Traditional Teepee Tents

Buy traditional teepee tents here for the cheapest and best prices available on the internet today! If you have made the decision to purchase a teepee tent, whether for fun, to find your Native American roots or for some type of recreation event there are some key things to look for while making a purchasing decision. These decisions will affect not only the look but longevity of your teepee.

Size

Deciding how big of a teepee is the most important step. The size of a teepee refers to what would be described as the diameter if the teepee was circular. Most teepees are oblong and this distance refers to the longest point, which is between the door and the back of the teepee.

While some companies offer smaller, the best minimum size is a 15-foot teepee. With the fire pit in the middle as well as room for storage, a 15 foot teepee will comfortably hold one to two people. For more than two people, teepees of 18 or more feet are recommended.

Poles

Almost all teepee poles are made from young lodge pole pines. These pine trees grow very straight and are incredibly uniform in their diameter and taper. They offer a good balance of strength, low weight and flexibility.

Length

Because there are different designs of teepee tents, the length of the poles vary depending on design. The recommendation for pole length is based on the size of the teepee. If the designer or owner of the teepee wants short poles, the size of the teepee will be multiplied by 1.2 to determine the pole length. For medium length poles, multiply by 1.3 and for long poles, 1.4 or more. Most traditional teepees have poles that use the 1.3 or 1.4 multiplier.

Diameter At Crossing

Where the poles meet, the diameter of each pole needs to be between 1.5 and 2 inches in diameter. If they are bigger or smaller, it can affect the tent’s shape and uniform look. Slender poles are better but if they are too slender they will bend with the weight of the canvas cover.

Quantity

The general rule is for every foot of teepee you need a pole. So for a small, 9 foot teepee you would need 9 poles. When dealing with larger teepees, the need for so many poles is slightly less. For instance, a 20 foot teepee only needs 15 poles to be properly supported because they will all be larger poles capable of supporting more weight.

Material for the Cover

Most modern teepees are made of canvas. Canvas is typically made of cotton or a cotton/polyester blend and comes in a number of weights. Weights are referred to by number of ounces per square yard. The typical weights for a quality teepee range from 10 ounce to 15 ounces. The heavier 15 ounce fabric is treated with an acrylic coating which adds significant wear resistance as well as better water proofing. All the fabrics should be pre-shrunk before construction begins.

The recommended weight of canvas for teepees is 19 ounces of fabric if the teepee is going to be setup and taken down often. It is lighter and therefore easier to handle. Also, the wear and tear from the canvas rubbing against the poles is always in a slightly different place so the added weight is not necessary. For teepees that are going to stay up for longer amounts of time or are going to see a lot of rough use, the 13 or 15 ounce fabrics are the better choice.

Synthetic fibers are not recommended for a couple reasons. First of all they do not breathe and are prone to condensation. Secondly, some are prone to catching on fire and even those that are not will still melt if they get too hot. The cotton canvas is fireproofed with a different process and will only smolder slightly if a hot ash comes into contact with it.