Basic, High-Tech, maybe Low-Tech: different tents / tent types

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

I'm making a loadout for a carry-everything-you-own character, and am looking at the options of tents. TL is 6ish, but I want to have a clearer picture of tents in general.
B288 lists several tents, including
Tent, 1-Man (TL0). Includes ropes; no poles needed. $50, 5 lbs.
Tent, 2-Man (TL0). Includes ropes; requires one 6-foot pole. $80, 12 lbs.
High-Tech 56-57 lists
Tent, Shelter Half (TL5). The standard U.S. Army tent from the Civil War through the 1980s, this is a small “pup” tent – so called because it’s barely big enough for a dog! It consists of two separate sheets of treated canvas, the “shelter halves.” Weight includes poles and rope, which are split between two soldiers. Survival modifier: +1. $75, 10 lbs. LC4.

I'm trying to figure out precisely what each entry represents. From what I read of shelter-half, it's not as small as the HT description implies, and is also typically suitable as a poncho too, which is why it's called raincoat-tent in some places (sometimes even hooded, I heard).
The 1-man tent looks quite attractive compared to the shelter-half, but I don't get what sort of design it is that it doesn't require poles.
Also, I wonder what is it with the 2-man tent that its mass is 12 lbs instead of a mere 10, and it requires a pole whole two yards tall.

Thanks in advance!

[Varyon]

I think the 1-man tent is some sort of "ribbed" design that's only large enough to crawl into. The 2-man tent might lack or have greatly reduced ribbing and requires a pole to keep it upright, but gives standing room, at least in the dead center. I made a design system for low tech tents here, although I didn't come up with anything for ribbing thanks to being uncertain such would be appropriate for low TL (and not being certain how I should design such a thing).

[The Colonel]

The ribbed, self supporting design would seem fairly modern (unless someone has historical examples - which I wouldn't rule out) - possibly a low tech tent without poles is either designed to be tied off to local terrain (like a poncho basha) or relies on the user finding their own poles at each camp site...

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

The ribbed, self supporting design would seem fairly modern (unless someone has historical examples - which I wouldn't rule out) - possibly a low tech tent without poles is either designed to be tied off to local terrain (like a poncho basha) or relies on the user finding their own poles at each camp site...

Yeah, I thought about needing a tree nearby too. It's just that the wording is ambiguous.

This seems pretty versatile, including both wind-open and wind-stopping configurations, but nonetheless relies on a tree or pole, or several.

(How silly is the idea of using a rifle with a bayonet stuck into the ground instead of a central pole?)

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

How silly is the idea of using a rifle with a bayonet stuck into the ground instead of a central pole?

I would try to acquire a pole instead. If there aren't any trees or anything around I suppose you might make do if you don't need the rifle ready.

[vicky_molokh]

Okay, I found a video showing a Shelter Half, and it seems like the stats in High-Tech represent a full set. And apparently the two halves put together are suitable for use by two people simultaneously (which is logical given that it is carried by two people, not one; somehow I didn't consider it).
That makes the name 'pup tent' deceptive and incorrect - I wouldn't think of a pup-sized shelter to be big enough for two people.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

(How silly is the idea of using a rifle with a bayonet stuck into the ground instead of a central pole?)

Very. Bad for the rifle, bad for the bayonet and bad for the user either during night attacks or when he has to stand-to. The same would probably apply to using a spear in pre-powder times, except that the spearman might well carry a sidearm and armies in that era tended not to stand-to. Also, with a spear you can use the butt-spike.

[Crakkerjakk]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Okay, I found a video showing a Shelter Half, and it seems like the stats in High-Tech represent a full set. And apparently the two halves put together are suitable for use by two people simultaneously (which is logical given that it is carried by two people, not one; somehow I didn't consider it).
That makes the name 'pup tent' deceptive and incorrect - I wouldn't think of a pup-sized shelter to be big enough for two people.

You're very tight in there. There's enough room for two people if you sleep side by side and touching.

[The Colonel]

Mind you, these days a lot of smally military tentage is used to roof a trench of some kind, giving you at least a bit more vertical space...

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

You're very tight in there. There's enough room for two people if you sleep side by side and touching.

As I imagined. It's just that the text description made me think that it's very tight for a single human, on first reading. The extra space seems like a nice option for storing equipment etc. when alone.