you burrow into the pile, you can sleep in a natural sleeping bag that protects against heat loss.

The fallen tree

The fallen tree is a very simple shelter with enough room under it for you to crawl in. Lean branches against the windward side of the tree so the wind is blowing into it, not against it. This will form the "wall." Make the wall thick enough to keep the wind out. Build a fire on the open side of your shelter to stay warm. (Related: 17 Skills that will benefit homesteaders and preppers.)

The lean-to

If you find a fallen tree without enough room under it, a rock, or a small overhang, build a simple lean-to. Lean fallen limbs against the object, such as the top edge of an overhang, to create a wall. Lean the limbs at an angle to protect yourself from the rain. Cover the leaning limbs with leaves, bark, boughs, pine needles, or whatever you can find. After you build a thick wall, crawl underneath into the shelter.

A tarp

If you have a tarp, sheet of plastic, or Mylar blanket with you, and some rope or cord, tie a line between two trees. Tie the line low to the ground and leave just enough room for you to lie beneath. Stretch the tarp over the line. Place some large rocks or logs on the ends of the tarp to hold it in place with the edges close to the ground. If it's snowing, tie the line off higher on the trees. Note that steeper walls will shed snow better. Don't build over damp ground.

Where to get cordage for your survival needs

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare for any emergency. That's why we're proud to introduce Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord. Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord is sturdy and reliable cordage. It's also a must-have preparedness item for your survival kit or bug-out bag. With a multitude of survival uses, Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord 1.5mm is the perfect cordage for almost all of your basic survival needs. Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) cordage has a multitude of survival uses. In terms of raw strength per mm of thickness, UHMWPE is stronger than 550 paracord, nylon and even Kevlar cordage. It's also buoyant (floats on water) and is excellent at resisting abrasion. Offered in 100 ft. lengths, this UHMWPE cordage is the top-of-the-line survival cordage, and it is made by tightly braiding individual fibers into a super strong finished cord. Use cordage to support or carry heavy weights of up to 200 lbs. You can also use Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord for securing rolled items or binding small things, such as firewood, or twigs and branches when making a temporary shelter. It can also be used to create a makeshift strap to carry tools around your neck or sling them over your shoulder so both hands are free for preparedness work. Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord is also ideal for clotheslines or creating DIY fishing lines. It is also perfect for tying down tarps or making simple traps, snares and trip wires for hunting small game. Ranger Gear UHMWPE Braided Survival Cord has high abrasion resistance, high tensile strength and hundreds of indoor and outdoor uses. Visit Survival.news for more tips on how to build a shelter after disaster strikes. You can also check out Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store for more supplies for your prepping and survival needs. Click on this link to learn more about essential items for your survival stockpile. Watch the video below to learn more about UHMWPE braided cord and why you need it in your survival kit and stockpile. This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.

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