tarp shelter advice.

**kyratshooter** · 12-18-2014, 06:58 PM

Tarps are where you find them and limited only by ones imagination and the materials they can find or afford.

I have slept many a pleasant night, and a couple of very nervous ones, in tarps made from every material imagined. Poly, plastic, canvas, waterproofed Egyptian cotton bed sheets, sylon, tyvek, even 4 mil 40 gallon contractors trash bags split and duct taped together. I spent a weekend under a shower curtain once and cheated my way through one historic reenactment under a rubberized window drapery liner.

In the service a poncho was the all purpose shelter and I still keep an OD canvas commie block poncho in each vehicle (the Russians still make them out of canvas), as well as a couple of the polytarps Harbor Freight gives away with any purchase if you have a coupon.

When in bear country, a tactical environment or possibility of a sasquatch attack I prefer a tarp for the visibility and open access/escape.

My favorite is a plow point set up because the traditional lean-too has never worked out well for me if there was any wet or cold weather involved.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tyve...2&ved=0CC0QsAQ

**finallyME** · 12-19-2014, 10:24 AM

How strong and durable? Do you want it lightweight or is weight not a factor? A canvas tarp is HEAVY. But, it is very durable. A cheap poly tarp is not as durable and a little lighter. A ripstop nylon tarp coated with polyurethane is lighter and more durable than a poly tarp, but costs more. A silnylon tarp is even lighter and costs even more.

**natertot** · 12-19-2014, 01:29 PM

Kyrat, I might be wrong, but I thought that Tyvek was only water resistant on the "writing side" of the material. It is my understanding that the blank side always goes towards the structure and allows moisture to escape to prevent it from being sealed in and causing damage. Never used the stuff so I really don't know. I just saw it in your link used many time backwards if I am correct.

**kyratshooter** · 12-19-2014, 02:11 PM

Tyvek does have a slick side and rough side.

I have always used the slick side out, but I also have only used tyvek as roof material for debris shelters and not really as a stand alone tarp shelter. Makes an excellent roof for a "half faced cabin".

That is what I used it for when building a "base camp" on the back of my farm a few years ago. It crackles and snaps too much for my approval but it would beat being cold and wet.

It was the "go to" material for shelter building on some of the forums back when TEOTWAWKI was eminent and certain.

They had probably not yet discovered Harbor Freight.

The link was the result of a google search and probably has a lot "wrong" in one way or another.

Anyone remember that Alaskan Survival challenge show that was on a few years back where the contestants used polytarps to build "Yukon packs" using bungees, paracord and web strapping? Each night they unloaded the packs and used then as shelter.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yuko...2&ved=0CD0QsAQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb79ATSEZBc

**finallyME** · 12-19-2014, 02:57 PM

Tyvek doesn't have two different sides. It is continuous throughout.

**kyratshooter** · 12-19-2014, 03:35 PM

You may be correct since I have not touched a piece of it in a decade.

It just seems I remember it having a smooth side and a fuzzy side sort of like tin foil.

**crashdive123** · 12-19-2014, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by kyratshooter

You may be correct since I have not touched a piece of it in a decade.

It just seems I remember it having a smooth side and a fuzzy side sort of like tin foil.

They make hats out of Tyvek?