Laavu & Loue - teepee

[JulesC]

Hi guys, I've just returned from a week in Finland, where it was quite mild, who says climate change is fictitious, I have the chance to buy a Laavu, Loue or a sami-style Teepee (this can be modified to become a Laavu) they're about €500 - the Loue would be c€300 - having slept in the fixed structure Laavu (i.e. more of a lean-to) I'd welcome opinions & advice from those more experienced in this type of camping.

The fabric is polyester and it will have a liner/second skin about 80cm up the inside to allow air to flow in but not draw across the occupants. The teepee will be c3.5/4m diameter so 3/4 people & a central fire.

Is this a good price, having seen one the quality is very well made, do you know of any UK alternatives. No poles or pegs but a 4m sapling and 12 tent pegs from small sticks are "easily acquired".

Thanks in advance of your input/views.

Jules

 

[Shewie]

There's a couple of guys who use the Loue's from SOS ..

http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/en/teltat-ja-majoittuminen/laavut-ja-louteet/

I know they go to the Midlands meets but I can't remember their name sorry, they'll be along at some point though

 

[Mesquite]

There's a couple of guys who use the Loue's from SOS ..

http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/en/teltat-ja-majoittuminen/laavut-ja-louteet/

I know they go to the Midlands meets but I can't remember their name sorry, they'll be along at some point though

Twodogs and Decorum both have Loues

 

[crosslandkelly]

I often set my 3m x 3m tarp up in a Loue Style. A 4m x 4m would almost be as big as the one pictured here. http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/en/teltat-ja-majoittuminen/laavut-ja-louteet/Loue-i/

View attachment 28907 View attachment 28908 View attachment 28909

 

[decorum]

Twodogs and Decorum both have Loues

Yup, good bit of kit .




As you can probably see from the 'sweep' on the left of the pic, the shape of the Vihe Loue II isn't suitable for joining two together to make a tipi / laavu / bell tent. I've not seen the smaller Vihe I (two person version*) and have no experience at all of the Savotta Loue, but I'm fairly certain from the web searches I did that the shape of the canopy on both are very similar to the Vihe II

With a heater and reflector they're nice and warm

Cliff did a good run through in this thread ~ thread contains Martti's link to a MYOG pattern

Price in SOS today is 180 Euros which converts to just under £150 (at time of posting) plus postage ~ I'm pretty sure the price of the item has risen roughly £30 (before P&P) in the two years I've had mine ... :yikes:

I'm very glad I went for the slightly wider II as the side skirt makes a world of difference. IIRC, two years ago there was a £10 difference between the Vihe I and II, now it's £30. So, at the time, going larger was an easy choice .

Could be a different story for other brands or MYOG's though


* But I'm fairly sure someone on the boards mentioned pulling the trigger on one ~ ??? Tiley ???

 

[JulesC]

Guys thanks. Might start with CrosslandKelly's tarp solution, play around and see what I like and then decided. Thanks again.