Just waved a sad farewell to my old recycled tipi and decided I need to bring its spirit forward into a laavu 
I learned a LOT from making the tipi, much of which seems pretty symbiotic with the laavu design although I think the designs can amalgramate to be a 'best of both worlds' hybrid to suit our woodlands... I'm not a traveller beyond these shores so it doesn't need to be hugely over engineered. Luckily
The basic tipi pattern was a semi circle with add ons to provide smoke flaps, doorway and a fly front, cut from a discarded gazebo with engine parts (conrods to stitch the front together and valves for tent pegs). The slight offset at the centre makes the cover semicircle slightly shorter at the rear, allowing for a more vertical back to the wind, supported by a longer front which braces against the wind.
I developed the pattern to suit the materials to hand from the tipi making bible by the Laubins, which worked out something like this....
It took 11 poles (inc 2 for supporting the chimney flaps) which were the biggest PIA to transport- definate downside to trad tipis and something I want to eliminate from a more practical design! It was brilliant for festivals but not so good in strong winds or rain because of the noise of the cheap material- I've erected it in horizontal rain so it wasn't an inherent design flaw but something to iron out in its next reincarnation
There's a pair of inner liners which create the 'chimney' effect and prevent shadows from the interior giving enemy braves a perfectly silhouetted target... ok, not quite so important but it did insulate a good deal by reflecting the heat onto the seating/ sleeping area and is definately an idea for the laavu I added a raincap and some surface decoration, job done. here's how she formed up at a Jan meet with a calor stove, pretty cushty but not what it really was designed for...
The fabric used on the laavu pro is fabulous and there's a lot to be admired in the design but I want standing room and an internal fire... I'll include it for inspiration though, you can never have too many tent option pics...
And the loue is brilliant but I'd want two set up as a facing pair and it's still not gonna be as warm as an integral unit.... gratuitous pic as I'm considering the upstand as a good design feature a la bell tent to improve a laavu, the tipi always wasted a fair bit of space in the 'eaves'....
So I have to consider my wishlist- 3 folks and their kit or 2 people in comfort, one in unashamed luxury. Can use existing calor bottle stove internally. Camo (ripstop 2-4oz nylon) main fabric. Possible 1.25m high liner/ groundsheet, liner using 4oz aluminized nylon. Unending zip fastening to front. Easy to erect so I might consider using the chimney stove as part of the internal pole and in low wind, it's be nice to omit the central pole entirely if suspended from a line between trees. I was considering using part of a rotary clothes line/ umbrella mechanism for a supportive central shaping for the apex, especially if it will hold the fabric around the chimney (which would need slight adaptions in a 90 degree cap with spark arrester, I'm not risking it like I did with the tipi!). Mozzie nets seem a great idea for summer use so I need to form a removable inner door and possible insert for the top. Extra venting with mozzie netting on the lower body of the erection might be a nice addition too for hot weather use- I'd just pull up the cover of the tipi and fold it up the poles which won't be as easy on this, I should think
Have I missed anything? Do any laavu users have anything they use/ have added/ wish their manufacturers had included or considered? Any recommendations for especially brilliant manufacturers so can stalk their products for ideas?! Anyone made one and have hints and tips for me please? Cheers, bushfamily!
I learned a LOT from making the tipi, much of which seems pretty symbiotic with the laavu design although I think the designs can amalgramate to be a 'best of both worlds' hybrid to suit our woodlands... I'm not a traveller beyond these shores so it doesn't need to be hugely over engineered. Luckily
The basic tipi pattern was a semi circle with add ons to provide smoke flaps, doorway and a fly front, cut from a discarded gazebo with engine parts (conrods to stitch the front together and valves for tent pegs). The slight offset at the centre makes the cover semicircle slightly shorter at the rear, allowing for a more vertical back to the wind, supported by a longer front which braces against the wind.
I developed the pattern to suit the materials to hand from the tipi making bible by the Laubins, which worked out something like this....
It took 11 poles (inc 2 for supporting the chimney flaps) which were the biggest PIA to transport- definate downside to trad tipis and something I want to eliminate from a more practical design! It was brilliant for festivals but not so good in strong winds or rain because of the noise of the cheap material- I've erected it in horizontal rain so it wasn't an inherent design flaw but something to iron out in its next reincarnation
There's a pair of inner liners which create the 'chimney' effect and prevent shadows from the interior giving enemy braves a perfectly silhouetted target... ok, not quite so important but it did insulate a good deal by reflecting the heat onto the seating/ sleeping area and is definately an idea for the laavu
I added a raincap and some surface decoration, job done. here's how she formed up at a Jan meet with a calor stove, pretty cushty but not what it really was designed for...
The fabric used on the laavu pro is fabulous and there's a lot to be admired in the design but I want standing room and an internal fire... I'll include it for inspiration though, you can never have too many tent option pics
...
And the loue is brilliant but I'd want two set up as a facing pair and it's still not gonna be as warm as an integral unit.... gratuitous pic as I'm considering the upstand as a good design feature a la bell tent to improve a laavu, the tipi always wasted a fair bit of space in the 'eaves'....
So I have to consider my wishlist- 3 folks and their kit or 2 people in comfort, one in unashamed luxury. Can use existing calor bottle stove internally. Camo (ripstop 2-4oz nylon) main fabric. Possible 1.25m high liner/ groundsheet, liner using 4oz aluminized nylon. Unending zip fastening to front. Easy to erect so I might consider using the chimney stove as part of the internal pole and in low wind, it's be nice to omit the central pole entirely if suspended from a line between trees. I was considering using part of a rotary clothes line/ umbrella mechanism for a supportive central shaping for the apex, especially if it will hold the fabric around the chimney (which would need slight adaptions in a 90 degree cap with spark arrester, I'm not risking it like I did with the tipi!). Mozzie nets seem a great idea for summer use so I need to form a removable inner door and possible insert for the top. Extra venting with mozzie netting on the lower body of the erection might be a nice addition too for hot weather use- I'd just pull up the cover of the tipi and fold it up the poles which won't be as easy on this, I should think
Have I missed anything? Do any laavu users have anything they use/ have added/ wish their manufacturers had included or considered? Any recommendations for especially brilliant manufacturers so can stalk their products for ideas?! Anyone made one and have hints and tips for me please? Cheers, bushfamily!
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