← Shelter Building
Field-TestedBeginner · 20 min
A-Frame Tarp Shelter
Fast, wind- and rain-resistant shelter with one tarp and a ridgeline.
Question 1
The goal
Get out of rain and wind quickly.
Question 2
Materials
- Tarp (3×3 m)
- 10 m cordage
- 4–6 stakes
- Ground insulation
Question 3
Substitutes
- Emergency blanket or heavy trash bags
- Sharpened sticks for stakes
- Rocks on corners
- Leaves or pine boughs for insulation
Where to find it
| Material | Household | Wilderness | Urban / scavenged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarp | Shower curtain, painter's drop cloth | Emergency blanket, poncho | Heavy trash bags, plastic sheeting |
| Cordage | Clothesline, extension cord | Paracord, bootlaces | Zip ties, wire, strapping |
Question 4
Step by step
- 1
Pick a site away from dead branches (widowmakers), flood paths and hollows.
- 2
Tie a taut ridgeline between two trees at waist-to-chest height.
- 3
Drape the tarp over the line with the back to the wind.
- 4
Stake out corners tight and low so rain sheds.
- 5
Lay 10+ cm of dry insulation underneath — the ground steals more heat than the air.
Saved steps go to My Survival Notebook.
Question 5
The science
Conduction to cold ground removes heat far faster than still air; a sloped roof sheds water and blocks convective wind loss.
Question 6
Dangers & limits
- Never pitch under dead limbs or in dry creek beds.
- No open fire inside or under the tarp.
Question 7
How you know it worked
You stay dry in rain and feel no wind lying inside.
My notes
Notes save on this device automatically.