Paladine71
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Although it is possible to craft shelter and clothing in the wilds, it takes a lot of primitive skills knowledge, practice and the right resources (animal, plant, tools and terrain) to do it. Two additional problems to consider are exposure and calories. Crafting items in the wilderness will require you to expend a lot of energy when you will need to conserve it the most and have the least access to replace what you spend. Exposure to extremes of heat or cold will kill you. Water will speed the onset of hypothermia in cold environments. Realizing that you should have packed some covering / shelter options in your bag is best done before an emergency, and not while standing in the freezing rain in wet clothes with no shelter in site. Likewise, the lack of shelter can make an overnight in the snowy woods fatal. You will need to insulate yourself from the weather above, the cold of the ground and the movement of the wind.
Your first defense is your clothing, which needs to be tailored to your environment. I'll not cover that here because the options and decisions are too varied. It is up to you to pack what you think you might need, but always consider the worst case scenario with only yourself and your packed kit to rely on. Assume that what you are wearing when the emergency occurs might be torn, burned, soaked, etc.
Some options for shelter:
Poncho, preferably a large one with eyelets. You can wear it over your clothing while moving or tie it up to trees to serve as a lean-to when stationary. Get one with a hood that can be closed to prevent leaks. Be sure that it is angled well to prevent water from pooling.
Poncho Liner! One of the absolute best inventions known to man. I can't count the number of nights that this item has kept me from freezing. It feels like a blanket, but weighs almost nothing. It will keep you warm even when wet. Get one of these, hell, get two! I have literally laid one on the ground and used the other as a blanket in below freezing temperatures and slept warmly (a layer of leaves helps with ground insulation). I consider this item "a must have."
100% Wool blanket. Heavier than a poncho liner, but effective. 100% wool will keep you warm even when wet. Do not trust anything that is not 100%. There is a reason that the military used to issue these, they work. Be sure to get the ones that are tightly sewn, so air can't pass through easily.
Tarp. You can use a variety of tarps, but I'd go with cotton duck material. You can make a basic tent or lean-to out of these if they have eyelets or ties. I would go with at least 7' x 7' in size. This material is slow to saturate with water and dries quickly in the open air. Like all coverings, packing them wet will cause mildew. It is not too heavy to carry in small sizes.
Drum Liner or Trash Bag. Large, heavy trash bags or drum liners are cheap and effective for repelling water. You can make a simple tent or lean-to, cut holes to wear it as a poncho, or even lay it on the ground to give you and your gear a dry place to sit. You can also pack your gear in them to keep it dry while carrying it in the rain. There are a lot of options for this cheap item. I always carry at least two.
Sleeping Bag. Your choice here. Adds a lot of bulk and weight. Highly recommended for extremely cold environments.
Hammock. Nice for getting off of the ground (think water, reptiles, etc.). Some of these only weigh a pound or two and have little bulk.
A nice combination is a poncho for cover, a hammock for a bed and a poncho liner or two for blankets. I'd consider that living like a boss in the woods with little weight or bulk. A heavy trash bag on the ground below me would keep my gear dry.
Your first defense is your clothing, which needs to be tailored to your environment. I'll not cover that here because the options and decisions are too varied. It is up to you to pack what you think you might need, but always consider the worst case scenario with only yourself and your packed kit to rely on. Assume that what you are wearing when the emergency occurs might be torn, burned, soaked, etc.
Some options for shelter:
Poncho, preferably a large one with eyelets. You can wear it over your clothing while moving or tie it up to trees to serve as a lean-to when stationary. Get one with a hood that can be closed to prevent leaks. Be sure that it is angled well to prevent water from pooling.
Poncho Liner! One of the absolute best inventions known to man. I can't count the number of nights that this item has kept me from freezing. It feels like a blanket, but weighs almost nothing. It will keep you warm even when wet. Get one of these, hell, get two! I have literally laid one on the ground and used the other as a blanket in below freezing temperatures and slept warmly (a layer of leaves helps with ground insulation). I consider this item "a must have."
100% Wool blanket. Heavier than a poncho liner, but effective. 100% wool will keep you warm even when wet. Do not trust anything that is not 100%. There is a reason that the military used to issue these, they work. Be sure to get the ones that are tightly sewn, so air can't pass through easily.
Tarp. You can use a variety of tarps, but I'd go with cotton duck material. You can make a basic tent or lean-to out of these if they have eyelets or ties. I would go with at least 7' x 7' in size. This material is slow to saturate with water and dries quickly in the open air. Like all coverings, packing them wet will cause mildew. It is not too heavy to carry in small sizes.
Drum Liner or Trash Bag. Large, heavy trash bags or drum liners are cheap and effective for repelling water. You can make a simple tent or lean-to, cut holes to wear it as a poncho, or even lay it on the ground to give you and your gear a dry place to sit. You can also pack your gear in them to keep it dry while carrying it in the rain. There are a lot of options for this cheap item. I always carry at least two.
Sleeping Bag. Your choice here. Adds a lot of bulk and weight. Highly recommended for extremely cold environments.
Hammock. Nice for getting off of the ground (think water, reptiles, etc.). Some of these only weigh a pound or two and have little bulk.
A nice combination is a poncho for cover, a hammock for a bed and a poncho liner or two for blankets. I'd consider that living like a boss in the woods with little weight or bulk. A heavy trash bag on the ground below me would keep my gear dry.
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