How to Make a Poncho Shelter

Keeping weight to a minimum is always an advantage when hiking, fishing or hunting -- and one of the best ways to keep weight down is to carry items capable of serving double-duty. Lightweight and able to roll up to the size of your fist, rain ponchos are compact enough to take anywhere. In addition to rain gear that will keep you dry in a storm, a poncho also makes a quick emergency shelter.

Things You'll Need

  • Paracord
  • Knife
  • Mallet (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a length of paracord, with a knife, long enough to stretch between two trees. Tie the paracord between the trees at the height at which you wish to make the shelter. Drape the poncho over the paracord, with the hood centered at the top of the cord.

    • 2

      Break off four 1-foot long stakes from a dead tree limb. Whittle a point at one end of each stake with the knife.

    • 3

      Cut four lengths of paracord with the knife. Make the cord long enough to reach from the corners of the poncho to the ground and add 1 foot to the length of the cord. Make a half-hitch knot in one end of each of the four lengths of cord; form a loop with the end of the cord, tuck the tag end of the cord through the loop, leaving the knot in a loose loop. Allow a 6-inch tag end of cord on the end of the knots.

    • 4

      Pull 2 inches of material at each corner of the poncho through the half-hitches in the paracord. Pull the knots tight. Fold the material sticking through the loop of the cord over on itself. Tie a square knot around the folded-over corners of the poncho with the tag end of the paracord. Create a square knot by forming a loop with the cord so the tag end is on the left. Tuck the tag end of the cord under the left side of the loop. Bring the tag end of the cord up through the loop and then over, under and through the right side of the loop. Pull the knot tight.

    • 5

      Drive the stakes into the ground with a mallet -- or use a rock located onsite. Tie the ends of the paracord to the stakes with a square knot.

    • 6

      Roll up the hood of the poncho and push the hood through the neck opening, pinning the hood between the inside of the poncho and the paracord.