Lean To or Debris Hut-Which is better?

:cool: So we all have our favorite type of shelter, but which do you prefer the best? I prefer the Debris Hut as I find it easier to make than the lean to, then again neither one takes too long if you do it properly. Still the debris hut has my vote.
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1...shutvm1.th.png
Here's one I made to show my son how it's done.
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2...shutux9.th.png
Although alot easier in the summer and actually I wouldn't use one in the summer, but oh well he learned a good skill then we built a lean-to and he liked that better as he didn't like feeling so enclosed in the forest.

I like the lean-to design, we have a lot of pine trees here. With an oval fire in front backed up with a reflecting wall it is good in the late fall even in winter.
I line the back inside wall of the lean to with a mylar blanket to act as a reflector oven to keep my back as well as my front warm.

Lean-to Pros:

1_ less material used
2_ easy to construct
3_ minimal tools used

Debris Hut Pros:

1_ provides more protection from the elements, easier to warm/maintain
2_ little thought involved once frame constructed
3_ long-term
4_ can bring a small warming fire into the housing

Lean-to Cons:

1_ requires fuel-hungry accompaniment fire for warmth
2_ may not be adequate for the weather
3_ needs to be positioned according to wind, which may not maintain course throughout the night

Debris Hut Cons:

1_ requires logs or large limbs to construct adequate frame
2_ time/material constraints may not allow the minimum of 2ft of debris cover

Yes Mitch, but which one do YOU prefer?

Each has its own value. I'd say that it depends on conditions. Actually when at all possible I'd opt for niether. No shelter means 360 degree vision and range of mobility. The difference in life and death.

To answer your question though, in extreme cold the debris hut would be preferable but otherwise the lean to would be a decent compromise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beowulf65

Yes Mitch, but which one do YOU prefer?

---

There is no preference. It's all based on the situation at hand and the pros/cons I listed.

For cold weather I modify the lean-to that I showed on the "night trouble" thread. I have to take a picture of the real thing, but until then this picture will give you an idea what it looks like. This lean-to is first covered with half of the tarp, the ends are enclosed, the bed is the same as shown on the other thread, throw some litter on it and the lean-to. The other half of tarp is rolled back on top of the shelter to be folded over the front if needed. Notice the size difference. No fire...this is cold camping at it's best.


http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...rs/leanto2.gif

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mitch.chesney

Lean-to Pros:

1_ less material used
2_ easy to construct
3_ minimal tools used

Debris Hut Pros:

1_ provides more protection from the elements, easier to warm/maintain
2_ little thought involved once frame constructed
3_ long-term
4_ can bring a small warming fire into the housing

Lean-to Cons:

1_ requires fuel-hungry accompaniment fire for warmth
2_ may not be adequate for the weather
3_ needs to be positioned according to wind, which may not maintain course throughout the night

Debris Hut Cons:

1_ requires logs or large limbs to construct adequate frame
2_ time/material constraints may not allow the minimum of 2ft of debris cover

---

Very good synopsis.

Of course, it all depends upon context. For example, my hut made during the winter didn't require large limbs, but if you make one for the longer term and larger, then yes it may.

lean to most of the time debris hut in the cold

Good points from all and thanks, this weekend I'll try a lean-to like corndog44 posted looks pretty promising, although the debris hut has better concealment and cover from wondering eyes, but then again I'm not being hunted or trying to avoid anyone :D

Beowulf don't forget to take wool blankets with ya.

Debris hut over lean to every time for one person.

If it's really cold and I have the resources then debris hut. Most of the time neither one.

I choose tarp. I always bring a tarp :)

i think i should point out that if a lean-to is madefrom dead-fall, scavenged materials or the like, then it is in fact a debris sheltr.

knowlege of the construction techniques an 'types' of shelters is useful in understanding thier construction, but you had better be building one to suit the materials available and the threats of the environment, without so much thought to what you would call it in a book.

Does anyone know the difference of a debris hut and an A-frame shelter / Can an A-frame shelter be made with a cot thing to keep you off of the ground.

any one know how to make a 4 man debris hut

i can make many 4 man debris shelters. the one illustrated above would not be well suited to 4 people, as it would have to be huge to be wide enough to acomodate 4.as it's sloped on both sides, the top is higher than need be and the sides are lower than is useful. that's a lot of free air.

if i where to try something similar, i might make one about 2 to 3 times as wide, by using two ridge-poles, with the ground end sharing a common point on the ground. in this fassion the poles for a 'v'. i would slope the far sides of each ridge-pole down as the sides of the shelter at top and join the polles across the middle. this makes a wider shelter with the center not so high. less free air means less air to warm. the front is then still open to a hear source if fire can be made.

shelters like these can be made rather warm and easy to heat. i highly recommend placing a 1' or greater depth of what ever material you can insulate with, and making the thatching at least this depth aswell. if it is realy cold, the deeper the better. the earth can be a terrible conductive heat thief, and drafts are a killer. if you need a debris shelter in the cold, you had better feel closed in.

At -40c its the Lean-to everytime. Really of course it the waist high parallel fire 1 step away that is better which has nothing to do with the shelter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BruceZed

At -40c its the Lean-to everytime. Really of course it the waist high parallel fire 1 step away that is better which has nothing to do with the shelter.

---

Know what you mean there Bruce, time kind of is of the essence when your nose hairs are freezing.

it only matters with the weather on what to put up for a shelter but i like the debris hut

What are you doing out in -40C anyway? That ain't right I don't care who you are.....

I tried to build a lean to once and built it backwards. Turned into a lean from.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rick

I tried to build a lean to once and built it backwards. Turned into a lean from.

---

So did ya have to follow a circuitous route to find the entrance after that?

It rained that night but I kept the leap from dry. Of course I got wet.

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