Tipi Tents

What a tipi tent is

A tipi is a tall cone of fabric on one centre pole, held out by pegs round its edge. One pole and a ring of pegs make a big tent for very little weight, and the height at the middle means you can stand up in most of them. Many have a stove jack near the top, so a tent stove can heat them in cold weather.

Hot tent, ultralight, polycotton or event: which tipi

• Tipi hot tents are the biggest group here, with a fire-resistant stove jack and often a snow skirt. See hot tents with a stove jack.
• Ultralight tipis pack small enough to carry. The 270cm tipi here weighs about 1.5kg. See pyramid tents.
• Polycotton tipis, such as the OneTigris Northgaze in 65% polyester and 35% cotton, breathe better than plain polyester. See canvas and cotton tents.
• Large event tipis, like the lotus tipi, are made for weddings and glamping sites. See party and event tents.

Headroom and the floor you can really use

A tipi's height is all in the middle. The 500PRO and the Rock Fortress are about 240cm at the pole, room to stand and move, while the small ultralight tipis are 160cm, enough to sit up. The walls slope to the ground, so the outer ring of the floor is for lying down and for bags, and the centre is for standing. Read the diagonal size and the height together.

Outer set or full set

Many tipis here are sold two ways. The outer set is the cone, pole and pegs, a shelter on its own. The full set adds a mesh inner tent with a floor, which keeps out insects and draughts. With a stove, keep the inner tent away from the side with the chimney.

What the waterproof rating means on a tipi tent

The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks, tested to BS EN ISO 811. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof, most lightweight flysheets are 1,500mm to 3,000mm, and more is worth having for long wet trips or a tipi tent left up for days. The groundsheet is often rated higher, because you kneel and lie on it. Many of the tipis here are rated 3,000mm. Taped seams matter as much as the number. Shop by rating: to 2,000mm, to 3,000mm and 5,000mm and over.

Questions people ask about tipi tents

Is a tipi hard to pitch?

No. Peg out the base in its shape, with the door zipped shut, then raise the pole inside and tighten the pegs. The first time takes longer, so try it in the garden.

Which tipi tents are for winter?

A 4-season tent: stronger poles, and a snow skirt round the bottom of the flysheet to stop wind and snow blowing underneath. See 4-season tents, and hot tents with a stove jack for tents that take a stove. Never take a barbecue or a stove without a flue into a tent: carbon monoxide kills. With a hot tent, use its own kind of stove and a carbon monoxide alarm.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Pyramid tents
• Hot tents with a stove jack
• Bell tents
• 4-season tents
• Canvas and cotton tents
• Play teepees
• Guide: Winter and snow camping, and hot tents
• Guide: How to choose a tent: the UK buying guide