When I was about eight, my parents took my sister and I on camping trips in tipis on a blueberry farm in Maine. I still remember how spacious they were — vertical headroom was never an issue for anyone and it felt like we could pack in as many people as we wanted. Since then, I’ve probably spent hundreds of nights in a three or four season tent where you can sit but not stand. Last year I bought cheap-o 6 foot-tall tent, which lasted for about a month until strong wind gusts shredded the poles and rendered it useless.
Seek Outside offers “ultralight silnylon” tipi tents which they call “versa-shelters.” These are large — a four person tipi is 12 feet tall by 11 feet wide, weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces. A six person tent is nearly 14 feet tall and is 13 feet wide, weighing a mere 4 pounds, 8 ounces. They’re easy to setup, have a water resistant zipper, carbon fiber poles, and can come with a Sod Skirt which minimizes drafts, keeps the bugs out and connects to an optional floor. Add the optional DWR liner and to keep condensation and humidity down during stormy weather.
Seek Outside’s tipi tents allow you to cook while inside (just remember to ventilate), hide from the sun during a hot day, or stand up with rest of your crew all while under a single shelter. Tipis cost between $625 for a four man, or $775 for a six man.
seekoutside.com
