[pct-l] Tents vrs Tarps - Bivies?

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I read all the pros and cons about tents and tarps, did all kinds of  
calculations, yadda yadda but what ended being the best for me was to  
go with the tent. It wasn't the lightest option, it wasn't the most  
versatile, I did hate that I was walled off from nature inside, etc,  
but it was easy. Just one stuff sack sitting in my pack that would do  
the job.

If I were you, I would get the gear to have an optimal tarp set-up  
and an optimal tent set-up and then use your PCT hike to test both  
out. When else will you have so much time to try stuff out? I tried  
out all kinds of stuff while hiking the PCT. It was great fun. Nobody  
is going to care out there if you have the lightest pack, or chose  
something heavier. You won't even care.