I need help finding a good Shelter

T

Trekker

Joined
Apr 30, 2003
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What is every one using for a shelter, I would really like to get into primitive style hiking and camping. Should I purchase a canvas tarp or canvas wedge tent or Whelan style lean-to like the stuff at

http://www.pantherprimitives.com/

Does anyone have any other Ideas. I really like to mix old style with today technology
 
When the weather will be mostly nice(no rain) I have been taking a 10X10 green tarp for a shelter. On some occasions I have improvised shelter from whatever materials are around. I really like the tarp cause it's cheap,light weight, and easy to work with.
 
I got a fantastic British DPM camouflage "Basha" from Brigade Quartermasters. I believe it's 6'X 8' and is waterproof ripstop nylon with loops sewn to the edges for lashing it down in various ways. It was about $30.00 and came with 50' of paracord too. It's lightweight and has many different uses.
 
Originally posted by Trekker
What is every one using for a shelter, I would really like to get into primitive style hiking and camping. Should I purchase a canvas tarp or canvas wedge tent or Whelan style lean-to like the stuff at

http://www.pantherprimitives.com/

Does anyone have any other Ideas. I really like to mix old style with today technology
Click to expand...

If you have not done so already get yourself copies of these books and read them:

Camping and Woodcraft, by Kephart

Woodcraft and Camping, by Nessmuk

Great advice there. The current "ultralight revolution" in backpacking gear borrows a lot of minimalist ideas discussed in these books (e.g. shaped tarps in new materials like Silicone impregnated Nylon).
 
"The Wilderness Survival Handbook" by Alan Frye recommends a triangular tarp to build a shelter. He also has some common sense recommendations to meet the situation, rather than the generic grill a snake on a solar oven suggestion. Probably because he's from Canada and must confront the winter weather.
The tipi thing just hit me - I've got a great place to do it down in the valley this winter. Hmmm, can I get the boys to go with me when it snows? It was 85 in the office today, wonder why I thought of that?
 
Go down the hardware store and buy a plastic dropcloth. Lightweight and you can see the stars at night too.
 
There's an interesting tarp-tent hybrid at http://www.tarptent.com

If you do a lot of hiking and weight is an issue it might be useful. A bit pricey though, and probably not as fun as making shelter with a cheap plastic sheet!
 
For some really great made in the USA tarps at a fair price and great customer service, go to www.owareusa.com. A 30 denier Silicone impregnated Nylon tarp is expensive, but they are really light and are more tear resistance than 70 denier polyurethane coated Nylon ripstop. It's may not meet your definition of "primitive style" though, and you want to be careful using any Nylon tarp near a fire.

Tyvek may a good compromise between plastic and Nylon. It is fairly light, more durable than plastic and cheaper than nylon. It's noisy, but I've read you can wash it to soften it up and quiet it down.

www.integraldesigns.com sells some cool shaped tarps, too.
 
I carry an Integral Designs Silponcho in an outside pouch on my daypack. It's so light I forget about it, but it's always there. Good stuff.
 
I have been using my military poncho.It is made of Rip Stop nylon and has metal tie grommets.It is plenty large for one person and light weight.About $35.00.
 
Trekker: I use an 8 x 8 ft silnylon tarp with a cloth tropical hammock (not a jungle hammock -- see Nomad Travel at http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/).

When bug protection is needed, I add a mosquito net.

Alternately, I use a Hennessy Hammock, with either the standard diamond-shaped tarp, or my 8 x 8 ft tarp.

This is only good where there are trees, and where the temperatures don't venture too far below zero for too many days.

Bear
 
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