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Heading out into the great outdoors for an adventure is a hobby enjoyed by people all over the world. It is wonderful to get away for a while and enjoy what nature has to offer. Of course, be sure to check out a resource like Bug-Out-Bill to learn about all the different gear you should be bringing on your journeys.
But while the gear you have is crucial to a good outdoor survival or bushcraft experience, so is the shelter you have. While you can put up a tent, others love the challenge of making their own shelter. With that in mind, this article is going to go over a few things you need in order to build a proper survival shelter.
The right location
Choosing the right location for your survival shelter is one of the most important things to do. These shelters aren’t easily moved or shifted once built, so take time to choose an optimal spot. The right location can depend on where you are and the type of shelter you are building, but there are a few things to consider.
Be sure to choose a place that is relatively flat so your shelter is stable. Make an effort to choose somewhere that offers protection from the wind, too. Wind can not only make sleeping or hanging out very cold, but it can ruin your shelter if you’re not careful and it’s not built well enough. Also, if possible, choose somewhere that isn’t a low point, so that it won’t flood with water if a storm rolls through.
A frame and the proper materials
Next, you need the actual materials to build the shelter itself. There are many different designs, and the exact materials you need depend on what you want to build. In many cases, your shelter will begin with a frame made of large sticks or logs tied or pushed together. This can be an A-frame, but there are also many other ways you can do it.
Once the shelter is framed, you need to find materials to help keep the shelter dry, warm, and protected from the elements. For this insulation, people will often use leaves, twigs, branches, sticks, or anything else they can find. It should be at least a few inches thick to properly protect you.
Something to insulate the ground
Last but not least, you need to think about the ground. If you simply sleep on the ground, even with a blanket or sleeping bag, you are going to lose a ton of body heat through the ground. Instead, find a way to insulate the ground to retain as much body heat as possible.
This is often done by piling up leaves, boughs, or other debris onto the ground and forming it into a makeshift mattress or bed. This may not be the most comfortable but will keep you warm and offer you better sleep than the ground itself. Another option is to make a raised swamp bed to stay off of the ground altogether.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope that this blog post has been able to help you learn what you need in order to build a high-quality survival shelter.
