6 Best Teepee Tent
Joshua Keaton
Also known as a tipi tent, this would have once provided a home for nomadic tribes. Wooden poles were spread out the base and lashed together at the top to form the distinctive pyramid shape, with animal hides providing cover.
Now, wigwam tents are a popular choice for camping as they provide a large, communal space for groups and families. A camping teepee tent keeps the traditional shape, but with updated materials, construction and features for a comfortable camping trip. A teepee style tent can even offer a luxurious glamping experience, and can be used for anything from a festival to a wedding celebration.
There are some key points to consider when you’re looking for the best teepee tent. We’ll look at them here, as well as some of the best options we’ve found on the market.
Types
There are a huge range of teepee tents available, from small play tents for kids to tents for camping. This means that size, construction and materials also vary, and we’ll go into some of these subjects in more detail later to help you figure out what is the best teepee tent out there.
The first decision for you to make is what you’ll be using the teepee tent for, and the type of teepee tent you need. To help guide you, here are some of the main types of tee pee tents.
Canvas
Canvas tipi tents are what you might picture when you think of the tents that have become fashionable for glamping and festivals. Canvas is a sturdy and durable material, and it’s often used for a large camping teepee tent.
Canvas can be heavy, but it is breathable, which will help prevent the inside of the teepee tent becoming too humid and uncomfortable in hot weather. It can also provide better insulation in colder weather than plastic materials such as polyester. Some canvas teepee tents also have walls that can be rolled up to let you enjoy views of your surroundings and a cooling breeze.
Canvas teepees can offer good value as they have a long life and are resistant to tears or breakage, but if you’re looking for a cheap teepee tent for backpacking or a festival, you may find other materials such as polyester are more common in your budget.
If you like the canvas design, make sure you check our guide where we analyze best canvas tents.
Canvas Teepee Tent With Stove
Having a tent stove in your teepee will help warm it up and also means you can cook inside in the warm and dry if the weather isn’t suitable for cooking outside.
A tent with stove jack has an exit point in the wall which allows the flue pipe from the tent stove to extend out through the roof or wall, so it can discharge smoke outside. The exit point is surrounded by a heat resistant material that won’t be burnt by the hot pipe.
A stove jack will have a cover to keep rain out when you’re not using a stove, rather than leaving an exposed hole. So, if you think that you might want to use a stove in your teepee at any point, choosing a tent with a stove jack keeps that option open for you.
Outdoor Teepee Tent
A teepee tent for camping is not the only type available, as there are many small children’s teepee play tents. If you are looking for an outdoor teepee tent, then the same considerations apply as for any other tents you’d use outside. You need a tent with a sturdy construction, that can withstand the elements and, if you’re using it when there’s a chance of rain, that is water resistant.
Pop Up Teepee Tent
Pop up tents are quick and easy to assemble, making them popular as kids tents, for short trips or for novice campers. A pop up tent would usually be unfolded, and then pre-attached poles clicked into place to secure the frame. The whole process can take just a few minutes.
A pop-up tepee-style Teepee tent would usually be constructed out of polyester material with fibreglass poles. The design can be similar to a more traditional style teepee, but with a construction that allows for very quick assembly.
Teepee Tent for Adults
Tipi tents for camping can be great fun for both kids and adults. An outdoor teepee tent for adults should be larger in size, and have a higher ceiling than a kids tent. Teepee tents for adults will also be more sophisticated in terms of construction and assembly.
Weather Resistance
Whether you are a fair-weather camper only or someone who likes to hike year-round, you want your tent to keep you protected from the elements. You need a teepee tent that can keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and shielded from the rain and wind at any time of year. There are some helpful terms to look for when it comes to the weather resistance of a tent, and these are two of the most common:
4 Season Teepee Tent
A 4 season tent is simply one that is suitable to be used for camping at any time of the year. Many tents are fine for camping during mild or warm temperatures but don’t offer enough insulation for camping in cooler months. So, if you’re hoping to camp right through the year, you need a four-season tent and weather resistance is one of the most important features we were looking for when we were choosing the best teepee tent.
A four-season tent may have special features which make it more suitable for colder conditions, such as a snow skirt, or a stove jack so you can heat the inside, and cook. It should still have ventilation to help you stay cool in the summer.
Bear in mind that a four-season tent is generally not intended to withstand very extreme conditions – for that you’ll need more specialist gear. We recommend you to check our guide on cold weather tents that feature tents intended for extreme weather conditions.
Waterproof
Rain coming into your teepee could ruin your camping trip at any time of year. As with any other style of tent, look out for teepees made with waterproof materials, or materials with a water-resistant coating. Rain can find a way through any small cracks and gaps, so you need a teepee with windows and doors that seal tight. Double taped seams will also keep you warm and dry inside your tent.
The floor is another area where water can enter, as in heavy rain surface water can creep inside. Again, look for waterproof or water-resistant materials, or a sealed floor so there are no gaps.
Size
Tents come in an array of sizes, from a small teepee tent for kids to camp out in the garden to a giant teepee for a celebration or special occasion.
How you’ll use the teepee tent is the first question to consider. Is it only going to be put to use for parties and events? Or do you plan to take your teepee on regular camping trips through the year?
If you’re looking for a teepee tent for camping, you should figure out how many people will it need to sleep? Think about the largest number of people it will need to accommodate. If you are a family of 5, you should be looking for at least an 8 people tent.
Most tents will state their maximum occupancy assuming that the sleeping arrangements are ‘backpacker style’, which means individual sleeping bags arranged alongside each other. If you want more room, to use camp beds or air mattresses, or space for belongings to relax, opt for a bigger capacity – so if you need to sleep 6 people, you might want to look at an 8-10 person tent. A large teepee tent will give you living and storage space as well as covering your basic sleeping requirements.
A benefit of this type of tent is that the design creates a higher ceiling than many other tent styles, and this helps to give a feeling of spaciousness.
Weight
If you’re planning to use your tent at campsites, and you only need to lift the tent from the car to your pitch, the weight may not be much of a consideration. However, if you plan to take it on hikes, then you’ll need a lightweight tent.
There are several factors that can contribute to the weight of a tent. The materials and construction are perhaps the most significant. Canvas is heavier than polyester, so canvas tents will weigh more. If the tent is constructed with steel poles, these will be heavier than aluminium or fibreglass.
The size of the tent is also important, as naturally a 20 person tent will be heavier than a 6 person tent.
Teepee Tent Design
A traditional teepee design is a pyramid shape, with poles arranged in a circular formation at the base and gathered together at the top. Some tents have straight walls, topped by the regular triangular canopy.
(checkout our basic rectangular pop up canopy tent here)
A central pole supports the peak of the ceiling canopy. A tent will need to be staked with guy ropes, to keep the sides taut. There is typically a double door opening, and there may also be windows for ventilation. Some models have additional ventilation features. Some teepees feature a stove jack opening, with a cover to keep water out when a stove is not in use.
One important item to consider is the rain fly. A rain fly is an extra layer of material that is often placed over the top of a tent and provides an extra layer of protection from the the weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where Can I Buy a Teepee?
A:Teepee tent is now a popular tent design for anyone from frequent campers to festival goers. That means you should find it just as easy to find and buy a tent as a dome or cabin tent. You should have no trouble finding a good selection of tent options from online retailers, or check out your local camping goods store. Some large supermarkets will even have a teepee tent on their shelves.
Q: How To Set Up a Teepee?
A:The exact method for setting up teepee tents varies from tent to tent, but they are generally pretty straightforward to put together. Teepees often have one pole only, which supports the ceiling peak, and the sides are staked out.
In most cases, you’ll start by unfolding the tent on the floor, and staking out the edges. You’ll then put the central pole together, adding a floor stand if there is one, and put the pole in place to raise the tent. Once that’s done, you can stake out the guy lines to pull the sides of the tent taut, and add any extra accessories such as a rain cap. Or, if it’s a double layer tent, add the rainfly if it’s needed.
6 Best Teepee Tent
1. Winterial – 6-7 Person Teepee Tent
2. DANCHEL – 4-Season Family Cotton Bell Tent
3. Vidalido – Dome Camping Tent
4. Wenzel – Shenanigan 5 Person Tent
5. Safacus – 6-7 Person Teepee Tent
6. Tahoe Gear – Bighorn XL
Winterial – 6-7 Person Teepee Tent
This family teepee tent is quick and easy to set up.
The tent has a generous central ceiling height of 8 foot, and can sleep up to six or seven people, backpacker style. For a roomier camping experience, or if you want to use camp beds or air mattresses, it provides generous accommodation for four adults.
The main tent is made with 210T polyester, a durable material that provides protection from the elements. To keep you cool in warm weather, the teepee has four vents around the side walls, and one at the top of the tent. You can look out through the four translucent windows, which have blinds that can be closed from the inside, and there are also two tall zippered doors for easy access. A waterproof rain cap, for the top of the tent, is included, and the floor is made in a waterproof tarp to keep you dry.
If you’re looking for a teepee for overnight hiking trips, this teepee offers a good option with a packed weight of 15 pounds. It’s very easy to put up when you reach your camping spot, and takes just a few minutes. You first fold out the tent, stake out the edges and then position the pole into the centre of the tent to raise it. Once you’ve staked the guy lines, you’re all done!
Pros
- Quick and easy to set up.
- Good size and generous central ceiling height.
- Reasonable weight for hiking trips.
- Four windows to enjoy views of your surroundings.
Cons
- There’s no mesh on the vent at the top of the tent, so bugs can get in.
Our Take
A tent is a great option for a fun camping trip with family or friends. We’ve looked at some solid choices that offer spacious accommodation and extra features. And the best teepee tent is the Winterial 6-7 Person, and here’s why:
- Quick and easy to put up, so you can spend more time having fun!
- Roomy, with plenty of ceiling height to stand up and move around.
- Made with waterproof materials to keep you and your belongings dry.
- Offers great ventilation with floor and roof vents to help air circulate.
- Packed weight of 15 pounds makes this an ideal choice for hiking trips.
DANCHEL – 4-Season Family Cotton Bell Tent
This bell style teepee tent has straight walls, allowing more of the floor space to be optimised.
With a 78 square foot internal area, you could choose to use this teepee to camp with your whole family, with the tent sleeping 6-8 people depending on the formation. Or for an extremely luxurious glamping experience you could put one queen size air mattress in the middle of the tent leaving abundant living space. The ceiling is 6.5 foot at the centre and 2 foot around the walls.
The tent is made of a cotton canvas fabric with a waterproof treatment, and has a PVC floor. There are four mesh windows and four air vents with mosquito netting to help air circulate during warmer weather. The zipped door also has a mesh layer.
This is a four season tent, and in the summer, you may want to roll up the walls, leaving the canopy to keep you shaded but with open views of your surroundings. In the winter, the stove jacket set into the wall allows you to use a tent stove, keeping you warm and cosy.
Pros
- Bell design makes full use of the floor space.
- A great choice for luxurious glamping trips.
- Four season option for year-round use.
- Side walls can be rolled up for airflow and to enjoy your surroundings.
- Stove jack feature allowing you to use a tent stove.
Cons
- Zipper on the door can be temperamental.
Our Take
Vidalido – Dome Camping Tent
This double-layer tent is a great choice for festivals or camping trips with friends.
The tent is quick and easy to put up, taking only 10 minutes. The inner layer has a waterproof floor and mesh sides that keep the tent well ventilated. The outer layer is made with anti-tear polyester and 150D Oxford fabric to keep you dry. There are large double doors for easy entry and exit, with a mesh layer to keep bugs out. The door section of the outer layer can be attached to a pole set a short distance from the tent, creating a shaded area where you can sit and relax.
The capacity of this tent is stated as 4-5 people, but we’d recommend fewer people using it so there’s more space to move around and store your belongings. Two twin size air mattresses can comfortably fit inside. The 8 foot central ceiling height makes it easy to stand up and move around. There’s a convenient mesh pocket to store your phone, and a handy hook to attach a lantern to the ceiling.
This teepee is described as a four season tent, but be aware that there is no stove jack and the material used make it unsuitable for you to add your own. All components of the tent fit into a handy storage bag with handles for easy transport, and the total weight is 14 pounds.
Pros
- Four season tent with a double layer construction.
- Great ventilation, thanks to the inner layer with mesh walls.
- Large double doors for each entry, exit and ventilation.
- Generous central ceiling height of 8 foot.
- Supplied with a useful storage bag.
Cons
- No stove jack, so not suitable for use with a tent stove.
Our Take
Wenzel – Shenanigan 5 Person Tent
This eye-catching tent is easy to find at a campsite or festival with a unique blue pattern adorning the lower part of the sides.
This is a single layer tent, which is quick and easy to assemble. Simply stake out the edges, and then add the central pole to raise the tent. There are three windows with roll back covers and a large inverted T style door with flaps that can roll back out of the way to allow air to circulate. Staking out the two vents near the floor allows cool air to enter the tent, and warm air can exit through the three vents at the peak of the teepee.
The tent can sleep up to five people, but it’s a more comfortable experience if you use it to sleep three people. The central ceiling height is 7.5 feet giving plenty of space to stand up inside.
The construction is polyester, with a polyethylene floor, and inside there are a few useful mesh storage pockets.
Pros
- Unusual design makes it easy to find in a crowd!
- Quick and easy assembly.
- Good ventilation with floor and peak vents.
- Generous central ceiling height.
Cons
- A tight squeeze for five people.
Our Take
Safacus – 6-7 Person Teepee Tent
Enjoy the great outdoors with your family, in this roomy tent that can sleep up to six people.
The interior has a diameter of 11.5 foot, and the central ceiling height is over 8 foot meaning you can stand up and move around the space in comfort. The feeling of spaciousness is helped by the four large PVC windows that give views of your surroundings. When you’re ready to sleep, you can roll down the integrated curtains and fasten them in place with plastic hooks.
Below each window is a vent, which you can stake open to let cooler air from the ground flow into the tent. Bugs are kept out by the mosquito net cover. The double doors also have a mesh layer, so you can open the outer layer for ventilation.
This tent is made with a waterproof material to keep you dry in rainy conditions, and there’s a rain cap to protect the peak which is supported by the tent’s centre pole. Assembly is quick and easy, and the tent packs down into a handy storage bag.
Pros
- Good internal space with ceiling height of over 8 foot.
- Four large windows to give views of your surroundings.
- The four meshed vents provide good ventilation in warmer conditions.
- Easy to set up.
Cons
- The door zipper can sometimes stick.
Our Take
Tahoe Gear – Bighorn XL
This extra large teepee tent has an impressive diameter of 18 foot, making it an attractive choice for families and groups of friends.
The stated capacity is up to 12 people, though we’d recommend it sleeps eight people more comfortably, with some room for your kit. The peak ceiling height is 9.75 foot, so it’s comfortable to stand up fully.
It’s a single layer tent, and is simple to put up. Simply stake out the base, put the central pole in place to raise the tent and then stake out the sides. The tent is made in polyester, with taped seams and a sewn in polyethylene floor to keep you and your belongings dry.
There are four PVC windows around the walls, as well as four large floor vents to draw in cool air. The top vent lets warm air escape, helping keep the inside temperature comfortable to sleep in. The floor vents have a mesh cover to stop bugs from coming inside, and the top meshed vent has a cover to keep the tent waterproof. There are large double doors for easy access, but these don’t have a mesh layer and there’s also no bottom zip on the doors, which you might want to consider if you’re worried about being invaded by bugs.
Pros
- Extra large and roomy tent.
- Very high ceiling helps the tent feel particularly spacious.
- Easy to put up.
- Good ventilation, with floor and ceiling vents.
Cons
- The doors don’t have a mesh layer or bottom zips, so bugs can get in.
Our Take
