Tipi camping anyone?

L

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Anyone besides me have a tipi for base camping with the family? I enjoy mine very much. It is an eighteen foot lodge from Blue Star. Great for getting groups together. If I was single it would be a real chick magnet. It seems that fewer people have them at the blackpowder events now. Don't know if it is cost or ease in setting up and tearing down.
 
I've seen them but never got the chance to use one, so I have some questions for you.

How many poles does your tipi have? I know it may sound silly but I've seen some with only 1 pole sticking out the top and some with more than one pole.

If your tipi only has one pole is the rest just held in place with stakes?

How sturdy is that configuration?

Does your tipi have the double wall like the old ones had, with the outside wall raised from the ground to facilitate a draft to pull the smoke out?

David
 
the family and I have a tipi for base camping. We love it. We just set it up in the woods at home and try and get out there as often as we can.
 
Used to own and use a 12' lodge for rendezvous gatherings and most other camping. It was not hard to set up/tear down once you learned a few tricks, and mine had the inner half-wall for draft so a fire made it really cozy in cooler weather. I loved it!
 
I'd LOVE to have one but they're sooo expensive. When I did the 7-day survival training at Briar Patch Outdoors with George Hedgepeth, he had a big tipi set up for the week. We got together every night around a camp fire and hung out. It was awesome.

Here's a couple shots:
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IMG_1259.jpg


IMG_1260.jpg
 
Echo4v said:
I've seen them but never got the chance to use one, so I have some questions for you.

How many poles does your tipi have? I know it may sound silly but I've seen some with only 1 pole sticking out the top and some with more than one pole.

If your tipi only has one pole is the rest just held in place with stakes?

How sturdy is that configuration?

Does your tipi have the double wall like the old ones had, with the outside wall raised from the ground to facilitate a draft to pull the smoke out?

David
Click to expand...
I use 17 poles on my lodge "tipi". The tripod poles are some of the thickest. Then the poles are laid into the top of the tripod in an exact manner. Your lift rope that ties the three poles together is then wrapped around all of the poles in the crotch and staked down. You have your strongest pole left. It's your lift pole and the outside skin is tied to it and hoisted up. Open the canvas up, lace in the front section. Stake it out around the lodge and kick your poles out to made it taught. You now have two poles left to insert into pockets on the top flaps so you can move them around depending on the wind direction. It creates a venturi and fresh air is sucked up from the bottom between the dew cloth, that inside curtain, and the outer skin. I use the dew cloth in the summer as well. Keeps things private and I think makes it cooler inside. You can also lift the outside skin so you can get cross breezes. One day I will post some pictures for you. In the winter you put an ozan, a canvas roof just just on top of the dew cloth. This helps hold the heat in. I like them. Not ultralite but what an experience. They are very sturdy, in bad weather the wind just whips around them. I am concerned during a lightening storm. Tall poles out in the open.
 
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You will get less smoke in your eyes if you sit closer to the ground. They really look great set up more primitive inside. Thanks for your pics.
 
I think it would be a great way to go camping, however, as previously stated, there is no way I can afford one of the things.
 
I WILL HAVE A TIPI SOMEDAY.

Ive always wanted one. Im seriously lookin at the Kifaru ones. I cant think of a better way to enjoy a family winter camp then a Tipi w/stove.

Brian Andrews has a very nice Tipi setup. There was a hread on it last winter. Maybe he'll chime in.
 
Echo4v said:
How many poles does your tipi have? I know it may sound silly but I've seen some with only 1 pole sticking out the top and some with more than one pole.
Click to expand...
I don't recall the exact number of poles in the traditional tipis I have seen, but typically they had a tripod of three poles lashed together, and then a number of other poles laid loose onto that to support the walls (perhaps a dozen or so, total?). I'm sure there are variations, of course.

fireballxl5 said:
Kifaru have an interesting modern rendition of a single pole tipi type shelter.
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Wow, those look like they would be great for wilderness get togethers. Pretty cool set up, but damn they are expensive. :eek:

Is anyone else making "modern" tipi tents like theirs?
 
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man....you guys are killin' me!!

:eek:



now every time I go family-camping I am going to be wishing I was in a super-cool tipi !!!


!


Dan
 
i found our tipi on craigs list for 500.00 18' with liner, pools and door.

They would be fun to go camping but the poles on my 18 footer are around 25 - 28 inches long. A trailer would probably be needed. I tied them to the top of my truck and put rags on them to bring it home and practically gave myself an ulcer.
 
Don't know if this additional information will help, but you might be interested in the book: The Indian Tipi: Its History, Construction, and Use. When I had my lodge, it was a faithful guide for the whole experience! A used copy might be available through Amazon.
 
exitinyourhead said:
i found our tipi on craigs list for 500.00 18' with liner, pools and door.

They would be fun to go camping but the poles on my 18 footer are around 25 - 28 inches long. A trailer would probably be needed. I tied them to the top of my truck and put rags on them to bring it home and practically gave myself an ulcer.
Click to expand...

My poles are 26 ft long. I have a rack set up off the front bumper up level with the camper that has a rack. The poles extend front and back and I tie them into two bundles. They are lodge pole pine. I paid 6.00 apiece and now they are above 20.00 each. I will need to replace them someday. I treat them with Thompsons water seal each year. I keep them covered up to protect my investment. I had a 16ft across lodge prior to this one from RK Lodges in Hector Minnesota. I sold it thinking I needed a larger one. I liked the 16 in the winter the 18 in the summer.
 
azshaman said:
Don't know if this additional information will help, but you might be interested in the book: The Indian Tipi: Its History, Construction, and Use. When I had my lodge, it was a faithful guide for the whole experience! A used copy might be available through Amazon.
Click to expand...

Good recommendation, I think it was written by Laubin.
 
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