While they may appear a bit eccentric, teepee tents can be a great choice for camping. They are actually a pretty effective form of shelter. They are effective against the weather, can be pitched quickly, and are easy to carry. Conical tents feature a strong design, and the steeply sloping sides are excellent for water run-off. And, perhaps most importantly, teepee tents look absolutely awesome.
Although they may give off an “back in the day” vibe, many modern teepee tents offer the same features that are found in more common camping tent designs. For instance, a modern teepee tent will most likely have storage areas, mesh windows, and zippered doors. Some even feature telescopic poles and adjustable air vents. Let’s take a look at the five best teepee tents for camping.
The 5 Best Teepee Tents
5. Outsunny Teepee Camping Tent
The Outsunny Teepee Camping Tent is one of our favorite teepee tents. It is a large 6-person camping tent that is great for outdoor adventures with family and groups of friends. The large footprint provides you with enough space to stretch out and store all your gear out of the weather. And plenty of ventilation means that it is not going to get stuffy with 6 adults sleeping under it.
A strong aluminum pole supports the peak of the Outsunny Tent. The pole is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and easy to set up. At full height, the teepee stands at 98.5 inches, over 8 feet tall, and is one of the highest tent ceilings you will find in a 6-person tent. It weighs 15 pounds.
The tent material is a water-resistant 190T polyurethane cloth, with a PU coating to provide even further water resistance. 190T means that the tent should hold up well over time and handle a high level of stress without breaking down.
Towards the base of the tent are an array of vents to increase the airflow and circulation. The zipper door features a mesh screen that allows airflow while keeping out the bugs. The windows are a clear PVC, which offers a view while sealing out the rain.
Pros and Cons
4. Wenzel Shenanigan Teepee Tent
The Shenanigan Teepee Tent from Wenzel is a popular choice among teepee tent enthusiasts. The Shenanigan tent has the strength, weight, and compactness of a much smaller tent, with all the same functions. It features a single center pole that supports the peak of the teepee. The pole is adjustable and has a fast-foot feature for quick setup.
With a base measuring 138 inches by 120 inches, four people should be able to sleep inside comfortably. The vertical height in the center of the tent measures about 90 inches, so everyone should be able to stand up in the center, but the sloping walls will not allow anyone to stray too far from that spot.
The steep sides of the Shenanigan Teepee Tent make it excellent at repelling rainwater and preventing snow from building up on top. The steep sides and narrow peak also decreases the amount of surface area that is exposed to the wind.
There are three vents in the peak of the tent, and two near the base. The lower vents come with guylines to pull them out and adjust the ventilation, which is an awesome feature. On the walls there are three mesh windows with inside flaps and zippers to keep the rain out. Hot air rises and escapes through the peak vents, while fresh air is drawn in from lower vents and open windows, creating consistent air circulation.
Pros and Cons
3. Geertop Double Layer Teepee Tent
Geertop is well-known in the world of tents, and for good reason. As one of the leading camping tent manufacturers, Geertop does not disappoint with their rugged take on the classic teepee tent. Their Double Layer Teepee Tent is one of the better teepee-style tents currently on the market.
With a peak of 70.8 inches, it has a lower peak than many other models. However, with a floorspace of 141 by 153 inches, it offers more horizontal space than many comparable tents. The frame is supported by a strong, telescopic, aluminum pole in the center.
This tent features double layers. On the outer layer is a canvas hybrid material consisting of 35% cotton and 65% anti-tear polyester. The canvas is treated and coated, providing water-resistance and UV protection. Beneath that layer is a full-mesh enclosure. Each layer can be independently removed.
The double layer feature is fantastic and it really sets this tent apart from others. On warm nights, you could remove the canvas layer and enjoy the breeze. Alternatively, you could remove the mesh layer, remove the tarp, and use the canvas fly like a canopy tent.
Pros and Cons
2. OmniCore Teepee Camping Tent
The Teepee Camping Tent from Omnicore Designs is a fantastic tent that packs a ton of interior space. Omnicore is another big, trusted name in the world of high-end camping gear and equipment.
With a huge 18 foot diameter, you can comfortably fit the whole family inside. The area is large enough to store a lot of gear and luggage without it getting in the way. In the center, this teepee tent has a height of almost 10 feet, which allows you to stand up and walk around inside.
Due to the center height, the roof vent would typically be unreachable. However, the teepee features an innovative system using dual cords to adjust the vent. We love this feature — it is incredibly convenient and well-designed. In fact, the cords are even long enough to reach your sleeping bag, allowing you to adjust the vent without having to get up.
The fly is a tough and water-resistant 70D rip-stop polyester that resists both rain and snow. Additionally, the thick built-in tarp ensures that no water seeps inside, even during heavy rainfall.
Pros and Cons
1. BaiYouDa Family Teepee Camping Tent
The Family Teepee Camping Tent from BaiYouDa is one of the most popular teepee-style camping tents on the market. With a large diameter measuring almost 123 inches, it can comfortably sleep a family of four. Inside, the tent is supported by a single collapsible pole, which pushes the center height of the teepee to over 6.5 feet tall.
With an impressive weight of just 11.87 pounds, the Family Teepee Camping tent is lightweight and easy to carry. The single telescopic pole makes it very set up, the tent can be pitched by one person in just a few minutes.
A removable, water-resistant top cover is also included with the tent. When the top cover is removed, it reveals a large mesh vent at the peak. The mesh vent is a great feature, providing consistent airflow while ensuring that the insects stay out. Around the base of the tent, there are several adjustable air vents with zippers attached.
The exterior fabric is a thick 190T material with double-stitching, providing protection against weather as well as wear and tear. Additionally, the numerous guyline-design makes the outside of the tent more rigid, increasing its resistance to heavy wind.
Pros and Cons
Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in a Teepee Tent
When choosing a new teepee tent, the two largest deciding factors should be the tent’s functionality as well as your own personal tastes. You should consider how many are going to be sharing the tent with you, and how far you will have to carry it to get to the campsite. You should also think about the environment and weather you will typically be using the tent in. Below are a few of the most important factors that should influence which teepee tent you choose.
Material
The fabric material used to manufacture the tent is one of the most important factors to consider. Typically, teepee tents utilize one of four different fabrics: nylon, polyester, canvas, or high-density polyethylene.
1. Nylon
Nylon is one of the most popular fabric materials for all types of camping tents, including teepees. Its popularity is largely due to that fact that it is both durable as well as inexpensive. In fact, nylon is so strong that it was used as a parachute material during World War 2. Nylon can handle extreme wind conditions and is incredibly resistant to rips and tears.
However, one of the major problems with nylon is its poor resistance to UV rays. Over time, continual exposure to sunlight will age and weaken the material, eventually making it prone to cracking. If you choose a nylon teepee, you will want to make sure that the nylon has a protective UV coating.
Additionally, be sure that the nylon is treated with a water-resistant coating. Most modern camping tents are. This is important because nylon absorbs water, so you cannot rely on the material alone to keep you dry. However, once the nylon is treated with a high-quality waterproof coating, it becomes very dependable in the rain. Alternatively, with just a few supplies, it is fairly easy to make a tent waterproof.
2. Polyester
The main advantage of polyester teepee tents are that they tend to be less expensive than those made of nylon. However, polyester is weaker than nylon and requires more material to provide the same level of protection, which results in a heavier carrying weight. Many campers believe that polyester is more resilient to UV, so it is common to see campers using polyester tarps, where there is little in the way of tension or stretching.
3. Canvas (Cotton)
Cotton is a natural material which is, in many ways, still superior to a lot of the synthetic materials on the market today. Cotton is used to manufacture canvas tents, which were the traditional type of tent used before nylon and polyester emerged. Canvas is heavy and expensive, so it has become much less common to see canvas or cotton used in modern camping tents. In terms of water protection, it does get wet, but should still keep you dry inside. This is because canvas and cotton swell up when wet, preventing the water from penetrating and leaking through.
4. High-Density Polyethylene
Another type of tent material is High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). It is expensive, but offers strength comparable to steel. Ultra-High-Density-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHDMWPE), the more dense version of the material, is even resistant to acids and alkalis. Both types of Polyethylene are considerably more expensive than any other type of tent fabric, which makes it impractical for most teepee tents.
Interior Size
The interior size of the teepee tent should be taken into account. Consider how many people will be gathering and/or sleeping inside and be sure that you have enough room for each person and their gear. To be safe, we recommend choosing a tent that has a capacity of one or two more people than the size of your group.
Also, be sure to think about the ceiling height. While some teepees provide enough vertical space to stand up inside, many others do not.
Air Vents
Teepees have great natural airflow. The high center funnels cool air in from the base up through the ceiling, making them a great choice for camping in hot weather. Some teepee designs have a hot flue pipe opening, where you can safely install a stove inside without melting or damaging the walls of the tent.
Teepee Tents FAQ
Are teepee tents waterproof?
The inherent shape of teepees make them perfect for water run-off. Snow also has trouble clinging to the steep angle of the sides, so there is little build-up on the material. However, be mindful that not all modern teepees have steep sides, some are a hybrid of classic teepees and domes.
The rain fly material is also important. A nylon or polyester fabric is going to be more waterproof than cotton. A thicker material and a higher quality waterproofing coating, such as PU or silicon, will provide more effective water resistance.
How well do teepee tents perform during high winds?
Due to their aerodynamic shape, teepee tents typically have great natural wind resistance. As the wind blows against the tent, the conical design pushes the air downwards, keeping the frame stable and secure. Additionally, if the teepee tent were to fall, the single-pole frame is much easier to repair or replace than a multi-pole camping tent, especially during a heavy storm.
Does a teepee tent lose heat through the peak?
A teepee will heat up quickly. Even though the roof is high, it is narrow. Heat fills the narrow center of the tent. A typical teepee tent has a vent at the top, which is easy to cover when you want to keep the heat in during colder nights.
Some teepees can heat up pretty quickly when the weather gets warm. With a few easy DIY tricks, you can keep your tent cool and comfortable through the summer.
Final Thoughts
Modern teepee tents are a great choice for camping trips, especially with your kids. The unique design is a huge hit with most kids, and the camping memories will stay with them for a lifetime. Teepee tents perfectly combine the feel of yesterday’s traditional camping with the modern tents of today. While they are absolutely functional, they also offer an awesome aesthetic that really is a huge selling point.
Overall, as the best teepee tent, we highly recommend the BaiYouDa Teepee Camping Tent. It is strong, durable, and affordable. The tent is easy to carry, provides plenty of interior floor space, and holds up well during rough weather.
Now get out there and have fun!
Happy Camping!
We would love to hear all about your experience camping with teepee tents! Feel free to share your thoughts, stories, and ideas in the comments section below.
