Survival Shelters: What You Should Know

L.O.T. Bot
Jul 28, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2022

Your go-to guide for do-it-yourself survival shelters in the wilderness. Sourced from various experts and tested around the world.

written by Devon Zayd El

07/28/2021

The Wicki

This is a hybrid from many ancient cultures -- influenced by a range of architectural styles. If built mindfully; this can block wind, rain, cold, and sun. It is structured like a tipi, with smaller tree limbs chopped in logs and placed standing up in a circular pattern pointed toward the center.

These can be modified to accommodate a small hole-fire if you bound the logs at the forementioned point before they all meet. Creating a "smoke-hole".

This shelter can be covered with a smoke hole or not. All you need is packed dirt, grass

and leaves or tarp. Thats right... Less light, less wind, less rain, & snow... But less ventilated.

Creating a circular trench for the base of the logs and filling the rest of the trench with packed grass, leaves, or dirt, can provide a stronger structure.

The Ramada

This shelter is useful for providing shade in sunny environments. Though you can modify it to your needs, this shelter is made of partial walls, and a roof. Like The Wicki, you will need logs.

"Sunny, hot environments require a shelter that offers shade. The ramada’s flat roof doesn’t give you leak-proof rain protection, but it does block all of the sun from beating down on you. "

- outdoorlife.com

Many ramada variations exist, but most are based on four posts, some lightweight beams a suitable covering. Tarps, mats, or even brush will do well enough on the ramada’s roof as a sun block. Add some removable walls to cut the evening breeze if temps cool down, and you have a very versatile desert shelter."

- outdoorlife.com

Waterproof tarp can be of great necessity in environments where rain is imminent. If you have enough of it, you can encase your entire Ramada in tarp, in pieces, or as one depending on the height of the structure. However, in wet areas you should consider building a more enclosed shelter.

The Wedge

This is a great shelter for strong winds. It requires a long log secured on/in the ground on one end, and a "Y" shaped log to hold up the other end of the log. Next, secure several logs on/in the ground on the sides. You can now cover this with tarp or leaves and moss to provide camouflage and weather protection.

If you have tarp ready and you want to make your wedge out of that, you can stake your tent at two sides and lift one side with rope, bounding it to a tree limb to give your shelter some height. Or securing a log or hiking pole, standing up at the intended opening, but underneath the tarp a bit with a little overhang.

Another great way to set this up is to bind the log on its lifted end, to a "Y" shaped tree. Or a fallen tree that has a limb sticking up and out diagonally, at or above eye level. One less log you

have to chop down.

Keep in mind when using a fallen tree, there could be a chance of tree rot or a recent storm that damaged that area. So, watch out for trees or tree limbs above your shelter that might fall on it.

The Leaner

A highly rated shelter, the Lean-to. Or as we'd like to call it, The Leaner; is a structure made by

bounding a support log horizontally at eye level or above, between two trees and leaning secured logs up against the support beam.

You can add layers to this structure to weatherproof it. Grab you some waterproof tarp or moss and leaves.

The tarp can leave an opening, secured to the roof or coming out and down from the support beam to close the shelter off.

The Dugout

Any of these structures can be converted into a Dugout. You will dig into the ground layer of your structure. This is where ground covering will come into play, as it will be of importance to shield yourself from ground moisture and insects.

"A Dugout requires fewer raw materials; you will need some material. Such as, poles or a tarp to construct a roof, but you do not need material for the walls. This is beneficial in areas with fewer trees." - survivalfreedom.com

"Secondly, a dugout is often used for concealment purposes, as depending on its build, it can be mostly or completely hidden from view. Unlike the debris shelter, a dugout is a much more permanent structure that also requires significantly more effort to construct."

- survivalfreedom.com

Well ladies and gentlemen, until next time. We look forward to seeing you soon!