TarpTent rainbow Ultralight Tent

Here is a look at two contrasting tent styles.  The 1891 camping tent uses one central pole, four corner stakes, and two guy lines.  It has lots of headroom, and would be a comfortable tent, probably for horse packing or car camping.  The lower figure shows that this tent is a veritable hotel room, and might sleep 4.

A total opposite design philosophy is seen in the ultralight Rainbow Tent by Tarptent. This tent sleeps 1, weighs less than 2 pounds, and has one pole curving side to side, and a cross pole that forms the center beam of the tent ceiling.  If you attach hiking poles to the corners the tent becomes freestanding, but you can also just stake the corners.