Abstract: A portable shelter or camouflage support structure is formed by a plurality of bow formers that are pivoted at opposite bow ends for fan-like development about a substantially common axis or a cluster of parallel axes. Each bow former is having two or more rigid arc elements that are joined end-to-end by a polymer tubing splice joint with a substantial separation space between the two opposing ends of the rigid elements whereby the rotationally collapsed fan of the bow former elements is further folded upon itself to reduce the length and bulk of the structure without resort to independently attached and assembled elements.