Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Polyethylene
PHOTO BY CREEK STEWART
17 WAYS TO MAKE A SHELTER FROM A TARP
Story by Ryan Lee Price
omans in the fields of Europe 1,000 years ago erected tents [TOP] Simple tarp
shelters can be
made of leather, while their nomadic contemporaries to the east
made easily and
used woven hemp and wool to build yurts. Leather and hemp quickly with mini-
made way for canvas 200 to 300 years ago, which led to light- mal equipment, pro-
viding much need
weight polyester and nylon used in todays modern tents. respite from the
Though easy to carry and relatively simple to put up, there are numerous wind, sun, rain, or
situations you might find yourself in where a traditional tent isnt something snow. It conserves
body heat and
you have or was something you were forced to give up. As a refugee obligated offers a sense of
to quickly leave your residence or a victim of some tragedy that completely comfort, which
raises morale in
obliterated your residence and everything in itincluding your $400 six-man
tough situations.
tent with optional skylight and porchthe idea of spending the night under
the stars under such circumstances can sound dreadful, especially in the
DECEMBER 2014
pouring rain or the depths of winter. A basic shelter can keep your head dry,
conserve heat, as well as provide a comforting sense of safety.
will hold the cord in place while distributing the tension on the tarp
(or rocks) and some poles (walking sticks, trekking
over a wider area instead of on the grommet alone.
poles, or branches can act as supports if needed).
1 2 3
4 5 6
10 11 12
07. Wind Shed staked. However, a more gentle 10. Fold-Over Wind Shed 12. Miners Tent
Also known as the C-Fly, the Wind slopping walls will accommodate Similar in design as the tradi- In order to construct this some-
Shed employs a full groundsheet more people and/or gear but will tional Wind Shed, this version what complicated shelter, a tarp
designed into it. Folding the tarp allow for less headroom. As with provides more coverage by sacri- ratio of 1:2 is required (e.g. 10x20-
into thirds, make sure the leading the Cornucopia, drip lines will be ficing the groundsheet. The foot tarp), and because so many
edge of the roof hangs over the needed in rainy weather. height of the paracord ridgeline folds are necessary to perfect it,
groundsheet for adequate rain PROS: Good wind deflection and determines the angle of the roof an illustration is included. Start by
runoff. Secure the main ridgeline rain shedding abilities; can and the footprint of the shelter. In lashing four, 10-foot-long support
with paracord stretched between accommodate a larger group of windier climates, a low sloping poles together at one end (for the
two trees, while supporting the people or more equipment. roof will better deflect wind when peakF) and spread out the four
gable ends to the ground with CONS: No floor or flaps to com- it is placed against the wind. other ends to form a square on
shorter lengths of paracord. Since pletely keep out the elements. If PROS: Great wind deflection and the groundA, B, C, D. Affix the
this is designed for wind deflec- the wind changes direction fre- rain runoff. middle of the long edge of the
tion, consider adding a length of quently, the shelter will be com- CONS: No floor, flaps or sides to tarp (F) to the top of the poles.
paracord to the bottom fold, promised. protect completely against the Start by attaching FI to the rear
where the back panel meets the elements. right pool. HI will be the rear bot-
groundsheet. A few rocks placed 09. Dining Fly tom edge, while IE will become
along that fold (on the inside) Similar to the Basic A-Frame, the 11. Half Box the right-side bottom edge. FH is
will help (see Tarp Tricks). Dining Fly has been used for When time isnt of the essence then attached to the left-rear
PROS: Great wind deflection countless decades by miners and and you have a more leisure pole, so that HG will be the left-
CONS: Requires a lot of campers as a simple open-air opportunity to build a shelter, side bottom edge. The front flaps
stakes/secure points; the hanging cover, good for a sunshade while consider the Half Box. Similar to are made up of triangle FGC and
roofline could sag under rain providing a modicum of head- the Barn Stall, the Half Box FBE, while triangles GHD and EIA
loads and drain onto the ground- room without sacrificing too requires the use of at least four are folded under to be a partial
sheet; no doors or fourth side for much space. Though limited in its support poles and probably as floor. When done, the Miners
protection from the elements. ability to ward off the weather many or more tie-downs to hold it Tent is just over 9-feet high in the
(besides rain) due to its lack of all up. The footprint is only 25- center and has a living area of
08. Diamond Fly sides and doors (like the Basic square feet, but it provides two more than 68-square feet.
A 10x10 tarp has a diagonal Sunshade), it is a poplar configu- sides of protection from the ele- PROS: When properly con-
length of just over 14 feet, making ration for desert survival. The ments. If not supported in the structed, staked and secured to
the Diamond Fly perfect for more height of the support poles dic- middle or kept taut from the the support poles, it is a very
than one person. Secure the para- tates the amount of headroom sides, it will sag under any load of sturdy shelter, able to withstand
cord to a tree and the ground and and footprint the shelter will pro- rain, snow or debris. A full one- quite a bit; it makes a complete
drape over the tarp at a diagonal. vide, but is a sturdy shelter when quarter of the tarp goes unused enclosure; very spacious.
The length of paracord and angle properly tied down and staked. and folded up behind the rear CONS: Complicated to build,
with which it is tied to a tree PROS: Provides ventilation and a corner. requires a specific size tarp and
determines the overall headroom good coverage with adequate PROS: Good sunshade from all- four 10-foot poles.
and width of the shelter. Take into headroom. Good for the desert. day sun if positioned properly.
consideration the reason for CONS: No sides or flaps for com- CONS: No floor or flaps; a quarter
building it: steep walls will shed plete protection; not for windy of the tarp goes unused; can be
rain, snow, and debris, and the environments. difficult to set up; requires four 5-
angled end (similar to the Cornu- foot support poles and many tie-
copia) will deflect wind if well downs.
DECEMBER 2014