One of the top survival priorities is to find shelter. A shelter will provide cover from the elements of weather, and a place to rest, and sleep, and by having a fire you will have a cooking spot, too. A shelter must be lightweight enough to be easily carried in the pack and quickly set up, especially in bad weather. The most common shelters that are carried are tarps, heavy-duty space blankets, or small tents. All of these shelters have pros and cons that will be discussed further.
Small tent shelters for one person, offer enough space for a person to sleep, weigh less than a two-person tent, and can be set up quickly enough. The downside is the lack of space; you can just fit yourself there, there is no room for your backpack and gear and you can only just sit up. They do provide some privacy if you want to change clothes for example and there are other campers around. You can carry a two-person tent, to have some extra room, but that will add to the pack’s weight; a small tent weighs anywhere between 1,7 kilos to 2 kilos, while a two-person tent starts over 2 kilos. Polyester or sil/nylon-made tents are lighter than canvas-made tents. The latter is much cheaper, especially if you find old military surplus tents, though.
A tarp is a very popular choice due to its lightweight, portability, ease of packing and setup. Tarps come in many sizes, like 5×7, 7×7, 8×8, etc, so you have a wide range to choose according to your needs. The shelter configurations are many; you can construct a lean-to, A-frame, plow point, or diamond shape which can be used effectively to cover a hammock too, and many others. If the tarp is big enough, you can even make a small tipi or tent-type shelter. The weight of a tarp starts from half to a kilo and depends on the size and the material it is made from. If it is a polyester/sil nylon-made is lighter than a canvas-made one. As you can understand, a tarp is way less cumbersome to carry than a tent. It doesn’t provide much privacy, especially at smaller sizes, like a tent but that can be changed, according to the size and the setup configuration. The cost also varies, again depending on the materials and the size. A good polyester tarp, 7×7, starts at around $40-$50. And the price can be much higher if you are searching for a custom-made tarp.
Another lightweight alternative option to carry is a heavy-duty space blanket. The heavy-duty space blankets have a mylar surface on one side, that reflects 90% of the body heat. At the corners of the blanket, there are grommets, that allow you to anchor the blanket on the ground and a ridgeline. You can set up this blanket in different types of shelter configurations like a lean-to, A-frame, or plow point. You can have an open fire close to your shelter for warmth and cooking purposes. The size of such blankets is mostly standard,5×7 which is also one of their downside. The other downside is that they will not last for a great amount of time. Most of the blanket falls apart during high winds and the grommets are the first thing that are damaged, especially if you set up the blanket constantly. They are cheap though, and easily replaceable and there are few options with reinforced corners in the market. Overall, they are a great item to have either as an emergency item or as a supplement to your prior shelter.
The construction of shelters with natural materials is something that can be done of course, but this article refers to shelters that can be carried in the pack. These three are the best solutions for anyone to look for, in my opinion. I have to mention that the first line of defense is the appropriate clothing for the season, climate, and environment you are venturing into. If you have the correct layers, you can withstand the elements much better, and with the appropriate shelter, you will smooth your outdoor time.