5 Best Survival Shelter Setups with an 8x10 Tarp

Unless you love the feeling of being cramped under a layer of canvas or poly, 8x10 is the minimum size tarp you will need to make a shelter for one person with gear. There are plenty of other tarp options, but the 8x10 is a good balance between coverage and still being easy to transport.

Not all tarp shelter setups work well with an 8x10 tarp, though. The rectangular shape isn’t ideal for tarp setups that have diagonal ridge lines. Likewise, any setup with lots of folds will be cramped inside. For example, the bivvy bag setup isn’t great with an 8x10 tarp because your feet may end up hitting the back wall, which can cause condensation issues.

The following three tarp shelter setups are great for 8x10 tarps because they maximize interior space while still providing great protection.

1. A-Frame Tarp Shelter

The A-frame is one of the most essential tarp shelter setups. It is easy to set up and you can change the slope of the walls to adjust interior space. The downside is that the A-frame is open on two sides, so wind and rain can get in. However, it’s not open enough that you can have a fire in front of it.

2. Holden Tent

The Holden tent tarp shelter is a simple design requiring only four stakes. You can suspend it from a ridge line (as shown in the diagram) or use a pole in the middle. It isn’t fully enclosed but still provides good protection from almost all sides.

3. C-Fly

The C-fly tarp shelter doesn’t offer as much protection as the Holden tent because it is open on the sides, but it is less claustrophobic. You can set up a fire in front of the shelter for warmth. Adjust the height and angles of the wall and roof for more protection or to get more headroom.

4. Plow Point

The plow point tarp shelter can be pitched in minutes. It doesn’t require a ridge line because its top point is tied to a tree. Like the C-fly, the plow point tarp setup is highly adjustable. You can tie it lower to get a larger footprint with less headroom or tie it higher for a shelter that is comfortable to sit under. With an 8x10 tarp, one side of the shelter will be slightly larger than the other. This larger side should be towards the wind to provide better protection.

5. Forester Tarp Shelter

The Forester tarp shelter has several folds and a pole in the middle, so there isn’t as much interior space as with the other tarp setups here. However, it offers the most protection. The forester is usually made with a square tarp, but it also works well with an 8x10 tarp.