Tarps come in handy for shelter from rain, sun, wind and snow. The tarp can also help protect the floor of your tent if you put the tarp down under the tent. It is also waterproof and could even be used for shelter construction. When synthetic fibers are added to wool blankets, they become softer and more durable. Most wool-blend blankets are fire retardant and machine washable.
Ponchos can serve a double purpose.
Not only can you wear them to keep the rain off of you, but you can also use them to build a lean-to or other type of shelter. It is good to have duct tape and rope or cord with you at all times in case of an emergency or other situation in which you would need to build a shelter. Duct tape and rope help aid in building shelter and save the hassle of having to improvise so much. We all know that Mother Nature is unpredictable and sometimes has a way of surprising us. Unexpected blizzards can catch us off guard, a lightning storm can suddenly ruin a good day of hiking, or an uncontrollable flood can cause roads to close and plans to change.