Survival Shelter - Debris Hut Myths 

The debris hut is a transitionary shelter requiring no tools to build. It requires no cordage and keeps one warm well below freezing. We use it for the first four to six days before moving on to longer term shelters. It takes this long to forage for and craft water containers, fire, traps, snares, and stone and bone tools. It is a low profile shelter by nature, hard to detect at close range, even masking radiant body heat if built correctly. Hope this helps!

this is one of the best vids on you tube when it comes to showing how a good debris hut should look a strong water proof construction great job guys

@mrscaryspider YES! Thank you! Most folks make their first (and biggest) mistake by building an enormous interior, perhaps with the mindset that it should look like a bedroom. Unlike a house, the debris hut relies on body heat to keep you warm. It is SUPPOSED to be as hard to get in as a mummy sleeping bag nearly zipped up, because that is how it works. Thank you for that valuable and often overlooked observation! Respect!

It's important to not give trolls or armchair survivalists any energy, but it's equally important to put a stop to all the misinfo they spread. You did an excellent job of both and proved that debris shelters are stable, water proof and long lasting.

Good demonstration

Friends, always carry a folded-up tarp or large piece of clear plastic sheeting whenever you go outdoors. It makes shelter-making so much more effective in many ways. Keep one in your vehicle at all times, too.

Correct, provided it is built correctly. The tolerances take some practice, but once you have it you can build it intuitively.

Thanks for sharing with us. I stayed in a similar shelter solo for three nights. I had nothing over the branches but pine straw. It rained off and on but I was dry inside. On the last day I was graded for the shelter and other tasks. The shelter received a no-go because the covering was not one meter thick. The grader would not listen to the fact that it kept me dry for three nights of rain.

Yeah, because rain falls like that.......................

@MissLadyboy007 An initial smudge of punky wood or wet leaves drives out the insects and spiders. The secret to a mosquito free night is two feet of debris and an igloo style door about a third the length of your shelter. They can get thick here, so a basket weave door plug makes it relaibly bug free after your initial smudge.

@masterofsedition1 Soil rich in organic material would have the same effect as the leaves without as much porosity. This means you would have to add more organic soil in order to achieve the same insulating effect. The rain run of, or in this case, the ten gallons of water pured directly on the shelter, is shed mostly by the shape of the structure and the thickness oof the debris. Minumum required is about two feet, for water as well as mosquitos/black flies.

Nice hut, Fit for a hobbit! "Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell," :)

Hey mike did not get wet when he climbed on top of the shelter that makes me wonder if you guys were useing dry water for the rain test ?

@BBP081 We've lived in them mutiple weeks, to include prolonged heavy rain events without leaks. It is just too boring to show on video. Plus, we have too much going on with classes and training for such a lengthy project right now. But it is definetely something to consider. Thanks!

Do you get enough air if you sleep with the doorplug in all night?

Why would people criticize a debris hut? People have been using them for thousands of years...

Someone mentioned snakes in the comments below. If you sprinkle moth balls around the perimeter, would that keep snakes and spiders away?

Good job!!!

I'm in Lincoln where are you guys located in Maine id love to beable learn in person someday

New to this whole mind set. But eager to learn before it's to late. I was wondering if you were to dig down inside the shelter. So you're sleeping below ground level. Any thought on that idea? Is it not a good idea? Or Bad?

I always wonderd if they leaked or not

yes good job

Very nice debris hut! What about spiders and other creepy crawlies? I suppose if they bother you, then you aren't the wilderness survival type. lol

hhehe,, that was great, im on my way out, i think i start to make my self one fredde

One spark you buggered! apart from that...not bad

I live debris shelters.

that's far from having it rain all night, bro. The leaves rot in short order, folks. They are mostly not available.

Does anyone else hate the super loud toyota commercials on here?

Just don't build one over an ant colony like I did one time, :)

I heard you should pee around you perimeter to keep animals away.

How do you deal with the ticks in dibris shelters

How the hell is it so sturdy to hold a grown man?

Very late comment but great video. Less warm if all the leaves are wet to start with of course. The other point to remember is how much time and energy it takes to build one. It’s not something to start when it’s getting dark so for someone lost in the woods they need to allow a good few hours. And remember the deep bed of leaves inside.

Good job on waterproofing it, but I like to be able to get in and out a little faster.

In this area, the four common lianna's (propper name for woody vine like structures) are too brittle (asiatic bitter sweet, and canada moonseed) or are too valuable as a food and water source for all manner of wild life to use as cordage. The substrate was too delicate to harvest rootlets (eastern hemlock, balsam fir, spruce, and pine ssp. the preferred cordage plants). The understory was thick enough to warrant pruning.

@MrCableguyken While the debris hut is sound enough to walk on top of, it is also easy to push out a wall if you need a quick exit. I learned this after entering a debris hut I left unattended for a few weeks waiting for the "coldest day of the year". Apparently, the raccoon I disturbed had the same idea. Making a "debris hut" in to a "lean to" is not generally recommended if you want to keep warm below freezing without need of a fire.

Well done guys!

The green leaves are from the fresh saplings, in this case Sugar maple, used to make the door plug hoops. Good eye!

just put a tarp over the frame then pile the debris on....even more waterproof,

I think a better test for water proofing would be to get a garden hose with a head that makes spray, aim it so it arcs up and then down on to the shelter for 8 hours, check every hour for water accumulation by dabbing the inside with paper towel and ring it out into cups to measure water volume. Do this with a few different types of shelters and compare. The test would be time consuming, but it looks like you guys enjoy using your spare time for this anyway.

Ok I have tried this as well but when it raining day after day for like a week.you will have some leakage. the next problem i have found is having to stay in this when its raining for a week.

the fresh green leaves do not stick out with the pile of dead debris

Awsome job guys!goes to show that a debris shelter done right can save a life when the chips are down and you know what you're doing.keep up the great vids guys!cheers.

I built it up to 3 feet on top and side's but with steady down pour for 5 days waters going to seep in

nice as I seen from Main primitive skills folks videos sound advice and best tips out on you tube, respect to all the dirt time those folk put in.

Great stuff Guys, Thanks so much.

how many feet of debris did you put on initially?

That was really cool. Thanks for posting this video.

freaking awesome video!!

Cool vid guys

Wow

So thermal imaging will not detect you while in this shelter?