The Best Bug Out Shelters

by Felix

In a perfect world we would all have a permanent well stocked survival retreat in an undisclosed location. But the reality is few of us have that luxury. In reading over a number of survival websites and forums there is much discussion about bugging out. Most have well stocked bug out bags, some have well stocked bug out vehicles that will take them anywhere but it seems there is not as much thought to what you are going to live in once you get there. I know some are bugging out to a family or friends cabin or hunting shack, others may be staying in a trailer or motorhome while others think they are going to build some type of rustic brush shelter in the woods when they get there. Now it is entirely possible to live in a rustic shelter. People have been living in huts, sod houses, bush shelters, and tents for thousands of years. That is fine if you grew up living in a hut with a dirt floor but most of us would not be very comfortable living that way for any length of time. If you have a reason to bug out, then the situation must have gotten pretty extreme. Chances are if you have to bug out of your current location then there is a good chance you may not have a home to come back to. Your bug out will not be temporary but a permanent relocation.

Some may have a dream of building a log cabin but how long will that take? A month? 6 months? What if you have never even cut down a single tree? If you are thinking about a log cabin then you may want to start cutting logs ahead of time and have them ready to go when the time comes. Tents are probably another option for many but what if you had bugged out to the Black Hills of South Dakota last week and had to survive 4 feet of snow? A tent would not be the best option. Even in warmer weather a week of rain can make life pretty uncomfortable in a tent. Even an expedition tent equipped with a wood stove may not be the best long-term solution.

Having some type of a permanent structure that would give better protection from the elements would be a preferred choice. If you are bugging out with your family it becomes even more important to have a warm dry shelter. If you don’t believe me try camping with the wife and kids for a long weekend in the rain. If you already own some land building a small shelter ahead of time would be ideal. There are a number of options available from prefab cabins that you can either build yourself from a kit or have a completed building trucked in and dropped on your site. The tiny house movement has shown it is possible to have a very comfortable shelter in a very small size. Most of the tiny houses being designed and built are built on a trailer to get around some zoning laws. A shelter on a trailer would allow you to bug out with your shelter in tow but how convenient that would be in a bug out situation would be anyone’s guess.

The other question you need to ask yourself is what if your preferred bug out location is no longer available either because it is no longer habitable or you can’t get to it. Even a well-stocked remote cabin will be of no use if you can’t get to it.

What is needed is a bug out shelter you can take with you anywhere, something that offers more protection than a tent or brush shelter made from natural materials. One that can be built quickly with little construction experience and something that doesn’t cost a fortune. Many prefab cabins and tiny houses could run you $15,000-$50,000. So, what type of shelter meets those criteria? Years ago I built a simple 12 x 12 shed on some wooded land I owned. I built it by myself in a week for about $1000 in materials. It wasn’t pretty but it got the job done. I was planning on converting it to a small cabin but plans changed and I never got it done. Over the years I looked at several prefab sheds and barns and thought they could be converted pretty easily into a livable cabin. I have always thought that the sheds the local building centers were nice but overpriced and you could probably build your own for less. Many hunting shacks started out life as a pre-built garage or shed so the idea is not a new one.

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