Survival Tents: DIY Shelters For Critical Situations

Whether you’re simply having a camping a trip or you’ve found yourself fighting for your life in a post-apocalyptic scenario, you’ll need to have a good quality tent with you in order to make your situation just a bit more bearable. If it’s a trip in the local surroundings or you’re exploring uncharted territory due to some sort of unfortunate event that forced you to leave everything behind, it doesn’t matter that much. As long as you’ve packed the right tent before setting off, you’ll have a proper shelter that will offer your insulation and protection. Those of you that aren’t that knowledgeable in the area, let me tell you that there is a great variety of products to choose from. There is basically a tent for every hostile situation that you can think of: tents for low temperatures, tents for flood situations, above ground tents (that will keep you safe from ground predators, etc.), simple hiking tents and more.

Upon purchasing your very own tent, there are many things to consider apart from the price. You should consider first of all the type of situation you are trying to counter (cold climates, high temperatures, wild animals, excessive precipitations etc.), and once you have this figured out, you can start looking into the size of the tent, the material it’s made up of, the price etc. 

I’ll show you some of the most affordable and versatile tents on the market.

The Trango 3.1

The Trango 3.1 by Mountain Hardwear is a semi-professional product from Mountain Hard Wear, built especially for those who take wilderness adventures really seriously. It costs about $559. It’s pretty sturdy as a tent and it packed form it weighs about 11lbs 4oz. It’s roomy enough for 3 people and it was built to withstand much of what nature can throw at him: it has welded guy clip anchors, welded corners and it’s waterproof and watertight. The DAC Featherlight NSL poles used by these tents are extremely resistant despite they’re lightweight, and make for a great foundation. The structure itself is more intricate than what you’d expect; it has a vestibule in which you can change your wet dirty and wet clothes before entering the main, warmer chamber of the tent. It does way a bit much and it may become strenuous to carry it over long distances, but it makes up for it in quality and toughness. Be it cold, windy, rainy or hot, this tent won’t let you down. Check out the Trango 3 on Amazon

The Tentsile Stingray 3-Person Hanging Tent

Well, the product name says it all: this is less of a tent and more of a tree house, all for the price of $675. The idea is that you can suspend this tent from trees and have a hammock-type, covered structure, large and strong enough to shelter 3 people. The ratchet buckles and straps are about 19.5ft long and the manufacturer assures us that they can withstand about 2.5 tons of weight. So unless you’re planning to park your car inside, you have nothing to worry about. The floor of the tent is made up of a certain 240D composite that is wide enough for 3 people to sleep comfortably. The whole surface of the tent is coated in 190T PU polyester rain fly, which not only makes it completely waterproof but also resistant to all sort if insect stings or bites. The rain fly can be extended down to ground level, making a rainproof vestibule for your gear. Once the tent is set up, you can gain access to 2 doors. A side door is available, but if you’re too high from the ground, you can also use the center floor hatch. This tent is perfect for survival scenarios which involve predatory ground animals. Not only will you be safe, but the experience of camping in such a tent is unique.

The Sundome 2-Person Tent

This is a fairly simple tent released by Coleman, which weighs in at about 8lbs. It costs under $50 in some places and it’s the optimum choice for serious campers. If camping is your lifestyle, look no further than the the Sundome 2-Person Tent. It’s a one door tent and it can easily accommodate 2 people. The tent is pretty stable even in tougher weather conditions thanks to its 2-pole system; it also is very easy to set up, as an untrained camper can put it together in no more than 20 minutes. The outer coating, the material on the outside of the tent wall (aka. the outer fly) is waterproof, so precipitations won’t bother you much. But keep in mind, although it’s a perfect camping tent, it’s not all that great when it comes to expeditions to remote and extreme areas; using it as a survival tent will not be a good idea. It’s not well ventilated, and this may cause dampness on the inside as a result of moisture buildup. I’ve been using this tent myself for a while now, and as an occasional camper myself, I think this is the best camping tent when it comes to quality/price ratio. Check out the Coleman Sundome 2-Person Tent on Amazon

Camping for fun or survival requires some education in the matter and should be done properly. Whether you’re just a casual camper, an avid one or you find yourself in need of shelter in order to survive the harshness of the wild, you should always be prepared and leave nothing to chance. Do serious research on the matter and you’ll find one or several tents to suit your needs.

How To Protect Your Family While Camping In The Wild

How To Protect Your Family While Camping In The Wild. Photo – Adobe Stock (under license)

Exploring the nature with your family can be a fun activity, but remember to be prepared for any situation. Respecting elementary safety rules while camping in nature is highly important because it can keep your family safe. There are some items that are essential if you want your camping trip to be a success. A typical emergency bag is designed for survival situations or during unexpected and urgent circumstances requiring some supplies, here are some basic essential items that you should take:

• Flashlight – for lighting the way to the toilet block at night.
• Lamps – for some light in the tent.
• Plenty of warm, waterproof clothing – even in the summer.
• Gas for the stove – buy this when you buy your stove.
• Matches & batteries – always good to have to have in emergencies!
• Insect repellent- it keeps pesky mosquitoes and other insects away.
• First Aid kit – including plenty of plasters, anti-histamine, pain-killers etc.
• Bottled water – always good to have to hand.

We all know that while engaging in outdoor camping fun or frolicking in the wilderness where the individual may suddenly end up at the mercy of nature’s fury, emergencies or disaster situations may occur. Emergency situations vary, but it is people’s preparedness to deal with these situations which will help us survive and this is why you must always be prepared.

That is why it is imperative to follow certain rules while camping in the wild:

• Remember to set up cooking, eating and supply area at least 100 yards from your sleeping area. Store food and scented items by hanging at least 10 to 15 feet above ground and 4 feet from top and side support or store highly resistant containers.

• For increased safety, camp in open areas away from trails, thick brush, berry patches, spawning streams or carcasses and sleep in a tent.

• When collecting firewood and picking up possessions off the ground, be careful of snakes, scorpions and other insects that are often hard to detect. While on site, do check for insects in your bedding, clothing, and footwear before using.

• Be safe around the BBQ – never light a barbecue in a confined space, don’t leave children unsupervised near a barbecue and make sure the barbecue is fully put out after use.

Tip: taking Pets on Hiking Trails is Not Advised. Pets may attract wild animals and are not allowed on some parks. If dogs are permitted, keep them on a short leash to avoid conflicts with wildlife.

All these having been said, we think that your family is the most important aspect of your life and this is why you should always keep them safe and make sure that you have all the tools needed to do so at any time and to follow local regulations while camping.

Related: Extreme Survival – Know Your Edible Meats in the Wild

Outdoor Cooking

Last week, we talked about the tools you’ll need to cook in emergency situations.

Now here I am with more information on survival cooking.

So let’s see what you need to cook delicious meals outdoors:

The first thing you’ll need is a camp stove, a grill, or a campfire. You should always have at least one bottle of fuel for when you want to cook outside. In case you use charcoal, remember to keep it in a dry place.

A solar oven may be useful as well.

Cooking Supplies

Always make a list of the things you need before cooking outdoors. You’ll need:

• fuel and matches
• a medium to large lightweight pot
• aluminum foil
• a pan
• a spatula and
• tongs

These are the basics. Once you have them, there are almost no limits to what you can cook outside. You can try anything from eggs to pasta. And here’s exactly how you can do that:

Cooking Methods

Using direct heat is the easiest method to cook outside. For instance, you can wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and place them on hot coals. Feel free to use this method for any other food item that requires high heat. However, make sure to check on them frequently to avoid any accidents or overcooking.

Another easy method to cook outside is to grill your food by simply placing a grate over an open fire. It takes a bit longer, but it’s a good method for food that needs less heat to cook.

If you feel like cooking something more sophisticated like a soup, a stew or pasta you’ll need to build a fire and let it die down to hot coals. Place a pan or pot on them and your job is almost done.

Just remember to check the intensity of the fire. You don’t want to eat food that tastes like burnt tires, but you’ll want to stay away from uncooked food, too. So just check to see if your meal is cooking at the right pace.

Other Tips

1. Keep your food above the ground level to prevent animals from eating it.

2. Use fireproof cooking tools.

3. To remove odors from your cooking tools, use water and baking soda and wipe them.

4. Chop your vegetables before you go outside and cook. Put them in separate ziplock bags.

5. If you put oil on your camp grill, the food will not stick anymore.

6. Keep your raw food cool at all times to avoid spoilage. Use block ice, because it lasts longer than cube ice!

7. Use disposable water bottles as dispensers for oil, sauces or salad dressings.

8. To keep your soap clean, just hang it in a sock on a tree branch.

9. Use leftovers from meat and vegetables to make omelets.

10. To save some space, don’t bring plastic mixing bowls with you, just use the pots!

11. Replace your usual bread with pita bread. It stays fresh longer and it’s easier to pack.

That’s all for now on outside cooking. Stay tuned for more tips&tricks on indoor emergency cooking!

By Alec Deacon