Tips for Comfort in a Primitive Camp
Dr. John Woods 11.13.17
Maybe you have seen photos of preppers huddling under a tarp in a rain storm just trying to endure. Doesn’t sound very inviting does it? Trust me, it is not. This is why pre-planning to set up a decent campsite under SHTF conditions is so important. After all, a big part of survival is staying comfortable, warm (or cool), and dry.
If rough camping is the mode you choose to hole up during a SHTF, make the best plans possible to be as comfortable and settled as you can. You don’t have to live under a bridge or on a rain-soaked mud flat. What you have to do is plan a camp that will provide the basic essentials of survivability under the best conditions possible.
This has to start with a decent escape from the elements. Get out of the sun, rain, and other weather that can make camping nasty. Since we’re talking primitive, that will be a tent of some kind, one that will provide secure cover.
Shop for a tent that is easy to deploy, even in the dark by flashlight. Make sure it is roomy enough so elbows are not knocking one another. More floor space is better than less. Shop where tents are set up to inspect the features and quality. Try out the zippers, doors, windows, mosquito netting, and the floor. The floor needs to be heavy duty.
Be certain everything is included with the tent that you’ll need to set it up properly — stakes, tie down ropes, etc. You’d be smart to buy an extra super-heavy-duty ground cloth to set the tent over. This provides an extra moisture barrier to help keep water from soaking up from the ground.
As you shop, use every available resource to research what is available. Search the internet to read about brands and product reviews. Talk to others who camp and even visit some campgrounds, walk around and talk to campers.
Choose some creature comforts. Sleeping pads, quality sleeping bags, and as many amenities you can afford that are packable and easy to handle both inside and out. If you’re cooking on fires, get basic campfire grills, and hangers, heavy cookware, and all else. Have some folding tables and chairs, too.
SHTF’s are tough enough, but there is no reason to have to exist in the mud. Prepare for a good camp to help you make the most of it. Get plenty of practice doing just that.
