Tipis will always stand by themselves, they need nothing added.
The true all weather outdoorsman tent: there is no way to counteract the effect a tipi has on one, especially if one has lived in one for any length of time. You live with the elements: the open fire, adjusting the smoke flaps in the wind, sleeping on the earth and ensuring against drips when the rain comes. Although in their nomadic origins many a tent used to have an open fire inside, today the tipi stands alone as the only weather-proof tent that houses the fire and it is this that makes them superior in some ways to other tent types.
In so far as the design of these go, there are few variations between the different plains tribes. We have settled on a design that is based on indigenous plans which were 
thoroughly documented by Reginald and Gladys Laubin (in “The Indian Tipi”).
These original designs are further improved to include new adjustments, now making tipis fully rain-proof whilst maintaining an even draw of smoke. Most of the cover and lining patterns are left unaltered, though with more focus on reinforcement of all ties and weak points and, as tipis are pegged to the ground, the life expectancy of the ‘skin’ depends much on those. The other factor is, of course, a better quality of fabric (see Canvas).
These original designs are further improved to include new adjustments, now making tipis fully rain-proof whilst maintaining an even draw of smoke. Most of the cover and lining patterns are left unaltered, though with more focus on reinforcement of all ties and weak points and, as tipis are pegged to the ground, the life expectancy of the ‘skin’ depends much on those. The other factor is, of course, a better quality of fabric (see Canvas).
