Why You Should Think About Living in a Teepee

The Native American tribes across the country have taught newer Americans a lot of tips and tricks—including construction methods. Teepees are one of those housing options that can be incredibly portable during hunting season. While your regular home may not be a teepee, it’s worth considering whether this kind of tent would be a good choice while hunting, fishing and camping.

Can you live in a teepee? Yes—but if you’re not hunting, camping or fishing on a regular basis, you probably won’t need to use this kind of construction for everyday purposes. If you’re interested in permanent living, there are undoubtedly some ways to make it a more sustainable, on-the-grid type of construction.

What are teepees?

Teepees (also written as tipis or tepes) are a simple form of construction with lodgepoles and buffalo skin. This is a Native American type of construction, which is designed to keep hot air out in the summer and retain heat in the winter.

Unless you’re an indigenous person living off the land, your teepee is probably not designed to sustain life during all four seasons—in fact, the portability is the best part about teepees. Modern manufacturers ensure they’re UV resistant and as thermally resistant as possible. It’s a good camping method, but unless you’re committed to living off the land all year long, you should probably commit to a four-walled home instead.

Should you live in a teepee?

Teepees can be a great option for hunting, fishing and camping trips, but they can also be a nice backyard addition. If you’re wondering if you should live in a teepee full time, the answer is probably no. Unless you’re from an indigenous tribe and/or have the knowledge and skills to live off the land, it’s not the easiest way to live off the grid. Plus, you’ll probably miss the internet connection at some point.

If you do want to put up a teepee in your backyard, that can be a nice way to get away from other people without venturing too far from the comforts of home. Lodgepoles are an excellent building material. The minimum size you should aim for is 13 feet—and that’s for one person. If you plan to invite others into your private space, aim for about 16 feet. 25 to 30 feet is traditionally considered “lodge” seating, and is designed for much larger gatherings.

What to do when you want a teepee in your backyard

If you’ve decided you want a teepee in your backyard, you’ll need to pick out lumber supplies according to the size of the teepee you want to build. Consider talking to your lumber supplier about whether your lodgepoles can support the size teepee you need.

The team at Huberwoods can talk to you about the benefits of living in a teepee, and get you set up with the tools you need for the job. Call us today to learn more about our lodgepole selection, and to get advice about your next construction project.

Categorised in: Lodgepoles, Teepee Poles, Teepee Tips

This post was written by Writer