{"id":3587,"date":"2010-04-28T15:55:47","date_gmt":"2010-04-28T22:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/?p=3587"},"modified":"2013-04-15T11:32:39","modified_gmt":"2013-04-15T18:32:39","slug":"make-a-garbage-bag-shelter-part-of-your-survival-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/make-a-garbage-bag-shelter-part-of-your-survival-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"Make a Garbage Bag Shelter Part of Your Survival Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Leon Pantenburg<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure how the early settlers along the Oregon Trail or the western frontier\u00a0\u00a0got along without duct tape, WD-40 or\u00a0trash bags, but life surely would have been easier with them!<\/p>\n

Trash \u00a0bags, in particular, are included in all my survival kits. They have a multitude of uses, including being containers for picking up trash! But\u00a0in an emergency,\u00a0 when correctly used, trash bags can prove a quick, temporary shelter from the elements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> This 55-gallon trash can liner can provide a quick emergency shelter. (All photos by Peter Kummerfeldt)<\/div>\n

I first noticed this trash bag shelter use\u00a0 at an Iowa State University football game in the early 70s. The weather got really bad during the half, with snow, rain and wind. But one row of die-hard Cyclones pulled out a roll of plastic trash bags, cut holes for their heads and arms, and weathered the storm. I don\u2019t recall how the football team did!<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve taken shelter in trash bags on a variety of outdoor activities. Trash bags are particularly valuable on hunting trips, because a large bag gives you a place to lay meat while you\u2019re butchering.<\/p>\n

Obviously, if you anticipate bad weather, be prepared for it, stay home or take along a\u00a0 lightweight, four season backpacking tent. ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 8- by 5-Foot Two- to Three-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent<\/a>\"\" .<\/p>\n

But, c\u2019mon, how many of you are going to lug around a tent on every outing? Most of us will carry it a time or\u00a0two, and eventually, the tent will end up getting left at the trailhead. Then, some day late in the afternoon, you realize you\u2019re lost or in a survival situation. You\u2019ll have to\u00a0 build some sort of shelter before it gets dark.<\/p>\n

Reality shows to the contrary, you probably won\u2019t be able to build a shelter out of natural materials, says survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it is impossble for the survivor to build a waterproof, windproof shelter from natural materials,\u201d\u00a0Peter writes in Surviving a Wilderness Emergency<\/a>\"\".\u00a0 \u201cShelters made from natural materials require time, natural resources, a cutting tool and a fully-functional survivor who has practiced building emergency shelters in the past! The survivor needs a waterproof, windproof shelter now!\u201d<\/p>\n

Large, heavy grade (3 or 4 mil) 55-gallon drum liners <\/a>can make a good short term shelter. But don\u2019t just crawl in and hunker down.\u00a0Like any survival technique, you need to prepare and practice to use this shelter.<\/p>\n

\u201cTotally encapsulating yourself inside a plastic bag is not a good idea,\u201d\u00a0Peter advises. \u201cApart from the need for oxygen, the water vapor in the air you exhale, and your prespiration, will condense on the inner surfaces, and you will get quite wet.\u201d<\/p>\n

To avoid this problem, cut an opening in the closed end of the bag with your survival knife, SRK, Black Kraton Handle, Plain<\/a>\"\" or the scissors\u00a0 on your multi-tool Leatherman 831087 Wave Multitool and Monarch 300 Multitool\/Flashlight Combo Set<\/a>\"\" just large enough to allow you to pass your head through. The bag is then passed over your head until your face aligns with the hole and the moist air is exhaled outside.<\/p>\n

To make the hole,\u00a0Peter advises cutting the plastic at a 90-degree angle along a seam about five inches below one corner. The hole should be just big enough to pass your head through when you are getting too warm.<\/p>\n

This shelter \u00a0technique very well. In Boy Scout Troop 18, we keep a roll of 45-gallon plastic bags from one of the local tire stores. Each scout takes one on hikes or campouts, in case they need to improvise a shelter, rain poncho or pack cover.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The smaller bags are just the right size \u00a0to cover the little guys from head to toe.<\/p>\n

Trash bags for shelters are easy to come by. Your local hardware store will probably have contractor-grade 45 and 55 gallon bags. You can also look in the storage area. I found 55-gallon, 3-mill bright yellow bags, designed to cover furniture \u00a0for long term storage,\u00a0that will work quite well as shelters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Include an insulated pad for sitting upon, because the plastic bag doesn’t have any insulation.<\/div>\n

Color is another consideration. I prefer blaze orange or bright yellow to help rescuers find me. But if you want to avoid being found, just get the standard black color.\u00a0 Get in the shade of a tree, under a black bag and you will\u00a0be pretty well camoflauged. A large white bag, also in the shade of a tree, will allow you to blend in well with snow.<\/p>\n

I carry several tire bags, along with an orange 55-gallon heavy duty bag as part of my Ten Essentials survival kit\u00a0and my hunting gear. My orange bag already has a head hole cut. In a pinch, per Peter\u2019s advice, I\u2019ll stick my feet in a smaller bag, pull it up around my waist and pull the orange bag down over me.<\/p>\n

Also, as recommended by Peter, I always carry a piece of insulite foam for sitting upon. The plastic bag\u00a0provides no insulation, and the cold ground will suck the heat right out of you. The padded, warm seat will make waiting to be found much more comfortable!<\/p>\n

Obviously, an emergency shelter is just that. It is designed \u00a0to be used in an emergency, and nobody ever claimed a trash bag shelter is the best choice under any and all circumstances. \u00a0But a trash bag is light, will give you a waterproof shelter from nasty weather, and is compact and light enough to be taken anywhere. Remember this thought when you\u2019re putting together a survival kit, bug-out bag or a set of wilderness or urban survival tools:<\/p>\n

No piece of survival equipment is worth anything if you don\u2019t have it with you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recommended Reading:
\n<\/strong>Surviving a Wilderness Emergency<\/a>\"\"
\nBuild the Perfect Survival Kit<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n

For more related SurvivalCommonSense.com tips and stories, click on the highlighted words: <\/strong><\/p>\n