The Advantages of Lean-To Shelters

The lean-to is a simple survival shelter with numerous benefits. The shelter does require materials to build and it does not work well with a fire inside the shelter, but it provides many advantages over more complex survival structures. The lean-to is taught in survival schools as a top choice for temporary shelter construction.

  1. Construction

    • The lean-to holds an advantage over many survival shelters because it is easy to construct. Half of the shelter is built before you begin the construction process. The lean-to is built by locating a downed log, boulder or other object you lean poles against to build the shelter. The poles are quickly set against the object and covered with branches, leaves and other natural foliage to complete the shelter. The lean-to does not require any lashing or advanced skills to complete in a rudimentary form.

    Slope

    • The sloped side of the lean-to provides a path for wind and moisture. The slope may be adjusted, based on the weather, with a steep incline for snow and heavy rain or a slight incline for extreme wind. Shelters with vertical walls are in direct contact with the wind and are likely to become damaged.

    Flexibility

    • The flexibility of the lean-to shelter is a major advantage. The slope is quickly adjusted by placing extra rocks or sticks between the stable object and the roof poles. You may gradually add materials to the roof to create a better shelter, and lashing the roof poles to cross poles is possible for a more permanent shelter. Add a wall to one side to make a semi-enclosed shelter for extreme conditions. The lean-to is also quickly destroyed after short-term use to remove any trace of occupancy.

    Materials

    • Lean-to materials are an advantage because they do not have rigid dimensional requirements and any form of cover is a potential roof layer. The average lean-to does require some wood to construct, and extreme desert and tundra environments limit your options. The materials are available in most environments and any rigid material may be substituted for the typical wood roof poles.