1. The Tarp Lean-To
For this survival shelter, you just need a plastic tarp and some cordage. You can even make it with a poncho in a pinch. Just tie each end of the tarp to a tree.
Pros
- Fastest to build
- Very easy to build
- Good for larger groups
Cons
- Poor protection from wind and rain
- Could easily break from falling sticks, hard rain, etc.
- No protection from animals
2. Tarp Tent
Just tie some cordage between two trees and drape your tarp over it. Then use some rocks, sticks or more cordage to anchor the sides of the tarp away from you.
Pros
- Fast and easy to build
- Protects from rain
Cons
- Only moderate protection from wind
- Could easily break from falling sticks, hard rain, etc.
- No protection from animals
3. Tarp Teepee with Poles
You just need to gather some long branches (your poles) and prop them together to form the structure for the teepee (practice this; it is actually a bit trickier than it may seem to make the structure sturdy!). Then wrap your tarp around the poles. If it is raining, some rain will fall through the hole where the poles meet. You can fix this problem by draping another tarp or poncho over the top. Or, make a bigger hole and you can even have a fire inside your teepee!
Pros
- Suitable for larger groups
- Good protection from elements
- Sturdy
- Possible to have fire inside teepee; good for winter situations
Cons
- Requires some practice to build
- Need very large tarp
- Will be hole at top of teepee where rain can enter
4. Tarp Teepee (no poles)
Fold your tarp into a triangular shape. At the point of the triangle, put a rock into the tarp. Then tie some cordage around the rock. Now hang this cordage from a tree. Anchor the bottom of the tarp down with rocks and you’ve got yourself a teepee.
Pros
- Good protection from elements
- Tree overhead provides additional shelter
Cons
- Need a very large tarp or else will be very small shelter
- Can be tricky getting cord tied to tree branch
5. Snow Shelter
What do you do if you are in an emergency situation outdoors in the snow? It will be too cold to spend a lot of time making a shelter. This survival shelter you can make very fast (especially if you have an emergency shovel). Just find a tree, prop a branch against its trunk at a 45 degree angle. Push the snow out of the way to form a “wall”. Prop another branch to support your tarp. Then drape a tarp over the branches. You can line the inside of this survival shelter with pine needles and brush to act as insulation and keep you warm.
Pros
- Good for winter survival situations
- Can be made bigger or smaller depending on group size
Cons
- Moving snow can be time consuming and draining without a shovel
- Can’t keep a fire burning inside; a teepee might be a better option
6. Fallen Tree Shelter
This is my personal favorite survival shelter because it can be easily adapted to the situation. It does rely on you being able to find a fallen tree though. You can do it multiple ways, such as draping a tarp over the fallen tree to make a tent. Or you can prop debris to act as your shelter wall. If it is windy or cold, use other debris to block off the entrance.
Pros
- Easy to camouflage
- Good protection from the elements, including snow
- Adaptable to multiple situations
- Can be made easily with a tarp or with just debris
Cons
- Be prepared to share the shelter with bugs from the rotting log!
- Will take some time to gather debris to block off entrance
7. Hammock Survival Shelter
Sometimes you need your survival shelter to be off the ground, such as in jungle situations where you’ve got all sorts of creepy crawly insects and animals around. This survival shelter design is perfect for that. It is basically a variation of the tarp tent, just off the ground. Line the hammock with your extra clothes to provide some insulation.
Pros
- Off the ground
Cons
- Need hammock or extra tarp and cordage for hammock
- Not much protection from the elements
Bonus: Tarp Tying Tip
You’ll notice that most of these survival shelter designs require a tarp. When making the shelter, don’t tie the cordage directly to the tarp. This will create a pressure point on the tarp and it could easily wear out and tear. Instead, put a rock into the tarp and tie the cordage around the rock. This will give the shelter design extra stability.
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