How to Make Shelters with a Poncho

The Poncho Lean-to

A poncho lean-to takes very little time to set up, as well as very few materials. You will need a poncho (obviously), about 10 feet of rope, 3 stakes, and a couple of trees that are 7 to 9 feet apart. It is important to note that when selecting the trees for your lean-to, you pick two trees that allow you position the poncho so that it shields you from the wind.

To make a poncho lean-to:

  1. Tie off the poncho's hood so that it does not allow wind or rain to pass through.
  2. Cut your rope in half and tie each piece to a corner of the "long side" of the poncho, and then attach a "drip stick" (a medium sized stick from the ground can be used) to each peice of rope. The drip stick keeps water from running down the rope and into your shleter.
  3. Tie the other end of each piece of rope to the trees you have chosen at about waist height. NOTE ** Remember to position the lean-to so that it shields you from the wind. **
  4. Spread out the bottom of the lean-to and secure it to the ground using your 3 stakes. If you do not have stakes, you can improvise by sharpening one end of three sticks.

The Poncho Tent

A poncho tent is good for providing protection from the elements on two sides. One draw-back is that you won't have as much room to work inside the shelter.

The materials needed to build a poncho tent are: a poncho, two ropes about 6 to 8 feet long each, 6 stakes (or sharpened sticks), and 2 trees that are about 7 to 9 feet apart.

To make the poncho tent:

  1. Tie off the poncho's hood so that it does not allow wind or rain to pass through.
  2. At both ends of the poncho, tie a piece of your rope to the center grommet. NOTE ** A 'grommet' is a reinforced eyelet (hole). If your poncho does not have any grommets, you may have to make your own...just be careful. **
  3. Tie the other ends of the ropes to two trees (that are 7 - 9 feet apart) at about knee height.
  4. Pull one end of the poncho tight and secure it to the ground with 3 stakes or sharpened sticks. Repeat on the other side.

If you find that you need a center support, you can tie one end of a line to the poncho's hood, and attach the other end to an over-hanging branch. If an over-hanging branch is not available, an A-frame can be build over the tent, on the outside of the poncho. This is done with two, 3 to 4 feet long branches, one with a fork on one end. Lean the limbs together over the middle of your tent and secure the hood of the poncho to the top of the A-frame using any sort of binding material.