Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The tarp is easily the most versatile survival shelter item of all time. Tarps are durable, lightweight, wear- and tear-resistant, and easy to pack down and carry around. What’s more, there’s a myriad of different ways you can set up a shelter with a tarp.
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In this video, Survival Dispatch describes 8 easy tarp shelters. Here’s a summary:
1. A-Frame
The A-Frame is perhaps the most common variant of tarp shelter. It’s basically like setting up a lean-to shelter, only on both sides rather than one.
Run a rope or paracord between two trees, then drape the tarp in the center over the rope in order to create the A-frame. If you have the resources, secure the bottoms of the tarp to the ground by running string through the grommets and then weighing down with rocks.
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2. Body Bag
To create a body bag tarp shelter, run a rope or paracord between two trees, close to the ground. Arrange the tarp into a triangle shape so that there is flooring for you to lay on. The entire tarp should now enclose you when you lay down in it.
3. Envelope
To create the envelope tarp shelter, run some rope or paracord through the two corners and lash them to two trees roughly five to seven feet away from one another for the first half of the tent.
For the second half, lay it down on the ground to create flooring. You can now lay down on part of the tent with the other part above you to shield you from the wind and rain.
4. Lean-To
The traditional lean-to is perhaps the easiest and simplest shelter to set up with a tarp. Attach the corners of the lean-to to two trees roughly five to seven feet apart from one another.
Then take the two corners from the opposite end and pull them back to create the lean-to, securing them to the ground either with rocks or running string through the grommets and securing them to wood sticks out of the ground.
5. Windshield Wedge
The windshield wedge tarp is essentially the same as the lean-to, only a larger part of the tent drapes over the rope or paracord you run between two trees to shield you from the wind. Run paracord or rope through the grommets, then lead them down to the ground to be secured to rocks.
6. Rain Fly
The rain fly tent is basically the same thing as the A-Frame tent, only the entire tent is elevated from the ground. With the entire tent draped over a rope or paracord between two trees, run string or paracord through the grommets and lash them to the ground.
7. Shade Sail
The shade sail is essentially the same concept as the rainfly, only this time the entire tarp is elevated even further above the ground in order to give you enough room to even stand underneath the tarp. Run tall sticks or poles through the grommets to ensure that the tarp stands high.
8. Diamond Fly
A diamond fly tarp tent is like having half a teepee. Run a pole through a corner to elevate the tent high up into the air. Lash the remaining three corners down to the ground or otherwise anchor them down with rocks. This will create enough space to lay under the tarp for shelter.
If you were confused by any of these, be sure to watch the video by Survival Dispatch below so you can see exactly how to build them.
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I didn’t see my favorite. Also a diamond shape. Called the Diamond, Plow Point, or Plough Point Shelter. Easier and quicker to setup than any of the ones shown above. Requires only one tree. Most other designs require you to find two trees the correct distance from each other. It requires a square or nearly square tarp. A square or nearly square poncho works as well.
Three of the four corners are staked to the ground. The fourth is raised by a short line to a tree. It should always be setup with the far corner pointing toward the incoming wind. It actually gives you cover in front for a small fire, out of the rain or snow, but with plenty of ventilation. It also gives you a place on each side to keep some firewood (or your pack or other items) dry.
If you have three pre-made (or store-bought) stakes, you can actually set it up in the rain from the inside, keeping dry as you do so. Remember, keeping dry in cold weather is essential to survival (avoiding hypothermia). (1) Put the tarp over your head. (2) Tie the one guy line from a corner to the tree. (3) Move under the tarp to the far corner, in the direction of the incoming wind. (4) From under the tarp, reach out and stake that corner, making a tight ridge line. (5) From under the tarp, do likewise for the other two (side) corners of the tarp.
This is the basic design, which will quickly get you out of the weather.. But here are a few minor improvements you might want to make, depending on materials and circumstances.
For the greatest strength, use a longer cord that connects the opposite corners, on the underside of the tarp, tied to both corners. It can be tied in advance. It takes strain off of the tarp.
If your tent stakes allow it, you can tie each of the three stakes (and the guy line) permanently to their corners of the tarp.
For more head room, either add a stick as a tent pole in the center of the ridge line (with some kind of protection from putting a hole in the tarp), or add a second long line from the center of the tarp over a tree branch in the opposite direction. If using a poncho, that can help you connect to the center point, using the hood.