SNOW SHELTER COMPARISON

What type of snow shelter to pick for the night or for an emergency depends on the conditions and how much time you have. The table below summarizes the benefits and disadvantages of each type of snow shelter.

SHELTER
TYPE
SNOW TENT IGLOO  MOUND SHELTER SNOW CAVE COVERED TRENCH SHELTER
TIME REQUIRED A few minutes 2-3 man-hours 3-4 man-hours of work
+ 1 to 2 hours of waiting for the snow to settle.
1-2 man-hours 15 man minutes if snow is deep enough.
1 man hour if you need to build walls for it.
PICTURE

INSIDE TEMPER
ATURE
Cold, even the best snow tents don't approach good snow shelters. Very nice and warm if it's done right. As warm as an igloo. A well made snow cave is as warm as an igloo but that requires perfect conditions. Not as warm as an igloo but warmer than a tent.
SKILLS REQUIRED None You need to make a few practice igloos before you get one right. You need to make one for practice before you get one right. If conditions are good you can get very good results on your first try, the second one will be perfect. Very little, you'll learn as you go along.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS REQUIRED None Deep enough good consistency packed snow Enough snow Deep snow Deep enough snow or at least enough snow to build walls.
SUMMARY A tent is the easiest and fastest snow shelter to set up. They are also the coldes possible snow shelters. You also need to carry the tent with you, snow tents weigh around 9-12 pounds and cost $300 - $500. Igloos are great snow shelters, they are very warm and comfortable. They do require some skill to make. If you are a snow camper it's a great idea to learn how to make an igloo. Pretty much the same thing as an igloo but they take longer to make and are not as strong. This shelter is very hard work if you're alone since you need to haul the snow out of the hole at the same time as you're digging, it's much more efficient to separate the two tasks between two people. A snow cave is a great snow shelter if the conditions are right. But if the conditions are not perfect it won't be as good as an igloo, still better than a tent or a covered trench though. This shelter is very hard work if you're alone since you need to haul the snow out of the hole at the same time as you're digging, it's much more efficient to separate the two tasks between two people. Very fast to make if you are in a hurry. Warmer than a tent but not as warm as an igloo since it normally doesn't have a cold sink.
MORE INFO snow tent comparison how to make an igloo how to make a snow mound shelter how to make a snow cave how to build a snow trench shelter

 









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