These days, everybody seems to think that self supporting tents are the only word in tents. I agree that they are conventient and they do open up the tent.

However, let us not forget the old A-frame pup tent. You can't beat them for being light and small. They only require two small poles instead of the many poles of an intenally supported "dome" tent.

I camped for many years in an a-frame pup tent and many people also did for years before me.

Internal frame tents are nicer if weight is not a factor.

If you can still find an A-frame pup-tent, try it out. They are light and they actually work. If you have a rain fly it works even better - as with all tents.

To really minimize weight and get maximum rain protection, use a nylon tarp with a plastic sheet under it. You can make two supports for the tarp from aluminum poles. This is the lightest and best protection from the rain. However, since it does not have walls, it will not provide protection from insects, snakes, or mice. I suppose for this, you could use mosquito netting inside the make-shift tent.