How to Build a Windbreaker For Your Shelter

[cajunlady87]

If you plan on camping in an area for an extended period of time you may want to consider building a windbreaker wall around your tent or wilderness shelter. It could make a difference in strengthening your tent or shelter while wind gusts from rainstorms are unrelenting. Again if it's during the winter those wind gusts can be brutal and a windbreaker wall will help you stay warmer. Everything you need can be found in your surroundings in the woods. Since most tents have corners I'll use a tent as an example.

Items needed are: 16 strong branches at least between 3-4' in length sharpened on one end to drive them into the ground, something to pound them into the ground and other branches and leaves to use as fillers.

To start, at the left front corner of your tent, pound a stick into the ground about 12" from the tent. Proceed to the left back corner doing the same. Next, do the back of the tent pounding two sticks in the ground like before and working your way to the opposite back corner and doing the same. Then do the right side like you did the left side of the tent. Remember when you do the front to leave space to get in your tent. As an afterthought, if your tent measurements are long you can add sticks to the middle between the corners to compensate for short sticks you're using as fillers.

Once you finish pounding sticks all around tent the first time, start at the left corner again. Behind the first stick leave about a 6" space and pound your other stick in the ground behind it. Keep doing this behind each stick you previously stuck in the ground. This is the area around the tent we will stuff with other sticks and leaves to make the wall. You will have a 6" windbreaker wall all around the tent or your shelter.

Once you have all sixteen sticks firmly in the ground, next comes adding strength against wind gusts and insulation to remain warmer. For this you will be using extra sticks and leaves as filling. To start, lay some branches on the ground then cover those with leaves. Repeat this process until you reach the top of the sticks. Continue going around to all the sticks you've pounded in the ground until finished.

There is a lot involved to make this windbreaker but for certain situations having the knowledge to make one could be resourceful.

[garret]

we made willow lattice windbreaks where we used to camp down by the river (we would go a couple of imes a month so these were pretty permanent afairs) they are an ecellent way to keep the wind away, plus they make a good heat reflector for the fire if you place them about 5 foot away from the fire, far enough not to burn but near enough to bounce the heat back

[cajunlady87]

Sept 21, 2013 8:50:46 GMT -7 garret said:

we made willow lattice windbreaks where we used to camp down by the river (we would go a couple of imes a month so these were pretty permanent afairs) they are an ecellent way to keep the wind away, plus they make a good heat reflector for the fire if you place them about 5 foot away from the fire, far enough not to burn but near enough to bounce the heat back

Great post garret, thanks for sharing it with us.

You just gave me another idea with it. In my area we have saw palmettos with wide fronds. If I tied string from one length of sticks to the next, I could intertwine these within the sticks I'm laying on the ground and working my way to the top with, and they would be great fillers to block the wind.

[northernbc]

in the winter getting out of the wind can be the difference between serious frost bite and or death.

[cajunlady87]

Oct 4, 2013 15:25:50 GMT -7 northernbc said:

in the winter getting out of the wind can be the difference between serious frost bite and or death.

I truly believe what you say. Although my area seldom sees snow, there are days the temps get very low and the gusts of wind just cut into your body depleting its warmth. If you're ever in a situation where you're needing to seek shelter in these cold weather conditions, then the windbreaker wall will play a significant role in keeping you warmer.

[garret]

they also make good snow fences in winter and once the show is piled against them they are completely wind proof too (dont ask me how i know lol)

[angelhelp]

As much as I love winter and the cooler temperatures, I'm the first to admit that the wind can magnify things well past "uncomfortable". There've been times when I see windproof clothing on sale, e.g. windproofed fleece (nice & fuzzy!), that I've bought in the hopes of keeping Airborne & MirkwoodWanderer warm. For me, just walking around is sufficient to maintain body heat even in the extremities unless I've been chilled to the bone, but their body type requires more protection. A damp day with a stiff breeze invariably feels worse than the coldest temperatures I've experienced. During the Blizzard of '77 in the Buffalo, NY area, my ears were a little cool, a situation mediated with earmuffs. The wind chill was impressive -- if memory serves, it was -70F -- but walking outdoors was plenty to keep me toasty even though I was on the lean side of my so-called ideal weight at the time. MW, in anticipation of my birthday on Monday, gave me a new sleeping pad. I can't wait for a nice cool weekend to test it!

[offtrail]

For sure getting out of the wind can save a life.

[Redneckidokie]

Yea I can take a lot of pure cold but not with a cold wind up my dress tail.

[woodyz]

Get back from the water past the high water line and find a tree blown-over in a storm

capitalismisfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-Shot-2015-09-15-at-9.34.24-AM-1.jpg

Most storm winds out of the South here so trees blown down pointing North, which is where the "cold" wind comes from

build the shelter with that root as your wind break and your fire/heat reflector and plenty of wood from the downed tree

same with a good sized log to the North if one fell east or west

just another option

[cajunlady87]

Oops, I had forgot a step so I printed it in bold type for those interested.