Lavvu

Lavvu for outdoor, travel, and institutions

Wide selection from the best manufacturers.
Lavvu is a passion and we have a hard time hiding it at andersenoutdoor.com - we LOVE them and use them extensively for many different purposes. We sell Helsport, Tentipi, and Grand Canyon, and have several different lavvu for sale.

With the family on vacation, with the scouts on camp, with your brother on a canoe trip, or maybe with a group of leaders on a strategy seminar. We have used this type of tent for everything at andersenoutdoor.com and our private collection also includes brands other than the ones we sell. Please feel free to contact us for good advice or a good story about using these pointed tents unconventionally.

What is the story behind the tent?

The lavvu is round - a tipi is oval and a wigwam is concave. That is one of the differences between the Sami and the Native Americans' traditional homes. Another difference is the entrance and a third is the way the smoke is expelled through the hole in the top. Despite the differences, there are many similarities, which is why you can call the tent the Sami tipi.

The Sami tipi always has a small opening standing open where the entrance is, to draw in air and create the small circulation necessary for the smoke to be controlled and sent out of the tent. In addition, the Sami set up their living space so that in a straight line in front of the opening (behind the fire in the middle) the kitchen was placed, and that was the woman's place. The children were on one side, and the men were on the other side. That's how it was - quite unheard of today, but that was the order back then. In the opening, there were 2 spruce rafters that marked an entrance, where you also placed your outdoor footwear before entering. 

If a guest wanted to visit, it was customary for the guest to stand in this entrance without saying anything. If no one in the tent had spoken to the person within a very short time, the guest had to leave. The family was not interested in the visit right now.

Setting up a lavvu

Before you can enjoy sleeping in the Sami tipi, you have to set it up, of course. Fortunately, it is not very difficult to build this kind of tent. In fact, it is largely the same process as with any other tent. One advantage of this tent is that a single person can set up a fairly large tent alone.

Start by placing a peg where you want the center of the tent to be. Then, attach a string to the peg and walk around in a circle around the center, placing pegs along the perimeter. Unroll the tent and place the door against the wind, while tying the straps to the pegs. Now the pegs need to be secured. Unfold the center pole and open the door so you can get under the tent fabric and place the center pole in position. Now you are ready to raise your lavvu!

When you have finished setting up the tent, go outside and close the door. Then fasten the straps so that the tent stands stable and you can still open the door.

Lavvu or tent

Which one should you choose? Well, the simple answer is that it is a matter of taste. One of the advantages of the Sami tipi is that they are lightweight tents and incredibly easy to set up. Another important advantage in cold climates is that you can use a wood-burning stove for this type of tent. In other words, it is a tent with a stove.

The biggest disadvantage is that they cannot withstand very strong winds. Not even the best lavvu can handle extreme weather. In such cases, for example, a dome tent may be more suitable, as it is more optimized for wind.

How is the tent different from a tipi?

In short, the lavvu is the Nordic version of the original peoples' tipi in America. The shape and functions are very similar, as both types of tents have a pointed top and are designed to have an open fire in the middle. The biggest difference is that Nordic tipis are typically less vertical and therefore more stable in strong winds.

Ovens and other accessories

There is a wide range of accessories available for lavvu tents, which means that the tent can be customized in many ways. As mentioned earlier, you can use a stove with this type of tent. There are many smart types of stoves available. There are open stoves, wood-burning stoves, and stoves that can also be used for cooking. There are even accessories for the stoves that allow you to heat water and dry clothes while staying warm.

It is possible to purchase an apse for your tent. The apse is used as a protective entrance to the tent, where you can keep all your gear. You can also use the space for dirty shoes. This way, you can keep the tent tidy and clean. Another good investment is a groundsheet for the tent. The groundsheet provides a "floor" that protects against both cold and damp ground.

If you want to increase the comfort inside the tent, you can purchase an inner tent. Inner tents help maintain a warmer temperature in winter and a cooler temperature in summer. Additionally, an inner tent helps keep insects out of the tent.
You can see all our lavvu accessories here.

Tips for tents with wood-burning stoves

Today, we often use a wood-burning stove to heat tents, which is both cozy and healthier than using an open fire and the accompanying smoke. The wood-burning stove is also very practical, as most models are designed to accommodate a kettle, so you always have hot coffee. Having a tent with a stove is really nice in the coldest months, and it goes very well with living in a Sami tipi.

A good tip for using a wood-burning stove in a tipi is always to use a spark arrestor at the top of the chimney. We may want to be comfortable inside the tent, but others also want the same outside.
If you are interested in learning more about lavvus, do not hesitate to call or write. For us, it is more than just something we sell...