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Welcome to the website of Wigwam Sam. We specialise in making Tipis & Tipi hire.

We make children's Tipis to large lodges.

Our hire Tipis span from children's sizes to 24ft in diameter.

If you wish to hire one or a group of Tipis we strive to provide a high quality service, drawing from over a decade of experience making and using tipis.

Whether making, or providing hire tipis we exercise the same philosophy of creativity with attention to detail combined with high quality materials and craftsmanship.

The tipis that we provide are sewn in our workshop in North Devon, and are all fully hemmed and reinforced, and made using high quality canvas proofed in the U.K.

Our poles are cut by hand, from sustainably managed woodlands in our local area, and are cut, stripped and smoothed by hand.

Our tipi pitching crew has a great deal of experience, covering a wide variety of events and locations and will always make sure that your hire tipi is well pitched, and as cosy and weatherproof as can be. We are usually on hand at festivals, and are happy to help should you need it.

Our Tipis have featured in Warner productions Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire, Hollyoaks, I.D, You magazine & Selvedge.


THE DESIGN OF THE SIOUX TIPI

Tipis have a majestic presence and clever design.

Conceived by the plains Indians the tipi is a conical shelter devised to be pitched and transported with relative ease.

The poles and cover hitched to a horse also served as travois to transport possessions when moving around. Traditionally the cover was made from buffalo hide, which was readily available. These days they are generally made from canvas.

The pole frame and cover were designed in such a way to improve the ability of the cone to resist wind and enlarged the spatial arrangement inside.

Ventilation in the Tipi is controlled by the smoke flaps which are adjusted according to wind direction by the smoke flap poles. These act like a chimney drawing up smoke from the central fire and together with the internal Tipi lining create a warm draft free interior space.

The Tipi lining is usually around 6ft high and catches any rain dripping off the poles keeping the sleeping area dry. The air space between the Tipi lining and the cover aids insulation.

Cool in summer and warm in the winter the tipi offers a calm, peaceful comfortable atmosphere close to nature.

 
 
   
 

 

 

Tipi hire at
Glastonbury Festival

 
   

 

6ft children's Tipis
 
     
 
WHAT'S IN A NAME

The words tipi and wigwam are often confused as they both share the same meaning 'dwelling place'. Tipi originates from the Sioux / Lakota word relating to the conical skin tent used by the Plains Indians whereas Wigwam is a word derived from an Eastern tribe and refers to a domed shaped shelter thatched with Birch bark and reeds. Apologies to anyone confused by the name Wigwam Sam but you have to admit it has a nice ring to it!

Sam.

 
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